Visiting Herkie (now named “Aaron”)

Last week, Aaron and I had the wonderful opportunity of visiting our son on Monkey Island. We became the tour guides and translators for a small group of 6 volunteers visiting from Tennessee. I had mentioned to one woman that we had left our son at Monkey Island, but I failed to clarify that I was referring to a monkey. Apparently I had confused her for a while on that one.

After making a few classic tourist stops, like the Boras, we made the journey in speed boat to Monkey Island. As usual, Luis, the Spider Monkey, greeted us on the boat and escorted us everywhere we went (I’m writing very politely). Within moments of arriving, Herkie appeared and jumped onto Aaron’s shoulders. We were so excited to see him and he even recognized us! We fed him fruit and loved him and squeezed him.

He has gotten thicker since being there. He looks very happy and healthy. It also seems that he is a very popular monkey amongst the staff and visitors. We were informed that he frequently sneaks indoors at night and sleeps in a hammock. He also likes to have his neck and belly rubbed. On top of that, he has a monkey fiancé, Ariana, but we did not see her (FYI: his type is monogamous). The family living there told us they intertwine their tails together when sleeping. He has found his life partner! The other two monkeys of his type on the island, Tarzan and Jane, were frolicking in the trees, too shy to say hi. I imagine that “Aaron”, Ariana, Tarzan and Jane go on double dates together, singing in the tree tops.

We are happy to see Herkie-Aaron doing well at his university, learning to be a more independent monkey and making a family. We hope to visit him several more times before we leave—and maybe one of those times we’ll discover we are grandparents.

Check out those Paiche

The Amazon is home to a prehistoric monster fish called the “paiche”. It is the largest freshwater fish and the most expensive fish meat in the market and extremely delicious. We visited a paiche farm on the way to Monkey Island and were able to feed them some little fish snacks. Watch this video and keep in mind that these are “small” paiche being raised in a controlled environment. There used to be much bigger ones in the Amazon before they were hunted so frequently for their meat. These monsters make me think that perhaps Jonah, if he were a tiny little man, could have been in the belly of a fish.

Friends from afar

Thanks to Facebook (a novelty we have not fully understood or embraced yet), friends from the past were able to find us here in Iquitos. Kelly’s 7th and 8th grade teacher from Colorado Springs, Carol Miller, and her husband, Sam, came with Denver’s Porter Hospital on a mission trip, working here with the Ana Stahl Clinic.

A week before arriving, the Millers contacted us on Facebook asking if we were still in the area. We were able to arrange to meet them at their hotel and spend an evening catching up on old times (or in Aaron’s case, getting to know each other in the first place). We dined at the BEST place in town: Kikiriki. Although it was chicken, rice and fries, (and they are vegetarian) they agreed that it was extremely good rice and fries. A fun time was had by all: the Millers basking in the air conditioning and the Linfeet with pants and jackets on, trying not to catch cold in the air conditioning.

Ironically, we see more people from our past while here in the Amazon jungle, than we did at home. All are welcome to come and visit!

And so it begins…

Rainy season has been very dry this year. Our road has never become impassible, the water is low and we have never had rain for multiple days in a row. At first, we were happy, thinking we would not have flood issues like last year, but then we heard the dreaded news: the water is expected to rise higher than last year! There has been more snow in the Andes than usual and the melt is what causes the flooding. We are beginning to see the effects now.

We have begun piling sandbags behind the buildings, trying to make a “wall” to keep it from getting to us in the first place, but that may be a bit wishful. We’ll find out soon! May will be “the month”. We will continue to fill hundreds of sand bags and do all we can to prevent the kitchen, sala and rooms downstairs from flooding. Our bathroom situation will be tricky as well. Expect more news about this next month.

Here are a couple shots from our room last week. The water rises daily.

Twins come back to visit

On Sunday we were blessed with a semi-surprise visit from the twins, Valesca and Zuleica. They have already returned home, but came out to visit and play for the first time. We were all very happy to see them, especially Sarai. She has missed her playmates. Their mom tells us they always make everyone pray before meals, even in kindergarten class. They also continue to pray at bedtime. We pray their time here will continue to help them and their family in a positive way.

New Stove

America: Land of the free and home to really nice appliances. Generous souls from America sent us a brand new stove and, nearly a year later, we finally received it. Never have we seen such a fine piece of work. It is wide so Richard had to bust through some kitchen counters and cement—by hand!—to make room. The girls and our cook are still learning how to use it and we are still exercising self-control to keep from hugging it every time we see it. It has a clock, timer, oven light, temperature control AND self-igniting gas burners that all work if there is power. The oven door even opens and closes without any issues. It is white and clean. It is pure luxury! Thank you donors!

