Jungle Service Trip: Arajuno

Hey friends.  About a week ago, I got back from a service trip in a small jungle community with a group of 10 guys from Nebraska and 2 Colombians, plus a Colombian volunteer that is working in Riobamba, Ecuador.  The week we spent there was truly amazing.  I had a great time interacting with the people from the community and enjoyed trying to learn a bit of Kichwa, their native language.  It was also a fun experience being the "tour guide" and translator for the group.  Below, I have attached a small article that I wrote about the experience for VMM's Connections magazine.  It will hopefully give you a little insight into our trip along with the photos I have attached.

“Good morning.”  “Buenos dias.”  “Alli punsha.”

In the small Ecuadorian jungle community of Arajuno, these three languages, English, Spanish and Kichwa, flowed together harmoniously as a group of 10 men from Nebraska, 3 Colombians and I worked alongside the local indigenous people to help them construct a new church building.

During a week of hard work defined by new experiences, further cultural understanding, and ultimately cross-cultural unity, we managed to make impressive progress in the construction that we had set out to accomplish.   Nevertheless, as we cleaned up the last of our tools, gathered together to say our goodbyes and made our way out of the jungle on a winding gravel road, I couldn’t help but think that the construction that we had completed was just the tip of the iceberg. 

In reality, we had done much more than simply help provide a place for Iglesia Esperanza Viva to have their Sunday morning services and Wednesday evening Bible studies.  We had shared meals together, sweated under the hot jungle sun side by side, played soccer together, laughed together despite language barriers, attempted to learn phrases from each other’s respective languages (which contributed to more laughter), and learned about each other’s families and ways of life.  We had demonstrated and received love and solidarity that transcends physical structures.

In my short 23 years of life, there are few things that I have experienced that make me feel as satisfied and fulfilled as sharing and receiving love through actions.  On a human level, if unifies and purifies us and on a spiritual level, we grow closer to God who is the source of life and love.  May we continue to seek unity and understanding in a world full of separation and brokenness.  

Drinking "chicha".  A local drink made by boiling yucca, smashing it, then having the women of the community chew it and spit it out and then letting it ferment for several days.  It's an interesting tangy taste to say the least.  The majority of the local people drink various "bowls" of chicha everyday.  On the construction site, they exclusively drank chicha as the women served us constantly.

Working on leveling the floor before pouring concrete.

Our swimming hole after work.

Lunch time.

Getting the mix ready.

Whats left of the McCully house.  Ed McCully was among the 5 missionaries killed in 1956 by the nearby Huaorani indigenous community (a story that I'm sure some of you remember).  He lived in Arajuno (where we were working) and used the small Arajuno airstrip to fly out to the community where they were eventually killed.  Interestingly enough, in the construction project, we worked alongside an older man who walked a day through the jungle to help recover the bodies when they were killed.  Another man who we worked with in the construction was Huaorani and the grandson of one of the people from the tribe who was involved in killing the missionaries.  

Probably the most skillful chainsaw display I have ever seen.  We ran out of wood for the supports to pour concrete, so they went back into the jungle, found a tree, and effortlessly cut perfect boards with a chainsaw.

Perfect boards.  Already cut to the right dimensions.  Amazing.

Having some fun.

Pouring the concrete.

The whole group.