River Trip Day 5 – July 11th

We started the day off at a village that required a little bit of a hike to get to. On the way in, I heard a Jaguar call from the forest. The two Bolivians I was with stopped in their tracks and looked as pale as a Bolivian can look. They proceeded nervously while I eagerly scanned the forest for a glimpse. We made it to the community without an sighting or incident. We stayed long enough to provide medical care and pick up some more grapefruit. Grapefruit, I cannot believe how much grapefruit we ate on this trip. I must have eaten 10-15 a day, maybe more.

Grapefruit, yum

On the river again we got a call over the radio about a pregnant lady on a boat who needed care. We stopped and the doctors saw her then set we out in search of drinking water. We stopped at a spring up on a cliff above the roof of our two story boat. It was only a cliff because of how much the water had dropped. From what I was told, just a few weeks before the spring was reachable from the first level of the boat. This time we had to perform some acrobatics involving filled water bottles being tied to a rope, dangled from a board, and slid to the roof of our boat. The picture below can explain it better than I can.

Gathering water from a spring on a 2 story cliff

Caiman at night

We spent the night at the captain’s father’s farm where we held a culto. His father was a very enthusiastic host and was eager to help in anyway he could. He promised us a cow which was butchered the next morning. That night I went out with the captain and some of the crew on a Caiman/Alligator hunt. Armed with flashlights and a .22, the captain shot two good sized Caiman to add to our food supply.

Tomorrow's Dinner

Poza Verde Retreat

We interrupt this regularly scheduled program for an important update.

Sorry for the delay in the river trip report. We have been busy with a variety of things out in Poza Verde, one of which was a retreat for Ayore believers from around the country. About 60 came from 8 different communities. It was a beautiful time of messages, testimonies, and strengthening of a very disjointed group of believers. The sharing time had to be extended since so many wanted to give their testimonies. Some of the older people shared their testimonies in the traditional song/chant used to share stories. It was also encouraging to see the initiative and leading of this 3 day retreat taken on by Ayoreos and other Bolivian nationals.

7 were baptised at the conference

Day 4 – July 10th Campfire Exchange ~by Jason

*To those of you just tuning in, we have been going day by day, retelling the story of our river trip this past July.  For more photos from this trip click HERE 

Our Capitan

Day 4 – July 10th Campfire Exchange

While on the river, our captain was in communication with various communities and boats by radio. Of course, other people can listen in, including a military port that monitors radio communication on the river. They heard that we were holding medical clinics and requested that we stop and hold a clinic at their base. We stopped but as part of the deal they got a Bible study and a culto (church service) as well. It was a unique opportunity opened by the medical ministry.

The military base has a dark past. During a dictatorship it was here that many people were executed. Last year the river team was asked to stop at the base too. When they stopped, some of the men at the base informed the missionaries that the men were terrified of this one Mango tree on the base. At night they would hear shrieks and other awful sounds from around the tree. Last year they held a prayer meeting around the tree and this year we were able to follow up on the story. We asked around and found that they no longer hear screams from the tree. What an incredible testimony to God’s power over evil.

Back on the river again we reached a dangerous rocky portion of the river. We had to stop on the Brazilian side of the river to hire a local guide to lead us through the rocks. While we waited, we were able to tour an old Spanish fortress.

The Brazilian Fortress

The cracks in the walls has just a few bats

The guide arrived and led us safely through the rocks, well almost through. No sooner did we think we were through and the guide left did we hit a large submerged rock which gave us a good scare but fortunately caused no damage.

Amazon Kingfisher (Chloroceryla amazona)

Our next stop was at a family’s farm. Here we fished for Piranha and Surubi (large catfish) for dinner. That night we held a culto for the family by a campfire. I thought about the fact that we had stopped and were putting so much effort into visiting just one family’s farm. Such a river trip takes a lot of time, energy, and money to run. My North American concept of “productivity” of course had to question whether it was worth stopping for just one family. Perhaps not, but that is not the standard such a trip should be measured by. Seeing just how meaningful our visit was to the family made me remember that our life endeavors should be measured by the lives we touch with God’s love.

Surubi we caught for dinner

After the culto we had a little campfire cultural exchange. We taught the Bolivians how to toast marshmallows over a fire. They were a bit wary of our strange custom but those brave enough to try really enjoyed the treat. They in turn showed us how to toast plantains in a fire which took significantly longer than marshmallows but were never the less a tasty treat.

You can join us next year for a river trip! If you are interested, let us know!

Day 3: July 9th by Jenna

We woke up already at the first community on the list to visit. Everyone got off the boat to head up the banks to do a medical clinic and a small VBS for the children of the area.

