The Ledgend of Whippe Wamba took place in Florida. The best place on earth, no not Florida as in beaches and shopping, but Florida, Peru…as in jungle treks and toilets with seats. Amen! Florida was my personal favorite village that we visited, it was small, the population being about 80 people- but it was nice.
After spending a time with the kids here, we began to love them to death, very unselfish and sweet kids who did not have much. They had worn out and holey clothes, no toys, just enough food to live, yet they had so much joy in them, always. When with the kids I taught them the song¨Whippee Wamba´which Brentastic taught me, and they loved it, so our remaining time in the village the kids would just randomly be singing the song and we would join in and do the moves with them. I remember one time in particular hearing the song being sung by kids outside our door, as I woke up. It was a lovely thing to hear at 6AM:)
Being in Florida started my thinking of what this blog is actually about. Thankfulness. Joyfulness. Needyness. Us as Americans are so much more spoiled than most of the world. We have couches, fridges, running water, toilets, food at any given moment of the day, cars, clean water, something other than rice to eat everyday of your life, grocery stores, coldness, four walls to cover your house, so many things that we should be thankful for but rarely are, so many things we don´t actually need but God blesses us with it, so many things we should be joyous about, but are we?
Right now we are in Nauta, we have it pretty good, bucket showers and flushable toilets, I am thankful for that. I see so many people here that are so joyful, teenagers and kids especially. They are joyful for life. For Jesus. Despite their living situations, and family life. Which, some are good and some are bad.
We get so down and unhappy but why? Life is good! You are alive! If Peruvians can be so content and happy living in huts on the river, working all day just to have food, why are not in America? We have so much to be happy for, so much we take for granted. Once you have to squat over a little hole in some wood and go poo, then, you will be vveerrry thankful for a nice clean toilet, or even a dirty one, 😀
Point is, ´¨don´t worry, be happy¨¨ as me and my Peruvian friend Daniel say. Life is good, God is wonderful. Love life, love God!! No matter where you are in life, you are alive and Jesus loves you! And that is something to be thankful for 😀
