From San Miguel to Tarapoto

Apr. 28

◦                Sra. Orfelina was ready to serve us breakfast at 7:00, but we held her off until about 20 after. Tamales, camotes (a type of sweet potato) and crumbled cheese were the menu, and I didn't complain, especially since it was serve yourself.

◦                We waited for a while on the front "porch" for a car to take us to Moyobamba and entertained the grandchildren in the meantime.

Sra. Orfelina, Kamela, Elvia

◦                Finally left just before 9:00.

◦                Moyobamba to Tarapoto in a car  The only notable thing about that ride was the blaring music. Nobody else seemed to mind it, so I just kept quiet and arrived with a headache.

◦                Three more noticeable road signs today: 1) ¡Peligro! (Danger!) We're not sure what the actual danger is, but it must be coming up somewhere. 2) Don't burn tires on the road. 3) Don't spill gasoline or oil on the road. I'm guessing this must be a zone that's known for protesting???

◦                A sign I think I forgot from yesterday or some other day: Warning Bad Bridge Ahead (or something like that). We're not doing anything about it, and you really have no option but to go over it if you want to get where you're going, but we just thought you might like to set your house in order before you cross it. (Actually, I think the bridge must have been fixed already because I didn't see anything too dangerous about it. I just thought the sign was quite funny.)

◦                There were also a couple of places yesterday and today where our car stopped and the driver rolled down the windows. Security guards came from a little but nearby to collect money from any passengers willing to give them something. Apparently, they guard zones where assaults have frequently taken place. I don't know how else they're funded, but collecting money from all passing travelers is one way.

◦                Elvia and I had a yummy lunch at Las Canastas - chuletas a la parrilla (grilled pork chops) with French fries and a little side salad. It was also my first time to try cocona juice - a bit like naranjilla. It was quite good.

◦                From there, we took a mototaxi (No actual taxis are allowed in the city of Tarapoto.) to the home of Édgar and Mathilde. We visited with Sra. Mathilde for a while before heading up to our room to unpack and have a siesta. The other workers arrived basically just as we were laying down, but we all got settled in before too long, and I SLEPT!!!

◦                The water arrived shortly after I woke up, so I enjoyed the cold trickle of water that was my shower.

◦                Gospel Meeting at 7:30 - Dicson (bread references in Prov. 13,14&15), Olinda (the good Samaritan), Palmira (the good hand of God). Three people in the meeting other than us workers, Édgar and Mathilde and Mathilde's sister, Anita.

◦                Supper after the meeting for all of us - chicken, rice, mashed potatoes, beets, carrots & peas (cooked) and lettuce and tomatoes (raw). To drink were cocona juice and grape juice from a kind of grape grown around here somewhere. Lots of talk about rain and flooding and such. Seems this new president had campaigned on providing water for everybody, and it looks like he's fulfilled his promise!!

◦                Finally got to bed a little after 11:00. Fortunately, it's not as hot as I was expecting.