i‘ve lived in the jungle for a week now. it’s been bucket showers, hand washing our laundry, no Wifi, and almost constant sweating. there is simplicity and slowness in our days, and i hope this list below offers some insight into what life looks like for me right now.
in honor of thanksgiving, here are things that i’m grateful for:
- a strong cup of black coffee to start each morning.
- i am not the mosquitoes’ favorite.
- teaching bible stories to kids who’ve never heard them.
- Our host, Yola, is an amazing cook. one of my favorite meals we have is jungle beef; which is onions, fries, and steak in a stir fry that you eat with rice.
- it’s been raining consistently all through the night and this morning. all of us slept well under the sound of the drops on our tin roof. it hadn’t rained for several days and our water tank for showers and laundry is glad for this refill.
- peppermint essential oil. it works to cool you down, calm a headache, and stop the itching of bug bites.
- there’s so much green in my every day life. i am living on a farm on the Mariñón River. the first day we got here we jumped in the river in our clothes, with little care that we only have 4 outfits to choose from anyway. getting to ministry requires a boat.
- seeing this captivating country.
- listening to my teammates stories of home.
- the culture of hospitality and open doors. the first day we visited a community looking for the pastor, we stumbled upon a 76 year old’s birthday party and we were welcomed in with smiles and hugs. the family even gave each of us a slice of birthday cake.
- i live with only my team this month instead of being with all the teams on my squad, and it is a good break to be with a smaller community of 9 rather than 40. this introvert is thankful.
- conviction doesn’t come with shame, and grace empowers us to make different choices. i’ve had to repent of escapism and a constant search for entertainment to ask for accountability in being here now. because although im loving this life, in the hours that are empty it’s been easier to fill them with books and movies instead of prayer and presence. im choosing different now.
- on saturday we hiked deeper into the jungle and our guide, Rolando, used his machete to create an open space for us to swing on a vine. we also got to eat fruit from the trees along the way- passionfruit, pineapple, guava, and lychee.
- a talented squad leader who captures all our moments of whimsy and adventure.
pc: Aly Badinger
with love,
Aidyn
