Thursday, April 5, 2012

Ashaninka volume25

Tonight was our last night with our Ashaninka friends.  The time has come for us to say goodbye and for them to welcome a young Peruvian couple who will be working with them.  We have learned so much from our time with this group of special people ~ generosity, honesty, thankfulness, simplicity and community.

Several of the kids dressed up tonight in the typical native dress and two little ones did a traditional dance for us.  They wanted to give us a "proper send-off" and this was their way.  (they even had Olivia put on a dress)

Our hearts are full of joy and hope as we leave them in the hands of our Heavenly Father.  Our hearts are full of sadness as we will miss all the hugs, kisses, and beautiful smiles.  Our fervent prayer is that this small group of believers will reach the other 65 families that make up this community for Christ.  We can't wait to go back and see what God has done there.

(For those of you who have asked, the little girl who was missing is back safe and sound!)

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

True story

Our year in the jungle is wrapping up.  We have learned so much, seen so much, and wouldn't trade this time for anything.  Here are the top 20 oddest/most fantastic/most shocking/most interesting things we've seen this year (that we could say/write in public):

20. disposable diapers washed and drying on the line

19. a woman with her baby in a stroller, on the back of a pickup truck

18. men walking around with bows and arrows on their backs

17. a 48 hr. wake in extreme heat (no embalming done here)

16. whole frogs blended up and sold as a health drink

15. a woman nursing someone else's baby, just to get him to stop crying

14. five of us big Americans in a 2 seater moto taxi

13. a mama cow meandering the busy market streets

12. a little boy urinating in the grass 5 steps from his front door (yes, there is a bathroom in his house)

11. a monkey wearing a diaper

10. dogs taking care of business on drying coffee beans (that are sold around the world)

9. barefoot kids shimmying up trees faster than a monkey

8. a little girl roller blading with a baby in her arms

7. a little boy walking around with fresh 3rd degree burns on his leg (uncleaned and uncovered)

6. a bonfire in the middle of someone's living room (works as mosquito repellent)

5. a man walking around town with a boa constrictor around his neck

4. 2 little girls "watching" their baby sister and losing her (we searched for hours)

3. 40 people standing and sitting on the sides of the back of a truck on the most dangerous roads

2. a pig in a moto taxi receiving a shot from the vet

1. beetle-like bugs being played with and eaten....alive