Still in the Jungle

Since I was a little girl I've dreamed about living through a legit, honest-to-goodness quarantine. But, I always pictured it in a warm house in a cold climate, surrounded by piles of books, mugs of hot chocolate, and family game nights. I hadn't ever pictured it looking like Amazonian humidity, dust, grime, and food/water shortages.

I read a meme the other day that mentioned how it feels like a 4-year-old is writing history right now. It said something like, "And there was a virus and the WHOLE world was scared and people died and some people stayed in their houses and... oh OH mama, toilet paper it all be goned, and then it snowed." I had to laugh, but it's kinda true. Life feels like a child's narrative right now.

Yesterday deserves a post all its own.

Peru closed its borders. All the American people had 24 hours to get out. They could stay, but no one knew how much worse things would get. We booked our tickets. We started packing. I packed half way through the night, and was awake in my bed for the other half. Home! Sweet, precious, longed for home. By Tuesday I would be hugging my mama.

They canceled our international flight. Soooo? Now what? Let's keep packing anyway. We would figure it out.

Miguel never fails to make us laugh even in goodbyes. Feeling thankful this wasn't actually goodbye.

The alarm rang at 5:45. I got up. I set to scrambling. I was already racing the clock. I still had to get my cat his paperwork. His certificate of health had to be issued within 10 days of departure, so I had waited until I knew I had to leave.

Suitcases were packed. Hugs were issued. Goodbyes were rushed.

Henrry dropped the others off at the airport while I took Mr. Bingley to the vet. When Henrry returned we had to race off to Western Union. I was out of money, and... it's just a tad difficult to travel with zero to your name. However, when I arrived at the Western Union that usually takes me three-ish minutes to get through, the line was nearly out the door. What was I to do but wait? People kept smiling at Bingley in his cage. The combi was always hot, so I had the cat with me. One minute. Five minutes. Thirteen minutes. The line was moving surprisingly fast, but still. When I finally reached the counter, I was told the name they had didn't match my passport info. They were told I was Tiarra Sample Brooke, not Tiarra Brooke Sample. Sigh. Welp! Dead end there.

I walked out of the only Western Union in Pucallpa that had been open. They closed behind me. I couldn't access money that way for another 15 days. Only ACTUAL banks and food markets will stay open for the mandatory, Peruvian quarantine.

It took me a while to locate Henrry, but soon we were racing to the airport. "I'll lend you money," he said. I'm not sure he knew how much I needed to pay the airports for my expired visa and my cat.

Pastor Acuna, Mauro, and Isaac were waiting with my luggage at the airport. It's a small airport. You can usually count the number of people in line on one hand. No such luck! A line reached far out the door and policemen stood guarding the entrance.

My scheduled flight wasn't supposed to leave for many hours, but I needed to find an earlier one if I had any hope of making it out of Lima before the borders were officially closed.

The policemen were requiring proof of itineraries before one could even enter the building. I showed them my proof and they let me through the crowd. They wouldn't let anyone in after me. I walked in those doors and knew I was in major trouble. I hadn't even said goodbye to Papa Henrry. I had two large suitcases (I'm notorious for not being able to pack lightly), a carry-on, and a frightened cat. I didn't know where to go, who to talk to, or how to change my flight time in Spanish. I had no cellphone access because mine only works with wifi, and Henrry's phone was with him...outside. Also, I had no money, or at least not enough to pay for flying a cat.

What a cat! And no, I'm still not a cat person. But, this bud has fully won my heart.

Now, I'd like to say I'm a calm and collected person, but truth is, sometimes I lose it. This was one of those moments. Tears erupted from my eyes, and I didn't even care that EVERYONE was staring at me. They tend to stare anyways since I'm white, but add sobbing hysterics to it and it was something to behold.

I'm not sure how Papa Henrry convinced the policeman to let him past, but he did. "I think I should stay," I said through my tears. "I agree," he responded. "Do you know for sure you have a flight out of Lima?" "No!" What I had been afraid of starting to become painfully clear. Traveling at all at this time was going to be stressful. Adding my cat to the mix was foolish. I could leave my cat, meet up with the SMs who had already made it to Lima, and still possibly not make it out of the country. Or, I could stay, weather out the quarantine, pray Coronavirus didn't get worse, hope I didn't regret the decision, and get time to say a proper goodbye to my familia Peruano. I wanted to get on that plane so bad my stomach ached.

"Do you want to call your mom?" he offered. "Yes." "Okay, but you have to calm down because if you call your mom like this she'll freak out," he sounded concerned. And here, in retrospect, I laugh. "No," I said, "You don't understand. My mom isn't like that. She is calm all the time."

The phone went to answering machine. I had to make this decision on my own. Most of the other SM's had already made it out, but if I turned back now, I was as good as sealing my fate. "I'm going to stay," I finally said. "Okay," said Papa Henrry. "I think that's a wise decision. You are our daughter. We will make sure you have plenty of food and water. Don't worry. We will keep you safe. Pucallpa doesn't have Coronavirus yet [*I was mis-informed a couple of posts ago when I said it did.] You are safer here."

I cannot tell you what an odd mix of emotions my heart felt and is still feeling. I was relieved. I know I would have regretted that hasty goodbye for the rest of my life. But, dang! the pull of home and the familiar in the middle of crisis is strong and forceful.

Since that decision, Peru revised the travel ban a little. From what I understand, no one is allowed in the country for the duration of our 15 day quarantine, and people cannot return to Asia or Europe. However, Americans can now fly back to the States. In light of this, I COULD probably make it back now. However, something in my gut says I'm meant to stay. I'm not entirely sure what. May God make it clear.

In the meantime, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for the prayers and to each person who has reached out and let me know that those prayers are real. And thank you to my familia Peruano who have taken me in as their daughter and provided a family and home to weather this out in.

I claim this promise for each of us right now.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and of a sound mind."

2 Timothy 1:7

May we each have the power to rejoice through the depression. May we each love each other through the nitty gritties of "It's not that bad" and "You don't understand, we're all dying," plus the "You're overreacting" and "Better to overreact than underreact." May we each be blessed with a mind clear enough to realize that panic, frustration, fear, and despair are not our only options. May dwell on the truth that God gave us hearts and minds to love, and not to fear.

From me to you, as well as me to me, TAKE HOPE!

~TBS~