SUBJECT: A letter to my Uncle Jimmy about our 3-day hike to Paruima

AUTHOR: Heidi Burgdorff, Age 15, lives with her parents, 2 sisters, and cousins in the village of Kaikan, Guyana, near the Venezuelan border.

DATE: June 16, 1997

Right now I am at Paruima. I will tell you what's happened over the past 2 weeks so you will know how I got here. Well, for the past month the Kaikan Pathfinder Club and the Paruima Club have been talking about going to Arau ( a small village) to have a "Camporee". All of us (except maybe Christopher ) were planning on going. We were planning on leaving on Thursday but then we found out that Aunt Lita, Aunt Ruth, and Uncle Eddi were supposed to arrive on Wednesday, We thought it would be rude to leave the day after visitors arrived, especially since they were only going to be in Kaikan for one week. Well, Kristen, Katrina, and Lina decided they wanted to go, so they left with the Kaikan Club on Thursday morning. A few hours after they left the

Boy next to mission house in Paruima

Paruima Pathfinders arrived at Kaikan (they were planning on leaving with Kaikan). When they heard that Kaikan had already left they decided to spend a night in Kaikan and leave on Friday morning. They had worshiped at our house ( page 2) (there were only 11 Pathfinders that came) and we made friends with them. Kara, Carlos, and I decided to go with them to Arau so we packed that night. On Friday morning we got into two motor boats and rode downstream for about one hour. Then we started our long hike. It was about 11 miles and took us approx. 1 hour. (???db) When we got to Arau we strung up our hammocks, took a bath in the creek, and went to Supper. We ate all our meals at the Captain's house and they fed us very well. I slept in my own hammock, Kristen and Katrina were togather, Lina and Carlos were in one, and Kara stayed with another lady. I had a blanket, socks, sweat pants, and a sweat-shirt but I still got cold in the morning. On Sabbath we were awakened at 4:00 and told to get ready for worship at 6:00. I stayed in bed until after 5:00 and I still got ready in plenty of time. After worship we had breakfast, Sabbath School, Church, lunch, AY, etc. We sang "Amazing

Two nice ladies in Paruima

Grace" and " Light of the World". (page 3 ) At night we even had a social ( a get-togather in which young people play games) that lasted until 11:30 p.m.! Sunday morning we woke up at 4:30. Sunday was a busy day. In the U.S. at a Camporee we spent most of our time at camp, but here we barely had time to go back to camp. First we ate breakfast, then we started cleaning the airstrip, then we went on a 3 hour walk, then we ate while some people were playing , then we went to a double wedding (Lina played the Keyboard), then we went to the reception, then we went to a baptism, then we went to communion, then we went to a program ( in which we sang and everybody was introduced) that lasted until 12:30!

Monday morning we got to sleep in til 5:00 A.M.! WOW! We ate breakfast then started the journey back. 6 1/2 hours later we arrived at the river where we got on a boat The river was low so they could only take us half way. They dropped us off in Venezuela and we walked one hour. When we arrived at Kaikan we crossed the river and ( page 4)returned (exausted ) to our homes.

NOTE: I have company arriving so will send this now!!

(Continued)

M.! WOW! We ate breakfast then started the journey back. 6 1/2 hours later we arrived at the river where we got on a boat. The river was low so they could only take us half way. They dropped us off in Venezuela and we walked one hour.

Hiking over the high savannah

When we arrived at Kaikan we crossed the river and (page 4) returned (exausted) to our homes. That evening I found out that my parents were planning on going to Paruima with the Paruima Pathfinders when they returned to their Village on Wednesday. I was too tired to give it much thought. Tuesday we had a late Easter. As usual we couldn't find all the eggs we had hidden. We were all tired so we didn't do much. That night we had a social with the Paruima Club. After the social I decided that I wanted to go to Paruima. So at 11:00 p.m. I secretly packed my day-pack In the morning Lina found out and wanted to go. So Lina and I, along with my parents and the Paruima Pathfinders left Kaikan. We walked for about 2 hours in the jungle then we reached the savannah. We ate lunch beside a creek then we continued walking. After about 4 hours we arrived at our first "camp." It was a bunch of long sticks set up. We put a tarp over it and they hung their hammocks up. We didn't bring hammocks, so we spread our (page 5) sleeping bags on the ground. After bathing, eating supper, and having worship we layed down to sleep. The ground was hard and lumpy, but I was so tired that it felt wonderful. Thursday morning we woke up and had worship before the Sun rose. After a nice breakfast we continued walking on the Savannah. We walked about 3 hours until we reached Carabu (pronounced kuh-raw-boo) Mountain. It

One of our team with a huarishi on his back

was steep and muddy. It only took Lina and I half and hour to make it to the top but it took my parents longer. I guess you get slower as you get older! (smiley face)

We ate lunch at the top then continued. We walked 9 hours on Thursday. We camped by a creek. The ground felt harder that night! Friday morning we ( my parents, Lina & I) left about 7:30. We were usually at the back of the line, so we decided to get ahead start. We managed to stay ahead of the group for about an hour. While we were in the lead we drew smily faces and wrote messages in the sand. It was fun. After a few hours of walking on the savannah we saw our destination. (page 6) We began to descend into the jungle. After walking awhile we stopped for lunch. People from Paruima met us there and gave us oranges and bananas. After lunch we walked 1 1/2 hours until we got to the river. We were taken by boat about 10 minutes to Paruima. When we arrived we were taken to the 2nd floor of the clinic. Lina and I shared a room, my parents shared a room, and the man that came with us got a room. The rooms were big! We bathed and washed clothes. In the evening we went to worship at the church. Over the weekend we sang several songs. It is now Tuesday. Last night there was a social. We were going to leave today but the river was too high so we'll leave tomarrow. Paruima is more like a small city in several ways. There are more people, the houses are closer together, there are more cliques, and there are more "flirts". Well that's all for now. I'll write later!

Heidi Burgdorff

You may write to Heidi at: gates@andrews.edu

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Last Updated: May 13, 1997