I'm wrapping things up down here and I don't know if I'll get a chance to post again before I leave so here's a summary of recent activities in Parika and Imbaimadai. Thank you for praying!
Winston carries the team to the "backdam" by boat to help some local farmers.
Students from the Jamaica Team weeding at a plantain farm.
We visited a boys' home where we played games and sang songs with the kids and pampered the house mom with a spa treatement.
The team spent 2 weeks at a village in the interior called Imbaimadai, an hour plane ride into the Mazaruni District. I joined them for the second week.
This is Bendigo at Imbaimadai landing.
Service at Imbaimadai Full Gospel church.
Sunday School
We taught at Imbaimadai Primary School everyday. It's a one room school, divided into 4 sections by chalkboards, accommodating 70+ students from nursery to grade 8. I had a blast teaching grade 4 in the mornings. Here's an excerpt from a letter one of the teachers wrote to our director..."we have been very grateful for the the missionary volunteers who had assisted us in teaching...we were able to have them at the right time when we were short on staff...The Lord knew when to send His servants to give assistance...I do not have anything to offer them to show them my appreciation for their hard work, but I put them in the hands of the Lord who is the sustainer of our lives..." -Mr. Johnny
We were totally blessed with a journey to Maypuri Falls. This is where we got into the boats on the Mazaruni River at the bottom of the landing.
We went up river for about 30 minutes and connected to a next river where we got out just before the rapids. We played in the water for a little while and then hiked about 20 minutes to the spot where we waited for another boat to carry us to the falls. That's me and Anneesha below. She was one of the leaders on the Jamaica team.
It was so breathtaking to come upon on the falls, I can't even explain it.
We hiked to a view point, then came back down and made our way behind the falls. All I could think about under there with the roar in my ears and the mist in my face is how Majestic God is, that He would think up and create such an incredible thing for us to enjoy.
Back in Imbaimadai, Audrey cooks for the children at the school every day.
We helped out joyfully and God was faithful to strengthen us when we felt physically wiped out.
Beautiful children chowing down.
And here's Sid the sloth! Apparantly some kids were trying to drown him but a man rescued him and brought him up on the landing. He lived in the tree next to the church for a few days. He's so pleasant! I'm so thankful God gave me the gift of seeing Sid.
The sun sets over the landing.
We gather for worship and devotions in the last light. There's no electricity here (though some people have generators) so you always have to think about daylight when planning your day. It rained alot so we always had enough water to drink and bathe but we still went down to the creeks to explore.We were grateful for the way God opened doors for us to share His Word and pray for people, especially in the bars (this is a mining community so there's lots of rum shops). One of the shop owners commented on how we didn't come to condemn people, but to love them and that that's why people were so open. The pastor is excited about the changes he is seeing and he feels that a time of harvest is soon to come. It's good to be a part of things so much bigger than ourselves.
In the meantime, our literacy club in Parika has grown to 50+ children and a few more volunteers. Several teachers and parents have commented on the improvement they see in their kids and some teachers are sending their own children to the club. A local church donated more benches and Karen and I are asking for wisdom in handing over our classes as we'll both be leaving soon. I'm definitely going to miss these kids.
Thank you for staying in touch. God bless you. -eM
They helped build a bridge across a nearby canal that will facilitate tractors, making work more effecient for local famers.
Aneesha and Sam pose with children at Parika Public School where the team assisted in classes or just took over when the teacher failed to show up.
Here they are mixing cement to build the stairs to the second floor of our "new" building.
Amanda teaches one of our literacy club classes.
Johnny helps Avaseena read a book.
Julia assists with Vidya's class.
The children love to stick around and play cricket and tag after class.
Attendance has signifacntly increased in our literacy club since the Jamaica team arrived.
While the ladies had an evening Bible study, the men went cayman hunting. Winston caught this one with his bare hands. We kept him around for a few weeks and then released him to his home in the canal. We called him Stanely.
Expressing Jesus' love to young and old.
Half the team spent a day constructing 2 walking bridges for some elderly neighbours across the street from us while the rest of the team helped a local farmer clear some land to plant plantain.
Johnny and Aneesha enjoy refreshing coconut water after a morning of hard work.
It tastes SO good!
We had a few movie and testimony nights in some nearby communities.
