Hope and Expectations
Expectations in a
marriage
can be like a
flyswatter
that squashes that
thing flat.
Better to be thankful
for the good things,
work on the rough spots
and value each other
more
than what’s expected.
Hope, on the other
hand,
can carry your through
unmet expectations.
Feeling Like a Ping-pong Ball
Back to the usual
since I’m home from
Peru:
housework, yardwork,
writing, caregiving.
But just for two weeks,
and then it’s back to
my travels
with my family reunion
coming up in Wisconsin.
Ready
Lima to Atlanta to
Denver.
From 6 AM to 1AM
Watched 4 movies.
Bad turbulence.
Plane tilted,
knocking over
two flight attendants.
We collectively
screamed.
For a split second
I thought we would
fall.
But the plane was steadied.
We made it safely.
I was surprised
that the thought of
dying
didn’t scare me.
Life’s like a jack-in-the-box.
You never know
when it’s going to pop.
But you know someday it
will.
We’re to be ready.
Sidelined Again
Montezuma was still
having
his revenge and I
missed
the baptismal service.
It was on a beach by
the river
and very special to all
who went.
I slept.
After lunch, of which
I only ate a few bites,
we left for Lima.
We had to run to catch
the plane.
I was pulled aside
For a random
inspection.
It looked like I was
the one
who delayed the plane.
In Lima we checked into
a small hotel.
We took a long bus ride
to a mall and ate
supper.
I ordered a club
sandwich,
ate a fourth of it,
and gave the rest away.
Prayed the whole way
back to the hotel
that I’d make it to the
bathroom.
Went to bed at 1130.
Sidelined
The trots, the runs
Montezuma’s revenge
I had to stay home
and not roam with the
rest,
Inviting kids to VBS.
Took a little nap till
lunch.
Missionary Mike picked
up
the ladies who stayed
behind.
Had the second VBS.
This time inside the
church.
I didn’t know that
and wondered why
we were just sitting there
when it was time to
start,
not realizing it had
already started.
We stayed and
worshipped with them,
standing room only,
until we could take the
heat no more.
We put sticks on the
balloons
we had blown up
earlier.
Then when VBS let out
you could see balloons
bobbing everywhere.
Walked to restaurant.
Quarter pounder
Half pounder
I was confused
when I was asked about
chicken.
I was expecting
hamburgers.
Back ached from
standing on cement floor.
Rode back in motocar.
Skipped dessert, glad
to be “home.”
Dear Hubby,
I’ll be seeing you in
two days.
I’m about to embark on
a thirty-some hour trip
back from Peru to southwest
Colorado
and I’m exhausted
already.
I had forgotten how
this high temp and humidty
can zap the strength
right out of you.
But first the baptismal
service by the Nanay river
that flows into the
Amazon.
We have been busy
blowing up balloons,
sorting books, filling
bags full of groceries,
going to church
services
and interacting with
400 or so kids.
We had our fun too
and the highlight for
me
was holding a baby
sloth.
I also surprised my
sisters
by holding one very
large anaconda.
We did a lot of walking
and twice I rode in a
mototaxi
which is a motorcycle
pulling a buggy.
So, Lord willing, see
you soon, hubby.
Love, wifey
First VBS Day
An early start,
breakfast at the hotel.
Off to church in a big bus.
Ruth showed us how to make balloon animals.
Mine didn’t look like hers.
I use the ears for feet
and the head resembles a hot dog.
She twists it about and pops part of it.
She turns into a short dog
with a funny nose.
I liked mine better.
There was a call for kitchen help.
My roommate and I volunteered.
We could do that.
We peeled potatoes.
Easy right. Nope.
The peeler was different.
A woman showed me
how to peel it towards me
instead of away like I was used to.
Roomy and I developed a system.
I peeled while she dug out bad spots.
Now, that I think of it,
we would have done better
the other way around.
She had the knife and I had the peeler.
I worried that it was taking us so long
That they wouldn't be able to use them.
But they did.
We sweated up a storm
in the hot kitchen.
When it was time to wash the potatoes
I said lenventar, to raise
Instead of lavar, to wash
The ladies looked up to the ceiling
wondering what I was talking about.
I didn’t realize what I did till later.
They just laughed.
Then we walked over to the park in the rain.
We were greeted by a cute brown and white dog.
We made a balloon arch
and gave balloons to the kids.
We were pumping them up like mad.
It's the first time I worked
up a sweat pumping up balloons.
Then the sound system malfunctioned.
And we waited.
Hundreds of kids with nothing to do.
But they behaved well.
Singing and dancing and praising God.
Ruth gave a lesson
using a little girl puppet.
Gave gifts to course graduates.
The rest didn't get any.
We all felt bad about that.
I don't think Samaritans Purse
is supposed to work like that.
Passed out goody bags.
I don't think everyone
got one of those either.
Cleaned up a bit.
Went back to church.
As I was passing through
a team member
said, “Look out water!”
I started running
and not only got wet
but fell in the mud.
I didn't get hurt,
but had everyone concerned.
The skinned knees
and bruises
showed up later.
Back at the hotel.
we were given a few minutes
to clean up and get ready
for supper.
But the missionaries
went back home and
showered
leaving us to wait
and wish we had time to shower, too.
Decided to ride to the restaurant,
rather than walk.
Roomie and I rode in a motorcar,
a motorcycle pulling a buggy
that can fit 2 or 3 comfortably.
Locals fit in whole families.
Often, you can even see several
on one motorcycle.
The driver of the motocar
we were in had a kid on his lap.
Our driver and another in our group
didn't know where they were going.
Whatsapp solved that.
At the restaurant, it was getting late.
I wasn't sure if the salad with chicken
would fill me up enough.
But it was chicken with salad and bread.
Just the right amount.
