The CULTURE EXPERIENCE

"OK we will be there," as I hung up the phone and boarded the bus with Nate to Barva. Little did I know what I was getting myself and Nate into. Nate is a new intern that will be here for a year. I had heard stories of the fair and what they do to celebrate "Day of the Saints". Traffic was backed up forever, so we decided to get of the bus and walk up to the fair. The smell of urine immediately hit my nose as we walked up the street. There were tons of people crowding the streets as we walked up to the Catholic Church and their park, to find Denia and Egnes. They are two friends we made through church. People were in costumes and masks running around beating each other with blown up cow bladders drenched in urine. It is a tradition that the church has adopted to beat out evil spirits. We finally met up with Chico, Denia, and Egnes in the mass crowd and after Nate had been hit in the head with one of the bladders by a little kid.
After we all met up we went into the Catholic church that was in session and listened to what was going on as we took some pictures. We left the church to eat some great food, that was deep fried and it made me miss the fairs we have at home. There were tones of vendors from food to carvings to paintings to jewelry. It was a blast just walking around in the safe zone under the tents of the vendors. There were also a handful of kids rides. We managed to escape the chaos with only Chico and Nate getting hit with the bladders. It was a true cultural experience, that lasted for a couple hours, I will never forget.
Prayers
Praises
we are done with groups for the year
God has been showing up in my quiet times
Requests
we are starting a new season of outreach as staff
-God to show us the way and what He wants us to do in La Cuenca
-protection as we go (mentally, spiritually, and physically)
my arm again ( the nerve is compressed again)
us as a staff
and lastly for God's guidance and direction for my life
Thank you again for the support everyone has given me in my time here and for the resources necessary. May God continue to lead, guide, and protect everyone who has read this and is supporting me in this journey.