This morning Fatima (Andrea and Pato's niece) came with us to the river. I went to go wake her up by knocking on her window. She is more of a morning person than me. I told her (is very rough Spanish) that we were about to leave for the river and I received 10 questions in return. She was talking so fast I just said I don't know but we are leaving in 10 minutes. She showed up in 10 minutes and we were off to the river. David and Kendra ran ahead while Fatima showed us a short cut. We decided that we would figure out how to jump off of a small cliff (2m) next to the river to jump in. Don't worry David and Dan checked the depth for us. David, Kendra, Candace and I all jumped off. Dan found a boulder to jump off of and named it Grandpa's Rock. We all had a lot of fun this morning along with getting clean.
David's jump!
For breakfast, we had homemade bread with different kinds of jam. David even contributed some of his homemade jam from Wisconsin. Dr. Oetzel was successful again today to not get any food stolen by Bibi (Dr. O. 2- Bibi 1). We all enjoyed a fairly relaxing morning getting ready since mostly everything was packed last night. We were off! Santa Isabel is just beyond Siani. Santa Isabel is a Shuar community. The Shuar is one of the native tribes of this area. You may know them becaue they used to shrink the heads of their enemies, but it was band in the 60s. There is still a lot of alcoholism and family strife. These people don't have much of anything, so it was an amazing invitation to come and have them make lunch for us. Andrea and Pato have only recently been going to this community and sharing the gospel. They explained to us that these people were so hungry to hear the word they aren't able to get enough people to come help preach the gospel. In the last 4 months Pato has been working with the Shuar pastor and the community. They have recently come to him told him that they are now working to build a church. It has a been a true blessing to Pato and Andrea to see this passion for Christ grow so quickly.
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| I really love butter! |
When we arrived we were greeted by a group of adults and 3 kids (Helen (12), Geoffrey (10), and Geoffrey's younger sister). It was all smiles and joy. You could feel the love and excitement that these people had for us. Pato, Dan and Dr. Oetzel took care of making the arrangement for the farm visits. Geoffrey and Helen we so excited to have someone to talk to that they continued to talk to us even though we didn't understand everything they were saying. We all talked together until the final plan was made and we loaded up the vans. Geoffrey and Helen came with us in the van to be our tour guides. It was a short drive to where we were able to park the vans, but they told us it was a 30 minute hike through the jungle to get to the cows. The woman that owned the cows/ worked for the farmers led on through the jungle path. It was beautiful even if we mostly had to look down to make sure we didn't trip or fall. There was even a pig and chicks to greet us along the way. It wasn't an easy hike, but we were blessed that it hasn't rained for a few days otherwise we would have been knee deep in mud. Helen walked up ahead with the group and Geoffrey was the end. He would point out plants and pick fruit for us to eat. Anytime he found something he would show us at the back then run ahead and show the others. Helen and Geoffrey also discovered that I like all the different and interesting insects, so anytime they found one they would bring it to me to see.
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| Helen and Geoffrey |
It wasn't an easy hike. There was some steep terrain and a part where we had to cross a stream by walking on two logs (like a balance beam). With team work we got everyone across! The Shuar woman kept asking us if we could go faster. It is really amazing to see how quickly they move through the forest and how clumsy we must seem to them. She was so patient with us. After 40 minutes (not too bad for gringos) we made it to the cows. The cow she specifically wanted us to look at was a very skinny cow that had recently weaned her calf. After awhile of finding the best way to restrain her, David and Dr. Oetzel did a physical exam. Everything was normal besides her weight. Then it was Lizzy's turn to take her temperature. She didn't like that so much, but we got it. Then it was time for the rectal palpation exam and blood draw. Dr. Oetzel went first for the rectal exam before Bailee got to try her first one. I think she really enjoyed it. Then it was Priscila's turn to take the blood sample. She was ecstatic! We discussed differentials for this cow and peritonitis floated to the top. We briefly looked at and discussed about another cow in that area before leaving to the next area where they kept cows. I was watching Geoffrey and Helen pull down a vine from one of the trees before we left and I thought that they were jut being kids and having fun. But Geoffrey pulled it down to be used as a rope to help us on our hike back. At one point of the hike it was very steep and slippery with not a lot of area to place your feet, so he thought ahead without even being asked to do it.
