SUBJECT: Odessa from Paruima

AUTHOR: Kristen Burgdorff, Age 13, lives with her parents, 2 sisters, and cousins in the village of Kaikan, Guyana, near the Venezuelan border.

DATE: May 13, 1997

Hi! My name is Kristen. I am thirteen years old and in eighth grade. My cousin, Katrina, and I do school together. I hope you enjoy the story that I am writing about a trip that our Pathfinder club went on. Pathfinders is like Boy Scouts and Girld Scouts. It is just that Pathfinders is made up of boys and girls together.

THE WEEK I WILL NEVER FORGET

On March 25 my cousins, family and I walked up to the runway where we eagerly awaited the arrival of the plane that would bring my great aunt, along with her brother and his wife, safely to us. The hours dragged by and still no sign of a plane. Off in the distance we could hear the thrundering of

My Great Aunt Lita

rain as it made its way over savanah and jungle. We turned around and saw the wall of rain that appeared to be about 2 minutes away. We had better find shelter before it arrived unless we wanted to get soaked. Over to our left was a small cluster of huts. We hurried over to one of them to seek shelter. Just as we arrived the first drops fell.

The rain fell hitting everything in its way with fury. A spray was coming down off the roof of the small hut leaving us feeling damp. After a short while we decided to go inside the hut where my Aunt Becky was visiting a patient. It was alot drier inside the hut and we were soon comfortable. The rain went just as suddently as it had come, and we soon found ourselves outside where we had been just minutes before.

A noise hushed everyone. It sounded as though it were coming from the direction of the savanah. All eyes strained. "There it is," shouted one man as the plane came into view. It circled over and we waved at it. As it came on its final approach I took a deep breath. Aunt Lita would be here in a couple seconds. Finally the plane touched down and it taxied to the end of the runway where we were waiting for them.

The plane's engine quit. We waited anxiously while the propellar slowed down. Finally it stopped. We rushed over to the side of the plane and looked in through the windows to see if my great aunts and uncle were in there. The door popped open and they got out.

As the plane was being unloaded I hugged my relatives and helped them with their stuff. Everyone moved back away from the runway as the plane took off. We loaded some of their stuff onto a wheelbarrow and picked up the rest. The sky was dark and it was threatening to rain again. Then we heard it. It was the sound that was all too familiar to us--rain! I picked up my bag and ran up the hill to the only house in the area. Since it was built on stilts I could easily walk under it.

My relatives and the rest of the family arrived just as the first drops fell. It had been pouring for about 15 minutes when my cousin, Carlos, showed up with umbrellas and rain ponchos. I took a rain poncho so that I could carry the suitcase underneath it and keep it dry. Since our house was just down the hill about two minutes it didn't take long before we were all home and dry.

Unpacking is one of my favorite things. It seems like we have Christmas every time people come to visit. They also bring mail from friends and family. While I was reading letters my great aunt started fixing supper. If anyone in this world can cook, it is definitely her. Supper was the best meal that I have had in a long time.

We were getting ready for bed when Mr. Rudy, one of the Pathfinder staff members, came up to our house. He wanted to know if we were going to go with the Pathfinders the next day at 6:30 AM to Arau. They had been waiting for the Paruima Pathfinders who were supposed to arrive at Kaikan after walking three days from their village. After talking to my cousin Katrina about it, we decided to go even though we would only get to see my aunt for a few days. Lina also decided to go.

Leaving for Arau from Kaikan

I frantically stuffed clothes, a brush, my pillow, and a couple of other things into the backpack I was using. Now all I needed was food. I only needed enough for two meals, the rest would be provided for us. After going through the backpack a second time to make sure I had everything I needed, I crawled into bed and fell asleep.

I woke up at 5:15 AM to get the food I needed for the trip. After making trailmix and grabbing some granola bars, the ones my aunt had brought, I filled up my water bottle. Katrina and I had decided to stay in a hammock together so that Lina could have her own. We ate breakfast, then waited for 6:30 AM to come.

At 6:00 AM everyone was already at our landing waiting for the boat to come that would take our packs one hour by boat to the beginning of the trail. Finally it came and our leader announced that the guys would walk to the beginning and the girls would wait for the boat to come back and then ride by boat.