Dr. Sunny working with some patients

The medical clinics are often small, but the people definitely appreciate the service. We have those who desire medical attention line up. We take their name and ask a general overview of what’s wrong and then hand them a number to be called when the doctors are ready to see them. Medical problems ranged from the simple cough/sniffles, aches and pains to minor surgery (i.e. ingrown toe-nails). We also had a portable pharmacy that went along to the clinic where patients could receive free medication, although often its only Tylenol and Ibuprofen that are given.

Jesse manning the pharmacy

As we were waiting with people in line at the first community we also happened to notice growing not very far away- cranberry hibiscus!! Jason and I asked the group if they knew what the plant was but nobody knew what it was or what it was for! Jason (and me too) felt the need to educate all- far and near of the benefits and edibility of the plant. He even went dispersing samples among the crowd waiting for the medical clinic. I think the people really enjoyed finding out the nutritional benefits of the plant and after trying some I have hope that they will actually implement it in their cooking.

Noah was really fun to have with us as well. He is a great ice-breaker. He immediately was passed around all the ladies of the community. He even ended up taking a short nap on someone’s bed! Everyone loves his big smiles and his blue eyes- even if they think his mother should keep his feet covered in 95 degree weather.

A pregnant lady practicing with Noah

By the time VBS and the medical clinic were over the last 3 people of our group joined us (after an adventure with car break-downs and multiple forms of transportation to get there). We ate lunch on the boat and headed on down the river. That afternoon we briefly stopped in 2 small communities where several people came to the boat to receive medical care.

Singing some songs with the kids for VBS

Day 2 - July 8, 2010 – Dolphins, and Tapirs, and Jaguars Oh My!

Our Boats

There were quite a few engorged visitors in my mosquito net by morning. Jenna and Noah were able to avoid the plague in their screened-in cabin where the girls slept. Noah had the added protecting of his baby travel tent which is completely bug proof.

Top: The last of the group to arive; Bottom: Blue-and-Yellow Macaws (Ara ararauna)

We set sail around noon after Greg arrived with another flight of passengers. As we set off we ate leftover Armadillo and watched the pod of Pink Amazon Dolphins that accompanied us. Our boat was actually two large flat-bottom boats tied side-by-side. There was another boat like ours who was going our way so they tied up to us until our next port. And so we cruised the Machupo River like a logjam of 4 boats. We spent the rest of the day and night traveling, the only day with no stops along the way. We were to meet the last of our passengers in the next port.

Checking the river depth

Pink Amazon River Dolphins (Inia geoffrensis)

Capybara Family (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris)

The Tapir that was almost dinner

This day was the most wildlife filled day of the trip, probably because the river was most narrow at this point. We saw countless water birds, Pink Amazon Dolphins, Capybara (the worlds biggest rodent), a Jaguar (which only I saw, the others were just too slow to look when I yelled “Tigre!”. Really! I saw one!), and a Tapir. The Tapir caused quite a stir on both our boat and the other. Apparently they are good eating and so the Bolivians were frantically trying to find a gun. Finally the Capitan of the other boat pulled out an old 9mm and tried shooting it like he were holding a small rifle. Needless to say he missed. He tried again but the old rusted gun jammed. At this point we were so close I practically could have jumped out and brought him back by hand, but the gun was not to fire again so the Tapir lived to see another day. Though I would have liked to add Tapir to my list of odd foods I have tried in my travels, I was glad to see the awesome creature climb the bank to safety, especially since Tapir numbers are dropping rapidly in much of South America.

Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus)

White-necked Heron (Ardea cocoi)

The star-littered night on the river was beautiful. I tried a new method of attaching my mosquito net and I managed to sleep slightly better in a hammock. The next day our village visits would begin.

Sunset on the Machupo River

Beni River Trip: Day 1 - July 7, 2010

I am sorry this has taken so long but here is the story on our river trip. Since it was just too exciting to summarize in one post, I decided to take you day by day through our journey by writing one post per day, basicly copying my journal from the trip. Check back regularly for more updates from our river trip.


Day 1 - July 7, 2010

We were somewhat rushed getting ready to leave for our river trip since last minute we were told the trip date had been moved up because the river water level was dropping fast and getting dangerously low. We were hardly unpacked from our San Jose/Santiago trip before we started packing for this trip.

Greg, our mission pilot, flew Jenna, Noah, and I to the city of Trinidad and then to San Joaquin in the Beni region of Bolivia where we met up with our boat. The Beni is the northeastern part of Bolivia and consists of many rivers, all part of the Amazon basin river system. This is the more “jungle” or rainforest part of Bolivia.

