Mosquitoes are probably the most just species in the world. It does not matter what color you are, what gender you are or even if you are living or dead. They will eat you! Them and their millions of cousins. I think that we have a lot to learn from mosquitoes. Like how to fly, and not be killed by humans.
Philosophy time- There are two types of decisions. Good decisions, and decisions that Spencer makes. My motto for this trip has become, "I will try anything once." I am certain that I am going to regret saying that soon.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
explanation
Cool pics huh?
To explain them briefly:
The pictures respectively show some of my adventures.
One of the most incredible experiences that I have had so far was my trip into the Waorani village. For those of you that have not seen the movie "the end of the spear" This is the village responsible for the deaths of 5 missionaries in the 1950's. To access the village, we had to fly in missionary airplanes. flying these planes is the ministry of the pilots. They make you pray, seriously. Sitting in a plane the size of a 2 door Camry is a special experience, especially if your ceiling fan at home has more horsepower than the propeller. If you were not God fearing before you entered the plane you will be scared to death of him by the time you leave. If all of that is not enough, throw in a pilot that lets me take the reins for about three minutes. This is true, I asked the pilot if I could fly and he let me! Immediately as I took over we began to climb. It was such an alien experience.we then veered left and right for a few minutes. Check that one off the bucket list.
the monkeys were a fun experience as well. Equally as scary. Monkeys have no shame. They are curious creatures and have five prehensile appendages. take that however you will. I discovered that I have a unique type of animal magnetism. Just kidding, they only wanted me for my dead skin.
The last picture shows me comfortably at ease on a vine in the amazonian jungle. It was a snake. false, it was just a vine. but now I can sing "Tarzan" with the best of them. Ever notice how Tarzans voice sounds like a thirteen year old boy in his church choir?
To explain them briefly:
The pictures respectively show some of my adventures.
One of the most incredible experiences that I have had so far was my trip into the Waorani village. For those of you that have not seen the movie "the end of the spear" This is the village responsible for the deaths of 5 missionaries in the 1950's. To access the village, we had to fly in missionary airplanes. flying these planes is the ministry of the pilots. They make you pray, seriously. Sitting in a plane the size of a 2 door Camry is a special experience, especially if your ceiling fan at home has more horsepower than the propeller. If you were not God fearing before you entered the plane you will be scared to death of him by the time you leave. If all of that is not enough, throw in a pilot that lets me take the reins for about three minutes. This is true, I asked the pilot if I could fly and he let me! Immediately as I took over we began to climb. It was such an alien experience.we then veered left and right for a few minutes. Check that one off the bucket list.
the monkeys were a fun experience as well. Equally as scary. Monkeys have no shame. They are curious creatures and have five prehensile appendages. take that however you will. I discovered that I have a unique type of animal magnetism. Just kidding, they only wanted me for my dead skin.
The last picture shows me comfortably at ease on a vine in the amazonian jungle. It was a snake. false, it was just a vine. but now I can sing "Tarzan" with the best of them. Ever notice how Tarzans voice sounds like a thirteen year old boy in his church choir?
Monday, June 7, 2010
May 30th
Sometimes a fish will jump out of wáter of its own accord and land in a boat. I think that in those times, it must think, “Oh dear, this is not where I expected to be a few minutes ago.” I have spent the last couple of days walking on thin structural beams while I try to be a roofer. I do not mean to brag, but the height would make most people woozy just thinking about it. About 8 feet high.
It is different for me to realize that building a church is ministry, even if it is not direct interaction with people. I shocked myself with the welding machine. I did not tell anyone here, because I was embarrassed.
Each night, when I return to the hotel, I accompany a group of people to the roof of the hotel to look out over the city and see the lights. Last night we also had a shadow puppet show. If you have never experienced this, you are a loser. Try to make a camel or a triceratops.
I am expanding my food vernacular as well. I can now add Tilapia fish to my list of things that I have tried. I have two lists that look very similar. One says, “Things that I have tried recently” the other says, “Things that I do not want to try again”. I am only kidding… kind of.
Tonight I took a walk in the rain along a farm road. It was one of the most fun things that I have done here so far. Together with a group of anonymous adventurers who shall remain nameless, we walked until we reached a fence that stopped us. I won’t tell who was in the group. Even if you torture me.
It is different for me to realize that building a church is ministry, even if it is not direct interaction with people. I shocked myself with the welding machine. I did not tell anyone here, because I was embarrassed.
Each night, when I return to the hotel, I accompany a group of people to the roof of the hotel to look out over the city and see the lights. Last night we also had a shadow puppet show. If you have never experienced this, you are a loser. Try to make a camel or a triceratops.
I am expanding my food vernacular as well. I can now add Tilapia fish to my list of things that I have tried. I have two lists that look very similar. One says, “Things that I have tried recently” the other says, “Things that I do not want to try again”. I am only kidding… kind of.
