back to Our Walk of Faith
Saturday, November 24th (continued)
This evening when we got home, Lolly and her husband, Rafael, were at the house We were able to share quite a bit of testimony with them. Rafael is struggling to take that step of faith to walk in the paths of the Lord. We encouraged him to just try Jesus because the life with Him is incredible! It's worth everything!
Eliseo bought pizza for the family, and we had our last dessert, Jell-o with Cool Whip.
Sunday, November 25th
We were ready to go this morning at 7 am because that's the time Pastor Rafael told us to be ready. We quickly learned that Kuna time is even different from Latino time!!
We were thankful for the time though...it gave me a chance to talk to Sarah and Megan, my best friends. It's been months since I've heard their voices. They were doing really well. Mike and Megan (maybe you remember them...they came to visit us right after Christmas last year in Pearlington, MS.) just had a baby boy, McGarry Nicholas Updegraff!! I was also able to send a few more e-mails and work on the Spanish page a little bit more. I'm still behind on both, but on the islands, I won't be able to do anything! Chris hung out with Lonnie and watched soccer games. Plus we were able to eat one more delicious meal that Nana prepared!!
Lolly and Rafael came to visit with us again, and not too long after they left, Pastor Rafael called. He apologized for the delay...the truck that they were going to take broke down, and they were searching for another one. We finally met up with the group that was going and headed out around 4 or 4:30 pm. (It was really hard to say goodbye to Lonnie, Nana, and the family...I shed a few tears as we were leaving the house!!)
And so the adventure began...we stopped to ask about road conditions along the way before we turned off the paved road. They warned that if it hadn't rained, we'd be okay, but if it had, we'd have trouble passing. Then we turned onto a red clay road. Oh my! Chris was riding in the back with the camera, so we weren't able to take pictures because he was holding on for dear life back there! On the worst of the hills, it took us 3 tries before we made it up on the 4th attempt. We were praying like crazy...the road was more muddy than I've ever seen in my life, and I used to go muddin' with the guys when I was growing up! And the road was "dry"!!! We never would have made it walking...we would have sunk in several places well up to our calves. Imagine trying to walk that with a 30-40 pound pack on your back! Praise God for His provision!!
Then we got to where the road ended...there used to be a bridge, but the river carried it away years ago. We unloaded all the supplies that we were carrying and carried them down the muddy slope to the river where we loaded all the stuff into the boat. (We learned that all the food was for the children...tomorrow is the last day of school, so they are celebrating all day!) When we got to Carti Mulatupu around 8:30 or 9 pm (the island where we are staying), the whole town was waiting. They helped unload the supplies and carry them into the school. (4 to 5 hours to travel 60 miles!!) There they divided all the food up between the parents. It was their responsibility to cook for the kids--breakfast and lunch tomorrow! It was 11 o'clock before we knew it, so we headed to bed!!
Monday, November 26th
Time here is sooooo different! It's great! We spent the morning with Yeli (Pastor Rafael's oldest daughter) having a lesson in Kuna! Then we helped decorate one of the classrooms for the party. We played with the kids...jacks, soccer, and other random games! Then we came back in the afternoon and took a nap!
We had been warned not to eat the food or drink the water, but we really don't have an option. We couldn't bring food and water for an indefinite period of time...God brought us this way though. It is His plan and His Word says that He has "plans to prosper us and not to harm us." (Jeremiah 29:11) We also know that He told His disciples to eat the food that they were given when He sent them out. We are simply being obedient to what He has called us to. His name is at stake, so we can trust that He WILL be glorified though keeping us well. We will be able to give testimony to His protection on our bodies for the rest of our lives!
Other things to share about the island...no electricity, so at night they use kerosene lamps to light the rooms. No bathrooms...just outhouses OVER the ocean! Yes, those are fish! We can see 10 or so islands from this island. We have to be careful of who we take pictures of...if it's someone that we don't know they could get really angry or charge us $1! The little kids are terrified of us...they run when they see us coming...especially the little girls. (We have no idea why!!) To bathe, it's a bucket bath over the ocean! Most of the houses are made of bamboo and straw thatched roofs. Everyone sleeps in hammocks because almost everyone has sand or dirt floors. (Our room is right by the ocean so the waves lull us to sleep nightly!!) I'll write more as I observe other things.
