The most primative living conditions that we have experienced
January of 1991 found Ruth and I landing in Manaus, Brazil. Shortly after landing we were taken to our thatched roof hut were we were to live for the next three months. We found that we needed a few supplies so we were whisked off to the city to purchase them.
While we were gone it rained. Now when it rains in the jungle, it rains. When we returned to our room we found the suitcases floating in about 6 inches of mud and water. Welcome to Brazil!
Before I went to bed that night I dug a 12? deep trench around our hut to carry off the rainwater.
We woke up the next morning to see what the next three months held for us.
The toilet facilities were located at the end of a path that led into the jungle where we found a hole dug with some palm fronds surrounding it. You put a foot on each side of the hole and squatted over the hole. The stench was so strong that one didn't linger any longer than necessary, in other words, no magazine rack nearby.
The bathing was simple, just walk down the 100-foot high bank to the river and dive in. The river was dirty, but refreshing. The problem was that by the time you climbed back up the bank, you were just as sweaty as when you went for your bath.
The clothes washing was just as simple. Ruth walked down to the river and waded in to where a huge log was resting near shore.
She placed her washing on the log and used it for a scrub board. As she stood knee deep in the water washing clothes the Angel fish would nibble at here legs and the kids fished for Piranha nearby.
Another American couple had come down to help with the building project, which was to build two dormitories on the bank of the river. Ruth knew that she was in for an interesting time when the woman told Ruth, "?I didn't come to Brazil to work in the kitchen, I am called to evangelize the port cities of the world.? How she thought she was going to fulfill that calling would be interesting since she didn't speak a word of Portuguese.
Different church groups came down from the States to help with the building project. One time the director came to Ruth and asked if she would prepare Pizza for the 50 people on the base. All she had for ingredients was flour, 1 pound of cheese, a few tomatoes, some eggs, and some onions. Thankfully the men were hungry and never complained about her Brazilian Pizza.
Another time she was asked to prepare a pancake breakfast for the 50 and have it ready by 7:00AM. She asked the evangelist woman if she would help her and she got this reply. "?I don't get up before 7:00 AM.? Ruth and I started the preparation at 5:30 and had pancakes for all of them before the evangelist got up.
We were 1000 miles from the mouth of the Amazon. It was ten miles across the river and it was 500 feet deep. The river fluctuates 50 in elevation from dry season to the rainy season. The rainy season started in February and one weekend it rained for 14 solid hours. Our thatch roof leaked so badly that we hung our raincoats across our clothes and put plastic bags over our bed.
One time Ruth was sitting in our lone chair with her feet on the bed and I was reclining across the bed. She looked up and saw a rat run across the bed between her and I. Shucks, I didn't even have my blowgun loaded.
We had snakes to contend with, armies of ants, bus rides with about three times as many passengers as seats, small portions of food, I lost 25 pounds in those three months, as well as parasite infestations that caused cramps so bad that I could not stand erect.
In spite of the hardships, we rejoiced knowing that God had sent us to this remote jungle site to be an extension of His love. These people rejoiced as well to see us labor beside them and serve them, but little did they know that we were the ones who received the greatest blessing.
I Peter 4:10, 11 says, "?Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.?
January of 1991 found Ruth and I landing in Manaus, Brazil. Shortly after landing we were taken to our thatched roof hut were we were to live for the next three months. We found that we needed a few supplies so we were whisked off to the city to purchase them.
While we were gone it rained. Now when it rains in the jungle, it rains. When we returned to our room we found the suitcases floating in about 6 inches of mud and water. Welcome to Brazil!
Before I went to bed that night I dug a 12? deep trench around our hut to carry off the rainwater.
We woke up the next morning to see what the next three months held for us.
The toilet facilities were located at the end of a path that led into the jungle where we found a hole dug with some palm fronds surrounding it. You put a foot on each side of the hole and squatted over the hole. The stench was so strong that one didn't linger any longer than necessary, in other words, no magazine rack nearby.
The bathing was simple, just walk down the 100-foot high bank to the river and dive in. The river was dirty, but refreshing. The problem was that by the time you climbed back up the bank, you were just as sweaty as when you went for your bath.
The clothes washing was just as simple. Ruth walked down to the river and waded in to where a huge log was resting near shore.
She placed her washing on the log and used it for a scrub board. As she stood knee deep in the water washing clothes the Angel fish would nibble at here legs and the kids fished for Piranha nearby.
Another American couple had come down to help with the building project, which was to build two dormitories on the bank of the river. Ruth knew that she was in for an interesting time when the woman told Ruth, "?I didn't come to Brazil to work in the kitchen, I am called to evangelize the port cities of the world.? How she thought she was going to fulfill that calling would be interesting since she didn't speak a word of Portuguese.
Different church groups came down from the States to help with the building project. One time the director came to Ruth and asked if she would prepare Pizza for the 50 people on the base. All she had for ingredients was flour, 1 pound of cheese, a few tomatoes, some eggs, and some onions. Thankfully the men were hungry and never complained about her Brazilian Pizza.
Another time she was asked to prepare a pancake breakfast for the 50 and have it ready by 7:00AM. She asked the evangelist woman if she would help her and she got this reply. "?I don't get up before 7:00 AM.? Ruth and I started the preparation at 5:30 and had pancakes for all of them before the evangelist got up.
We were 1000 miles from the mouth of the Amazon. It was ten miles across the river and it was 500 feet deep. The river fluctuates 50 in elevation from dry season to the rainy season. The rainy season started in February and one weekend it rained for 14 solid hours. Our thatch roof leaked so badly that we hung our raincoats across our clothes and put plastic bags over our bed.
One time Ruth was sitting in our lone chair with her feet on the bed and I was reclining across the bed. She looked up and saw a rat run across the bed between her and I. Shucks, I didn't even have my blowgun loaded.
We had snakes to contend with, armies of ants, bus rides with about three times as many passengers as seats, small portions of food, I lost 25 pounds in those three months, as well as parasite infestations that caused cramps so bad that I could not stand erect.
In spite of the hardships, we rejoiced knowing that God had sent us to this remote jungle site to be an extension of His love. These people rejoiced as well to see us labor beside them and serve them, but little did they know that we were the ones who received the greatest blessing.
I Peter 4:10, 11 says, "?Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.?
posted by Jim Burton at 7:45 AM
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