Excellente!

The 8 of us were greeted at the Tarapoto San Martin airport by the arms of friends. Last years trip running kids programs had established ground support for this years work in the Lamas, Tarapoto and Chazuta. The girls were put up at Tedy's house, while us blokes and Sybil were put up at Gregorio's. Delfin's snoring had somewhat subsided, either that or we were getting used to it. While cold showers were a great wake up in the morning, the flow rate in Gregorio's shower soon got rid of any complaints and dirt.

The first 4 day's were based around Gregorio directing us to a village at the end of a road and working our way back. It was a blessing for this length of the trip to have pastor's with us who spoke the local Quechua language, who could carry on the conversation and break into song at random. Gregorio's cry of "Excellente!" when things were going our way reminded us of Mr Burns (The Simpsons) so we soon introduced him to the hand actions. His collection of "Westerns" theme songs had us whistling at the most random of times.

While our trip to San Ramon was based out of a van seating all of us and the occasional hitch-hikers, our day trips in Lamas were now done via 2wd Hilux dual cabs. The tray had sides added to serve as transport for both material and the materials owners so while 4 to 6 passengers was common in the cabin outward, the return trip included up to 6 originals and an additional 6 passengers in the tray, 2 large bundles of wood, 1 bag of oranges, a sack of oranges and a branch of unripe bananas; being paid in pineapples and oranges was common.

With roads being basic dirt tracks the throwing around in the tray left myself with a bruised hip and a very sore rear end from being whacked by the guard rails on the ute. Simon also copped a beating, others used the plank offered as seat but few of us will not be sitting quite right for a while. It was not much of an option to not make friends in many cases. Toll collectors armed with guns gave us a quick inspection but were happy with a some coinage. Our trip to Chazuta was somewhat more relaxing. We were put up by the local pastor and the trips to the villages were via boats seating 18.

Since in many cases we were provided for by the local parish the food was more of a concern for us. We were soon tired of chicken soup, boiled banana and Tapioca (here called Euka) the soup of dried salted fish was the most difficult to stomach but all managed a good portion. Days of being served coconuts and oranges although infinitely better than the fish soup, soon had us wishing for both somewhere to take a leak and some more substantial food in our stomach.

The distribution of cassettes was very successful: Chiefs and pastors were in the area so were able to be talked to. When your day starts by meeting the chief and he invites you inside while the rain comes in for a while, it can only be a good start. While our previous trips had the villages with various levels of dependency on outside employment either via tourism or working for outsiders, the villagers in San Martin were able to provide for themselves and sell some on to provide for additional items such as Tedy's dentistry.

We were this time working in both meeting the church/village and distributing in lump, or visiting house to house. While many were not willing to admit to know and use the local language, it soon became apparent that many did understand what was being said and were quite happy to receive the cassettes and CDs. With the wealthy villages it was noticed that more and more were requesting the CDs. The difference with San Ramon was dramatic.

Visits to schools were successful with much material handed out but some families were still without means to play the recordings and some children left not quite sure what they could have had. Happily with the churches already existing in the area we were able to bypass many of the introductions, and begin the distribution. It is a prayer that the tapes be used in ministry for both the people in the church but also be used in teaching those families not yet reached by the gospel. We are also blessed with the churches existing and being able to provide the follow up that will be lacking for San Ramon

The return to Tarapoto and a quick reunion with our Lamas friends was again turned to sadness as we boarded our plane back to Lima.