Tuesday, November 27th
Today we helped one of the teachers clean up her classroom and played with the kids again. Yoidin, Josias, Agar are Pastor Rafael y Yomaida's other 3 kids who are on the island. The other 2 are going to school in Panama City. Nubelkis, Nathan, Yazmeri, and Yair are Vicente y Rafaelina's kids. Jonathan is Yeli's son. Gladys y Rafealina are Pastor Rafael's sisters, and Clemintina is their mom. Their uncle, Rufino, also lives here! That's the whole crew. We've been playing a ton with the kids here at the house today too! They are finally getting over their shyness with us!
In the early afternoon, Chris went with Vicente, his brother, and Grande en Dios (nickname that means Big in God) to find water on another island. The pump on this island broke, so they have to find water now...there is a little hole at Pastor Rafael's house that fills up with "Agua Dulce" (fresh water) that we can dip out of.
Yomaida and Rafaelina make molas to sell when the cruise ships come...this afternoon, one of the cruise ships came in, so Chris and I helped them hurry to carry stuff to their boat. Then they rushed over in the boat to the island where the cruise ship was docking!
Today they also had Chicha fuerte...it's a celebration that families have for their daughters when they reach puberty. The Chicha is a fermented, home-brewed drink with LOTS of ingredients and everyone goes to drink it. The people believe that the more Chicha they drink, the greater their reward will be in heaven. Talk about mixed up!! On some islands, it is obligatory for everyone over the age of 10 or 12 to drink the chicha...there are no exceptions! If a person doesn't participate they are greatly punished! Thankfully, Carti Mulatupo (where we are) is not one of those island! Chris and I went in for a few minutes...very interesting...the men were chanting. This tradition and others such as going to witch doctors and making communal decisions has made it very difficult for the Gospel to spread on these islands! Please pray for favor for us as we continue our journey! We are spending extra time in prayer right now...it's the key to making things happen.
We are hoping for an opportunity to share with the kids. They can only have church on the days that they don't have Congreso (community meetings), so that means on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and then only if they can find gasoline at a nearby island to run the church's generator. (Gas is nearly $5 per gallon and has to be brought in on merchant ships...the merchant ships are scarce in December through March because of the high tides and huge waves.) The rest of the days of the week, they have Congreso!
Pastor Rafael is very active in the community...the Sahila (Chief) on the island has a lot of respect for him. We met Sahilla Ospaldo yesterday and talked with him again today. He's a medicine man...lots of bondage on the island! We're praying for a breakthrough!
Tonight Pastor Rafael borrowed the generator from the school (the church's is being repaired in Panama City) to show End of the Spear and another Christian movie called Winning is for Everyone. He does that each time that there is Chicha fuerte to offer an option for people who don't want to go...it also provides a safe place for the children!
Wednesday, November 28th
Today we went to the school again...it feels like the old days for us--cleaning out classrooms, moving books, etc. Chris helped move books to their storage place for the vacations! I played jacks again with the kids...I'm starting to get the hang of it now.
When we came back to the house, we talked to Pastor Rafael about the 10-40 window and the movies that we watched last night! My heart is very burdened even for these islands...the Gospel has arrived here, but there is so much tradition...it's been hard to breakthrough because some of the pastors don't realized that some of the traditions are against what the Bible teaches. Plus, these communities make decisions as a group...being a part of the group is part of their culture. It's easy for me to see and to say what I think needs to happen. But if they do what I think needs to happen, can they be an agent of change in their communities? These pastors and Christians in the Kuna Yala need the Holy Spirit's guidance and discernment!!
Pastor Rafael also gave me another lesson in Kuna while Chris played soccer with the boys. I'm hoping to teach even if it's just a little bit in Kuna tomorrow when we meet with the kids!
The teachers hand delivered report cards today. When Nathan's teacher came, she also gave him his work folder. He's in kindergarten, so he had a book on learning to read...in Kuna! (They were the first class of students who are being taught through bilingual education in the indigenous communities!) So Nathan also gave me a lesson in Kuna today!!
We spent more time with the family and called it a night.
More about the Kuna: A typical breakfast and supper here on the island is a peice of bread (if there is bread on the island...again the flour must be brought in by merchant ships that are few and far between in these months) and a cup of hot chocolate, corn drink (mashed up corn boiled in water with sugar added to sweeten it), or coffee. Lunch is usually a little larger...we've eaten Tule Masi (Kuna food) several days...soup made of green (not ripe) plantains and sometimes moe (a type of gourd) with coconut juice along with a peice of fried fish...some days there's Kool-aid to drink and other days there's nothing. Other days we've eaten rice and beans for lunch.
