We had an interesting breakfast; the Panamanian version of a tortilla. {they are little circular things made out of plantains, about 3/4 inch thick- vey good!!} along with what seemed to be Churizzo and Eggs. best, though, was the coffee!!! I've been without coffee for days now!!! Jerry noticed this and was exceedingly nice in letting me have the first cup. However, being the klutz I am, I spilled his coffee and there was no more to replace it with. I felt very bad, it was good coffee!!!! I don't think he was too thrilled with me.
It's about 7:00 AM, and we're loading the luggage back and forth to the canoe to prepare for our soon departure. it was quite interesting, we saw a family that had a monkey as a pet. Seriously!!! it was the coolest thing!!!!
It's now about 7:30 in the morning and we are slipping and sloping down a muddy, wet hillside, trying to get to the Canoes.
It was very entertaining for the locals, who managed down this hill with ease. It was a miracle that half of us didn't fall!!!
Going down the rive, I was distracted by the houses. I noticed how they changed and how they became fewer and farther between as we went further into the jungle. It was expected, but odd seeing the houses made of wood and cement bricks. Just looking at them makes me feel priveledged to live in the house I do at home.
Pastor David also got us a police escort, which was very kind of him.
I let my hair down for this canoe ride. Something about being in the jungle on a canoe with your hair swayign in the breeze makes me feel pretty ^.^
I have Pocohontases' 'Just around the Riverbend' song stuck in my head now. Pastor david points in the trees at a sloth thats hanging there. It looks like a small hanging blob from where we're at, and we move on before I can get a picture.
I'm happy that the weather is nice; it's an answer to prayer!!! The humidity isn't bad, and the sun isn't beating down too hard.Yesterday before bed I had the team pray for our travel and that the weather woudl be nice. Jerry keeps reminding us to put on sunblock and drink water. many people are also reapplying their bug spray. {Did I mention this is my first day using the bug spray??? Amazing!!!}
I've been talking with Chris {english doctor number 1} and we're discussing languiage differences. for instance, we americans generally pronounce the word mosquito as 'Miss-kee-tow' while their english-ness allows them to pronounce it 'Moss-kee-tow'. it's quite interesting because they say it slowly and pronounce the different sounds while we say it like we couldn't get the word out of our mouth's fast enough!!!
We played Zip on the boat again. it passed the time. we also made a habbit of tossing food (like gummy worms and stuff) from one side of the boat to the other (our luggage was in the middle of the canoe so that all the weight was centered.) the Military people were also a lot of fun! They picked off some fruit for us to try. it was green on the outside, and on the inside was this orange, fleshy stringy stuff. (kind of slimy, too, now that I think about it.) It wasn't too bad, it was an odd mix of orange-pumpkin-mango. I can't quite describe it, but it was fun to try something new!!!
{us on the boat playing Zip; I won!!!}
The only problem with the canoe ride being so long is that it allows you too much time to think. a few poeple fell asleep so it's quiet. I look around and admire the beautiful scenery, and marvel at how I can see God in all of it. {He really is a wonderful landscaper.} this brings me to thoughts of my grandma, and how much she traveled. AS I write this in my journal, I try nto to cry. I miss my grandmother a lot, and I know that she would be so proud of me for going on this trip!!! it essence, i'm following her 'world traveling' footsteps. I think my grandma would have loved to visit here. I also think of my family. it's only been 3 days but I miss them, it seems unnatural to not talk to them for this long. I look at the picture of them I brought with me and pray that they are doing alright. {After pondering these things for entirely too long I decide to put my journal away and soak in the fact that i'm actually in the middle of the jungle.}
We eventually get to Union Choco. I was thankful that instead of having to climb another muddy slope, we had some {mostly stable} stairs. The townspeople were excited we were there, it seemed half the town showed up for our arrival!!! they formed a brigade to carry our luggage {which was all very heavy, since we still had all that medicine in our bags!!! some of them were close to 50 pounds!!!} for us. It made our team feel very welcomed!! we were immediately shown to the place we would be staying. it's a large round hut consisting of three rooms. it was so beautiful!!! it must have taken a long time to make. they helped us unpack all of our stuff before we played with the kids.
The kids absolutely loved the beach ball!!!
we also discovered that they are maniacs at soccer. I haven't ever seen such talent!!!
I also tried to get them to say my name. The spanish language doesn't have a sound for 'th' so most of them called me 'heh-der' or 'heh-d-d-d-d-d-er'
at the end of the day, we set up our tents (we got done before the boys!!! total domination!!) and sorted through the medicine until late at night. the power actually went out on us due to the rain, so we had to use flashlights.
had chicken and rice as our lunch/dinner {linner???}.
I've been talkign with Chris and Ugo some more, too. we're still comparing the differences of the terms we use. they've never heard of Lollygagging. I've never heard of 'this plate is hot!' in reference to anything other than a hot plate of food. since our use of flashlights as a singular light source, we discovered that in the UK they don't call flashlights by the name flashlights. they call them torches. {how are they torches if there is no fire???} because torches with fire are called firesticks in the UK. they think of flashlights in the literal sense. It really is interesting comparing two countries. ^.^
after medicine sorting, we had a small peptalk/training session on what was to happen tomarrow.
I also was chosen to do devotions, which was amazing since God gave me the verse before I was even chosen to speak on it. I chose to do it on Exodus 3:15. {God tells moses to tell the people that he is the God of their forefathers (he was more specific) and that his name shall continue from generation to generation.} I put a modern spin on this verse, that we are the moses to these people. In a sense, God is Our God, not just the God of our fathers, and that we are to continue telling the people of new generations and those who haven't heard His name about God, so that His name can live from generation to generation and forever. {I explained this much more eloquently at the time.} It was a really cool devotion becasue it kind of reminded the team of what their focus should be.
Lastly, I've been a little bit spiritually attacked today. I'm starting to feel animosity toward certain people, for no reason on either of our parts. It makes no sense, so i'm praying and having other people pray for me. I'm not going to divide the team for something so petty that it doesn't even exist.
On a happier ending note, I have to tell you that it's amazing falling asleep to the sounds of the jungle. there are fireflys that twinkle like the stars, you can hear monkeys in the distance, the birds chirping, and tree frogs {they make this 'bloop-bloop' noise thats totally awesome!!!}
sweet dreams, everyone!!!
1 comment:
Oh, my! Girl, I'm overwhelmed! the canoe ride; the police escort; the monkey! lol the medicine; the way God gave you the devotional... Wow, it's such a testament to how God is moving in your life! Proud to know you! XOXOXO great piX by the way!
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