Lessons from the jungle I

I actually managed to upload the video I was talking about in my "jungle hike blog". I was trying to upload some more videos, but the problem is that the signal I'm using to get into the internet is very weak and it's constantly throwing me out. I mean at least every 30 minutes. With the slow connection though, it can take about an hour to upload a short video... Well, if it should work to upload more videos one day, I'll let you know. Uploading pics needs some time, too, but it's a lot easier. I already uploaded a whole bunch of pics of the jungle hike and of the beautiful nature of Carrasco National Park on facebook. Both albums are still under construction, but since it might take a week or two until I'll be able to finish them (I'm wating for some pictures from a friend) , I though I would already let you know that I'm working on SOMETHING when I'm not writing blogs =)

I promised you to tell you about the things I've learned on that hike. I'm actually in my week of my second partial exams (finals will be end of June), but you can't study all the time anyways and I've only 3 of 7 left :) So I figured out, I could afford to write a least one blog... =)

Looking back, I can't really explain how we all survived it without a big revolution or people who just refused to walk any further. Yes, we had some disputes on the way about the question how to go on (one single group, fast ones advancing and getting help for Glausinane...) but at the end, we all got out of that "mud hole" on the same day. I can only talk for myself what kept me going, but I guess there are more people who share my feelings about that topic.

First and most important: I didn't know the whole "story". I went on that trip because I didn't really know what was expecting me. I was walking in a pretty good mood on Thursday in spite of hurting shoulders because I didn't think we would be walking on Friday until it was dark and on Sabbath no matter what. On Friday, I was already only waiting for the next "corner" because I hoped, I would find the rest eating lunch behind it. Every time there was the hope it would be this one. Well, we ate lunch pretty late... On Sabbath, there was still the hope we would get out on Sunday, maybe not at 3pm like planned, but at least before dark. On Sunday, I walked the whole day in wet clothes and with hurting and wet feet (my feet looked pretty funny that night...) because Wilson had said something about nine hours in the morning and we were walking quite fast and almost without breaks. (We arrived at the place with the buses on Monday around 3pm...)
Sometimes it's good not to know everything. I wouldn't want to know the rest of my life in advance. I'm also happy God doesn't show me all my faults at once. And I'm glad I don't know exactly how the last days of this world will look like for me. There might be times when you would like to know everything - but often not knowing everything makes you give everything and push your limits without realizing.

Second: The group kept me going. I actually would like to go again with a smaller group of maybe 8 to 15 people and a little bit more time, but thinking about it - the size of the group made me go on. I didn't want to be the only one of almost 100 who gave up or was requesting more breaks, so I better kept walking and didn't even think about stopping. Furthermore, there were so many people who needed encouragement and even more who encouraged me (through words or their example), there was no space for depressing thoughts. Especially on Sunday, when I saw how the Brazilians were carrying their friend who couldn't walk anymore... wow, I can't really explain it, but their example gave me some unknown energy. I was still wondering about how God had turned my feelings for them upside down within just hours on Sabbath. However, there was this deep respect and the wish to help in some way with the new energy I felt. They allowed me to carry one of the smaller backpacks for some hours of one of the guys who was helping to carry Glauciane and I felt honored that they accepted my offer to help and didn't send me away because I was a girl.
As a Christian, it's almost suicide to try walking and fighting alone. I can remember a time in my young life when I was so arrogant to think that I didn't need the youth group of the church I was attending. They were so "wordly" and seemed to look at me as the "crazy holy one" anyways. God tought me a lesson with these guys I'll never forget! And with the Brazilian theology students, he continued my education in this area. Fellows, we need each other!!

There are at least two more things that kept me going, but since it's already late and I need my sleep, I'll tell you about them tomorrow =)

Have a good night!
maria