About half the people go around barefoot...some of the little kid's feet have broken my heart...they are cracked and split and super dirty!
December, January, and February are the months with the highest tides and the biggest waves. It's the most dangerous time to travel between islands!! We know that God has a plan in all of this...He knew when we would arrive! He will recieve all the glory!!
Thursday, November 29th
This morning when we woke up there was no bread on the entire island. We had a tasty cup of hot chocolate and went to the school again...Arnulio (the director), the Sahila, Pastor Rafael (the community liaison), and the teachers made out the budget. Chris and I swept the outside of the school. Then Chris played soccer...his feet are used to shoes, so he's got some whopping blood blisters on the bottoms of his feet now. He enjoyed it a ton though!!
When we came back to the house, Yomaida had crabs (the largest I've ever seen in my life) and lobster!! We were so excited! This is normal for them though...they live on the ocean! (We had crab, rice and beans today for lunch and Yomaida told us that we'd have lobster tomorrow for lunch!!)
We met with the kids today...I did my best to tell the story in Kuna...I think they understood. The songs in Spanish were a flop. It was definitely one of the most discouraging times with the children I've experienced in a really long time. Language is soooo important! I'm just praying that as God gives us other opportunities on the islands that He will give me more words or a translator!! I will have to completely rely on the Holy Spirit...there's nothing of my effort that will help them understand! It's His job anyway...that's just hard for me to deal with though. I'm going to work on a few songs in Kuna...either learn some that they sing or translate some that I know. Be praying about that!
Tonight we were sitting around with the family, and Arnulio came over. He started talking to us more than normal. Without realized what was happening or planning it out, the Holy Spirit began guiding our conversation. Arnulio has experienced a lot of hurt in his life, and he's never made a decision to follow Jesus. He's gone to church his entire life!!!! (How many others are there like him who are sitting in the pews beside us on Sunday mornings?!!) He's seeking purpose for his life and guidance, but he doesn't know where to look or who can show him. Praise God for this open door! We explained why he needed Jesus as his Savior, and he wanted to pray right then. Then we prayed with him about his family situation. We explained to him that purpose and direction come from God...through reading His Word and being in fellowship with other believers! Before he left, he asked if we could write a couple of verses down for him to carry in his pocket!! He also wanted us to write down some good places to start reading in the Bible!! Glory to God!
We're looking forward to another conversation tomorrow with him! I have to be amazed at God's timing...if we would have arrived earlier, Arnulio would have been teaching and very involved in school...very little time to talk. If we had arrived later, he would have already left the island for "summer" vacation! Also...we were supposed to have church tonight, but we couldn't because there was no gasoline! God uses everything for His glory!! When he left, it was time to go to sleep, so we called it a night!
More about the Kuna: Where do you throw your trash away if you are on a densely populated island? In the ocean! I couldn't believe it...and I can't quite get used to it!!
Friday, November 30th
Today, Vicente, Nubelkis, Yeli, Johnathan, and Agar all left for La Ciudad de Panamá. We woke up to see them off. The teachers were also leaving...yesterday was their last day. Only Arnulio is still here...since he's the acting principal of the school (he doesn't get paid for the job), he has paperwork to do and to turn in. Yerika in the green and white stripes and Eloida (curly, black hair) are the two we've gotten to know best. They are all so excited to see their families again!! For some of them it's been more than a month since they've seen their immediate family and since March since they've seen their extended family!!
We helped clean out the school kitchen today...we hauled most of the stuff out of it because the high waves in the next couple of months could possibly wash it away. The burners and the refrigerator all had to be cleaned out. It was a team effort...the ladies in charge of cooking the daily breakfast for the students, several kids, Pastor Rafael, and us!!!
We wrote for a bit today, and now Chris is working on tearing down a neighbor's house! Cutter ants have taken over, and they can't get rid of them, so they are moving!! Pretty crazy, huh?!
This evening when Pastor Rafael invited us to walk around the island with him...the moon is still pretty full, so we could see to get around. The women had congreso tonight, so we stood outside to hear a little bit. There are 3 hammocks in the center where the Sahila and two other men lay. They Sahila sings and then one of the other men interprets his song for the people. Tonight he was singing about the flood. Interesting...so either God revealed Himself and part of His Word to the Kuna before the Spanish conquistadors and the missionaries came or the Kuna culture and beliefs are mix of ideas from their own religion and the Gospel. I think both are very strong possibilities...I'll tell you more as we observe other islands.
