Wednesday, June 19, 2013
*these are slightly edited journal entries from our time with a tribe in the Amazon (6/16-19/2013) – so that’s why they are posted after the fact and in present tense. This was my first jungle trip! Loved it! We had so many stories from the trip that I decided to post a series of blog posts from my journal, of which this is the 5th. I hope you enjoy getting a more detailed, up-close glimpse into some of our adventures with this tribe – I know I did! Thanks for your prayers!
We said a sad farewell to the village and the rest of the team (those
who had come from the neighboring tribe to work with Hamer’s discipleship
classes). I got to say “chau” to 4 or 5 of the girls who made it to the boat
before we left this morning. Sadly, I missed saying goodbye to most of the
girls. =’( Thankfully, Mayeer (I have no clue on the spelling?) was there, so I
got to say goodbye to him before I left. So many precious kidos! I’m really
going to miss them.
In a sense, I’m happy to return to the world of electricity, internet,
houses with walls and doors, washers and dryers, ovens and microwaves, privacy,
indoor plumbing, real showers and beds, and ice cold beverages. On the other
hand, I kind of hope and wonder if the Lord will open the door for me to go back
to the tribe (or a similar, remote tribe) for long-term. I definitely discovered
that I would not only like to work in a remote tribe, but I love the people and
with all of my heart want them to come to know my merciful, loving Savior!
Whenever I think of an unreached tribe in the Amazon, I will remember that group
of kids sitting in a circle in the mud, underneath a rainbow, hearing for the
first time of the story of their Creator who loved them so much that He promised
not to destroy all of mankind, but instead made a way for them to know and enjoy
His sweet presence for eternity. Now the term “unreached tribe” has faces,
names, shy smiles, and sweet giggles to go with it.
As we all climbed back into our boat preparing to embark on our 8 or so
hour boat trip, Mayeer, one of the village boys who has been our constant shadow
since we arrived, climbed into the canoe adjacent to ours and leaned over the
edge into the boat with us, with his shy grin, as if to stowaway with us…Oh man!
Love that kid. There are about 20 little faces and smiles that have indeed
“stowed away” in my heart.
who had come from the neighboring tribe to work with Hamer’s discipleship
classes). I got to say “chau” to 4 or 5 of the girls who made it to the boat
before we left this morning. Sadly, I missed saying goodbye to most of the
girls. =’( Thankfully, Mayeer (I have no clue on the spelling?) was there, so I
got to say goodbye to him before I left. So many precious kidos! I’m really
going to miss them.
In a sense, I’m happy to return to the world of electricity, internet,
houses with walls and doors, washers and dryers, ovens and microwaves, privacy,
indoor plumbing, real showers and beds, and ice cold beverages. On the other
hand, I kind of hope and wonder if the Lord will open the door for me to go back
to the tribe (or a similar, remote tribe) for long-term. I definitely discovered
that I would not only like to work in a remote tribe, but I love the people and
with all of my heart want them to come to know my merciful, loving Savior!
Whenever I think of an unreached tribe in the Amazon, I will remember that group
of kids sitting in a circle in the mud, underneath a rainbow, hearing for the
first time of the story of their Creator who loved them so much that He promised
not to destroy all of mankind, but instead made a way for them to know and enjoy
His sweet presence for eternity. Now the term “unreached tribe” has faces,
names, shy smiles, and sweet giggles to go with it.
As we all climbed back into our boat preparing to embark on our 8 or so
hour boat trip, Mayeer, one of the village boys who has been our constant shadow
since we arrived, climbed into the canoe adjacent to ours and leaned over the
edge into the boat with us, with his shy grin, as if to stowaway with us…Oh man!
Love that kid. There are about 20 little faces and smiles that have indeed
“stowed away” in my heart.