Week 7: Boo-Boo's, Masato and an Air Mattress

Monday began just like any other Monday – we woke up at the crack of dawn and headed into town to buy groceries for the week.  We hurried as fast as we could in town because it had rained the night before and we wanted to get back in time to dry out our bedding (a now daily chore – what fun!) Amazingly enough we got back to our ‘river house’ at about 2 – quite an accomplishment for us, ha! Adam had the guys come over and they helped him machete down a whole bunch of trees and shrubbery so that we had a dry place to hang up our stuff. While it was hanging out to dry Adam taught the next house church class.

They had started quite a discussion and not wanting to interrupt them I decided that I would get the bedding down and start making the beds - because it was almost 5pm and I wanted it finished before the darkness and mosquitos came J Adam told me to wait because he didn’t want me to fall but being the stubborn wife that I am – I told him that it was fine, I could do it --- I got the sheets and everything else (making several trips) and finally all I had left was our yellow blanket. I took it off the line successfully but when I turned to walk back to the house – I slipped and fell – oh yes I did. And it was a painful fall that dashed my pride right into the pointy thorny nastiness that I fell into (don’t you hate it when you are wrong!? Ugh!) Anyways, I stood up brushed myself off and told everyone I was fine although my bum was stinging quite smartly.

The guys went home and Adam asked if I was really ok because I had fallen pretty hard -- he was very concerned and didn’t even rub it in my face that I was a silly little wife who should have let him help me … such a nice man J I said I didn’t really know because I couldn’t really feel my bum anymore … so I gingerly felt the place where I had fallen and discovered that I had ripped my pants! Oh the horror – so we checked out my bum and I had scraped it up pretty good but nothing to awful – just ripped off the first layer of skin (I mean who needs that anyways, right!?) That’s when Adam brought it to my attention that I could have landed on a thorn tree that they had cut down – somehow I missed it in the fall but the thorns would have got me good – plus they apparently have venom on the ends of them and with the way I react to ant and mosquito bites I probably would have had to go to the hospital! But instead all I had really injured was my pride and my pants and my bum.

Tuesday came and went quickly and all of a sudden it was Wednesday – Samuel decided to cry all morning long for no apparent reason, and as the day passed by a list of things we needed to do grew and grew - so we decided to head into town for the night so we could get some things done on Thursday (and we were hoping Samuel could get a good nights sleep). We left after class was over and we arrived at the port at about 6 – we headed into town to get some dinner since we had no food at our ‘town house’ and we finally made it home at around 7 (an hour past the kids bedtimes … so crying was definitely happening) and as we pulled into the yard we realized that we had no power. YAY. I mean, why come into town if there is no electricity! Agh. The even better thing was that we had no matches or flashlights at the house because they were all on the river … double YAY.  

So the kids and I stayed in the truck and Adam used the headlights to see so he could turn on the generator. He used the stove burner to light some candles and we got our air conditioner going. Then I came inside and we tried to get the kids ready for bed – they really needed baths but the water was going to be so cold and it was so dark so we just put them to bed without them….By the time we finally got to our dinner it was cold and we weren’t hungry anymore – so sad. We crawled into bed at 9 (trying to be super quiet because we had all the doors open so the kids could get some cool air) and right as we laid down the power came back on….2 hours later the loudest, craziest thunderstorm hit … I mean it rained and rained and rained – it was the hardest rain I think we have ever had or can remember having. So glad we were inside!

The next morning we all felt as though we had been run over – we had one egg in the house for breakfast … so disappointing. Adam was already planning to get back out to the river and fearing a break down I went back to the bedroom to check email. That’s when I realized that my dear friend Tina was coming into town at the end of the month and was going to attend a free woman’s retreat that they were having in Lima – she wanted me to register and join her. Oh! There is light at the end of the dark tunnel! I was so excited! I immediately got on the webpage and discovered that the retreat was full. Of course it was. I signed up anyways and I am on a waiting list but the stress was just too much. I went into the kitchen and sat down at the table to eat my half of our egg struggling to appear happy and Adam looked at me and said – I can tell something is wrong but I have no idea what it is – ahh men. I started crying – I told him that I just couldn’t got back out to the river, I needed a good nights sleep and I didn’t want to deal with the sopping wetness that would be our river house. Adam is pretty smart and he could tell I was in distress – he immediately said that was fine, we didn’t need to go back out and we could stay in town till Friday. So we did.

Julie Ann (Cesar’s wife) was supposed to have her baby Friday morning but they decided to postpone the birth until Wednesday – we aren’t really sure why – but for now that is the plan.

While we have been having our own personal challenges, the guys have also been facing trials as the end of the training draws near. But they are persevering and growing and it is a great thing to watch.

On a side note – it has continued to rain and rain every night since Wednesday. The mosquitos are getting a bit ridiculous and the water is under the guys house - but we are hanging in there. Since we were all feeling a bit down on Friday we decided to have some fun … and as you know – when there is Adam and fun to be had an air mattress is always involved J This time was no different – he decided to pull the guys on the air mattress behind the boat… it worked ok, but the air mattress had to many holes and wouldn’t work to good, so we tried our little inflatable boat – it’s a bit hard to go fast with a 15 horse motor but it got us all smiling.

It is hard to imagine that we only have one week left! This is the end and we are going to make it come heck or high water (and high water we have….haha).

Adam bailing out the boat after the Sunday night rain ... with a funnel (fortunately when it rained on Wednesday the boat didn't sink and he took a bucket!)

Our 'play station' for fun times during class :) Sophia loves taking care of Samuel (I love it as long as she isn't sticking crayons up his nose!)

the drying laundry (the pillows were sunning on the boat... good memories)

the path to our bathroom -- just thought you were probably wondering where we 'went'

Ahh, masato -- this is a drink made out of yucca (which is a plant root - sorta like potato) they chew it up - spit it out and let it sit .... then you drink it - yum. The guys were kind enough to make some and save it for us.... we each had to drink a glass - i mean we got to drink a glass - ha. That pulpy chalky mess nasties your teeth something awful

Jim trying out the air mattress

Edwin in the boat

view of our house from the water

Even Hector gave it a shot!

the guys wanted to try going at the same time - hilarious.

We DO have life jackets! Sophia and I tried it out as well - Adam went super slow - she loved it, as you can tell :)

Samuel all wrapped up in the mosquito net - he wanted to eat it....

Sophia with her monkey and cookies - her two most prized possessions --- we have to spend some fun quality time in the mosquito net at dusk so we don't get bit up

The dreaded thorn tree ....now you know why I don't want to go hiking :)

Sophia in a silly mood decided to dress herself and pose for the camera :)