It's amazing how tired we are here...we went to bed pretty early again tonight.
Saturday, December 1st
Today we worked most of the morning. Chris and I prayed and picked out several verses to write down for Arnulio. I forgot how long it takes to write things out by hand!! I'm so used to typing and cutting and pasting on the computer!! Then we prepared for Sunday School with the kids and for the Sunday night service with the adults. For the kid's crafts, we had to hand draw each candle stick...no copier on the islands!
In the afternoon, Chris and I played with the kids at the house and down near the school. Nathan has really stolen our hearts! He's so much fun to play with, plus, he's a great teacher!! We also spent some time talking with Pastor Canto, his family and Arnulio.
They had a special congreso today, so they couldn't have church. Apparently last night, someone broke into the main store on the island and stole a 100 lb sack of sugar. The congreso was to find out who did it and to decide on the punishment. (The islands have their own laws and consequences for breaking those laws, AND the laws vary from island to island!! Yikes! We are going to have to be really careful!!)
Tonight, I had already fallen asleep when Chris asked me about a dog barking. I honestly hadn't noticed and wanted to go back to sleep, so I tried to tell him that it would probably bite him. Unfortunately, once I was awake, I couldn't go back to sleep either because of the barking. So Chris went to check on the situation...the dog was hung up near the canoes...he came back to get me, and we finally freed the dog.
Sunday, December 2nd
This morning when we were telling the family about the dog incident, they told us that it was against the law on the island to let your dog go free at night. If anyone found a loose dog at night, it was okay to kill it for interrupting your sleep! Craziness! Thankfully we didn't know about the law and hopefully they dog made it back home safely!!!!
Sunday School was a lot better than the other day when we met with the kids! They still didn't like the songs very much...big surprise! I know how well English songs go over in Spanish speaking countries!!! BUT I was able to communicate the lesson better today with the help of the Holy Spirit, some translating by the teacher, and acting it out everything possible.
After lunch, Pastor Canto told us that Arnulio wanted to carry us with him to Playón Chico, the island where he had to turn in grades. It was about 1/3 of the way through the islands. We were really excited about the open door!! I think about how we used to complain and be frustrated at the end of the school year--turning in final grades and cumulative folders. I can't imagine having to take the grades by boat in the roughest waves of the year! Not to mention having to stop halfway there at another island to make copies...it's a 3-4 day process JUST to turn the grades in. I just had to export them on my computer from my own classroom!!!!
This afternoon we went with Pastor Canto to Carti Sugdup (where Chris went earlier) to look for water and for gas. While we were there, Pastor Canto wanted us to visit the Baptist mission that had started on the island. When we arrived at Misión Nuevo Jerusalen (New Jerusalem), we met Pastor Odilio, Dr. Jack, and several of the other young men of the church. The pastor has only been at the church just a couple of months, and it's his first church. Dr. Jack has helped out in quite a few churches, so while he's working as a doctor on the island, he is volunteering at the church as well! Dr. Jack has a great testimony of God's provision! He wanted to be a doctor all of his life, but he didn't have money to study. So he prayed...he graduated from their equivalent to high school, but still nothing. So he went to work...growing coconuts, plantains, etc. and fishing in order to provide food for his family, but he kept praying. About 2 years later, God opened the door for him to study in Cuba with all the expenses paid!! While he was in Cuba, God opened the door for him to be a part of the Christian movement that is beginning in that country!! Praise God!
When we got back to Carti Mulatupu (the island where we were staying), Hna Yomaida and Gladys were preparing something called Fruta de Pan (Bread Fruit). It was sooo good. It tasted like french fries...but it doesn't look anything like a potato!!
Our second service in Kuna!! We saw the new Kuna hymnals and even were able to sing along even though we didn't understand a word! I'm beginning to understand more and more of what Chris felt like when we came into Mexico! It was very interesting to see that the majority of the congregation was women and children. It's not like other churches that we've been in where the men were absent from the entire community because of going to the US to work. Definitely an item of prayer!! After the service, they showed a movie...there was still gas in the generator!!
Well, it looks like we'll be heading out tomorrow with Arnulio! Praise God for an open door! We hope that y'all are doing well...we hope to be in touch again soon! God bless you and keep you! We love you a ton!
