VENEZUELA: JULY 30TH THROUGH AUGUST 7TH
ORINOCO DELTA/WARAO INDIAN CULTURE
July 30th (Saturday) it what was supposed to be a team of 8 that now turned out to be 7. A short four-hour ride from Atlanta took us to Caracas, the capitol of Venezuela. What was now suppose to be a team of 7 turned into a team of 5, when immigration blocked another of our team for an invalid VISA- an unclear set of rules even still. Nevertheless we collected our equipment and supplies and traveled to our hotel for a few hours rest. By 5:00 AM we are back on the road for a 12+ hour drive across the country to one of the most remote and secluded parts of South America. Traveling as quickly as we could (stopping for a quick bite, bathrooms, and some diesel) the road just finally ends- it stops- no more road. We reach the delta by 5:30 where we transferred our gear into the Don Chendo II (our boat for the week) and headed deep into the Warao Indian homeland. Around or a little after 7:00 PM we’ve finally arrived to base camp. It is now Sunday evening and time for our first meal since we started- a little chicken, potato, beans, and watermelon. The rest of the evening we prepared trunks and organized for the week.
The next morning followed a similar pattern that we kept for the week. Wake up, grab some breakfast, load the trunks, and board the boat. After an hour or so of pounding waves, possible driving storms and/or intense heat, we would pull up to an intrigued riverside community and/or Indian families who have lived on these waters for generations. Our mission was to provide a medical clinic, (screenings, education about clean water, and to deliver medicine) do VBS (where we play, give small gifts or toys, play the Jesus film) and to plant Solar DVD players (powered and charged by the sun) throughout the Orinoco Delta; moreover, we included some fun cartoons along with the Jesus film and best of all they were in a language they understood. Solar light bulbs, knit caps, shoes, toys, soccer balls, etc. were all just part of the arsenal the team used.
After a day like the one above it didn’t take long for members of the team to find their role and start doing. A new piece of technology we started using two years ago was a battery powered photo printer- team member Jeff became an instant hit with his family photo’s and action shots when he was not demonstrating solar technology through light bulbs and DVD players. Christie and Drew endured long lines and hundreds of patients seeing everything from waterborne parasites, ringworm, TB, gasoline burns, to newborns and arthritis. Sarai Ann and KT may have been responsible expending the largest single bursts of energy while they did the Hokie Poky, painted faces, played soccer, made bracelets, raced cars, all while toting trunks and goodies back and forth from the boat to land.
Each day breakfast, lunch, and dinner were a different kind of delicacy- from shredded chicken, rice, beans, to fish, eggs, fruit, and some mystery meat and soups everyone stayed healthy and safe. This trip we had a guide who enhanced our experience tremendously by providing additional translation, a deep-rooted history of the area, along with an encyclopedia sized brain when it came time to identify birds and other aspects of nature.
All in all we still ended up with 7—when you include our driver, guide, and team! Each person played a huge role in reaching out and moving our work further along in Venezuela. The week continued, sometimes with rain, tremulous heat waves, and a few floating logs we managed to not loose an engine over—though one thing remained: the smiles, faces, photos, handmade gifts, and small displays of affection will not soon be forgotten. On behalf of all of us, thank you for your prayers, support, and encouragement while we served on the Mamano River.
Blessings,
Drew
Photo Gallery
