In the past two months I have had two run-ins with the fruit in our backyard and the neighbors.
The first was with a bush Nelton grew called cocona. A neighbor lady, who lives upstairs, so she knew it was there as she can look out her window down into our backyard, stopped by and asked me to sell her some of our cocona. Right away I wondered if I should, but Nelton hasn’t really been eating it, I reasoned, and there was plenty. I thought of telling her to return to deal with him, but sorta felt foolish at doing that too.
I invited her in to harvest some, expecting she would only take a reasonable amount, and set back to peeling my potatoes (Mistake #1). I decided that I would use the money earned as an offering towards a church project. I didn’t just want to give her the fruit and make a habit out of it. Sometimes generosity in this culture does more harm than good, a lesson I’ve not easily learned.
After several minutes I had my first inclination that she didn’t only have a few in mind. Sure enough, before long she appeared in the kitchen door with half a bag plump full.
She asked me how much I wanted for it. Now, I really don’t know anything about this fruit, or what it’s worth. So I figured she could decide what was fair and pay me accordingly (Mistake #2). When I told her that, she responded “50 centimas la cocona.” Directly translated this means “50 centimos (roughly 18 cents) the cocona.” I sorta took it as 50 centimos each cocona (Mistake #3). I agreed and felt decent about my little deal.
Within a few minutes, Joe (a teen-ager who spends most of days here with us) appeared at the table and set down four coins, three 10’s and one 20, “the neighbor brought this by for the fruit.” Well, did I translate poorly.
I went outside to find 3-6 of his precious fruits left on the vine, unripe, or course. The day didn’t rush by as I awaited my husbands return to grace him with news of my ridiculous business transaction. I started the conversation by asking how much cocona costs, “I don’t know, maybe like 5 for 1 sole. It’s kinda expensive right now. Why?,” noting my face, “What did you do?”
I dryly relayed the story, and thankfully he found humor in it. Although he had only recently promised the fruit to his sister, who was going to make fruit juice to sell, he wasn’t upset. He just used it to teach me a lesson about selling things. I had been gathering things for a sort of garage sale to raise money for church projects, but he said everyone would just try to haggle me down to next to nothing. I decided I could find a better use for my time and unwanted things. And I determined to really take the lead on such things as Nelton’s garden.
The second incident was just the other day. There is a plantain/banana tree in our backyard. When we began renting a stock was growing and Nelton gave it to the Landlord, because we already had some from the jungle. But was in the contract.
Well, the day before the wall went up, the landlords daughter came by and said something about her “plata” that fell. “Plata” is slang for money. I asked again, thinking maybe she dropped her money out the window into our backyard. Only the second time I understood her correctly that she had come to get her fruit from my backyard.
Now, I have been waiting and letting that fruit grow and not cutting it prematurely as it would make great smoothies and other snacks. Remembering the cocona incident, I found my backbone and said, “but that’s my fruit.” She said, “it’s yours?” I confirmed that last years produce was theirs, but this year was ours. “Oh,” she said back, “but pastor [Nelton] told me to come chop it down.”
Another dilemma. If Nelton did tell them to come get it and just forgot to tell me, I’d look like a greedy jerk for saying it’s MY FRUIT! Plus, I knew the wall was going up and the fruit would probably be in the way so it had to come down, maybe he just thought they could get it and save us the trouble. I thought about calling him to confirm the story, but that would only make me look like an untrusting American or something. So I said, “well, he didn’t say anything to me, but if that’s what he said, go ahead.”
I was kinda stewing the rest of the day, waiting for Nelton to get home. If he did just give it away, why didn’t he tell me and at least give me to chance to have some? And if he didn’t give permission, I’d be even more mad that she lied to me!
When he got home it was one of the first things I asked him. Indeed, he had not said anything about the fruit! He said that they talked about fruit from the last harvest, but not this one. He said, if he would have given them some, it would have been half, but of course, it wasn’t really a big deal to him.