Saturday, November 24th (continued)
This evening when we got home, Lolly and her husband, Rafael, were at the house We were able to share quite a bit of testimony with them. Rafael is struggling to take that step of faith to walk in the paths of the Lord. We encouraged him to just try Jesus because the life with Him is incredible! It's worth everything!
Eliseo bought pizza for the family, and we had our last dessert, Jell-o with Cool Whip.Sunday, November 25th
We were ready to go this morning at 7 am because that's the time Pastor Rafael told us to be ready. We quickly learned that Kuna time is even different from Latino time!!
We were thankful for the time though...it gave me a chance to talk to Sarah and Megan, my best friends. It's been months since I've heard their voices. They were doing really well. Mike and Megan (maybe you remember them...they came to visit us right after Christmas last year in Pearlington, MS.) just had a baby boy, McGarry Nicholas Updegraff!! I was also able to send a few more e-mails and work on the Spanish page a little bit more. I'm still behind on both, but on the islands, I won't be able to do anything! Chris hung out with Lonnie and watched soccer games. Plus we were able to eat one more delicious meal that Nana prepared!!
Lolly and Rafael came to visit with us again, and not too long after they left, Pastor Rafael called. He apologized for the delay...the truck that they were going to take broke down, and they were searching for another one. We finally met up with the group that was going and headed out around 4 or 4:30 pm. (It was really hard to say goodbye to Lonnie, Nana, and the family...I shed a few tears as we were leaving the house!!)
And so the adventure began...we stopped to ask about road conditions along the way before we turned off the paved road. They warned that if it hadn't rained, we'd be okay, but if it had, we'd have trouble passing. Then we turned onto a red clay road. Oh my! Chris was riding in the back with the camera, so we weren't able to take pictures because he was holding on for dear life back there! On the worst of the hills, it took us 3 tries before we made it up on the 4th attempt. We were praying like crazy...the road was more muddy than I've ever seen in my life, and I used to go muddin' with the guys when I was growing up! And the road was "dry"!!! We never would have made it walking...we would have sunk in several places well up to our calves. Imagine trying to walk that with a 30-40 pound pack on your back! Praise God for His provision!!
Then we got to where the road ended...there used to be a bridge, but the river carried it away years ago. We unloaded all the supplies that we were carrying and carried them down the muddy slope to the river where we loaded all the stuff into the boat. (We learned that all the food was for the children...tomorrow is the last day of school, so they are celebrating all day!) When we got to Carti Mulatupu around 8:30 or 9 pm (the island where we are staying), the whole town was waiting. They helped unload the supplies and carry them into the school. (4 to 5 hours to travel 60 miles!!) There they divided all the food up between the parents. It was their responsibility to cook for the kids--breakfast and lunch tomorrow! It was 11 o'clock before we knew it, so we headed to bed!!
Monday, November 26th
Time here is sooooo different! It's great! We spent the morning with Yeli (Pastor Rafael's oldest daughter) having a lesson in Kuna! Then we helped decorate one of the classrooms for the party. We played with the kids...jacks, soccer, and other random games! Then we came back in the afternoon and took a nap!
We had been warned not to eat the food or drink the water, but we really don't have an option. We couldn't bring food and water for an indefinite period of time...God brought us this way though. It is His plan and His Word says that He has "plans to prosper us and not to harm us." (Jeremiah 29:11) We also know that He told His disciples to eat the food that they were given when He sent them out. We are simply being obedient to what He has called us to. His name is at stake, so we can trust that He WILL be glorified though keeping us well. We will be able to give testimony to His protection on our bodies for the rest of our lives!
Other things to share about the island...no electricity, so at night they use kerosene lamps to light the rooms. No bathrooms...just outhouses OVER the ocean! Yes, those are fish! We can see 10 or so islands from this island. We have to be careful of who we take pictures of...if it's someone that we don't know they could get really angry or charge us $1! The little kids are terrified of us...they run when they see us coming...especially the little girls. (We have no idea why!!) To bathe, it's a bucket bath over the ocean! Most of the houses are made of bamboo and straw thatched roofs. Everyone sleeps in hammocks because almost everyone has sand or dirt floors. (Our room is right by the ocean so the waves lull us to sleep nightly!!) I'll write more as I observe other things.
