putussibau and dysentery

It's what you think. We went to Putussibau, and I got dysentery. I don't think those two things are completely related, but that's the way it worked out. We went with the intention of doing some visiting of tribal villages and spending time interior with some of our friends. It turned out that Phil got to make a few very short trips while I laid in bed, too weak and in too much pain to do much more than count the boards on the ceiling.

Despite being sick, our trip was actually quite nice. We got to know our coworkers that live and serve in the frontier town of Putussibau. The Searcys took us around town, helped us find medicine for my latest adventure in gastrointestinal extravaganzas, they served us wonderful meals (all of which i WANTED to eat... some of which i was able to), and they loved on our busy little 2 year old like only good, well-seasoned grandparents are able to do.

Thank you Searcy's!

Tribal church leaders gather from surrounding tribal areas for fellowship in a simple wooden structure. Phil and Nadia listen in.

Earlier this morning, in the same simple wooden structure, there was Sunday morning church service. At least 4 tribal groups were represented there.

Phil and Dave (Searcy - our host) took an afternoon bike trip to one of the neighboring tribal villages. Here he is coming home all muddy, but happy to have gotten out.

Before they left, Dave had helpful things to show Phil about these dirt bikes... which are much trickier than one might assume, as Phil can attest.

That afternoon they visited the Embalo tribe. Phil thought it was amazing that the entire village is on stilts - including the walkways.

The river systems here are everyone's life line. Just like in our last trip post, we found here that the people's way of life is dictated largely by the waterways on which they live. Be it, rivers, swamps or ocean, there is a way to make-do.

Dave picking wild coffee flowers off the side of the road.

On a drive through another village, I spotted these school kids getting a load of the whities driving past. They were all too happy to smile and wave for me as we rumbled by.

Of course, The Two Year Old didn't miss out on a chance to find a million ways to stay busy. The Searcy's have a kitten. Need i say more?

The kitten is just young enough to tolerate Nadia's antics, and Nadia is just old enough to take it easy when she needed to. They were a playful/naughty match made in heaven.

Searcy's also raise chickens - both layers and roasters. We learned good stuff about how to do that here in the tropics from them.

Nadia wasn't too sure about getting cuddly with the chicks.

She's growing up so fast. Look at that pretty face. She gives us a run for our money though... Whew.