Barimita is now history. We ended up with 20 making the trip. We left the Kingdom Hall at about 10:00 AM Friday and as we walked farther, we picked up more people until we had everyone when we reached the airstrip. We walked for six hours Friday and reached our intended destination about 4:00 PM. The group consisted of Stephan and I, Grace and little David (2 ½ years old), Shondell and Latisha, Victoria and Geneva, Fonda and Nicola, Beatrice, Patricia, and Melissa (3 years old) three generations, Regina and her baby (I don’t know if he has a name yet), Coretta, Eno, Devon, Cecilia and Michael. Stephan and I shared a tent the first night, the others had hammocks which they we able to string up under a house the first night. I had said I wanted to get underway at 6 AM Saturday, as I expected it would be eight hours of walking that day. I heard most in the group wake up about 4 AM. A little before 5 Stephan and I were comparing notes on the previous night (everyone had turned in by 7 since there were no lights where we stayed). I slept most of the night, but he said he didn’t get to sleep until about 2 AM. When the group heard us talking in the tent, they knew we were awake, so all these voices started telling us, “Good morning”. Then they all started walking by the tent, telling us they were going ahead. We got out and took the tent down.Our host had told us he wanted to go across with us, which was nice, because no one in the group felt they knew the way. So at 5:30, we collected our guide and set out to catch up to the group. Our guide was 72 years old, so his pace wasn’t too fast. After about an hour, we caught up with the rear of the group, the rest were waiting for us at Black Banana Junction, which we reached about 8:30. There there was a good bit of discussion between the group, the guide, and people in a shop there. I think the route changed two or three times, but finally the guide said we were going to Barimita by way of Black Banana.We had a bit of concern, because when we reached the first shop at the edge of Black Banana, we asked if a white person had passed by there recently because Stephan always leaves most of the group in the dust. We were told they had seen no one. The trail between the junction and Black Banana had several side trails going off, so I had visions of him lost in the jungle somewhere. We were assured that all trails eventually reach Black Banana, so he was sure to show up. When we got farther, we found him sitting in a shop waiting for us. He had indeed taken a different track, but had still reached ahead of us. So once again the group was all together, and we left Black Banana about 12:15.We were now on just a trail through the jungle. To make a long story short, or a long walk short, we finally reached Barimita just as it was getting dark, a little after 6:30. So most of the group had been on the trail 13 ½ hours. Everyone said we had taken a long way around. But we were just glad that we had all made it with no major casualties, other than very sore legs and feet.The program Sunday was excellent and all appreciated it very much. There were about 560 in attendance. I asked some in the group who knew Carib, how they enjoyed hearing the program in Carib. Most said they had a hard time understanding it, because they spoke so fast. I mentioned that to a few of the brothers there, and they said they thought the problem was that they would have been unfamiliar with the theocratic vocabulary, and since they couldn’t understand those words, they would feel like they weren’t understanding anything. They mentioned that they had talked with them between the sessions, and there had been no communication problems then.We had been told there would be some shuttles flying between the Ridge and Barimita on Monday, so we could come across that way. We learned Sunday night that they had been pushed back to Tuesday. I told the group that if there were any who felt they needed to try and get back sooner, I would leave with them at first light Monday, but unless we walked straight through, the ones that took the plane Tuesday would get back before we did. All assured me that they were happy to wait for the plane. So Monday morning the group moved from the school to the Kingdom Hall.Tuesday morning everyone was able to come back on planes (a fifteen minute flight). The CO, his wife and I were on the first shuttle. When we reached the airstrip, there were no vehicles there, so I said we could either sit there and wait and hope something came along, or we could start walking. I said if we were walking and a vehicle did come, we could always get in it then, but if we sat and waited, and nothing came, we would just be wasting time. Brother Allyn said that if all those people could walk all the way to Barimita, they could walk to the Kingdom Hall from the airstrip (about an hour walk), and so we did.In spite of the distance walked, everyone who went was glad they went, and I think the trip did, and will continue to, spark quite a bit of talk in the community. We are already planning on what we can do better next time. There will be a Circuit Assembly there in October, and I anticipate a bigger group, since a number had attended the SAD in Mabaruma, but no so many will be making the trip into ‘town for one there. I could imagine closer to 40 going next time.We were very happy to learn recently that a couple from British Columbia, Gary and Marion Fischer, will be coming to the Ridge to take our place while we go out. We had hoped they would be able to reach before we left, so we could show them around and explain how various things work. But they are in the process of selling their house to open the way to come to Guyana, and that won’t be complete until late in the month. However, they will arrive in Georgetown the day before we leave Georgetown, so we will at least be able to spend some time together. It is so nice to see the way Jehovah is continuing to support the work here in Matthew’s Ridge. Thanks to all whose prayers have been with the work here. Keep up the good work!!I’m going to try two pictures again. Unfortunately there were so many great shots that weren’t taken, but after many miles and many hours, that Kodak moment looses its appeal. What I do have is a picture of the ‘mother’s group’. Grace and David are blocked by Patricia. That’s Patricia in the red skirt with the red and white umbrella with Melissa on her back. Behind her with the green umbrella is Regina with her baby. Beatrice (Patricia’s mom) is in the red top, carrying both hers and Patricia’s backpacks. Behind Beatrice is Victoria, who is in her 70’s (she doesn’t even know how old she is!). The other picture is of the CO and his wife getting a taste of the Barimita trip (only in the opposite direction).
