Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Jungle Jollies





While living in the jungle, we found it very difficult to keep dry. Perspiration is a constant problem. You are living in a steam room. Without electricity, there are no fans or AC to keep you cool. My husband found it necessary to change his shirt several times a day, to try and keep dry. Since I had to do all my laundry by hand in the river at the time, I was always looking for a new super-duper antiperspirant to try.

I ordered a "deodorant stone" from a health magazine. We had to wait a few months for it to finally get to us in the jungle. On the flight day, the Missionary Aviation plane arrived with our supplies and mail. Flight day was always exciting! Not just for us but for the entire village! It was a window to the outside world.





We had not made the new airstrip in the village yet, so we had to canoe up river to the airstrip to meet the plane. The Indians were always glad to help us carry our stuff down to the canoe and then back up to the house. We always shared goodies with them. And then they would sit and watch as we put our supplies away. This way, they knew what we had and what they could ask for!!!





On this flight day, a group of men were sitting and chatting as I went through the mail bag. I was so excited to see the order had arrived with the deodorant stone!

I pulled it out . It came in a small velvet pouch with a drawstring. I pulled out the stone. It is basically , compressed deodorant that you use as a soap. Very little goes a long way. It looks like an egg size crystal stone.

So I pulled the pouch out and began to pull the stone itself out. I noticed the men on the bench became very antsy. One man asked, loudly, "What is that?".

Ok, how do you explain deodorant to an Indian? I tried explaining it was a soap, but the men were already wearing terrified looks and had begun to leave ...QUICKLY!!!

I didn't know what I had done to run them off. I kept on unpacking, but had left the stone lying on the table. Shortly, one of the men returned, timidly. He asked me to hide the stone. I could see his fear was real so I took the stone to another room.

He was so relieved. He began to explain to me why everyone had run away. And then he wanted to know where I had gotten the stone.

The Ye'kwanas have a legend of a "death stone". The witch doctors travel to a certain mountain where there is a type of crystal which they believe has special powers. It is called the death stone. The witch doctors have to keep it under wraps, because of its power.

You use the stone ONLY for killing your enemies. To use the stone you pull it out of its covering and point it at those you wish to die.

Well, I had inadvertently tried to kill off half the male population that morning by showing them my deodorant stone!!

I ended up having to meet with the men and explain my stupidity and swear I had no intentions of harming anyone!!! Very humbling experience for me and frightening for them!!! Later on we could all have a good laugh about it! And I count these men as my friends!



They are: Ramon(a village elder), The Chief(in purple), Willan(another elder), Ceasar(village drunk), Manolo(the witch doctor)


So, a little known fact about me...I almost massacred an entire village!! Single handedly!!



Scary aren't I?

19 comments:

Baptist Girl said...

lol junglemom,

The stories you are going to share with your gandchildren. *S*

As I was reading your blog it brought me to tears thinking how you and your family have sacrificed to serve the Lord. The impact you will have on the folks around you, will be eternal. All ove the world there are missionarie like yourselves that need to be thanked.

Thankyou for sacrificing so much because you love the Lord.

Cristina

Baptist Girl said...

granchildren not gandchildren...if there was not a mistake in something I posted I would question if it was really me that sent it..lol

Janie said...

Scarey indeed! That is a very funny story..since it ended up okay. I bet it was hard to explain to them that you were not trying to kill them off.

Anonymous said...

Fascinating story...Thanks.

Kimberly said...

I remember you telling me this and its still a riot! Love the pic of you.

Kimberly said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Paula said...

Thanks so much for visiting my blog. We appreciate your prayers!

I've enjoyed reading a couple of your posts; I'll have to visit again as time allows and things return to "normal" here.

Blessings,
Mrs. C

Terry McGovern said...

Rita,

Thanks for coming by and reading my blog. I thought I would drop by here and let you know we have met before. My family and your family were at a misison confernce together in Tampa Florida (Smyrna Baptist). It was early 2002, I think.? The space shuttle had crahsed the same week as the mission confernce.

you can link to my website from my blog. I have pics posted from depuation there, but I do think I have any pics from our time at smyrna.

Tell your husband I said hello!!

Terry

Unknown said...

Hey sis! I will never tire of your stories! What a life you allhave lead. Please write a book! The little faces of them men are so sweet!

TO BECOME said...

I am so thankful for people like you all who have given everthing to go and tell the blessed story so that others might live. May God keep you and your family safe and bless your lives as you live them for him. Connie from Texas

Sarah Joy said...

Hey there! I am put this blog in my bookmarks. so good to hear from you again. I'll be praying for you and yours daily!

Anonymous said...

Very interesting! Wish you the best with all the moving coming up.

Kristi said...

Oh, bless your heart. I don't know whether to laugh or feel pity for you. OK, I'm laughing. Hehehe

Bless their hearts. Sentenced to death by a missionary!!! LOL

I'm glad that you were able to work everything out and that you are now friends with these who were at one time on death row. LOL

~Kristi

Rancher said...

El Presidente was right, you are a menace!

Anonymous said...

Never knew you could weild such power!! How alarming....maybe youneeded the stone more thatn you thought LOL (a few weeks of waiting.....)...

Such memories!!!

Praying for you!

Unknown said...

Oh boy! That Rancher cracks me up!

Anonymous said...

Hey, would the stone work on the mobs that cause so much trouble there? :o) Just kidding. I agree with Cristina, BTW!

Anonymous said...

Bet these stones are nothing like the ones Josh mentioned!!........

ROTFLOL

momteacherfriend said...

What a great story. Isn't it amazing how different cultures can interrupt something So differently. Deodorant a weapon, who would have thought? You may want to store than in the back of your mind as a possible defense if someone unknown were to ever threaten you. Very interesting.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I thoroughly enjoyed yours.