Scene 1:
5:30 AM ~~ [Lying in bed]
Thank you Jesus. It is a privilege and honor to be able to celebrate my savior today. Here I am 2000+ years in the future, hundreds of miles from my family, and a short life-span from home yet still mesmerized by your majesty and benevolence.
(Enter obnoxiously loud jungle noises)
Eyes open briefly then quickly close… prayer continues…
And Jesus I just want it to be about you today. I let go of my expectations of what Christmas is supposed to look like.
(Obnoxiously loud jungle noises rage on, increasing in intensity)
Thoughts slightly stray… covers over head… prayer continues…
I love you Lord. Thank you for life and another breath. Thank you for a new day to serve you. Thank you for a loving family back home, and a lovely new family to enjoy fellowship with here. Jesus thank you for…
In one motion… covers off… left elbow hits wall… right arm extended off bed…
Empty look at the ceiling…
(At this point it sounds like Congo is taking place in our room)
What… the…. Hell?!?!?
Go to sleep monkeys
Rolls eyes… Thoughts stray completely…
If they do happen to be man eating Gorillas… I have time. They will get the bottom bunk first. Sorry Phil, it’s called sacrificial love.
Scene 2:
Making the move from the bed to the hammock outside. Itouch consisting of my bible, podcasts, and music in hand.
70 degrees and a gentle breeze, heaven can’t be far away. I think I will just lie here and enjoy creation in all its glory, along with the undeniable presence of the Lord. Thank you so much Jesus!
Head phones in… Ravenhill podcast on… head shifts to the right… eyes slowly fade…
Zzzzz…. “Dex dex”… [Enter Espanol interpretation] I open my eyes and it is 15 year old Julio 8 inches away from my face. “Dex, I need you to come chase down these loose cows.”
What?!?
Walking to the gate… Julio points at 2 cows in the middle of the narrow road…
” I need you to get those cows back up this hill to the pasture. I will wait for you at the gate.”
Seriously… aight this can’t be that difficult, I mean look at them they are stopped on the side of the road eating grass.
Descent toward the cows begins. Their behavior becomes ever more skittish… Breaks branch off of tree.
This should not be a problem. I will just get behind them and hit their tails with this stick until they move back up the road.
The cows take off the wrong direction. I take off after them.
[Breathing Heavily] Is this really happening right now?…..[Breath] these… are… the… fastest cows alive…
Two cows are at full Gallop. I am at full sprint. Cows stop several times, but each time I get close they take off again. Gasping for air they finally stop long enough for me to get past them. Bent over, pleading for breath.
That’s right cows! I ain’t playin… [Breath] You’re going home. Let’s go.
Greeted at the gate by Julio, “Why are you so out of breath Dex?” ………….
Scene 3
It is time for breakfast and a nice jog through the hills. After which some of the team assembles, and we head down the road on a fishing adventure to a local river. A misty rain fills the air. Julio tags along and of course he is set to show us how it is done. Hand fishing in the river!
using a branch as a pitchin mound chuckin fruit sized acorns at us.
