The Choco mission, part 03

https://polyploid.net/blog/?p=x56dz6zi So, how did I get involved personally in the Choco mission? Well, it was all because of Fr. Alejandro. He went the first time, and he also went a follow up time. My assumption and encouragement was that he would be the one to keep going out there. After all, he speaks Quechua; he had members in his congregation from Choco; he had grown up in the altiplano and so had better lungs than I, and so on. I even assured him that the cost of the trips would come out of mission funds. But, he came to me and said that as the bishop’s representative in southern Peru that I had to visit Choco at least once. I must admit that I tried to get out of it. It not only did not seem to make sense to me, but I was a little frightened of the long trip.

https://blog.extraface.com/2024/08/07/tafh63vu0 But, he convinced me and I went. The first time, I admit that I was a little frightened. After all, think about it. I had to cross at over 17,000 feet altitude and then take a mule trip beginning at over 10,000 feet altitude into a remote area where, if anything happened, there was no hospital, no clinic, and I would have to be carried back on very narrow dirt paths. Now, when I say very narrow, I mean very narrow. There were sections of the trail where only one animal could safely pass at a time. If there were another group coming on the trail, one of the two groups would have to wait at a switchback until the other group could pass. Mind you, there were some, uhm, interesting times on that trail, particularly at first. Ok, ok, there were some frightening times on that trail, at first.

https://udaan.org/83w67o0ianh.php That first trip was an eye opener. And, though I tried to refuse a second time, I ended up going about every six weeks. After a couple of visits, I would sometimes go with others, if they were available, or I would simply go by myself. I would send a message out ahead and have a guide with his mule, and another mule and burro waiting for me. The burro would carry my backpack and sleeping bag as well as my vestments, chalice, paten, communion bread, etc. Hmm, there was a reason for carrying that material. There was no local wine, only grain beverages.

And, so I got to know Choco. And, I fell in love with it. But, I also saw God do some astounding things, as well as having the blessed honor to do some things I did not expect to do. And, I learned to ride a mule. I already knew how to ride a horse at a novice level. But, now I learned to ride a mule at close to an advanced level. And, I became convinced that mules are some of the most intelligent animals on earth. And, I am almost convinced that mules are evil. I have had mules try to scrape me off against a canyon wall. I have had mules try to dump me down a cliff. I have had mules try to stick my leg into the side of a cactus. Everything your grandpap said about a mule is true. And, I would have no other animal under me when I ride through the mountains. There is no animal more reliable than a mule on steep, dangerous, slippery mountain paths.

I have spent three days giving you the background. Beginning tomorrow, I will tell you some of the stories.

https://solomedicalsupply.com/2024/08/07/9ikuwf8ej1 ===MORE TO COME===