We took some time recently to go and visit a Manatee rehabilitation center. Coincidentally we have one about 15 minutes from where we live. Here are some photos of the kids feeding these under water cows. We had a great time.
How cute.
Family photo.
This last weekend was a challenge. We started with a going away party Saturday night for Lisa and Casey, followed by a few movies with compiled photos and video clips about our memories, stories and good ‘ole times. That was hard, emotionally, for some.
Sunday night was the departure of our famous couple, Lisa and Casey Hann. They have lived here at POPPYS House for the last 2.5 years –making and seeing lots of change. The girls have formed deep bonds with each of them, and some recognize them as their parents. Seeing them depart and knowing that it will probably be a long time before their return created a sad atmosphere.
The Hanns have been incredible in the program here. They have helped turn it around from one that was struggling, to one with structure and a future. Kelly and I have been very fortunate in learning from and working with, both of these guys. We, ourselves, have grown very close and will truly miss their remarkable presence. Casey and Lisa are heading back to
God places us all in positions for a reason; often ones in which we have no clue or understanding. Sometimes he calls us to do modest things, other times grandiose things. God does not always call the equipped, but he always equips the called. We know that God will continue to provide for POPPYS House like he always has, but in His time.
Here, Lisa and Casey are with Sarai and her mother, Olga.
Lisa was rubbing her belly on Kelly in hopes that it would get Kelly baby ready - hopefully that does not come true, yet.
Kelly and I were able to sneak in a photo as well.
Here is a group shot of everyone that showed up at the airport. TONS of people came to day goodbye. I imagine that many others wanted to come.
This last Sunday, Richard, Casey and I went out dirt biking. We made it about 45 minutes into the trip when the road became quite muddy and Richard ran into some problems. Three crashes later we decided to head on over to the ER and get Richard cleaned up. He walked away with a few scrapes (one which was stitch worthy), a couple of burns, a sore body, and an ER nurse who took a liking to Him which in turn gave us a discount. Not too shabby of a day…
This is accident No.1
This is accident no.2
This is the final accident, No.3
Final resting position, on the ER table.
Thanks to some friends in the
Here is Nelcy (on bike) and her sister Vanessa.
Here is Milagros posing for a shot.
Sarai is being a little shy on the bike, while Marcos is still trying to convince her it is his turn.
Here is Rosany stopping briefly to let me take a photo.
Through our church, we have a small group that meets every Friday night, and it is called, “Daughters of Destiny.” The ironic part is that it is lead by Casey and me. Our group was asked to lead out in Sabbath school –apparently all the groups do at some point. Due to some miscommunication, it took a few Sabbaths to get it right, but we finally did. It went a little longer that it was suppose to, but I think everything went as best as it could. Here are some photos:
Here is Lisa giving the mission story.
Singing.
Cinco de Mayo! What a cool day! Why? First of all, some battle happened in Mexico and it is hugely celebrated in the US. And...it´s my birthday!!! It was an awesome day (still is!) which started with a surprise presentation of a bunch of moustached girls singing me a Mexican song (might be the anthem) led by Princess. They crowned me with a sombrero and my own personal moustache. So cool!
Above is our ¨revolutionary¨pose. Below, I´m Pancho Villa shooting my guns. Viva Mexico!
Many friends have been made while being down here and, sadly, many are leaving soon. A few nights ago, the Hanns and the Linfeet went out to eat with our good friends from church, Cleveland and Betzy. They have been a wonderful support for us down here and we have been so grateful for their friendship. Casey and Lisa are leaving for the USA in a few days. Betzy and Cleveland are moving to Lima in a few weeks. It was a wonderful evening laughing together and saying goodbye. We hope to see them again someday in the future.
On Earth Day the Kindergarten classes paraded down the streets of Santo Tomas singing songs and learning about nature. Here is a shot of them walking by our front gate.
The room next to ours is lacking a few things. It has taken some time, but the room is becoming more and more livable. This last week we have been putting in a ceiling –the final piece. During the process, one of the ceiling support boards decided to fall down from its anchor and come to rest on my head. Thus, I now have two, awesome, stitches.
The ER doc who gave me the stitches came in saying, “Nice. Give me five minutes max and you will be out of here.” I should have known. It turned out to be a rough process. After being anesthetized (so as to not “feel anything”), he was so determined to tie the stitches so tightly, yanking my head around, that it felt like he was trying to tie together two ships, with rope, during a storm. This all happened after vigorously cleaning my wound, or in a process as Kelly describes, “Scrubbing burnt, charred food from the bottom of a pan using steel wool.” And, surprisingly enough, it took roughly 5 minutes. But hey, I can’t complain, apparently the other hospitals in town don’t normally use anesthesia.
The picture below was taken after the ER trip and the blood shown are the streaks that dried up from dripping down from the edges of the wound. It just looked scary. 
Every few months we go through and de-lice everyone. Here is a picture of Marcos rocking out while waiting to rinse out his hair. 
Every Sunday two of our girls head over to 
Recently, the churches put on a Sabbath run by the Pathfinder groups (Conquistadores). Ermelinda and Rosany participate in the group in a neighboring town, Santa Clara. Here are a couple pictures of them participating in the Pathfinders program at church.
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.
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.
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!
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