The Mazaruni

On March 1st, our team of Canadians, Guyanese and one American boarded a Cessna Caravan just outside Georgetown and headed west to the Mazaruni District. We flew over seemingly endless jungle and breathtaking views of waterfalls spilling into windy rivers that snaked their way through lush forests. The scenery was magnificent, wild, timeless.
There was no time to waste at ChiChi landing -we had to bust a move if we were going to reach Chinoweing before nightfall (snakes come out in the dark). Captain Rodger urged us to hurry up as we started our three-hour hike across the savanah, through forests and over creeks to this remote village, home for about 500 Akawaio people.We spent a week there with the village captain and his family assisting at the health centre, sharing in church, visiting homes, giving out clothes, and doing stories and games with children after school. We also showed a few Christian films on the new community television (electricity came from the solar panels on top of the school building). Here I am with Clara.
The people of Chinoweing were welcoming and kind, thankful that we came to serve their community. I was amazed at how God has revealed Himself to them over time. An elderly lady explained how her grandmother used to have late night revelations (usually in song form) about how they should live. When they found out about the Bible, they realized what God had spoken to the grandmother in the night lined up with teachings found in the Bible. Thanks to the dedication of Wycliffe workers, parts of the Bible have recently been translated into Akawaio.I am floored by the toughness of these people. As I hung out with Clara in the clinic, I met families who had walked 5 hours from a neighbouring village just so mom could get her pregnancy check-up. After we left, we got word that Rodger's mother fell and broke her collar bone. She then walked the 3 hours out to ChiChi airstrip so she could get flown to Georgetown hospital!

We were blessed to be a blessing in this beautiful place and are happy to have built relationships there. Seeing their needs and their hunger for discipleship inspired us to keep praying for the Akawaio and to work with them again in the future. Captain Rodger said to us, “Our population is not growing. I do not know what is wrong. Maybe we need more fertilizer.” We pray that God gives the Akawaio leaders wisdom in the wake of inevitable change.

IMBAIMADAI

Leaving Chinoweing, we hiked 4 hours to the Mazaruni River where we were met with a boat that carried us about an hour north to Imbaimadai. Compared to Chinoweing, this mining town is urban central with rum shops playing loud music into the wee hours of the night and the unfortunately familiar, “psst, psst” from local men.

Nursie, the healthcare worker showed up during our team meeting the morning after we arrived and looked at me, “Are you ready?” A pregnant lady was having contractions and Nursie wanted me to come with her for the delivery. Kim and I grabbed our stuff and hurried behind Nursie as the pathways turned into a 40-minute slip-n-slide in the pouring rain. Beautiful, tiny Caroline was born at 3:07pm.
Our ministries in Imbaimadai included helping with the children's feeding program, doing church stuff, and teaching on HIV/AIDS and abstinence in school. We also visited people in their homes, gave out clothes, and played with the children after school.

We had a blast hanging out with the gold miners who stayed with us at the church -big brawny men who hack their shelter out of the bush and hike out on weekends to teach Sunday school – they play a wicked game of musical chairs, too.

Those who had been there before were encouraged to see more Christians in the community and people who want to take a stand against the injustices toward children (incest and molestation are common). A few of us met with a couple of the school teachers to discuss how we can be of assistance in exposing “things done in darkness” and bringing the necessary people to justice. We left Imabaimadai with a hope that it will become a place where miners go not only to refuel their engines but also to refill their spirit as the presence of God moves in the village.

Thank you so much for your prayers during this time. God was evident in so many ways and He protected us from snakes even when Eunice had a close call. Look carefully at the next photo and see if you can find it. I would post more pics but they take forever to load so you'll have to wait till I get home!"He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals his thoughts to man, hw who turns dawn to darkness, and treads the high places of the earth - the LORD God Almighty is his name." Amos 4:13