Anneika makes new friends.
As I've been getting ready for my interior trip, I haven't had time to acquire more pics of our DTS graduation but here's one of me and students Vanessa and Amar at our final dinner. Graduation happened this afternoon and tomorrow morning I'm leaving early to fly to a village called Imbaimadai on the Mazaruni River. The Jamaica team has been there since last week helping in the school and church. I'm going up with supplies and an eager anticipation that I will see Jesus in those I meet and be a light for Him.
Having fun with my new hair. My friend Stacy spent about 12 hours braiding in the extensions. I never thought I could endure such an escapade but I ejoyed spending time with Stacy.
Thanks so much for staying in touch. There is much more to write but I really need to catch some zzz's as I leave at 6:15 tomorrow morning! Please pray for a safe journey to the interior.
Easter Monday was spent flying kites at the ballfield with my delightful neighbours Sindy and Rondey. This is probably my favourite day in Guyana as the perfect blue sky is adorned with kites of all shapes, colours and sizes. Kids had been picking gamma cherries (to make glue to put together their kites) in our yard all week. Other than yelling at a drunk man to “go away!” it was a pleasant experience -always a joy to spend time with these young friends of mine.
On Thursday we woke to torrential showers and over-flowing trenches. The waters quickly rose in our yard and soon enough the guys were paddling around it in our canoe. Some of us hurrie
Paul and Melissa enjoying an activity in class...
Ever wonder what happens to those Christmas shoeboxes? Karen helps distribute gifts to kids in the community for Samaritan`s Purse. Below, is a random sign down the road from our place.
Here I am being administrative in our "office," which is Kim's bedroom by night -except when I forget to print something and I have to go in there again in the evening.
Paul and Debbie are back again from the NorthWest Territories, serving with us for 3 months. They are a tremendous blessing in their hard work and in the way they value individuals.In other news, some sad situations have unfolded in our community recently but we are thankful that what is done in darkness is being brought into light so that justice can be exercised. Please pray for us to have wisdom and compassion as we respond to those around us.
A plantain stalk -it's like a banana but bigger and not as sweet. Really tasty when fried. I even like them boiled when they're super ripe.
A pretty flower -in the bird-of-paradise family, I think.
Just as soon as the plane is undloaded, it turns around and takes off, leaving us stranded pretty much in the middle of nowhere. It's a grand adventurous feeling watching the plane disappear.
And the trek continues on foot ...
Into the trees...watch out for snakes!
This time it took about 4 hours for us to reach Chinoweing. What a welcoming sight, as we crested the hill and spotted the village in the distance, knowing we'd soon be able to rest our weary bodies and drink hot tea in the night.
Here I am greeting "Grandmother"
Kim shields an elder from the rain on the way to church.
Norman participated in an Akawaio traditional dance, a rare privilege in the village.
This beautiful mom gave birth in the woods a few hours from the village. Her 3 year-old daughter cut the umbillical cord. I don't know how many days (if any) they waited until mom proceeded to hike back to the village with her 2 children.
Catie and the kids enjoy looking at pictures.
En route to visit a couple of sick men who weren't well enough to come to the clinic themselves -there were 5 of us on the ATV all together. I thought I was going to fall off the whole time. The medicine, blankets, and machetes (very useful tool in the interior) we gave out were greatly appereciated.
Mount Ayangana
I was amused by this poster in Captain Roger's house.
By day 3 we were on our way out. The people of Chinoweing were so thankful for our visit, especially those who are hungry to learn more about God and His Word. There is an eager anticipation for our return sometime in the new year.
The views were breathtaking. God is such an awesome creator.
We lugged a lot of stuff down a really steep mountain. It was seemingly impossible but the Lord gave us strength and agility. During the entire trip I think I only fell over twice.
Five hours of almost non-stop hiking is follow by 2 hours of boating on the Mazaruni River. When others moved to the bottom of the boat I was grateful for a chance to stretch out. I definitely felt the journey in my muscles and joints but it was kind of a satisfying pain.
We spent 2 days in Imbaimadai, a mining village on the river. I volunteered at the children's feeding program and visited people I'd met on previous trips. We also blessed the school with textbooks and a pencil sharpener. I am so looking forward to going again!