Tonight I took a walk in the rain along a farm road. It was one of the most fun things that I have done here so far. Together with a group of anonymous adventurers who shall remain nameless, we walked until we reached a fence that stopped us. I won’t tell who was in the group. Even if you torture me.
May 29th
Went to church today at a local congregation. It was great, there were about 25 Gringos and about 6 indigenous people. You know those people that sing harmonies during church worship songs? They crack me up.
The sermon was translated into English by one of our leaders, she did an excellent job! There were so many times that I would have said, “I do not know what he said but I am sure it was very spiritual. As a matter of fact, I sometimes feel like that during sermons in English. Christians are weird.
I am looking forward to our next destination, it is a little more vacation style. I am tired and sore from working or roofs. The majority of the time, I am not actually working but just kind of helping. Today I was working with Harrison the Ecuadorian construction manager, while everyone else went to an indigenous community. I felt cool because the only time that I actually did any work was right when every body passed. I was precariously balanced on an inclined roof beam, hauling some heavy pieces of metal. Just another day in the life I guess.
The sermon was translated into English by one of our leaders, she did an excellent job! There were so many times that I would have said, “I do not know what he said but I am sure it was very spiritual. As a matter of fact, I sometimes feel like that during sermons in English. Christians are weird.
I am looking forward to our next destination, it is a little more vacation style. I am tired and sore from working or roofs. The majority of the time, I am not actually working but just kind of helping. Today I was working with Harrison the Ecuadorian construction manager, while everyone else went to an indigenous community. I felt cool because the only time that I actually did any work was right when every body passed. I was precariously balanced on an inclined roof beam, hauling some heavy pieces of metal. Just another day in the life I guess.
May 28th
It does not matter when we get there, the fun just started at the side of the road!
Some travel conditions are unforeseeable. For example, you never know when you will encounter a traffic jam, or maybe a detour…or an active volcano. Wait.
The day we left the seminary for the jungle, my good friend Tunguarahua decided to blow it’s top. Ridiculous! We passed very close to the volcano it self by pressed on. We were not going to let something small like a natural disaster keep us from our destination. As we continued along the ash dusted roads, we noticed a strange smell. Normally in a van with 15 adolescents, this is expected. But this was different, and sure enough as soon as the burning rubber tickled my nostrils, we pulled over to address our flat tire. On a secluded Andean mountain road, I pretended to know what to do. Luckily there was a gentleman who became a great friend, who could easily join a NASCAR pit crew if he wanted to. We took off once again, passing through mountains with hidden lakes and waterfalls around every bend. I spent a significant portion of the trip with my head literally out of the window.
The adventures had only just begun. I could go on to tell you about downed bridges, and I will. In America, when there is a bridge down, people get frustrated, turn around and drive through their anger. In Ecuador, people smile, turn the wheel a little but, and drive through the river. All I could think about was that silly computer game “The Amazon trail”. I did not want to tell anyone that I never made it all the way to the Amazon in the game because I died trying to ford the river. I expect to have some photos and maybe even videos up soon.
Without expanding all of the details, it is easy to say that we encountered many challenges along the way, but by the help of our supportive community and the holy trinity, we made it. What a beautiful metaphor for life, isn’t it?
Oh yeah, our 7 hour drive took 26 hours.
Some travel conditions are unforeseeable. For example, you never know when you will encounter a traffic jam, or maybe a detour…or an active volcano. Wait.
The day we left the seminary for the jungle, my good friend Tunguarahua decided to blow it’s top. Ridiculous! We passed very close to the volcano it self by pressed on. We were not going to let something small like a natural disaster keep us from our destination. As we continued along the ash dusted roads, we noticed a strange smell. Normally in a van with 15 adolescents, this is expected. But this was different, and sure enough as soon as the burning rubber tickled my nostrils, we pulled over to address our flat tire. On a secluded Andean mountain road, I pretended to know what to do. Luckily there was a gentleman who became a great friend, who could easily join a NASCAR pit crew if he wanted to. We took off once again, passing through mountains with hidden lakes and waterfalls around every bend. I spent a significant portion of the trip with my head literally out of the window.
The adventures had only just begun. I could go on to tell you about downed bridges, and I will. In America, when there is a bridge down, people get frustrated, turn around and drive through their anger. In Ecuador, people smile, turn the wheel a little but, and drive through the river. All I could think about was that silly computer game “The Amazon trail”. I did not want to tell anyone that I never made it all the way to the Amazon in the game because I died trying to ford the river. I expect to have some photos and maybe even videos up soon.
Without expanding all of the details, it is easy to say that we encountered many challenges along the way, but by the help of our supportive community and the holy trinity, we made it. What a beautiful metaphor for life, isn’t it?
Oh yeah, our 7 hour drive took 26 hours.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Back!
Hello all!
I have returned from the land of monkeys and jaguars! I will be updating very soon! There is so much to tell.
I have returned from the land of monkeys and jaguars! I will be updating very soon! There is so much to tell.
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