Tuesday, November 27th
Today we helped one of the teachers clean up her classroom and played with the kids again. Yoidin, Josias, Agar are Pastor Rafael y Yomaida's other 3 kids who are on the island. The other 2 are going to school in Panama City. Nubelkis, Nathan, Yazmeri, and Yair are Vicente y Rafaelina's kids. Jonathan is Yeli's son. Gladys y Rafealina are Pastor Rafael's sisters, and Clemintina is their mom. Their uncle, Rufino, also lives here! That's the whole crew. We've been playing a ton with the kids here at the house today too! They are finally getting over their shyness with us!
In the early afternoon, Chris went with Vicente, his brother, and Grande en Dios (nickname that means Big in God) to find water on another island. The pump on this island broke, so they have to find water now...there is a little hole at Pastor Rafael's house that fills up with "Agua Dulce" (fresh water) that we can dip out of.
Yomaida and Rafaelina make molas to sell when the cruise ships come...this afternoon, one of the cruise ships came in, so Chris and I helped them hurry to carry stuff to their boat. Then they rushed over in the boat to the island where the cruise ship was docking!
Today they also had Chicha fuerte...it's a celebration that families have for their daughters when they reach puberty. The Chicha is a fermented, home-brewed drink with LOTS of ingredients and everyone goes to drink it. The people believe that the more Chicha they drink, the greater their reward will be in heaven. Talk about mixed up!! On some islands, it is obligatory for everyone over the age of 10 or 12 to drink the chicha...there are no exceptions! If a person doesn't participate they are greatly punished! Thankfully, Carti Mulatupo (where we are) is not one of those island! Chris and I went in for a few minutes...very interesting...the men were chanting. This tradition and others such as going to witch doctors and making communal decisions has made it very difficult for the Gospel to spread on these islands! Please pray for favor for us as we continue our journey! We are spending extra time in prayer right now...it's the key to making things happen.
We are hoping for an opportunity to share with the kids. They can only have church on the days that they don't have Congreso (community meetings), so that means on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and then only if they can find gasoline at a nearby island to run the church's generator. (Gas is nearly $5 per gallon and has to be brought in on merchant ships...the merchant ships are scarce in December through March because of the high tides and huge waves.) The rest of the days of the week, they have Congreso!
Pastor Rafael is very active in the community...the Sahila (Chief) on the island has a lot of respect for him. We met Sahilla Ospaldo yesterday and talked with him again today. He's a medicine man...lots of bondage on the island! We're praying for a breakthrough!
Tonight Pastor Rafael borrowed the generator from the school (the church's is being repaired in Panama City) to show End of the Spear and another Christian movie called Winning is for Everyone. He does that each time that there is Chicha fuerte to offer an option for people who don't want to go...it also provides a safe place for the children!
Wednesday, November 28th
Today we went to the school again...it feels like the old days for us--cleaning out classrooms, moving books, etc. Chris helped move books to their storage place for the vacations! I played jacks again with the kids...I'm starting to get the hang of it now.
When we came back to the house, we talked to Pastor Rafael about the 10-40 window and the movies that we watched last night! My heart is very burdened even for these islands...the Gospel has arrived here, but there is so much tradition...it's been hard to breakthrough because some of the pastors don't realized that some of the traditions are against what the Bible teaches. Plus, these communities make decisions as a group...being a part of the group is part of their culture. It's easy for me to see and to say what I think needs to happen. But if they do what I think needs to happen, can they be an agent of change in their communities? These pastors and Christians in the Kuna Yala need the Holy Spirit's guidance and discernment!!
Pastor Rafael also gave me another lesson in Kuna while Chris played soccer with the boys. I'm hoping to teach even if it's just a little bit in Kuna tomorrow when we meet with the kids!
The teachers hand delivered report cards today. When Nathan's teacher came, she also gave him his work folder. He's in kindergarten, so he had a book on learning to read...in Kuna! (They were the first class of students who are being taught through bilingual education in the indigenous communities!) So Nathan also gave me a lesson in Kuna today!!
We spent more time with the family and called it a night.
More about the Kuna: A typical breakfast and supper here on the island is a peice of bread (if there is bread on the island...again the flour must be brought in by merchant ships that are few and far between in these months) and a cup of hot chocolate, corn drink (mashed up corn boiled in water with sugar added to sweeten it), or coffee. Lunch is usually a little larger...we've eaten Tule Masi (Kuna food) several days...soup made of green (not ripe) plantains and sometimes moe (a type of gourd) with coconut juice along with a peice of fried fish...some days there's Kool-aid to drink and other days there's nothing. Other days we've eaten rice and beans for lunch.