Okay, I didn’t really care about the fruit too much anymore, I was mad that she lied to my face without even flinching! And about my husband. the rest of the day I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The next morning I work up with it on my mind. I thought, “who cares, just forget about it.” But then I kept thinking if I don’t confront the lies, who will? If I don’t say anything, I’m just letting her keep on her way and I’m saying it’s okay when it’s not.
I was a little more stressed by my conviction to confront. The rest of the day I was thinking of every way to confront. If I just accuse off the bat, that’s not fair, maybe she did take something he said the wrong way. But if I give her a chance to say something, she’ll probably just lie about lying. Nelton said I should just tell her, “I don’t like being lied to. Nelton didn’t say anything about the fruit and while I don’t care about the fruit, don’t lie to me.” Direct and to the point, but it doesn’t give her a chance to tell her part of the story.
Well, I should have heeded his advise. When I talked to her I said, “Nelton said he didn’t say anything about the fruit. When did you think you heard something?” She explained that he didn’t tell her, he told her mom and she was just coming to do what she told her to do. He wasn’t there to check her story, and again, I don’t know what conversations he’s had. So I reminded her that he didn’t say anything about this fruit, and that I don’t like being lied to. She pretty much slid out of it by putting it on her mom though.
Who knows if I even did any good?
Monday, March 5, 2012
A Brick Wall Mess
First of all, I know it’s been forever since I’ve blogged. I apologize, especially since every newsletter says you can keep up with us that way. It’s not that I wouldn’t love it, it’s just I don’t get to the internet often. Although it’s not too far away, the heat of the building, the slowness of service, and the lack of assurance that the page I want will even open doesn’t exactly make the most enticing conditions for being more consistent. Excuses, I suppose.
Upon returning to Peru (just the country, not actually my house) I was warned of broken bricks that had been piled in our already cramped backyard. I hadn’t seen them yet or even gotten home, but I was NOT happy. One of the reasons we decided to rent this place was for a backyard where Kyliana could play safely. There are two brick walls on either side of the yard, owned by the two neighbors. Our own back fence was a flimsy tin thing weaved between rotten pots. Aside from that, it was a nice backyard. Anyway, I thought I prepared myself for the mess that awaited. I imagined bricks scattered everywhere, but with a little work a nice pile could be formed, leaving space again for Ky to play. BOY was I wrong! When we got back home, Nelton looked outside and was pretty upset. He told me if I didn’t want to be mad or stressed, I should avoid the backyard. I was doing fine at doing just that, but when someone says that, of course curiosity is peeked and it’s hard to keep it in check. I eventually cracked the back door opened and really could only burst out into laughter! It had to be a practical joke! A prank! It would go away, right? As you can see in the pictures, there already existed a pile, and it was not short nor confined to one small corner.
Thankfully, Nelton talked to the landlord, who assured us she was going to be using the bricks by the end of the month to build her wall around the yard. I was fine with that, and even happy to know that we would have an even safer place out back.
About two weeks ago a windstorm wiped out half of the pathetic fence, leaving us with a less than desirable situation. First, directly behind the house is a small stream. I didn’t want Ky being lured out by her love for water and never seeing her again. Also, this water seems to collect much of the neighbors sewage, so a stench constantly filled the air. Come to think of it, it’s amazing that little fence protected us so much from the smell, it used to only be sniffs now and again.
A few days later, I heard a lot of banging and noise coming from the backyard. We have our rabbit in a cage with a tin roof laid across and some of those broken bricks on top to keep her in. However, she is quite the escape artist and when she wants to get out, she can. It makes noise, but it’s usually controlled. I decided to go check out the situation. I was surprised and startled to find a man picking away and tearing at our broken fence, chucking things into the yard and probably salvaging parts of the fence for himself. I didn’t know what to do! I wanted to yell at him and see what was going on, but maybe he was sent there by the landlord. These things are unpredictable. I stared at him for a few moments, until he know I was there, then went inside and locked the door. I no longer felt safe in my own home.
I called Nelton to see what I should do, but didn’t get through. When he called be back, the man had left. He talked to the landlord, who decided to get to work on getting that wall put up! I was sooo excited. I wanted the back cleared up before the birth. The only way to the backyard is through the house, and I really didn’t want workers traipsing in and out when I had a new born I was settling in with.