We were wondering how Noah would fair the ride in a small aircraft. He slept. Noah never ceases to amaze us just how easy going he his. He has handled all the traveling we have put him through in his short life as if he was born for such a lifestyle, much to his parents’ relief. The flight was a little turbulent but it was beautiful watching the Bolivian landscape from the air. As we flew further from the more developed parts of Bolivia, trees reclaimed the land broken only by snaking rivers and oxbow lakes. In some of these oxbow lakes I could see giant Victoria Lilies, the worlds largest lily pads, from the air. It was beautiful to see so much land yet uncut and un-carved by humans.

San Joaquin, the port where we met the boat

In Trinidad, while Greg refueled the plane, Jenna and I desperately searched for sustenance since we had missed lunch. We found a restaurant but they were not serving anything since it was between lunch and dinner (they have much more defined meal times here). After much debate, we managed to finagle a few pieces of bread from them. They could not understand why on earth we wanted to buy just the bread they were going to make into sandwiches to sell later.

Armadillo for dinner

Once in San Joaquin we made our way down to the river where we boarded the two boats (tied together to make one super boat) that would be our home for the next 10 days. We ate a dinner of rice, eggs, bread, and stewed armadillo (boney but good). Afterwards the crew pulled out their instruments and belted out some Spanish worship songs. It was beautiful to listen to them on the river under a clear night sky dusted with billions of stars. Little did I know those songs would be played morning, day, and night at every conceivable opportunity for the next 10 days. I crawled into my hammock and attempted to construct a mosquito net over me. It was, to borrow the current common vernacular in the States right now that I learned on our breif visit back, an “epic fail”. It would take me another two nights to perfect the use of a mosquito net over a hammock.

Chilling with Noah in my "bed"

Return to FUA and Santiago

*Due to internet issues, I was not able to add photos.  I will try again later but for now you can see photos from this trip at: http://picasaweb.google.com/JayWeigner/OrangeHillTeamJune2010?feat=directlink *


This past week a team from a church in Georgia came down to work with our team. The first night they spent out our house before the 28 of us made the long journey out to the communities we were going to work with. Our first stop was San Jose, a painful 6.5 hours from our house down red rock roads that resembled the surface of Mars and roads covered in dust as fine as flour that envelope our car and clogged our lungs. More than once I had to use the windshield wipers for dust rather than rain. At one point several vehicles blocked the road and some guy mentioned we could not pass and used some word I did not understand. When the road in front of us suddenly exploded in a cloud of dust and rock, and the concussion rocked out car I realized the guy had said "dinamita" or in English "dynamite".

We spent the night in San Jose, after working out some double booking issues at the hotel, and then went to the village of FUA in the forest outside of San Jose. FUA is a community of Ayoreos who wanted to get their kids away from the influences of drugs and prostitution that are common in other Ayoreo communities. We spent the day visiting with the Ayoreos, conducting a medical clinic, a VBS for the kids, and constructing a rain water catchment system on the roof of the school and church to help alleviate some of the water problems in the community. We are hoping that a well will soon be dug in the community.

After our time in FUA, we moved on to Santiago (Bolivia not Chile), a small town in the middle of nowhere which is quickly becoming one of my favorite places on Earth. The road out to Santiago was nothing like there previous trip, it was actually a real highway! To wonderful hours on a smooth highway with painted line, rumble strips, guard rails, real road signs, and reflectors, then a short dirt road and we were to Santiago. Why there is such a beautiful highway out in the middle of nowhere and then such awful roads between major cities I will never know. One the way we stopped at a hot spring and had a baptism for one missionary family's 3 kids.

Santiago is a clean, quiet little town at the base of a fantastic plateau system. There is even a small orchestra in the town that put on a little concert for us. We spent the next few days working on building an extension on the back of the church and conducting several VBS and adult services. Noah did just fine with all the traveling and picked up another grandmother along the way. One of the ladies on the team snatched him up and hardly let go until she had to go back to the states. The extra set of willing arms was a real blessing on this trip since it freed us up a bit more.

Over all, the trip went smoothly, that is until the return trip. Both our car and one of the other trucks began to overheat. The truck was leaking oil like water from a faucet. We had to buy 4 or 5 four liter containers of oil to pour into the truck every hour and managed to limp it home. Our car was not so fortunate. It sprung several leaks in the radiator system and blew a head gasket (or something like that, can you tell I'm not a mechanic?). The bleeding truck towed our car the 2 hours back to San Jose where we found a mechanic who is currently still working on it. Since we were down a vehicle, we had to send some of the group back by train while the others squeezed into the remaining cars. I was going to go back by train and pick up my car this week, but today I found out that our Beni river trip was moved up to TOMORROW and so someone else will have to pick it up for us. Today we spent franticly packing and preparing for our river trip. Always the adventure!

For more photos from this trip, visit: http://picasaweb.google.com/JayWeigner/OrangeHillTeamJune2010?feat=directlink