Clearing the Jungle

Definitions for some words you might find unfamiliar:
Cutlass- long cutting tool resembling a machete
Cassava bread- a very thin, flat “bread” made from cassava root that looks and tastes similar to Styrofoam
Cook-up-a delicious mixture of rice and some type of beans or corn etc with various seasonings and usually flavored with coconut milk

You know those days that you fall into bed utterly exhausted but feeling like you accomplished a lot and had a great time? That is a pretty accurate description of today. My day was filled with hard work, hot sun, and sharp thorns; we spent the day clearing a 3 acre plot of jungle with chain saws, cutlasses, and our collective muscles. But it was a day filled with fun, and many new things, and we all finished the day with a sense of accomplishment in all we had done.
About 5 miles down the sandy jungle trail from our school lies a little village called Mashabo. This village has no church, and the village captain has been wanting some of the graduating students from our school to come and live in the village to do medical work and help plant a church. A few months ago a 3 acre plot, next to the lake in Mashabo, was donated for us to build a mission house. Sabbath night it was announced that early Sunday morning everyone who wanted to be part of clearing the 3 acres of jungle would head over there. Everyone eagerly indicated their desire to go along to help.

Bright and early Sunday morning the group headed for Mashabo, complete with a lot of water, 2 chain saws, all available cutlasses, and most importantly, many stalks of sugar cane. We bounced along through the jungle in the back of the tractor finally emerging in the clearing of the village with a beautiful view of the lake.

Down the trail everyone marched eagerly swinging the cutlasses at anything in sight…stomp, stomp, stomp…across the foot path over the swamp…stomp, stomp, stomp…through the shoulder high grass…stomp, stomp, stomp…into the shady jungle…stomp, stomp, stomp…then out onto a sandy area before reentering the jungle path….stomp, stomp, stomp…finally arriving in the area to be cleared. A quick organizational meeting to map out the plan to divide and conquer, and a prayer, before beginning the daunting task of clearing 3 acres of jungle.

Everyone began with gusto at first; chain saws whirred through thick jungle stumps, and cutlasses chopped through bushes, grass, and all other small vegetation in sight, others came behind to stack the wood and branches in piles around the stumps for burning. But as the day wore on, and the sun waxed hot, the gusto turned to grim determination to keep pressing on. Sunscreen was applied and reapplied, water was consumed at a seemingly continuous pace, sweat was repeatedly wiped from hot brows, and rapidly tiring muscles were urged on. Thorns added a helping hand of their own to the work, gashing arms and legs, cutting hands, and reaching through shoes to pierce the tender flesh of feet, rapidly making enemies of everyone they encountered.

At noon a cry went out “the food is here!” much to the relief of many rumbling bellies, but alas, it proved to be a false alarm. Back to work everyone plodded; one more hour and lunch would be here.

One o clock passed. The sun felt hotter, and the thorns seemed sharper. But the food was still strangely absent.

One thirty came and went, and still no lunch had arrived

Finally at two o clock the work was nearly done, and the many fires were lit. But still the boat carrying lunch was no where to be seen. By this time people were sitting around in the shade by the lake, and many of the hard workers had jumped into the lake, work clothes and all. Sugar cane was peeled and devoured, and even some cassava bread was passed around and crunched on in an attempt to quiet the many protesting stomachs. Everyone watched expectantly for the boat carrying lunch to arrive.

Then, when all hope of food was nearly gone, a boat was seen traveling toward the beach where everyone was waiting. The meal was unloaded, plates were produced, and everyone stampeded to procure their food, and lunch was hastily devoured. I can assure you, that was perhaps the most delicious cook-up I have ever eaten.
After eating , and swimming some more, our tired group began the trek back to the tractor carrying equipment, backpacks, and food utensils. On the bumpy 30 minute ride back to the school many of the tired laborers fell asleep in the back of the trailer, not an easy feat you can be sure, but exhaustion is an excellent sedative.

Today was a lot of hard work, and also a lot of fun, but I I for one know that tonight my pillow is a most welcome companion. My souvenirs procured for the day consist of the latest fashion of tropical sunburn, the tell-tale marks of my encounters with the friendly thorns, and a multitude of insect bites of nearly every variety.