So here is the official update of our 2 weeks in the Amazon Jungle:
We took the army truck for about 3 miles deep into the jungle, and that was quite an experience.
got attacked by spikey bamboo
then.. we arrived at our new home and it was amazing and so beautiful.
So the deal with our time in the jungle orphanage, was that actually only some of the kids (mainly all boys) where in jungle, while the girls and the rest of the kids stayed at the orphanage in Cusco. What they are trying to do at the orphanage at the jungle is to farm and eventually be able to support themselves off of that. They also want to be able to give the kids plots of land. The main work here was alot of farm work, that Freddy and Kale and the guys did, including the children, and then we helped cook and wash clothes and chuck corn and stuff. Their daughter who´s 17 was there, and God gave us a ton of great opportunities to talk to her and bless her with some girl time and prayer and stuff. Before we came she was the only girl, and it was nice to be able to get close with her and just be a light to her. Shes so awesome. Because they were all boys, it was harder to relate to them, but they really loved Freddy and Kale and that was so cool. During our time there, one of the girls came to help, who had been a child in the orphanage and is now 22. She actually did a DTS in Argentina. It was awesome to get close to her as well. My spanish improved soo much during this time, and the kids would help me and laugh when I made mistakes, but it was such a cool time. We were able to have a Valentines Day Party and we handed out glowsticks to the kids and had a great time.
Freddy and Kale got a lot done on the farm, with clearing land, digging holes and planting trees, harvesting corn, etc. Really great opportunity to bless this family.
The girls and I did do some manly work too when we weren't cooking and washing and stuff, such as going in to get groceries barefoot out by the street (8 K walk through knee deep mud @ times). We did that twice, and that was so eye-opening, because they had to do this about every 4 days. We also had to pick up these bags of chicken poo for fertilizer that were days old in the sun.. that was humbling :)
It was such a great experience and I was so thankful that we could bless and help out this family.
Here was some of the random jungle fun!:
they have a pet monkey called "Pancho" (I was in heaven!)
Cooking homemade tortillas.. all day :)
found a caedmon alligator! and kept it as our new pet!
found a terancula too!
swung from tarzan jungle vine! hahaha
we all had girl time and went to the river to swim. p.s. the gun elina has is wooden and the boys made it..
the path we went on for our grocery trek
Eaten alive by bugs.. and my arm for some reason got really messed up from it but is getting better :)
ya.. can I just say God's amazing!
and here is a video of our travels deep into the jungle:
Gosh I have so many more pics and videos and stuff to show you all but the internet is being really slow and I have to get to sleep because I have a cold. But hopefully I can show you more later. Also, I will update you more on plans here in Cusco later on. But so far its been really good. Starting a bit slower because now everyone is a little sick and also just adjusting to the altitude and stuff. But its soo beautiful here and I absolutely love it. I am so excited to see all that God has for this city and our time here. I am learning so much and growing so much in God. Also, I forgot to mention that 3 members of our team got their money later so we met them in Cusco. So that´s also such a blessing to be reunited with them.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and support. I really appreciate it, and I know my team does too. Love and miss you!
