An amazing day in the Amazon

This day brought us to the first village on our trip. The people of Santa de Maria de Fatima were playing music for us as we landed the boat onto the shore about 20 km from Iquitos, Peru. Because Fernando had been communicating with them, they were expecting us.

I don´t know how to explain the experience. Things like life changing can´t really help you understand what it was like to meet these peope and talk to them about bringing them SUSTAINABLE clean water, electricity, and increased income. So many times in the past people have come into their village and made promises for things that the people did not ask for and did not want. Then to drop this unneeded and unwanted thing and never come back.

The villagers were so excited about what we were presenting them with and how these projects could be sustained for a very long time. NO ONE had ever come BACK after the first visit, much less brought them the help they needed. I explained the Solar Lights we bought them and our hydro electric generators while Kizzy, Fernando, and David told them about all the different projects. Their Mayor, Juan, stood up and spoke to his people and to us. With David translating for me, Juan told his people how many years they have waited for someone to give them a hand up. He spoke to his people for about 5 minutes and as he choked up while thanking us, I sincerely had tears in my eyes.

It quickly became clear that a fast running, down hill stream wasn´t close by the village they told me of a water source into the jungle that might work. The other water options close by were nill and despite the fact I was quite sure we wouldn´t get the elevation increase or water volume needed, I still knew that I had to go into the rainforest to look. Otherwise I would always wonder if I could have brought the locals lots of reliable electricity if only I had went. So we needed to set out on a 2 hour hike through the rain forest.



Before we left the clearing of the village, the mayor warned us that there were many deadly poisonous snakes as well as a certain kind of spider, then asked if we wanted to still continue. When I asked what markings the deadly snakes had, he said that there are so many different kinds of poisonous snakes he couldn´t even tell me. I then had Kizzy ask him in Spanish, JOKINGLY, if he was strong enough to carry out my dead body if I got bitten. He assured me that he would not even try to carry me out, then I said ´Lets go!´.

You haven´t lived until you have hiked into a Rainforest. The mayor of the village led me on what could loosely called a trail. Girls less than 7 years old ran through this rainforest, without shoes, like little gazelles. The young and old kids ran far ahead of us, such that they were out of site for a long time, without any of the villagers being slightly concerned. Unlike us nervous U.S. parents that stand ready to catch our children should the fall off the McDonalds Jungle Jim and hit the rubber floor with their bums. After about 15 minutes we were completly under the Jungle canopy and you couldn´t see for more than 6 feet before the person in front of you would disappear. Vines cut our arms so that they bled, caught our pants, and just a few bites from Fire Ants (very painful) made me more fully appreciate why they have such a name. Quick lesson in rain forest etiquite, don´t lean on any tree (even just slightly) if you don´t want fire ants dropping down on you and biting you (yes I have seen Platoon but didn´t remember until the ants were biting me) The deeper we got, you dare not stop for very long becuause another breed of ants would instantly start to converge on your feet. The looked like army ants in South Dakota, only 3 or 4 times bigger.

When we got to the water source, it was obvious that it wouldn´t work. So, we turned around and came back to the village completely wiped out. To the the Peruvians, it was like a Sunday stroll. For the Americans, our clothes were soaked all the way through with sweat and I had drained a 30 oz bottle of water and quite a bit from my camelpak.

My hypoglycemia created great difficulties for me as I was making great effort to be right behind the Peruvians and in front of the rest of my team because I wanted the villagers to know how serious I was about bringing them Hydroelectric. Despite snacking on nuts, cheese, and other protein item on the hike as well as drinking lot´s of water, it was clear I had to take a break. From past experience I know that my blood sugar was between 40 and 60 (normal is 100). So going back to the village, when we were about 2/3 rds of the way back I had to rest. I felt like the biggest dirtbag for slowing things down. They put down 3 of these giant leaves and I just lay down there for about 5 minutes and ate part of a granola bar. After that I was back to normal (for me) energy and we were in the village 20 minutes later.

We brought them many donated items. But with so many barefooted kids, it was extremely meaningful to bend down and put sandals on their feet. Flipflops are the low end of the footwear foodchain in the United States; but when you live in the Amazon and your other option is barefeet, it is like a 200$ pair of Nikes for us.

Then.....

I will continue more tomorrow, it is 11.45 pm and I need to go to sleep. More amazing things happened later in the day and as well as earlier that I don´t have nearly enough time to explain.

Ask me about the boat on the return trip home, it´ll sound like right out of the movies but is 100 percent truth.


Casey