On my last day in Entre Rios, after the plumbing had been fixed and the leadership training had finished, we all climbed into a couple of cars and headed out to a small church in the country to celebrate together.
Fineke teaching in the church.
The day was wet and raining, and the rivers had risen significantly to the point of cutting off the town along the main routes. We squeezed virtually everybody into the two four-wheel-drives that we had, putting the remaining two into a taxi to get them out along the 30 minute journey.
Squeezing people into the 4wds.
One of the 4wds had to be repaired and filled with fuel before it could be used. So using coke bottles, they loaded it up with 6 litres of petrol before driving it down to the local service station to get more. The old beast refused to idle, so to drive it the engine had to be revved high and loud all the way. It got them there and back however, which was all they needed.
Pouring in petrol using coke bottles to get the vehicle to the service station.
After the church service, we were all invited to eat lunch at the pastor's home. Out the back the women had been preparing the peanut soup, crushing the peanuts, cutting up the chicken and stomach that goes into it to give it such a rich flavour, and boiling it all up together. The water has bugs in it, so I always hope that the water has been brought to a boil and not just simmered. But then I always pray over my food before eating it too, believing that God will cleanse anything bad before I eat in situations like these.
The delicious peanut soup with chicken's feet and stomach.
When it came to eating the soup, I found it was delicious and tried the stomach, but it was too similar to kidney for my tastes. After that I did not have the desire to eat the chicken foot, although I have done before, while in China. Perhaps as I continue my travels around Bolivia the opportunity to try this sort of soup again will present itself.
The home of the pastor, looking at it from the church.
We all climbed back into the vehicles again, this time fitting everbody after leaving the people that belonged to this remote community behind, and headed back to Entre Rios. 15 people fit into each 4wd vehicle, a fit that was tight but still comfortable.
Everyone squeezed into the vehicle for the return journey.
A rainy day in Entre Rios.
The flooding almost reached the road that we travelled out to the church.
Guido led the worship time.
A mother listens to her child inside the church.
Ibachi shares his experiences and preaches a little at the same time.