Three Villages

By Rachelle

Our time in Waorani land was very special. We landed in Tewaeno and could hear the kids calling, "Menga (Nate) is here. Menga is here." Then Oma realized I was there also. He walked

over to me, put his hands on my shoulder and stood eye to eye with my while he told me how they have prayed and prayed and "here you are". No surprise to him. God answered his prayers.

I remember when he was in the hospital and we weren't sure he would live. He was having a great deal of anxiety so I went to the hospital to try and reassure him. I knew that I couldn’t pray in Waorani, so I prayed in english with little expectation....Oma immediately settled down and told me he was going to sleep and not worry. Oh me of little faith!

Lots of friends came and visited and shared their joys and sorrows of the last 10 years. A teenage daughter taking her own life, a spouse dying, a chronic illness...But all still continue to shine with a deep, golden glow of joy and peace. One gal shared about the loss of her 2 year old saying that at first she hurt so much, but is a little better now. No pretense, just honesty. I did not see bitterness in any of these friends. Just acceptance.

We flew on to the next village after a couple of days in Tewaeno. I looked over as we took off and saw tears dripping down Tali's face. She didn't want to leave. I had not expected that response, but my heart was breaking right along with hers.

Landing in Damointado was emotional as I saw friends that I hadn't seen in 15 years. They were preparing for a bible conference and we hoped to see the people who came for it. Five minutes before they broke into groups of men, women and children I was asked to lead the women's workshop. Fortunately, I had had my dad help translate my testimony from the last 10 years. I wanted the Waorani to know how much their walks of faith have encouraged me since I was a little girl to walk with the Lord in the good times and in the bad times. I was able to thank the older generation for that example. They have loved us and prayed for us more faithfully than I have prayed for them. I shared how I had worried how Natalia would respond if I was to die. Would she be angry? Would she walk away from God? But then God responded and reminded me that He is Tali’s father first. I told them that I had clung to God like a monkey clings to a tree and that in hard times they need God more than any other time.

They read some scriptures that fit and then the women shared what God had done for them and their families. Then one piped up and said, "Let's pray." (Whew. I could never pray in Waorani.) I hope I communicated my heart despite a different language and culture. I shared the same thing half a dozen times with various people and groups.

One little 7 yr old (the daughter of one of my childhood friends) seemed to be fascinated with my white skin and the fact that I used a wheelchair or cane to get around. The first day she just came and sat by me with her hand on my arm while she just looked and looked at me. The next day she did the same thing and then got up the courage to whisper, “Where did you fall?”. I explained that I had gotten sick and couldn’t walk well. That seemed to satisfy her for the moment. She was happy just to sit next to me with her hand on my arm. I was touched by her compassion. The next day she found me at the river bathing and I thought, “Wow, this kid’s compassion is amazing!”. Then she said, “My mom didn’t get any fish hooks.” Ok, so maybe I read a little too much in to it. Or, maybe not. Who knows!

The third and last village we went to was Tzapino where we had spent most of our time 10 years ago. We didn’t know if anyone still lived there because no one had flown in there for years and many people have moved to other villages. But as people came out of their houses to see what the plane was all about it just felt like we had made the right choice. We needed to be there, to reestablish frienships, to let God restore the years that the locusts have eaten. It was healing for my soul. Tali made a friend, Dawa, there who she went swimming with. That was an answer to a concern because I didn’t expect to see many kids her age. They are all out of school on vacation and most are traveling to other villages etc. Omene, faithful Omene came and did much the same as Oma did. He told me how they prayed for me all the time. His wife died of snake bite 5 years ago, but many of his kids and their families live in Tzapino. Other relatives are moving back to Tzapino to escape the effects of alcohol in their village.