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 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.

Peru Trip Day 10

 

Breakfast at motel

Drove all day, stopping for lunch

Glad to be back home

Peru Trip Day 9

 

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.

Peru Trip Day 8

 

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.

Peru Trip Day 7

 

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.”

A Note Poetic Asides

 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

Peru Trip Day 6

 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.