About half the people go around barefoot...some of the little kid's feet have broken my heart...they are cracked and split and super dirty!
December, January, and February are the months with the highest tides and the biggest waves. It's the most dangerous time to travel between islands!! We know that God has a plan in all of this...He knew when we would arrive! He will recieve all the glory!!
Thursday, November 29th
This morning when we woke up there was no bread on the entire island. We had a tasty cup of hot chocolate and went to the school again...Arnulio (the director), the Sahila, Pastor Rafael (the community liaison), and the teachers made out the budget. Chris and I swept the outside of the school. Then Chris played soccer...his feet are used to shoes, so he's got some whopping blood blisters on the bottoms of his feet now. He enjoyed it a ton though!!
When we came back to the house, Yomaida had crabs (the largest I've ever seen in my life) and lobster!! We were so excited! This is normal for them though...they live on the ocean! (We had crab, rice and beans today for lunch and Yomaida told us that we'd have lobster tomorrow for lunch!!)
We met with the kids today...I did my best to tell the story in Kuna...I think they understood. The songs in Spanish were a flop. It was definitely one of the most discouraging times with the children I've experienced in a really long time. Language is soooo important! I'm just praying that as God gives us other opportunities on the islands that He will give me more words or a translator!! I will have to completely rely on the Holy Spirit...there's nothing of my effort that will help them understand! It's His job anyway...that's just hard for me to deal with though. I'm going to work on a few songs in Kuna...either learn some that they sing or translate some that I know. Be praying about that!
Tonight we were sitting around with the family, and Arnulio came over. He started talking to us more than normal. Without realized what was happening or planning it out, the Holy Spirit began guiding our conversation. Arnulio has experienced a lot of hurt in his life, and he's never made a decision to follow Jesus. He's gone to church his entire life!!!! (How many others are there like him who are sitting in the pews beside us on Sunday mornings?!!) He's seeking purpose for his life and guidance, but he doesn't know where to look or who can show him. Praise God for this open door! We explained why he needed Jesus as his Savior, and he wanted to pray right then. Then we prayed with him about his family situation. We explained to him that purpose and direction come from God...through reading His Word and being in fellowship with other believers! Before he left, he asked if we could write a couple of verses down for him to carry in his pocket!! He also wanted us to write down some good places to start reading in the Bible!! Glory to God!
We're looking forward to another conversation tomorrow with him! I have to be amazed at God's timing...if we would have arrived earlier, Arnulio would have been teaching and very involved in school...very little time to talk. If we had arrived later, he would have already left the island for "summer" vacation! Also...we were supposed to have church tonight, but we couldn't because there was no gasoline! God uses everything for His glory!! When he left, it was time to go to sleep, so we called it a night!
More about the Kuna: Where do you throw your trash away if you are on a densely populated island? In the ocean! I couldn't believe it...and I can't quite get used to it!!
Friday, November 30th
Today, Vicente, Nubelkis, Yeli, Johnathan, and Agar all left for La Ciudad de Panamá. We woke up to see them off. The teachers were also leaving...yesterday was their last day. Only Arnulio is still here...since he's the acting principal of the school (he doesn't get paid for the job), he has paperwork to do and to turn in. Yerika in the green and white stripes and Eloida (curly, black hair) are the two we've gotten to know best. They are all so excited to see their families again!! For some of them it's been more than a month since they've seen their immediate family and since March since they've seen their extended family!!
We helped clean out the school kitchen today...we hauled most of the stuff out of it because the high waves in the next couple of months could possibly wash it away. The burners and the refrigerator all had to be cleaned out. It was a team effort...the ladies in charge of cooking the daily breakfast for the students, several kids, Pastor Rafael, and us!!!
We wrote for a bit today, and now Chris is working on tearing down a neighbor's house! Cutter ants have taken over, and they can't get rid of them, so they are moving!! Pretty crazy, huh?!
This evening when Pastor Rafael invited us to walk around the island with him...the moon is still pretty full, so we could see to get around. The women had congreso tonight, so we stood outside to hear a little bit. There are 3 hammocks in the center where the Sahila and two other men lay. They Sahila sings and then one of the other men interprets his song for the people. Tonight he was singing about the flood. Interesting...so either God revealed Himself and part of His Word to the Kuna before the Spanish conquistadors and the missionaries came or the Kuna culture and beliefs are mix of ideas from their own religion and the Gospel. I think both are very strong possibilities...I'll tell you more as we observe other islands.
