Saturday we went to our new friend Roberto´s church. He´s the president to the boatman´s assn on Bastimentos and an Elder in the church. The sermon was given by a youth group leader. it was a good word. about God´s People right after their first big victory. beating Jericho. The next challenge was the little town of Ai. Thinking they were pretty big stuff and forgetting their recent win was totally God, they said to themselves "we can beat them with one hand tied behind our back". " it's a little town, we'll just send 3000 soldiers". Well Ai kicked their butts. We fall into the same kind of thinking. We forget that living victoriously means keeping up our spiritual discipline( forgiving/confessing, praying, meditating ,etc), remembering that we are totally dependent on God, and following God's orders as best as we can.
In this little town ( no roads just one sidewalk that runs along the waterfront and another that runs up the hill) the evening hang out is a little park above the public dock. We sat with everyone else looking out to sea which was lit now and again by distant lightning. pretty quiet ... that is until the kids got 2 dogs worked up and a dogfight got going.
Sunday 10/6 up early. Goodbye to our "tree-house". As we approach the dock, Roberto's son pops his head out his window. "Heading out?" quickly we are led out to the boat and climb aboard. It's a 10 minute trip to Bocas town. from there we arrange a water taxi to the mainland. We are headed for the nature preserve of San San Pond Sak, which is managed by the environmental group Assn of AMigos y VEcinos de la COsta y la NAturleza or AAMVECONA. we negociate passage on a couple of diffierent buses through Chiquita's vast banana plantations.
When we arrive at the visitor center all is quiet. I'm hoping I was clear in my telephone communications, especially since it was all in Spanish. Soon a big canoe with an outboard pulls up at the dock. It's our guide, Erick.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
in Bocas del Toro
Hola Amigos!
Jane and I flew up to Bocas del Toro, an island group on the Carribean close to Costa Rica. Weather is great , mostly sunny and a welcome relief from Panama City which was pretty sloppy while we were there. Yesterday after flying in we were able to catch a bus to the far end of the island which interestingly is called Boca del Drago (Dragon´s Maw). It was anything but .... Calm water, just like a big swimming pool. When I have goggles on I think I can swim better, maybe it´s because when I can see where I´m going, I don´t tend to swim in circles.
Today ( 10- 3) I decided to rent a bike to get to wild beach that has no bus. I thought I was doing good when I got them to pump up the tires and raise the seat. Well ....30 minutes in the tire popped. you know a tire patch kit and a pump are a good idea to have along even if it´s not your bike. I was close enough to the beach ( 2 to 3 miles) that I decided to lock up the bike and walk the rest otf the way. Beautiful beach all along the way. When I got to my destination , it was as empty as the Washington coast on a rainy day in October, but it was sunny there was lots of powdery yellow sand , and the water was perfect. We need some coconut palms up our way. On my way back I got to my bike just as a pick up truck taxi was loading up 2 other guys and their bikes. they let me share and turned out to be a couple of Spaniards, Frank and his cousin. You know a flat tire doesn´t have to be a disaster...
When I got back Jane and I bumped into a couple in a cafe, Seth and Janelle Lambert from the Battleground WA area who are down here working with a friend Bobby Woods who is starting a work to assist indigenous people Ngobe-Bugle living on Isla Bastimentos to improve their farming so they can better support themselves. we had a good talk about their work and what we are doing in Honduras with our friends at Agros and Nuevo Amanecer. God´s people are all over doing good.Bobby´s blog is on www.woodupdate.com and his new website is aguadulce.org.
10-4 We left early on a boat to Isla Bastimentos. We arrived in Old Bank a small Afro-Caribbean enclave and went to a small guest house in a jungle garden setting. Beverly´s Hill.Like being in a treehouse we could sit on the porch and wait for the birds to com to us.Not just birds but tiny red frogs speckled with black spots which are famous around here.In some ways it was almost like home, we had chickens clucking and scratching about too.
Later Jane and I took off walking on a trail up the hill through the Jungle on our way to Wizard Beach. at the top of the Hill was the aptly named Up the Hill Shop, a colorful outdoorsy hangout where one could sit and read (there was a bookcase full of novels and nature books) and drink coffee or juice and eat brownies. I had a Mocha made with Coconut milk. Great! The brownies also made with coconut oil. Delicious! They grow their own Cocoa, Coconuts,Passion-fruit,etc..So fortified we slipped and slid our way down the hill to Wizard Beach. A Fantastic place! I really am going to have to learn how to surf...
More later amigos. Gilberto.
Jane and I flew up to Bocas del Toro, an island group on the Carribean close to Costa Rica. Weather is great , mostly sunny and a welcome relief from Panama City which was pretty sloppy while we were there. Yesterday after flying in we were able to catch a bus to the far end of the island which interestingly is called Boca del Drago (Dragon´s Maw). It was anything but .... Calm water, just like a big swimming pool. When I have goggles on I think I can swim better, maybe it´s because when I can see where I´m going, I don´t tend to swim in circles.
Today ( 10- 3) I decided to rent a bike to get to wild beach that has no bus. I thought I was doing good when I got them to pump up the tires and raise the seat. Well ....30 minutes in the tire popped. you know a tire patch kit and a pump are a good idea to have along even if it´s not your bike. I was close enough to the beach ( 2 to 3 miles) that I decided to lock up the bike and walk the rest otf the way. Beautiful beach all along the way. When I got to my destination , it was as empty as the Washington coast on a rainy day in October, but it was sunny there was lots of powdery yellow sand , and the water was perfect. We need some coconut palms up our way. On my way back I got to my bike just as a pick up truck taxi was loading up 2 other guys and their bikes. they let me share and turned out to be a couple of Spaniards, Frank and his cousin. You know a flat tire doesn´t have to be a disaster...
