French Guiana

Sunday morning and off we went to our 21st and final country, French Guiana. A three hour bus ride driven by Andy, also the pool cleaning man from our hostel in Paramaribo, followed by a short canoe ride across the river and viola, we had arrived in French Guiana. I think crossing a border by canoe is the most unique border crossing I've experienced, and definitely pretty fun!!

Technically we have finished South America 3 countries ago as Guyuna and Suriname are the land countries of the Caribbean and French Guiana is actually a district of France and thus part of the EU. Coming here we were a bit nervous about how expensive it would be as it's part of the EU and thus on European prices. We were correct, it's really expensive here! We were told accommodation would be like €40 a night which is true, although God really blessed us by provided a place for €7 a night. Ok so we're sleeping 6 in a 3 bed room, but hey! Massive blessing and one for which we are all extremely thankful.

We stayed in St Laurent du Maroni which is just over the border. We were also warned that the people would be really unfriendly here and speak only French. The speaking only French part is true but the unfriendliness no, everyone we've met have been really kind and welcoming to us, from the people we've spoken to and interacted with to the people we've passed on the street. And being French the food is delicious! Expensive but delicious. 

On Monday we went went to an indigenous village along the river. We literally just went to the river banks, found a man with a canoe and arranged for him to take us to an indigenous tribe. When we got there we really weren't sure what to expect. There were some cute kids swimming in the river but other than that... But as the Lord would have it He had a plan for us which included going to a house which had a lady who could translate from French into the local language for us (most people did not speak French in the village). She was an evangelical Christian who was happy for us to minister, to the point that while we were praying for her family she went round to the other houses to bring us more people to pray for!

All in all a man's ears were opened, as was another lady's. It was beautiful, when we left I could see tears if joy in her eyes after Jesus healed her ears. We also prayed for a lady who's husband passed away from cancer earlier this year, for the pain she was feeling grieving her loss. After praying for her she kept asking us to sing more and more worship songs to usher in the presence of the Holy Spirit into her home.

On Tuesday we went to the nearby very small town of Mana. This turned out to be a bit of a disappointment which wasn't helped by our bus driver leaving us there for an extra 3 hours, but eventually we landed up at a small village called Awala-Yalimopo which is where the river meets the sea. And this would be the furthest point of our journey. After pioneering and pushing forward into continual unknowns for the last 14 months, from now on we would be backtracking, heading back to Georgetown through Suriname before flying home on the 19th. A sobering thought. Even more interesting is that we later found out that at the time that we got to Awala-Yalimopo, our furthest point of the journey, Tanya went into labour and a few hours later Zion was born. So right at the moment that one journey would be coming to an end, a new season was beginning with the birth of Zion. 

Being super hot I headed to a local restaurant/shop to buy a cold drink. I landed up talking to the owner, Margaret, who'd just visited South Africa and LOVED it so much, highlight of her life, she's thinks its paradise. Anyway, somehow I've landed up agreeing to take back two postcards from her to give to two friends of hers she met in South Africa who sell African township guitars in a market in Cape Town. I'm not sure who they are and I don't have an address for them but hey, it could be a fun God adventure finding them when I get home!!

And Wednesday we headed back to Suriname, homeward bound, a 20min canoe border crossing, a 3 hour bus ride and we were back at our hostel in time for lunch. Thursday we took a rest day - we'd wanted to do some prison ministry but that unfortunately did not materialise, and Friday we headed back to Georgetown, a pretty long hot 10 hour travel day via bus and ferry and bus again. 

And this is getting close to where the story ends, with this being our last weekend together as the Iris Latin America family, before we'd fly out Monday 19th November. I was dreading going back to the hostel in Georgetown knowing that this time the rest of the team wouldn't be there anymore, but God was very gracious to me and it was actually ok. Yes there were the now to be expected tears and heartache a bit, but not nearly as painful as before or as I'd expected. Thank you God as I don't think I can keep going through this!