It took a few days to even see progress as they seemed to take more breaks than really work. And it was stressful. The in and out wasn’t only by the workers, but several kids sent by the landlord to bring drinks and snacks to the men. Of course, they sat in my kitchen door and watched the progress as long as they could. And then the front door is always open, so it’s more stressful for Ky. She LOVES being outside, but she has to be watched. She wanders down the road to the plaza, which is on a busy street. Or she’ll pop into a neighbors house, trying to catch their cat. Too many things. She gets stressed and upset when the door is wide open and she can’t leave. I get the same way trying to keep her in or even watch her while she’s out.
Anyway, after the first couple days, I noticed a truckload of new bricks being deposited into the landlords house upstairs. I begin to grow suspicious that she wasn’t exactly undertaking a remodeling project up there. So I began to periodically peek outside to see just how they planned on using this pile of broken brick, something I was curious to witness anyway. The new bricks started being laid, I wondered if they didn’t just need a foundation, really hoped. But unfortunately, the days have passed and the horrific pile still lies there. Only it seems much bigger now and that huge wall makes the backyard look smaller and more closed in. It’s a beautiful wall, but a tragic backyard. Nelton asked the landlord about the bricks. She said they would not be using them for the wall. But she still wants them because she wants to use them to lay a ground outback instead of having mud. However, she doesn’t have money now to do it, so the piles will lie there. It is very upsetting and even more stressful. Frankly, hanging laundry out to dry isn’t the easiest thing as you have to climb a broken brick mountain to get to half of the line, a mountain that voluntarily crumbles and falls beneath you and unpredictable moments.
This may be just the thing that pushes us to move.... again. Nelton told me last night he was going to start looking for a new place. Oh joy?
Upon returning to Peru (just the country, not actually my house) I was warned of broken bricks that had been piled in our already cramped backyard. I hadn’t seen them yet or even gotten home, but I was NOT happy. One of the reasons we decided to rent this place was for a backyard where Kyliana could play safely. There are two brick walls on either side of the yard, owned by the two neighbors. Our own back fence was a flimsy tin thing weaved between rotten pots. Aside from that, it was a nice backyard. Anyway, I thought I prepared myself for the mess that awaited. I imagined bricks scattered everywhere, but with a little work a nice pile could be formed, leaving space again for Ky to play. BOY was I wrong! When we got back home, Nelton looked outside and was pretty upset. He told me if I didn’t want to be mad or stressed, I should avoid the backyard. I was doing fine at doing just that, but when someone says that, of course curiosity is peeked and it’s hard to keep it in check. I eventually cracked the back door opened and really could only burst out into laughter! It had to be a practical joke! A prank! It would go away, right? As you can see in the pictures, there already existed a pile, and it was not short nor confined to one small corner.
Thankfully, Nelton talked to the landlord, who assured us she was going to be using the bricks by the end of the month to build her wall around the yard. I was fine with that, and even happy to know that we would have an even safer place out back.
About two weeks ago a windstorm wiped out half of the pathetic fence, leaving us with a less than desirable situation. First, directly behind the house is a small stream. I didn’t want Ky being lured out by her love for water and never seeing her again. Also, this water seems to collect much of the neighbors sewage, so a stench constantly filled the air. Come to think of it, it’s amazing that little fence protected us so much from the smell, it used to only be sniffs now and again.
A few days later, I heard a lot of banging and noise coming from the backyard. We have our rabbit in a cage with a tin roof laid across and some of those broken bricks on top to keep her in. However, she is quite the escape artist and when she wants to get out, she can. It makes noise, but it’s usually controlled. I decided to go check out the situation. I was surprised and startled to find a man picking away and tearing at our broken fence, chucking things into the yard and probably salvaging parts of the fence for himself. I didn’t know what to do! I wanted to yell at him and see what was going on, but maybe he was sent there by the landlord. These things are unpredictable. I stared at him for a few moments, until he know I was there, then went inside and locked the door. I no longer felt safe in my own home.