When I got back Jane and I bumped into a couple in a cafe, Seth and Janelle Lambert from the Battleground WA area who are down here working with a friend Bobby Woods who is starting a work to assist indigenous people Ngobe-Bugle living on Isla Bastimentos to improve their farming so they can better support themselves. we had a good talk about their work and what we are doing in Honduras with our friends at Agros and Nuevo Amanecer. God´s people are all over doing good.Bobby´s blog is on www.woodupdate.com and his new website is aguadulce.org.
10-4 We left early on a boat to Isla Bastimentos. We arrived in Old Bank a small Afro-Caribbean enclave and went to a small guest house in a jungle garden setting. Beverly´s Hill.Like being in a treehouse we could sit on the porch and wait for the birds to com to us.Not just birds but tiny red frogs speckled with black spots which are famous around here.In some ways it was almost like home, we had chickens clucking and scratching about too.
Later Jane and I took off walking on a trail up the hill through the Jungle on our way to Wizard Beach. at the top of the Hill was the aptly named Up the Hill Shop, a colorful outdoorsy hangout where one could sit and read (there was a bookcase full of novels and nature books) and drink coffee or juice and eat brownies. I had a Mocha made with Coconut milk. Great! The brownies also made with coconut oil. Delicious! They grow their own Cocoa, Coconuts,Passion-fruit,etc..So fortified we slipped and slid our way down the hill to Wizard Beach. A Fantastic place! I really am going to have to learn how to surf...
More later amigos. Gilberto.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
From Honduras to Panama
Hi from Panama!
Just finished a memorable week in Honduras. We were helping dig holes for power poles. The ground is hard, hard, hard. Not the job we were expecting, but important for the community. They need to assure that they have a reliable source of water for drinking and irrigation, which will require not just a well ,but electricity to run the pump. The government has commited to provide the equipment and we're providing the set up.
It's been hard for the people. bad weather, tough market , health issues, fewer hands (some young men have left) have made it tough to pay off the loans and the interest. The help they've been recieving from Agros is due to start winding down. We're trying to see how we can continue to stay with them thru the transition. I'm realizing that when it comes to commitments all of them have to consider the long term when we're talking communities and families.
No backing up now. our hearts are half in Honduras and half in Seattle. Our team has become a Fellowship of the Ring. We will continue talking and solution seeking and praying thru this next year.
It's rainy season down here and Panama is showing us what that means. Monsoon like rain has been pouring down all afternoon. Our bus was like a landing craft from which we waded to the curb. Jane and I are on our own now. We'll have a little more time for reflecting and I hope to set some of our thoughts and impressions down.
Til Later, Gilberto.
Just finished a memorable week in Honduras. We were helping dig holes for power poles. The ground is hard, hard, hard. Not the job we were expecting, but important for the community. They need to assure that they have a reliable source of water for drinking and irrigation, which will require not just a well ,but electricity to run the pump. The government has commited to provide the equipment and we're providing the set up.
It's been hard for the people. bad weather, tough market , health issues, fewer hands (some young men have left) have made it tough to pay off the loans and the interest. The help they've been recieving from Agros is due to start winding down. We're trying to see how we can continue to stay with them thru the transition. I'm realizing that when it comes to commitments all of them have to consider the long term when we're talking communities and families.
No backing up now. our hearts are half in Honduras and half in Seattle. Our team has become a Fellowship of the Ring. We will continue talking and solution seeking and praying thru this next year.
It's rainy season down here and Panama is showing us what that means. Monsoon like rain has been pouring down all afternoon. Our bus was like a landing craft from which we waded to the curb. Jane and I are on our own now. We'll have a little more time for reflecting and I hope to set some of our thoughts and impressions down.
Til Later, Gilberto.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Return to Honduras
Hola amigos! Yes we are returning to Honduras! We fly out of SeaTac on Friday. Jane and I are joining 8 friends from Bethany Presby. on a service team to support our brothers and sisters in Nuevo Amanecer as they continue their efforts to earn their own land and support their families by farming. We will be catching up on what's been going on as well as assisting with planting and irrigation projects. Assuring a stable supply of water for their farms and families is a big issue right now and we're working to raise funds for drilling a well.
I'm excited to see our friends again. It's been a year and a half since I saw them last. This is the first team Jane's been on, so she's a little nervous. I'm just getting things packed together. Sprayed my clothes to discourage mosquitoes. Nothing like a trip to the tropics to get you asking those questions " When was your last typhoid shot?" We plan to visit Panama later so we need a stronger anti-malarial... Who knew?
I will try to add to my blog while we're down there. Do send me your questions. I'll do my best to fill you in. We appreciate your prayers and good wishes.Til later!
Gilberto
Lamentations 3:22-25. God is good to those who wait on him.
Hola amigos! Yes we are returning to Honduras! We fly out of SeaTac on Friday. Jane and I are joining 8 friends from Bethany Presby. on a service team to support our brothers and sisters in Nuevo Amanecer as they continue their efforts to earn their own land and support their families by farming. We will be catching up on what's been going on as well as assisting with planting and irrigation projects. Assuring a stable supply of water for their farms and families is a big issue right now and we're working to raise funds for drilling a well.
I'm excited to see our friends again. It's been a year and a half since I saw them last. This is the first team Jane's been on, so she's a little nervous. I'm just getting things packed together. Sprayed my clothes to discourage mosquitoes. Nothing like a trip to the tropics to get you asking those questions " When was your last typhoid shot?" We plan to visit Panama later so we need a stronger anti-malarial... Who knew?
I will try to add to my blog while we're down there. Do send me your questions. I'll do my best to fill you in. We appreciate your prayers and good wishes.Til later!
Gilberto
Lamentations 3:22-25. God is good to those who wait on him.
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