So we´re finally done with our time in the jungle. Yesterday we left La Merced for the last time and made the hour and a half drive back to Pacullpa (¨a nightmare¨ ....Eric from the front of the bus). We were all very sad to be leaving. On our last day we packed up at our lovely hostel and headed for the town. We had another of Jesus´s amazing lunches, and then played our final day of games. There was some intense volleyball (the little girls are killers) and the first official game of American Football in La Merced. The kids also went crazy for balloon animals. We then took a final hike through the rainforest and a river to a small house with an orange grove. Florida orange growers could use some tips from these guys. We were exhausted as the five days in the sun had really taken a toll, but we were excited for the farewell ceremony. After getting back accross the rio, we headed to our park for the dedication. Before it started, Matt and I gave Pastor Alfonso a present from the group (inspired by Mrs. Weil)... a spanish Passion of the Christ DVD. He liked it and talked about how impressed he was with our hard work on the park, which is high praise considering the first day he didn´t want us to use the tools saying, ¨they don´t know what they´re doing¨. He was right about that, but we did improve. The ceremony then consisted of the community leaders thanking us for our work (including a little girl on behalf of the ninos). Our leaders then said a few words and cut the tape on the park. Jack and Mary were appointed the ¨Godparents¨ of the park, and took the first official trips down the slide. We then handed out Bibles to all of the families while the kids peltted eachother with water balloons. Finally getting on the bus was very hard. We had grown very attached to the kids, and although we had discussed it, it was much harder than we imagined to leave them. Everybody was crying... it´s impossible to describe all the goodbyes. The bus ride back was quiet until Jessica gave us all cards with some of her thoughts that we really needed.
After the harrowing trip back to Pacullpa we arrived at the ¨nice hostel¨. Shortly we went to dinner with everyone, including the translators (David, Betsy, and Joel), bus driver (Julio), and chef (Jesus). It was a great meal of pizza and Mexican food. Jesus insisted over and over that I would die within a year from eating too much spicy food. I´m pretty sure none of us had ever appreciated eating a meal without bugs devouring us as much as we did that night. We gave thank you notes/gifts to our Peruvian amigos, and headed back to the hotel. Air conditioning is amazing... enough said. We all quickly fell asleep.
This morning we actually got to sleep in! We then packed up and bought a couple things from the street vendors. I road on the back of David´s motorcycle on the way to this internet cafe.... terrifying. We´re about to leave for the airport, and then fly to Lima. It´s going to be really sad saying goodbye to the translators. Once we arrive in Lima, we have no plan. Then tomorrow we fly to Cusco... and our flight might be at 530 A.M. We´re spending a day there, and then heading to Machupichu. I´m sure there will be more updates soon.
Sorry I couldn´t get everything into this post. Imagine doing something new and crazy every minute of everyday. That´s what Peru is like. We´ll tell you about the bus getting stuck in the middle of the Amazon and having to dig it out, the killer ants (is it 3 or 5 bites that kills you?), and the pet monkeys when we get home. Most of all, we´ll tell you about the great kids. But you´ll have to wait a few more days.
Take it easy America,
Sam Ziegler
This morning we actually got to sleep in! We then packed up and bought a couple things from the street vendors. I road on the back of David´s motorcycle on the way to this internet cafe.... terrifying. We´re about to leave for the airport, and then fly to Lima. It´s going to be really sad saying goodbye to the translators. Once we arrive in Lima, we have no plan. Then tomorrow we fly to Cusco... and our flight might be at 530 A.M. We´re spending a day there, and then heading to Machupichu. I´m sure there will be more updates soon.
Sorry I couldn´t get everything into this post. Imagine doing something new and crazy every minute of everyday. That´s what Peru is like. We´ll tell you about the bus getting stuck in the middle of the Amazon and having to dig it out, the killer ants (is it 3 or 5 bites that kills you?), and the pet monkeys when we get home. Most of all, we´ll tell you about the great kids. But you´ll have to wait a few more days.
Take it easy America,
Sam Ziegler
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