Yesterday I had plans to take it easy and work on a few small projects around the house after sleeping in a bit. This was not to be.
First of all Lamar messaged that Alicia wanted helping planting for an hour and a half. I knew that meant we wouldn’t be back until about suppertime, so Steph and I talked about it and decided we would all go. I didn’t feel like being away from her all day after she’d been gone all week.
Before we could go, the lecheros let us know the cow was bloated. Lamar and I worked with her awhile. I was able to relieve some of the gas with a needle that was far too small; then I drenched her with sodium bicarbonate.
One of the heifers looked slightly bloated, so Lamar got her in, and I drenched her, too. It seems the cattle are constantly walking a line between life and death here. I don’t understand why they are bloating so much. A deficiency?
Alicia called again and asked if Lamar could go buy the seed we were to sow–another sign this was going to be a long day. I was pretty sure the field wouldn’t be ready when we arrived.
Our family headed to Alicia’s while Lamar headed to Izcuchaca for seed. I couldn’t remember which lane led to Alicia’s field, so I got off where I thought, and we started walking.
My unparalleled sense of direction proved itself again as we came upon the river without finding the field. I knew Alicia’s field was along the river, so we went traipsing through random other fields along the river until we came to hers. It was a beautiful walk.
Alicia was alarmed we had come that way since it is very dangerous because there is a river. I assured her we were fine and enjoyed the beautiful walk. She then declared walking along the river is indeed very beautiful. Dear Alicia.
The field was not ready. A fellow was trying to get his oxen to plow, but plow they did not wish to. I felt sorry for the poor creatures. He was not a righteous man who regarded the life of his beasts and was constantly whipping them. I wasn’t sure how they’d have the gumption to finish if he carried on that way.
Well, they didn’t. They did finish the plowing more or less, but the ditches they were to put in had to be done by hand. Neither whipping nor yelling not yanking of the nose rings would induce them to carry on.
Lamar came with the seed. Sadly, he had sunk his car’s front two tires into mud in the correct lane. He’d have had better luck along the river, perhaps.
Lamar helped plow the ditches; I helped with that some. Jason and I covered the seed by raking dirt over it. We would have sown the seed, but Alicia insisted only the plowman could do that.
It turned out Steph was able to help only intermittently because Walter wanted her attention. The children helped clear weeds out of the patch, which was a benefit.
We stopped for lunch when we were about halfway done, I guess. I felt sorry for Lamar and Jason as they continued to cross things off their mental lists as the day wore on. They may have wanted to leave earlier, but they weren’t going anywhere until they had help getting the car unstuck.
We were out of drink, so Steph walked forty leagues out the lane and down to a tienda for some pop. She got back just as we finished the last row.
Finally, finally we were done close to 4:00 that afternoon. Lamar asked again if the oxen could help pull the car out, but the plowman wanted to see it first. Turned out we were able to push it out. A fellow named Pedro was walking by and helped, too.
It was a beautiful day to be out in the sun and the dirt. Some good conversation was had about God and religion with Alicia and the plowman. We were sowing more than physical seed.
At home again, we had supper, chored, showered, and went to bed. The end.
Because today is election day in Peru, public meetings are prohibited by law. Voting is compulsory for every citizen; anyone who doesn’t vote is fined.
We had church at Lamar’s. Surprisingly, Alicia was able to make it. It was an enjoyable service. Lamar had a number of questions for the rest of us to answer from reading Hebrews 1. I found it more stimulating than merely listening.
I was tired this afternoon and slept a good while. Working in the field yesterday was out of my ordinary level of daily strain.
Tomorrow Abbey and I plan to start our classes at Wiracocha Spanish school. We’re both looking forward to it, but I believe Abbey is more excited by the prospect of getting coffee at a café.
Besides Spanish school, I have a prayer request. I am feeling drawn to the idea of raising dairy goats for a living. There seems to be an opening in the market locally. Please pray that God opens doors if that’s what I should be doing.
Juan David 