It's amazing how tired we are here...we went to bed pretty early again tonight.
Saturday, December 1st
Today we worked most of the morning. Chris and I prayed and picked out several verses to write down for Arnulio. I forgot how long it takes to write things out by hand!! I'm so used to typing and cutting and pasting on the computer!! Then we prepared for Sunday School with the kids and for the Sunday night service with the adults. For the kid's crafts, we had to hand draw each candle stick...no copier on the islands!
In the afternoon, Chris and I played with the kids at the house and down near the school. Nathan has really stolen our hearts! He's so much fun to play with, plus, he's a great teacher!! We also spent some time talking with Pastor Canto, his family and Arnulio.
They had a special congreso today, so they couldn't have church. Apparently last night, someone broke into the main store on the island and stole a 100 lb sack of sugar. The congreso was to find out who did it and to decide on the punishment. (The islands have their own laws and consequences for breaking those laws, AND the laws vary from island to island!! Yikes! We are going to have to be really careful!!)
Tonight, I had already fallen asleep when Chris asked me about a dog barking. I honestly hadn't noticed and wanted to go back to sleep, so I tried to tell him that it would probably bite him. Unfortunately, once I was awake, I couldn't go back to sleep either because of the barking. So Chris went to check on the situation...the dog was hung up near the canoes...he came back to get me, and we finally freed the dog.
Sunday, December 2nd
This morning when we were telling the family about the dog incident, they told us that it was against the law on the island to let your dog go free at night. If anyone found a loose dog at night, it was okay to kill it for interrupting your sleep! Craziness! Thankfully we didn't know about the law and hopefully they dog made it back home safely!!!!
Sunday School was a lot better than the other day when we met with the kids! They still didn't like the songs very much...big surprise! I know how well English songs go over in Spanish speaking countries!!! BUT I was able to communicate the lesson better today with the help of the Holy Spirit, some translating by the teacher, and acting it out everything possible.
After lunch, Pastor Canto told us that Arnulio wanted to carry us with him to Playón Chico, the island where he had to turn in grades. It was about 1/3 of the way through the islands. We were really excited about the open door!! I think about how we used to complain and be frustrated at the end of the school year--turning in final grades and cumulative folders. I can't imagine having to take the grades by boat in the roughest waves of the year! Not to mention having to stop halfway there at another island to make copies...it's a 3-4 day process JUST to turn the grades in. I just had to export them on my computer from my own classroom!!!!
This afternoon we went with Pastor Canto to Carti Sugdup (where Chris went earlier) to look for water and for gas. While we were there, Pastor Canto wanted us to visit the Baptist mission that had started on the island. When we arrived at Misión Nuevo Jerusalen (New Jerusalem), we met Pastor Odilio, Dr. Jack, and several of the other young men of the church. The pastor has only been at the church just a couple of months, and it's his first church. Dr. Jack has helped out in quite a few churches, so while he's working as a doctor on the island, he is volunteering at the church as well! Dr. Jack has a great testimony of God's provision! He wanted to be a doctor all of his life, but he didn't have money to study. So he prayed...he graduated from their equivalent to high school, but still nothing. So he went to work...growing coconuts, plantains, etc. and fishing in order to provide food for his family, but he kept praying. About 2 years later, God opened the door for him to study in Cuba with all the expenses paid!! While he was in Cuba, God opened the door for him to be a part of the Christian movement that is beginning in that country!! Praise God!
When we got back to Carti Mulatupu (the island where we were staying), Hna Yomaida and Gladys were preparing something called Fruta de Pan (Bread Fruit). It was sooo good. It tasted like french fries...but it doesn't look anything like a potato!!
Our second service in Kuna!! We saw the new Kuna hymnals and even were able to sing along even though we didn't understand a word! I'm beginning to understand more and more of what Chris felt like when we came into Mexico! It was very interesting to see that the majority of the congregation was women and children. It's not like other churches that we've been in where the men were absent from the entire community because of going to the US to work. Definitely an item of prayer!! After the service, they showed a movie...there was still gas in the generator!!
Well, it looks like we'll be heading out tomorrow with Arnulio! Praise God for an open door! We hope that y'all are doing well...we hope to be in touch again soon! God bless you and keep you! We love you a ton!
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