Arrival of the Camachos

If you may recall (or not if we've only recently met) two years ago I took a break from Guyana in order to apply to work at Bethel. After a little while, I got accepted to do temporary work at Wallkill in the orchards, which was the absolute best job I've ever had.

While there, I met a brother and sister named Jonatan and Alyssa Camacho, whom I got on very well with. I learned that they had long wanted to serve in another country but lately had been so involved in Bethel work that they hadn't yet gotten an opportunity to travel much. Of course, I told them extensively about my time in Guyana and stories of what I'd experienced and what others had experienced. After I returned to Guyana, I kept in contact with them and told them they should come visit anytime they could.

Fast forward two years later...

After months of planning and preparation, they finally arrived for a one month stay. I met them at the airport with a brother who drives taxi for a living and we brought them down from Georgetown all the way to Corriverton (for visual aid, please see the Guyana map in last month's blog update), but not before showing them some of the nicer sights in the capital. For instance, you get an excellent view of the ocean from there...

"You can taste the ocean! It tastes like... success!" - Direct quote from Jonatan.

We were able to spend a few days in Corriverton with the local congregations there (Skeldon and, naturally, Brighton). This provided both Camachos with an excellent introduction to Guyana, specifically field service. For their first morning, Alyssa spent the day doing territory and studies with a need-greater from Trinidad who's had several years of experience, while Jonatan and I spent the day with Michael Samwaru, a fairly recently baptized local brother who's made tremendous progress in the last four years.

I have to say, seeing new ones reaction to field service in Guyana is one of my favorite things to experience. For the morning, Jonatan started a doorstep study with every single person he talked to, and was able to show the "Why Study the Bible?" video at each home as well (including some of the ones where Michael or I were taking the door). After finishing door-to-door, he proclaimed "My goal was to be able to share the video once! Not at every single house! I think I may stay longer than one month...."

Also, an incredible amount of Caleb & Sophia videos were shown.

After the morning of door-to-door, we embarked on studies. I always enjoy watching how other people conduct studies because it's a remarkable learning experience. The first study was an entire family, including the children, going through the Listen To God and Live Forever brochure. We also visited a 20-something man who was far along in the Bible Teach book, two fleshly brothers in the Listen to God brochure, a teenager in the Keep Yourselves in God's Love book (and whose parents had studied before but gave it up, leaving him alone studying and attending meetings), along with many many others whom I'm quite frankly forgetting now. How on earth Michael keeps up with them all, I have no idea. Organization has never been my forte.

(If you'd like to know how Alyssa's day went, you'll just have to visit her blog: http://welcometotheadventurousadventure.blogspot.com/ )

That's pretty much how our three days in Corriverton went as we waited on the Orealla boat. Service, studies, meeting, and finally shopping in the Skeldon market for the ever-important hammocks. One simply cannot get by in Orealla (or Guyana at all!) without a hammock. We also met back up with Charlie Brohard, who had been on the coast as well for the last few days.

And took a final opportunity to Skype before heading to
 the interior. Also, Charlie is incapable of getting a
picture taken without mugging.

Which began our joint journey back into Orealla. We very quickly got them settled into life here, with washing in the river, hunting for food on a daily basis (not literally hunting for food. Looking for food. As in... oh never mind, you get the point), and developing calls and studies. And in true Orealla fashion, their first meeting in these parts Charlie had to prepare to substitute Talk 1 on the school, Alyssa talk 2, and Jonatan talk 3.

Welcome to Orealla!

Finally, they began incorporating themselves into the congregation as well. Janet, one of our regular pioneers, is especially good with this. She's had us over on numerous occasions already for meals and such...

Pictured above: A small piece of Janet's family.
Pictured below: Some of the best food you'll ever have. Ever.

So now, one week with these two has passed. Loads of new friends made, loads of amazing food tried, and plenty of studies started. Soon there'll be a trip to Siparuta as well, and maybe some river witnessing. So stay tuned!

And so far we're all still getting along fairly well!

Hmm. Perhaps that photo is slightly more frightening than I'd initially thought....