I called Nelton to see what I should do, but didn’t get through. When he called be back, the man had left. He talked to the landlord, who decided to get to work on getting that wall put up! I was sooo excited. I wanted the back cleared up before the birth. The only way to the backyard is through the house, and I really didn’t want workers traipsing in and out when I had a new born I was settling in with.
It took a few days to even see progress as they seemed to take more breaks than really work. And it was stressful. The in and out wasn’t only by the workers, but several kids sent by the landlord to bring drinks and snacks to the men. Of course, they sat in my kitchen door and watched the progress as long as they could. And then the front door is always open, so it’s more stressful for Ky. She LOVES being outside, but she has to be watched. She wanders down the road to the plaza, which is on a busy street. Or she’ll pop into a neighbors house, trying to catch their cat. Too many things. She gets stressed and upset when the door is wide open and she can’t leave. I get the same way trying to keep her in or even watch her while she’s out.
Anyway, after the first couple days, I noticed a truckload of new bricks being deposited into the landlords house upstairs. I begin to grow suspicious that she wasn’t exactly undertaking a remodeling project up there. So I began to periodically peek outside to see just how they planned on using this pile of broken brick, something I was curious to witness anyway. The new bricks started being laid, I wondered if they didn’t just need a foundation, really hoped. But unfortunately, the days have passed and the horrific pile still lies there. Only it seems much bigger now and that huge wall makes the backyard look smaller and more closed in. It’s a beautiful wall, but a tragic backyard. Nelton asked the landlord about the bricks. She said they would not be using them for the wall. But she still wants them because she wants to use them to lay a ground outback instead of having mud. However, she doesn’t have money now to do it, so the piles will lie there. It is very upsetting and even more stressful. Frankly, hanging laundry out to dry isn’t the easiest thing as you have to climb a broken brick mountain to get to half of the line, a mountain that voluntarily crumbles and falls beneath you and unpredictable moments.
This may be just the thing that pushes us to move.... again. Nelton told me last night he was going to start looking for a new place. Oh joy?
Thursday, March 1, 2012
GLOBAL COMPASSION NETWORK PROPOSAL FOR PERU
GLOBAL COMPASSION NETWORK PROPOSAL FOR PERU
Background: TerryBaxter has worked part time in Peru since 2005 doing various short-term missiontrips from Iquetos up and down the Amazon River. The many tributaries dumping into the Amazon River arehome of the “Forgotten River People.” Altogether, it is estimated that there are around 4,000 villages ofjungle people ranging in size from 50 to 500 people. For the most part, the government of Peru provides a smallschool in each village with the goal of providing the equivalent of a 5thgrade education in Spanish. Thereare some villages that are so remote there are no schools and occasionally newtribes are discovered that have never been know to previously exist.
Some of these villages havechurches, especially those close to the bigger cities or big riversystems. However, as you travel upthe smaller tributaries, most villages have no witness of the gospel and noaccess to medical care. There arehuge needs in these remote villages.
In 2005 Bethany Baxter joined her father for her first trip into the jungle. At the time she was a student and Moody Bible Institute. The trip sparked a love for the river people and a godly Peruvian man named Nelton. After graduation from Moody, they weremarried and now serve full time in Peru under International Messengers of Clear Lake, Iowa.
Ministry Goals: Bethany and Nelton are now committed to reach many villages with thegospel and improve the harsh way of life in the jungle. Their vision is to raise up many junglepastors that can in turn reach and minister to their own people. They want to provide practical biblicaltraining to these pastors as well basic economic development through improved agriculture skills.
Immediate Plans: (Nexttwo years) In order to accomplish these goals they have developed both shortand long term goals. The immediateneeds are: 1) to form a non-profit organization in Peru to eliminate importduties on supplies and resources. 2) Purchase land to serve as a training base for pastors and lay churchleaders that includes training in biblical studies as well as effectiveagriculture techniques. 3) Startwork on the initial facility.