The boat left and the guys started to walk. It had only been 15 minutes since the boat had left, when it returned with the luggage still in it. This time, though, another boat was following it. We were going to leave.

We all piled into the 2nd boat and started off. I wasn't very lucky though because I had to crouch on the bottom of the boat. Only a few peole got to sit down. After 30 minutes I could not feel my legs. I knew that it was bad, but I was glad that I couldn't feel them. I moved a little bit and blood rushed back into my legs. What a mistake. Now I could feel the pain again.

Rapids! We were all told not to lean to any side of the boat. Again I was not lucky. I was sitting by the edge! So many people were crowded into the boat that any movement could send water splashing on us. The boat tipped slightly and water came pouring in. It drenched my jeans and shoes leaving me wet and miserable.

After we passed the rapids one girl felt sorry for me so she gave me her seat. I was very grateful. Finally after riding in the boat for an hour we reached the rock landing. The guys showed up half an hour later and we started the hike.

Katrina and I decided to stay with Amai, which means Grandma in the dialect, because we figured that we should at least be able to keep up with her. The trail headed into dense jungle. It was hot and humid. After walking for awhile we came to a small creek.

Amai (back, right) and her Family

My assumption about Amai was wrong. She walked just as fast as the kids, not stopping for anything. We passed many small creeks that were the color of Coca-Cola. After walking for four hours without stopping I was getting tired. Just then we came to the place where we were going to eat lunch. We stopped for one hour to rest and eat.

The jungle still stretched on. Finally we came out on the savanah. It was beautiful. Off in the distance you could see Arao Mountain. Right in front of us was their airstip that was an hour away from their village. We continued on past the airstrip, over big flat rocks, through more jungle, up a hill and there was Arau.

It was a small community of maybe 30 people, built right at the base of Arau Mountain. We walked down to Arau and set up our hammocks underneath a small hut. Every single hammock was a different color! The hut had no walls, just a roof. It had taken us six hours of walking to get there.

Drawing of hut with hammocks

We decided to try to take a bath in the knee deep creek. The water was warm because it was so shallow and it felt extremely good. We walked back to the hut and changed before eating supper. After supper Katrina and I crawled into the hammock and tried to get into a comfortable position. Katrina was taking up most of the room so I was almost falling out. Finally someone made the edge of my hammock higher so that I wouldn't fall out. After awhile I drifted off to sleep.

The shrill sound of a whistle quickly brought me out of the world of the sleeping. It was pitch black outside. Maybe it had been my imagination. No, there it was again. People began to get up and move around. Why on earth did we have to wake up so early anyway? By the way, what time was it? I fumbled with the flashlight and finally clicked it on. Five o'clock! Why on earth would anyone need to wake up at five?

Finally the lady in charge walked by. I asked her why we were waking up so early and she said that we had to get ready for worship that was at six. I could be ready in fifteen minutes! Why on earth wake up a whole hour before time? Reluctantly I drug myself out of the hammock.

After getting ready we started worship; suddenly, a terrible pain struck me in the side. Why can't I pay attention to what they are saying? I felt sick, really sick. Nausea swept over me as I tried to sing the last verse of the song. If I could just make it to the end of worship. Prayer seemed to last for an eternity. Why did it seem like it would never end?

Prayer finished and I rushed outside. After a series of dry heaves I slowly made my way back to the hammock and lay down. I had a bad case of diarrhea. I must have gotten it from drinking the water from the creeks. Lina came over to give me some medicine for my stomach pains and then went to the river.

I lay in the hammock until Lina called me out. The Captain of the village had invited us to eat breakfast with his family. I was feeling better so we went on over. We sat down at the table that they had prepared especially for we 3 missionary kids and waited for the meal.

Corn flakes! Where did they get corn flakes from? I couldn't believe it! We couldn't even get corn flakes in Kaikan. How did they get them way out in this isolated jungle village? We finished eating breakfast, then went over by the boys' hut to practice songs with the choir.

Early morning fog in Arau

Sun burns off the fog in Arau

We had been singing when someone shouted "Here come the Paruima Pathfinders." I ran over to a clearing to see if I could see them. Sure enough. There was a long line of people snaking their way down the hill. Mr. Ramo came over and pointed to one of the dots on the hill. "That is Heidi."

