I've been in Huaticocha for more than two weeks now and my life is anything but boring. Using a bucket of water to take showers, having two bathrooms- one for #1 and one for #2, using a pitcher of water to flush the toilet, and using some of the main modes of transportation- a bus, an air bus (a bus with a roof and benches, no sides), and a cow truck (caution: it smells and watch your step!). All of the fun stuff.
A summary of our daily schedule is as follows:
- Breakfast at 7
- Walk a mile to the work site at 8
- Lunch at 12:30
- House visits/free time until 4
- English class from 4-6
- Dinner at 7
- Family (team) time after dinner
We work Monday through Thursday. Friday is our day off. Saturday and Sunday we do activities with the community and then we have church. On our day off, we might go to Loreto which is the next town over, hike a waterfall, or swim in the river with the Jungle Boys (more on them later).
When we first came to Huaticocha, work consisted of clearing an area so we could build a path. Once we finished that, we then moved a giant pile of dirt and rocks from the main road to the area where we were working. Not easy! Doing that for 4 hours kills your body, specifically your upper body because of you're using wheel barrels. We have now just started clearing out most of the vegitation with a machete. Lawn mowing takes on a whole new meaning! After 3-4 hrs of that, you'll definitely have a blister or two. We also have the assitance of the Jungle Boys! The Jungle Boys are: Brawlio (we named him Bradley) who is 15, Juan is 12, Jovanni is 10, and Philippe is 8. These are some of the hardest working boys I've ever met! While most of us were taking half a wheel barrel full of dirt and rocks, these boys were taking full ones. You can always count on these boys for hard work, fun and laughter. Playing tricks is one of their trademarks. They know I'm an easy target because I always scream the most!
We started teaching English classes on Monday. Each day the classes grow more and more. We separate the younger kids from the older ones. Anyone under 15 is taught by Jamie, Sam, Glenn and I. Anyone older is taught by Emily and Steven. Thursday we had 20 kids and 10 teenagers/adults! The purpose of these classes is to not only teach them English, but to also build relationships with them, tell them about the Lord, and invite them to church. They are so eager to learn. Most, if not all, of them have never seen a white person, or a Gringo, before. Or in my case, because I'm mixed, an Afro-Gringa! (Gotta love the Jungle Boys!)
Despite the bi-polar weather, the bruises and blisters from working, and the bugs that feast on your body, life is good. I'm with my new family, my team. My host family- Ivan, Nancey and their little boy Isaac- is wonderful. And I love my Jungle Boys. We have fun and do crazy stuff. Glenn, Steven and I, each got a chance to kill a chicken this week! It's easier than I thought. You have someone hold down the body, while you grab it by the head, twist it's neck and saw it off! Glenn was the messiest and Steven was the cleanest. I even got to see the chicken get plucked and cleaned. Other than keeping the chicken itself, they keep the heart, kidney, head and feet. The head and feet are for flavor (I have had a foot in my soup), unless you are brave enough to eat them (No Bueno!!). That would be the craziest thing I've done thus far. God is good!
Thank you to everyone who reads my blog. It means so much to me and I really appreciate it. Please continue to keep my team and I in your prayers. Blessings to all!! (Pictures to follow)