Aaron and Marcos Chest Bump

Aaron has been teaching Marcos a few things. One of the more recent ones is the manly chest bump. Enjoy!

70 lb Keyla vs. 200 lb Aaroncito

This was a funny moment we had to get on video. Aaron commented to Keyla that she could not move him or push him over. So she attempted to overcome the challenge. See how she fared.

Lost in Translation...English we find in Peru

Soon ago, we find funny. Notebook cover in Inglish. Translation much bad. We laugh much. Take picture me do notebook funny. Share we do which you.
For those who can't read it, this is what it says.
"I like racing car/do you like too
It you do you must be careful/because is very dangeous
Wow/you can to play the game witch me/concentrate is you are not you it be bit
Espirit in the power of succes/you can because the champion/if you are playing very
ROARR.."

We hope you enjoy this fine jewel of English grammar that we found down here. We laughed a lot. We recommend reading it, especially the last paragraph, in a heavy accent (Nacho Libre style). Enjoy!

Man-date (noun, non-feminine origin)

Living in a household of girls is awesome (we are outnumbered 3 to 1); however, sometimes you just have to have some guy time. I and the boys are starting a man-date once a week (Casey will join in once he gets back from the States). We are going to devote some time where there are, “no girls are allowed.” Our goal is to reinforce and reemphasize how to be respectful and be a gentleman (to everyone, but primarily ladies). Society does not exhibit these qualities very well, so hopefully we can try to touch upon these a little more by devoting some personal time to the kids. If anything, it is just a great time to hang out.

Marcos recently received the news that he needed to share his car with the other boys. He was not the happiest, but still cute.

This little car is by far the most popular toy.

Here we are posing. Just the boys. Angel, farthest back, tells me everytime he sees me, "Solo Hombre, Sin Mujer." This translates to, only men, no women...

WWVA & Gem State Come Down

Spring break time in the States means that we get some groups down here. Walla Walla Valley Academy came down doing construction projects and some work deeper in the jungle. They were also able to bring us down some amazing packages from family back home –woop, woop! Gem State Academy came down as well doing some local projects in and around the office, some medical work and a vacation bible school in a local community.

Kelly’s cousin, as well as his wife, came down with Gem State and did some medical clinics around where we live. On one of the days he took out two of my warts. What a crazy experience. He burned them out; meaning we all got to watch as he took an open flame to my hand. Thanks to anesthesia I felt nothing, but smelling my skin burning was disgusting. It was great having some fresh faces and family down here serving God abroad. Thanks for the memories.

Here, Eric is burning out my wart. If you look really close, you can see smoke...

Here, Eric decided to try some new, amazing fruit. Down here, it is called a granadilla. It would be in the same family as the passion fruit. It looks and feels like you are eating larvae, but it tastes wonderful.

It was wonderful having family down here. Thank you so much Eric and Angela for coming down!

It all falls down!

Wood just does not last long down here. If it is not the weather that brutalizes the wood, it’s those pesky termites (which can surprisingly eat through the hardest wood). In the case of our shed, it was both. This shed has been around long before Kelly and I arrived, and had recently turned into a hazardous home for bees, termites and rotten wood. We decided to take it down before it completely fell down...

We were fortunate to have a cloudy day. He we have Leonardo (L) and Juanito (R) taking a quick break.

Loan group adds 3, brings group total to 13

Thanks to a donation we were able to add three more ladies two group number two, bringing our total to 13 in all. One lady has a bakery, another sells cosmetics and has now started a small little store, and the third has started a small store selling primary necessities. Group one has 6 ladies (they have been with me the longest), and group two now has 7 ladies.

Group 1 is finishing a loan cycle and will be eligible for another the end of April (their last loan). One lady has notified me she will not be continuing with us. This is both exciting and sad. It is exciting in the fact that the goal for each lady is to become self sufficient without the need of a loan, which she has accomplished beautifully. It is sad due to her now leaving our loan family. The groups have grown surprisingly close. We are extremely excited for her and her family.

Group 2 has just recently started their last loan cycle (Kelly and I are planning on returning back home for Thanksgiving) and is doing well. This group has turned out to be more talkative and we spend most of the meeting just catching up on how the week has gone. It is fun and exciting. The three new members have fit in quicker and better than I imagined.

Both groups are going strong and the repayment rate is still at 100% thanks to God. Thank you all for your prayer, interest and support.