Back from the Jungle

Well, I survived my first 3 nights in the jungle. It was a very humbling experience. I know how to do nothing. The whole hygiene thing is something I am still learning. I seem to fall every 10 steps. Me and mud just aren´t friends. My Spanish is getting better day by day. Two of the girls sat down with me for an hour one night and just pointed to thing and said their Spanish name. It was beneficial. I had to get used to the sleeping as well. We go to bed around 7:00 PM. Yes, you read right. So, around midnight, I am wide awake. It is crazy. Tuesday night, I think I was in bed at 6. Never in my life have I gotten this much sleep!! Slowly I am picking up how to do things.

I provide the entertainment for the 3 girls in training. It seems I am always doing something worth a good laugh. The other day we had to cross the log bridge (about 10 ft above the extremely shallow water) and my shoes were carrying an excessive amount of mud. There was no way on earth I was getting across without falling . . . so what did I do? Yup, crawled across on all fours. They thought that was the funniest thing they had seen yet! Man, it is crazy.

I am now back in the city for a few days. I think Graham and I go back to camp on Sunday. Whew. I will never again take for granted indoor plumbing. Things are still good though. Some days are harder than others. But the Father is greater than those ´off´days.

I will be taking my camera with me this time, so hopefully next time I post, I can put up some pictures on my living arrangements!!!

Thanks for the prayers. They are appreciated.

Welcome to the Jungle!!

I am here . . . and have spent my first full day living in the jungle . . . minus the camping out part.

I was dropped off and had to hike to camp. This trek was downhill, muddy, and required crossing a good ol´ log bridge about 10 feet over the water. It was crazy, but I made it. Upon arriving at the camp, I met up with the only Spanish-speaking xtremers and we hiked back over the log bridge to go find food. Yes, my first experience in the jungle and I had to catch my food!! As we got to this piece of land, it began to rain (of course it would!) and we were left to chase a chicken through the mud and the muck. When I use the term ¨we¨ , I use it rather loosely. I watched. They asked me to wring its neck . . . I passed this time. Next, we had to go fetch some water . . . and of course it was down a muddy hill. Needless to say, I wiped out and decided to go down the rest of the way on my right knee. It was a sight to behold. I began to realize that I was the source of entertainment for these 3 girls. If you go down, you have to go back up. I slipped and slided all over, but arrived back at the little house we were cooking in. I was dripping wet (remember it was raining?) and covered in mud. One of the girls looks at me and says, ¨Ah, Xtremo!¨ It was funny. They helped me learn a few new things in Spanish and all was well. Later this afternoon, we chopped down a tree and then cut it into firewood. I tell you, they weren´t joking when they gave this team the name Xtreme. No sir.

My first experience was good. I am tired. I stink. And I think I still have bugs in my pants. But all is well. It is still hard. But His Grace is sufficient (thanks friend, for the reminder).

Until next time . . .