1.Set up non-profit organization: $3,000
2. Purchase land: $7,000 to $10,000
3. Drilling well on property: $2,000
4. First Building: $10,000
5. (One SafeTHome Container $95,000)
ImmediateBudget: $25,000
WithSafeTHomes $120,000
Intermediate Goals: (3 to 5 years) The intermediate goals ininclude: 1) Expanding the main base. 2) Support boat for travel. 3)Building anoutpost station up the headwaters of the Amazon River. 4) Developing a basic aviationprogram to support the ministry. 5) Placing one full time couple at the outpoststation.
1.Expansion to main base: $35,000
2. Support Boat: $25,000
3.Outpost Station: $30,000
4. Aviation program: $75,000
IntermediateBudget: $165,000
Long Term Goals: (Beyond year 5) Long term Bethany and Neltonenvision some form of live on river boat to support the overall ministry. This will enable them to work in manymore villages and up many tributaries for extended periods of time.
1. Riverboat: $180,000
Gifts toward these projects canbe sent to: Global Compassion Network, 1066 440th Street, Linn Grove, IA 51033 and are tax deductible.
If you are interested in being on a trip to help set-up contact: (You can have them contact you or dad or both--whatever) Terry Baxter at Terry.flyagain@gmail.com or call at 641-210-9656
Background: TerryBaxter has worked part time in Peru since 2005 doing various short-term missiontrips from Iquetos up and down the Amazon River. The many tributaries dumping into the Amazon River arehome of the “Forgotten River People.” Altogether, it is estimated that there are around 4,000 villages ofjungle people ranging in size from 50 to 500 people. For the most part, the government of Peru provides a smallschool in each village with the goal of providing the equivalent of a 5thgrade education in Spanish. Thereare some villages that are so remote there are no schools and occasionally newtribes are discovered that have never been know to previously exist.
Some of these villages havechurches, especially those close to the bigger cities or big riversystems. However, as you travel upthe smaller tributaries, most villages have no witness of the gospel and noaccess to medical care. There arehuge needs in these remote villages.
In 2005 Bethany Baxter joined her father for her first trip into the jungle. At the time she was a student and Moody Bible Institute. The trip sparked a love for the river people and a godly Peruvian man named Nelton. After graduation from Moody, they weremarried and now serve full time in Peru under International Messengers of Clear Lake, Iowa.
Ministry Goals: Bethany and Nelton are now committed to reach many villages with thegospel and improve the harsh way of life in the jungle. Their vision is to raise up many junglepastors that can in turn reach and minister to their own people. They want to provide practical biblicaltraining to these pastors as well basic economic development through improved agriculture skills.
Immediate Plans: (Nexttwo years) In order to accomplish these goals they have developed both shortand long term goals. The immediateneeds are: 1) to form a non-profit organization in Peru to eliminate importduties on supplies and resources. 2) Purchase land to serve as a training base for pastors and lay churchleaders that includes training in biblical studies as well as effectiveagriculture techniques. 3) Startwork on the initial facility.
1.Set up non-profit organization: $3,000
2. Purchase land: $7,000 to $10,000
3. Drilling well on property: $2,000
4. First Building: $10,000
5. (One SafeTHome Container $95,000)
ImmediateBudget: $25,000
WithSafeTHomes $120,000
Intermediate Goals: (3 to 5 years) The intermediate goals ininclude: 1) Expanding the main base. 2) Support boat for travel. 3)Building anoutpost station up the headwaters of the Amazon River. 4) Developing a basic aviationprogram to support the ministry. 5) Placing one full time couple at the outpoststation.
1.Expansion to main base: $35,000
2. Support Boat: $25,000
3.Outpost Station: $30,000
4. Aviation program: $75,000
IntermediateBudget: $165,000
Long Term Goals: (Beyond year 5) Long term Bethany and Neltonenvision some form of live on river boat to support the overall ministry. This will enable them to work in manymore villages and up many tributaries for extended periods of time.
1. Riverboat: $180,000
Gifts toward these projects canbe sent to: Global Compassion Network, 1066 440th Street, Linn Grove, IA 51033 and are tax deductible.
If you are interested in being on a trip to help set-up contact: (You can have them contact you or dad or both--whatever) Terry Baxter at Terry.flyagain@gmail.com or call at 641-210-9656
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