I went home with the early group
And passed on dessert.
It was so good to go to the hotel
and go to bed.
Church
A bit of a mix up with
missionary Sonja.
I understood her to say
we were having
breakfast at the church.
She meant the kids
were.
She actually didn’t
answer my question.
So, no breakfast.
I was grateful though.
I was still stuffed
with pizza.
We bussed to the bright,
yellow-orange church
It was going full bore,
full of singing
children.
Sunday mornings were
for the kids.
They clapped while we
walked through.
We went upstairs to see
the construction site.
Going up the steep rail-less
stairs
and standing on the hot
concrete,
any thoughts of being
on
the construction team
disappeared.
I wouldn’t have
survived.
We filled bags with
groceries
and waited.
Had lunch: meat and
starches.
Helped with the dishes.
Had the afternoon free.
Napped.
Worked on poetry.
Sent emails to hubby
and others.
Had dinner at hotel.
Had some kind of orange,
cold, mashed-potato
concoction.
It was pretty good.
More meats and
starches.
Went to church
which was built like a
brick oven.
For three hours we
worshipped
and sweat buckets.
I enjoyed singing along
in Spanish
which I can read.
I understood the songs
for the most part.
Celebrated 25 years for
the church.
Went home charbroiled
and exhausted.
Yesterday in Peru
Y esterday I met the
most
E ndearing creature
I’ve ever encountered. A
S loth!
T he way they
E mbrace you like a
little child
R eally melted my
heart. I also rode
D own the
A mazon in a narrow
wooden boat.
Y ou can cross two
things off my bucket list.
Fun Day
I saw the cutest little
face today.
I was able to cross an
item off my bucket list.
I held a sloth.
They wrap their arms
around your neck
and lean against your
shoulder like a baby.
It melted my heart.
It was a baby with a
little round head,
about the size of a
softball.
His head was dark brown
from the forehead up
and framing the face.
His face was beige
with dark eyes,
a big round black nose
and dark fur around its
dark lips
which were turned up
into a smile.
The rest of him was
dark brown
with beige mixed in.
Beautiful coat,
softer than I thought
it would be.
Maybe he’ll develop coarse
hair
that sloths are known
for as he ages.
Long toe nails for
clinging and climbing.
One of the most endearing
creatures
I’ve ever met.
What a fun day we had!
Besides the sloth, we
held a parrot,
a prehistoric turtle,
and one long, heavy anaconda.
We rode on a rickety
boat on the Amazon,
sang and danced with
the Bora people.
shopped for their
hand-crafted souvenirs.
Ate a huge lunch, sampled
ceviche.
Stuck my feet in the
Amazon.
Wonderful day!
Later that night,
we stuffed ourselves
with pizza.
Peru Trip Day 3
The day that started
Thursday
seemed to never end.
Arrived in Lima 525 AM.
Mike the missionary met
us there in Lima.
We ate an early lunch
and met a woman from Iquitos.
She was an artist and a
cultural dancer.
One of our ladies
spokes Spanish to her.
She was sweet and gave
us hugs
and a kiss on the cheek
before she left.
We arrived as Peruvians
readied for Independence Day.
Indigenous dancers
entertained us
while we stood in a
long line.
The “special needs”
line went ahead of us,
but they weren’t all
special needs.
If we had to stand any
longer,
we’d become those with “special
needs.”
I tried to think
“And that’s just the
way I like it,”
but there’s a
difference
between a positive
attitude
and stupidity.
After three hours,
we finally made it
through.
Arrived in Iquitos
which was sauna-like.
We were blessed to have
AC at the hotel.
Small room with 2
single beds.
Mike said to not flush
toilet paper! Eeks.
Iquitos a mixture of
old and run down and new.
Lots of motorcycles and
the continual buzz of mototaxis,
with lots of horn
honking.
Roommate and I tried to
figure out adaptors,
but ran out of time.
Walked quite a ways
to get a great Chinese
meal,
but a lot of leftovers
wasted.
Butterscotch ice cream
and murals.
Jerry showed me his
daughter’s art.
Orientation meeting
that I couldn’t hear well
It was getting late.
After thirty-some hours
of traveling
and all that walking,
I just wanted to go to
bed.
First, we got gadgets charging.
It turned out,
we didn’t need adapters.
Peru trip Day 2
We jump through airport
hoops
We’re flying all our
coops
They keep moving our
gate
Just so we’re not late
Here we go loopity
loops
All’s Fair at the Fair
They called it Activity
Days
in New Florence, PA,
a town of less than 1,000
where I grew up.
First the parade
marched by
featuring schools
and scout troops,
which didn’t last long.
The town playground
converted to a carnival
with rides, game booths
and food stands.
The whole town showed
up.
Most of our glasses at
home
were won by throwing
nickles
into them each year.
The other games were
designed to rob us,
but occasionally we came
home
with some cute stuffed
animals.
One time my next-up sister
was so fascinated
by a game that she
spent her whole $6
trying to figure it
out.
She didn’t seem to mind
the loss,
but I felt it.
Six dollars then compared
to $60 now.
It served as a
cautionary tale
that has stuck with me
through the years.
And That’s Just the Way I Like It
An eight-hour drive to
Denver
It is a long way just
to sit
With short stops, we
are on our way
And that’s just the way
I like it
We got our red Peru
team shirts
What a relief that it
does fit
T-shirt necks always
feel too tight
And that’s just the way
I like it
We had dinner and then
we heard
With flexibility and
wit
We’ll play it by ear with
a smile
And that’s just the way
I like it
It will be hot and lots
of bugs
We brought some spray
to not be bit
We’ll get to know each
other well
And that’s just the way
I like it
We’ll build and help
with the children
To all of this we did
commit
And we were taught this
phrase to say,
“And that’s just the
way I like it.”
