Team Sweet Heat was invited to come and learn about Amerindian culture in an area near the Pomeroon river in Guyana.
The day started off with our host Jessica feeding us an amazing breakfast, consisting of organic eggs, organic fresh fruit, and fried plantains in coconut oil. To add to the array of amazing foods to try she also had some of the best coffee we have had in all of Guyana which just so happened to come from the United States, along with a with a handheld juicer and bowl of fresh organic fruit oranges and grapefruit and lemons you could squeeze and make your own juice.
(Susan Bealor photo credit)
As we finish our coffee, we got ourselves ready for the day equipped and with our swimming costume(swim suite), for we would be swimming later in the afternoon. We set off on boat journey for about one hour ride to the village of Wakapoa. The people that live in Wakapoa are from the Arawak tribe, and the pastor of the church wanted to meet us. As we arrive to Wakapoa we were greeted by Pastor Isaac and welcome into the church to take part in a little service with the few church members that could make it. We worship together. We were so excited to have the honor and privilege to meet and pray with the church members of tribe. As we close the service Candace lead a prayer over the church members and the village. You could feel God’s presence. It was a powerful time of prayer and very thick presence tears were flowing.
Afterwards, we fellowship with the people talking and sharing with them God’s blessings. We were then invited over to the pastors house for is wife was going to show us how to make cassava bread.
Cassava is a root found in Guyana, and is used to make cassava bread which is a main staple in the Arawak people diet. There’s a long process in making cassava bread, and it turns out that if not prepared properly cassava is poisonous. So it is very important to follow every step very carefully. There are serval steps and because we didn’t have very much time, we where able to partake in the two last steps. I along with Candace, we’re able to sift the cassava through a hand made sifter. While we were doing that the ladies got the fire going. The area where we were making the cassava bread was small, and some of the team ended up walking a bit down by the river and playing in the dug out canoe.
While they were away it was time to start making the cassava bread. I was surrounded by Arawak women, in a small cooking shake, preparing a stable food and God showed gave me this scripture,
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
1 Corinthians 9:22 NIV
Though I was not necessarily trying to save them, I felt the Lord was using me to enourage them in their faith, family and culture. As I found joy learning from them they found joy in watching me learn as well. I could see the smile and hear the laughter as I did my best to make cassava bread. As I finished up the bread, my helper Sharon brings to me a jar of peanut butter (not typically what you eat cassava bread with) and it’s also very expensive here she gave it to me to serve with the cassava bread. As we broke bread, our host Jessica was finding it fascinating seeing me serve the natives cassava bread with peanut butter.
In closing, I really want to spent this next year coming alongside and learning from people, sharing in joys and experiences sorrow. Truely becoming all things, Christ like, to win the hearts of many. Taking every opportunity to learn from people, to listen to their dreams, to pray for as many people, always extending the arm of peace!
Guyana has been wonderful, and full if many unexpected surprises! Next stop Suriname!
