I absolutely LOVE the jungle. Although it is not practical to live there long term,(due to lack of resources, communication ability, and financial or medical access) it is my favorite place to be. We arrived back in Huancayo on Sunday. Everyone was completely exhausted. For those who traveled by bus overnight, they probably were awake for over 24 hours (and they had to hang on to the back of a truck for 10 1/2 of those hours). Our daily schedule for the week was:
9 a.m. Kids' Club
3 p.m. Dance workshop for youth and a couples group
3 p.m. Dance workshop for youth and a couples group
6 p.m. Movie
7:30 p.m. Concert (which consisted of choreographies, music, a drama, and Gospel presentation)
In each location we stayed two days. Wednesday was a travel day to go from Puerto Bermudez to Palcazu. I wish that I had pictures of the concert and more from the Kids' Clubs, but on the end of the second day in Puerto Bermudez, I discovered I had lost almost 200 of my photos (oh,well). The second location was too dark to get pictures of the concert.
Our presence in the jungle was an incredible encouragement for the missionaries who live and work there. In Palcazu there is only one man, Mario, working there. He cried the first night we were there because he was so touched that we came. I'm sure it is very difficult on him considering how spiritually dry it is.
We didn't quite have the turn out we had hoped for with our activities and the attendance seemed to drop on the second days, but in Mary Alice's words "we are just plowing the ground". It's probably one of the hardest parts of mission work when you don't see immediate results, but just have to cling to the knowledge that God is working.
Well, I don't know what else to say right now, there's just such of jumble of thoughts in my head. I'm still very tired from the trip. I will be leaving for Lima on Thursday morning and flying home on Friday night. I probably will not have a chance to update again. Please pray that I will have a safe and smooth flight home. Once again, I appreciate all the support and prayers!!!
