Armadillo by morning...

Remember that country western song, "Amarillo by morning, up from San Antone...."  Well, this song echoed in my mind as I enjoyed a breakfast of armadillo several weeks ago in the jungle community of Suraca.  I was asked to accompany several employees and a pilot of Mission Aviation Fellowship to this small village where they are conducting a year long bible study.  In an effort to minister to some of the more remote areas of Ecuador's jungle regions and at the request of the village, Mission Aviation Fellowship employees and missionaries spend one weekend a month ministering to the people there.  

Arrival in Suraca

I was asked to accompany the team on their most recent visit to offer some medical assistance and help with the bible teaching.  We left on a Friday evening from Shell and flew for about 45 minutes and touched down in Suraca around 5:30pm.  After setting up our things, we visited with the community and, as darkness fell, we began with some introductions and sharing our Christian testimonies followed by the beginning of our teaching about the fundamentals of the Gospel and sanctification.  We closed the evening with prayer and, after showers, spent a restful night in our hammocks.

Jorge, one of the MAF employees, with his portion of armadillo 

The next morning, we expected to have to prepare our own breakfast.  However, we were soon greeted by the son of one of the village elders who motioned to us to join him and his family for breakfast at his house, a short stroll through the jungle.  The trees gave way to a small clearing filled by several huts with no walls and thatched roofs.  Behind them was an even greater, 2 story, wall-less house.  Living quarters were above and downstairs was a large open dirt floor bordered by a low bamboo fence.  Our host  directed  us to one corner where a table was set for the four of us and him.  Each place setting had a bowl of soup and in the middle of the table was a plate of yuca dough balls.  We took our seats and it was then that I noticed in my bowl, as well as everyone else's, a small claw protruding above the surface of the soup.   On closer inspection, it was a small animal's claw, arm or leg, and shoulder in the vegetable broth.  I was afraid to ask an my stomach was not at its best so I kept quite and looked around at my host and colleagues.  Wilson, one of the team members prayed and we were all encouraged by our host to enjoy the

armadillo soup for breakfast.  I poked around the edges of the soup for a while but soon discovered that the others, even the gringos, were enjoying it.  Well, it was time to take the plunge and I picked up the claw in my hand and went for a bite of the darker meat.  And you know, it was pretty good.

Marco, our host and patriarch of the family, told us of a time when he and his young family lived closer to civilization in a larger community.  Most indigenous people in the Amazon can hunt and grow enough food themselves.  However, the combination of years of hunting in the area and the growth of the population of that community,  it became difficult to find food in that area.  He and his family therefore moved to Suraca and have since enjoyed the  abundance of what the jungle has to offer.

Marco's son with the large bagra

While eating, Marco's sons walked up from the river carrying two "bagra", a jungle river catfish.  The smallest one would be quite a catch at about 5 pounds; the large one weighed in at about 20-30 pounds and about the length of Marco's 13 year old son.

Bible teaching session

When our meal was done we went back to the meeting house and continued our lesions on God's salvation for us through Jesus and how he changes our lives drastically from the time of salvation to the moment we die.   We emphasized how daily we are to change and become more like Christ in our actions through the help of the Holy Spirit.  

That session was complete after about 2 hours and we changed gears.  I conducted a clinic where I attended to the basic medical needs of the villagers while the others in the team installed a radio system for the community.  Late that afternoon we were again invited to Marco's house for a late lunch, early dinner where we again had soup, but this time the bagra was on the menu.  Though it wasn't deep fried like I get in Texas, it was really good.

Wilson holding bagra backbone from his soup

The next day was Sunday and we worshiped with the community and then reviewed the precepts that had been discussed earlier in the weekend said our goodbyes and left for Shell.

Me sampling "chicha", a drink made of fermented yuca

What a wonderful weekend spent with fellow believers, both missionaries and indigenous people, and to see how God is working in their lives and encourage them to know him deeper.   

Oh,  I almost forgot but I bet you haven't...armadillo tastes like...pot roast.