Pray for the Delta Team!

Eleven students and four of us teachers leave tomorrow to begin the long trip to Delta Amacuro. I am super excited to see the ways in which God will work while we are there. Please keep the students especially in your prayers, that God would reveal Himself in unique ways to each of them and draw them to Himself. 


Also be praying that we will be a blessing to the missionary there named Peter. Our desire is to serve and help his ministry to the Warwao. 


I’m all set and ready to go: one suitcase packed at school and stuffed with donations and a carry-on backpack with books and cards for the long wait at the bus terminal and on the bus. 


Interesting note: Apparently the overnight buses are freezing cold. I was told to bring jeans with sweatpants underneath, a long-sleeved shirt, a sweatshirt, long socks, and a blanket. Why do they keep them this cold? My only guess is to shock the driver into staying awake. 


I found out I will not be sleeping in a hammock, which I am a little bummed about. However, I did have to buy mosquito netting for my bed, which I did all by myself. It took a little explaining for the lady to understand exactly what I needed and if it would work, but she ended up giving me a 25% discount at the end...I think it’s because I’m a gringa. :-)


Me and 3 other girls will be sleeping downstairs and we are just across the room from where the boys will be sleeping...not so ok with this but I really don’t have a choice. 


We were also told there will be no electricity while we are there. To cook, we will light the gas stove with matches and boil water from the river. We’re eating basics like pasta and arepas with lots of carbs to keep us energized. Breakfast in the morning will be with the luke-warm box milk that doesn’t need to be refrigerated. Yum. 


The Warwao are a water tribe and although much of the tribe is Christian, they still maintain many of the traditions and customs from the past. Some of these seem really strange. I thought I would name a few for you.


1) They think it’s weird if you have nail polish on your fingers and toes. We were advised to just keep them bare for the trip...feels weird.


2) If you touch a boy or man, they think you are married. Physical touch only occurs between married couples. This is going to be a struggle for our students, who are convinced they are brother and sister. 


3) You definitely can’t touch someone’s hammock...it’s considered the marriage bed. If you touch it, you have essentially married that person. They don’t really have wedding ceremonies there...it’s all about the hammock. 


4) Women dress extremely modestly. We have to wear long shorts and crew neck t-shirts while there. Only the skin on your arms and legs is acceptable to show. When we bathe in the river, we will wear swimsuits underneath but we have to wash in shorts and a t-shirt. For the Warwao, however, they can bathe naked in the river early in the morning. This seems to contradict the no skin thing, but maybe it’s just me.




I’m sure there will be much more to share when I return. Please keep the team in your prayers. Adults going are Natalie (English teacher that I live with) and married couple Marc and Amy Shuflin. None of us speak fluent Spanish although we are all conversational. Peter, however, speaks only Spanish. This shouldn’t be a problem as almost all of our students are fluent and can translate if necessary. 


We leave the school for the bus terminal at 1:45 and the bus is “scheduled” to leave at 7, which will probably mean 8:30. We arrive the next morning in Tucupita where Peter’s house is, will minister there in whatever project he has planned. We sleep in a hotel and then leave early the next morning for Arature in 2 boats...for 4-10 hours. Marc showed us the trip along the river on Google earth...pretty cool. If any wants to check it out, Delta Amacuro is listed on the map. We will be to the right of that along the river. 


Love you all and appreciate the ways in which you support me so that I can take trips like these.