Aug2015_Faith and Living “On Top of the World”

Dayboro families, Geoff, Karen & Peter Gear, plus Judy and myself dotted down in La Paz, the world’s highest city and capital of Bolivia.  We were enroute to Casa Segura, the Kid’s Home in the Amazon Jungle run by Queenslander Mik Henzell. 

La Paz is set in the valley of a high mountain and the airport is even higher up.  The road trip down allowed us to view the city from above… such a unique experience. Altitude sickness (4000 metres) hit hard and the team were glad to head out next morning to the remote town of Riberalta, where Mik and the kids were waiting to meet us. From a cold mountain high to the hot, steamy jungle in just a few hours. Off with the layers of clothing! 

A 10km ride in the back of Mik’s ute and we arrived at the campus of Casa Segura. Kids run to greet us and workers shyly gather around, taking our suitcases to our thatched jungle huts that, instead of glass windows, have green mesh screens to keep out the myriad of pesky critters that fly, crawl, slither or jump.  What a delight for Judy and I to see those precious kids again… and how they’d grown!  They threw their arms around us and gave hugs that had been waiting for so long to be given.  It was such a joy to see Geoff, Karen and Peter take in the whole wonder of that place, described by a British journalist as, “the happiest place on earth.” 

Out came the gifts for the kids sent with us by so many generous Dayboro folk. Clothes, shoes, watches, jig-saw puzzles (what a hit!), toys and school items.  The girls ran off to their cabins to try on dresses and shoes.  Over the next seven days there were football games, trips to town for ice-cream treats, a journey across the Beni river into Brazil for lunch and many hours of just hanging out with these wonderful young people.  One little guy (Paul) took a shine to Peter Gear and would sit on the step of Peter’s hut each morning, waiting for his new gringo mate to get up and come out.  No common language necessary for good fun and friendship.

We were so impressed by the way Mik has melded this group of 22 kids into a family.  There is no sense of institutional life here.  They are brothers and sisters caring for one another and each doing their chores with a happy heart and a spirit of co-operation.  Well done Mik, you’re an inspiration! 

Sponsors for the kids at Casa Segura are desperately needed. $50/month and it’s tax deductible with only $3 deducted by the NGO for admin costs.  Become involved… write to Judy at judylev@bigpond.com

Gary Levens is pastor of Dayboro Church.