I took off running towards the small dots. I hadn't expected Heidi to come. I jumped from tock to rock while going across the creek, then kept on running. I could now tell which one was Heidi, but who were the other two people with her?

Suddenly I knew. Kara and Carlos had come with her! I met them halfway down the hill. They all looked tired and worn out, but I was glad that they were there. By the time we got to the creek we met eveyone else coming up.

We were told to make a straight line so that we could shake hands with the people from Paruima. They came by us and we greeted them warmly. Then we took Heidi and Kara back to our hut and helped them get settled in, then we ate lunch with the Captain again.

The rest of the afternoon we spent talking and showing them around. Later on in the evening we went to worship. They held it out doors. It was beautiful. When worship was finished we ate and then squeezed into the hammock and fell asleep.

Not again! I needed to sleep in, not wake up earlier. It is completely unreasonable to wake up at four on Sabbath morning! Finally I decided these people are impossible. I lay in my hammock and tried to go back to sleep but there was too much commotion going on. Finally I gave up and drug myself out of the hammock.

I sat around for two hours until six drug around. Worship was nice but I think I would have enjoyed it more it I could have had more sleep. After worship we ate breakfast and got ready for Sabbath School.

Time flew by and before I knew it church was over and we were eating lunch. Then we went back to the church for AY meeting. Then we had a concert and my cousins and I had to sing some songs. Afterwards they had a social. We played a lot of games until midnight, then fell exhausted into our hammocks.

The next morning we woke up at four again. By this time I was dizzy from lack of sleep. We ate breakfast, then some people decided to go on a walk. Since I was tired, I stayed home with Carlos. We started reading a really good book together. I couldn't keep my eyes open so I let Carlos read to me. Before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

I awoke to the sound of people talking. Everyone was returning from the walk. I glanced at Carlos. He was fast asleep with the book in his hand. I decided to let him sleep since we had only taken a 45 minute nap. He woke up though because people were talking. It was noon and the Captain was calling us to eat. We started over and noticed that they were playing soccer, Kaikan versus Paruima. Kaikan lost unfortunately.

My Uncle Eddy Duerksen

After lunch we helped clear the runway that they are building in Arau. We had to hurry because they were going to have a meeting very soon. We rushed to it before eating a quick supper. Then we went to another meeting that was supposed to start at eight. We waited and waited. Finally at 10 PM it started. We sang songs, talked, and played games. Finally at 1:30 AM we went to bed.

Monday we got to sleep in until five. I had to pack my bag quickly before going to breakfast. Then we got our packs on and started for home. We went over the hill, past the airport and into the jungle. The six hours sped by. Sometimes I would doze while still walking. Finally we arrived at the rock landing. It would be nice to rest on the boat ride home.

What? We had to walk home? Again we were told how it was too dangerous to ride the boat back because the river had gone down and the water was now very low. They would take us twenty minutes by boat and then we would walk the rest of the way. We crowded into the boat and rode the twenty minutes. When we got to the landing I decided that I was going to get home no matter how long it took. We went immediately into the jungle. My shoulders ached from carrying the backpack. The crotch of my pants was making a raw spot. I ached all over.

After walking for an hour and 45 minutes we came out right on the other side of the river from our house. We paddled a canoe over from Venezuela and we soon were home. I swam, ate, and then slept. I slept until 11 AM the next day. All of Tuesday I spent recovering. During the 4 nights that we spent in Arau we only got 13 hours of sleep total.

Carlos and I reading some books

Wednesday Aunt Lita, Uncle Eddy, and Aunt Ruth had to leave. Right before they left though, Uncle Eddy, who is a doctor, had to sew up a man's foot. He got up to the runway before the plane came. Carlos and I, who are book worms, took books along and read them while waiting for the plane. Finally it came and they left. My busy week was over.

I hope you enjoyed my story. People around here still do crazy things. Every Sunday morning they have P.E. at 5:30 AM. I only go when I'm not exhausted. Well I guess that I have written too much already, so I better go. I would love to hear from any of you.

Your friend, Kristen

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

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Last Updated: May 13, 1997