On the way to the next area, Geoffrey and Helen found a lemon tree and knocked some down to share with us. How amazing is that joy to share with strangers something that they instead could have taken home to their families! Their joy was infectious. When we arrived at the destination Karen, Fatima, Dan and I followed the kids to this small stream near by. As soon as the kids stepped close to the water all of these butterflies rose up and were flitting around. They were so excited to show me the butterflies. I am pretty sure at this point they thought I only liked insects but that is okay. Both Dr. Sara and Dr. Quigs came and joined us. We laughed with the kids and watched the butterflies until the rest of the group was done examining the cow. When I caught back up with the group I learned that Candace had done her first palpation and that they found the cow to be 4 months pregnant instead of only two that they had thought. What a blessing for them especially after not getting a good prognosis on the last cow.
We journeyed back to the vans. Along the way we came across some of the boards they were cutting from the tress for a home they were building. It is amazing to see all the things they can still accomplish with less. It is humbling, especially when you see how joyful and happy they are. We should be more like that. We also stopped by the pig again to give him some scratches.
We took a water break when we reached the vans. A few of us played some soccer (futbol) with the kids. Then we loaded up and headed to the town plaza. There was only a couple of men talking to Pato when we arrived. One group of us headed out to do another farm visit but the rest of us stayed to play with the kids and be ready for the pet fair. It was Karen's idea to play soccer and we invited Helen and Geoffrey. The Shuar pastor made an announcement to the town talking about the pet fair and lunch that would be served ahead of time. No one came right away. Slowly people and kids began to arrive. The kids were very shy at first but each one of them warmed up to a team member and joined us. We had ages from toddlers to teens. Dan taught us the game 2 square so that we could include all the kids who had arrived to play. Even though we don't all speak the same language we could come together to play games and have a friendly competition. Then it was time for lunch! A few of the women from the town brought out this huge pot full of rice, vegetables and chicken. They piled our plates high. Everyone in the plaza got huge plates of the mixed rice. Dressed up pets began arriving too. A dog in a button shirt and cardboard top hat, another dog with a dress, hair put up in little pony tails, crown and earrings plus socks on all four feet, a turkey with a ribbon necklace, a parrot with a hat, and another parrot that says "hola." I was super impressed by the turkey! Everyone loved it! Pato started the whole fair off, and got us to come up and sing as well. Afterwards he invited a group to come up an sing in Shuar, instead one of the mothers came up an sang a solo of a Christian song in Spanish. Her voice was beautiful! As she sang, we were all just so moved by her love for Christ. The rest of the team returned as we sang "Every move I make." It was fun to see the community start to dance around a little bit with us. Then Helen came up and asked if she could sing a a song. Of course we said yes. She was shaking she was so nervous, but she started singing anyway. I can't speak for everyone, but I know I got a little choked up because she was praising God with every fiber in her being and sharing it with all of us. I wish that I could have more of her bravery! After the singing concluded we brought all the pets up. Kendra, Sara, and Jessie lead the fair in Spanish! They did a fantastic job! The pastor came up and did a short sermon, and that was the end. The head matriarch asked all of us women on the team to come forward. She presented a gift of earrings that they had all made for us. They were made from beads and feathers from parrots. And she gave them to Dan and Dr. O for their wives and gave David a bracelet. They were all beautiful! And what an incredible gift! They have so little but they gave us so much!
We took pictures with the community before we headed off. The JT van headed back to Rio Blanco for a relaxing/ afternoon playing in the river, and a small group of us (Emily, Lizzy, Priscilla and me) went out for one last farm visit. There was a farmer in Siani that had a cow with lesions on her teats that he wanted us to look at. So we hiked in to see his cows. Dr. Oetzel was very impressed with how well Jose was managing them and how good they looked. 2 of the cows were a result of embryo transfer (a gift from the government) and others were from artificial insemination. We examined the cow with the lesions and Dr. Oetzel took pictures and pulled some of the "warts" off. Otherwise the cattle looked great. It was just before dark before we returned to the car, thanked Jose, and headed back to Rio Blanco. We made it back just in time for dinner.
For our devotion, we practiced singing the songs we will sing for the church we are visiting tomorrow. Fatima and Stephanie (I think a cousin) joined us too! They even were the tie breaker for the decision of what song to sing in church. It is great to have them join us for our devotionals and singing. Afterwards, I returned to my normal spot next to the house to blog. Sara and David kept me company. David mostly brought new bugs for us to look at. It was fun. Bibi on my lap. Sasha at our feet, and when we headed up to our room the geese we leaving for their evening stroll. Just another normal evening in the jungle with the roosters and dogs singing the songs of their people.
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