Joy in the Jungle

     In my second trip report I wrote about some of the hardships we endured because of the road conditions in the jungle of India. This third trip seemed much easier, perhaps because we went to fewer villages and they were not as remote. We were challenged by the usual washed-out roads and see-through bridges, but this time we only had a few setbacks. On one occasion, as the jeep snorted its way up the mountain trails we were halted by the sudden lack of road. The men who traveled with us jumped out and cheerfully set to work filling the cavity left by spring floods. They found rocks, broke them so they would fit, took branches off the trees in order to spare the tires on the sharp rocks. Going along a little further, the clutch went out of the jeep as we tried to go through a washout.  While the driver repaired it, the men fixed the road.  We wondered if we were going to have to spend the night in the jungle. Soon everyone cheerfully climbed back into the jeep and we were off. Later, when we couldn't push the jeep up any more hills, or tolerate the thought that we might get in, but not be able to get back out.  We left the jeep and walked the rest of the way into the village.

     Another memorable moment happened when the road abruptly ended at a large river. The village was two kilometers away on the other side. There was nothing else to do but hike up our pants, or put on one of the men's skirts and walk across. The river and jungle canopy looked like something out of an old Tarzan movie, complete with water buffalo bathing along the shore, and natives wading across the river.

     Another time our driver refused to go any further in the jeep so we walked part way until a scooter was commandeered to carry us to a village. Elton and Nancy had never done anything like this back home, but they climbed on and took off. There is nothing quite like three people on a little scooter as it picks its way across the rock-studded road.  At one village that was especially hard to get to, I mentioned the fact that it was a long way in to them, and we had to build two bridges to get there. They laughed. Then I reminded them that Jesus had come even further and bridged a way for God to come to them and for them to go to God. They seemed pleased with this illustration.

JOY IN THE JUNGLE 

 After a few days of teaching the pastors and church workers in our base village we began taking day trips further into the jungle to visit new church plants. A typical church is made up of several families who live in a small cluster of mud huts in the jungle. The church building itself would consist of some trees stuck in the ground to support a canopy of leaves. Sometimes straw would be placed on the ground. It is a real honor to be accepted by the tribe who once participated in human sacrifice. Some of the pastors we talked with said that their grandfathers participated in these practices-- some even believe that it still goes on secretly today. We were also told that there were other tribes further in jungle that are even more primitive. They called them the naked tribe.

     We agreed to walk in to these remote villages, because a jeep could not get through. We would have to walk about five or six miles each way, which created some concern initially because we are not used to walking that far, especially in the heat. We could tell that everyone else was concerned for us. We did not realize to what extent until we arrived back home on the first day. Our neighbors, even our un-saved neighbors, came out to greet us with joy, admitting that they never thought we would make it. I’m not sure what they expected, but it was clear that they were surprised to see us when we returned each evening.

    In the jungle villages we visited, our message of love had an impact on them even before we opened our mouths. Apparently they also found it hard to believe that we would be willing to walk to where they were.  No one had ever done that before.  We told them that we only walked a few miles through the jungle, yet Jesus loved us so much that He came all the way from Heaven to earth to walk among us.  This was received with an understanding smile and a group of people saying "Hummmm!"

     As we drew close to a village, we were asked to wait in the shade so they could prepare a traditional greeting for us. The drums would start and they would slowly move towards us singing, dancing and playing a variety of strange instruments. Then, once we were surrounded, there would be an enthusiastic shout.  Timid ladies would step forward to put garlands of beautiful wild flowers around our necks. Once this was done, everyone surged forward with their hands extended, eagerly wanting them to be shaken. The babies would begin to cry when they saw our white skin. This, along with the various homemade noise-makers, would add to the confusion. In one village, there was a sudden burst of gun-powder, set off by men whose child-like expressions of surprise always exceeded ours. Another time we were greeted with the blast from a homemade shotgun, which looked like something out of Robinson Crusoe. After the welcome was over, we would settle in for a few hours of singing, teaching, and a time of prayer for the sick. Then we would have a feast together, and an opportunity to take photos. Leaving each village is always difficult for everyone. They would walk together as far down the trail as they could before turning back to the regular routine of jungle life. These are moments that make the trip all worthwhile. 

2003 Copyright. This material is the creative property of Penn Clark