M & M in Suriname

Our life with the Wayana indians

Hunting termites.

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Suspecting nothing of the sort, Marjolein opened the wardrobe door to get something. A broad trail of termites ran on the floor of the cabinet. Well, that meant everything else had to wait a while. We first had to find out where they came from and where they were headed. We quickly found the place where the trek started, but where did they go from the wardrobe? It was a mystery to us. The search was complicated because we have floor covering in the house and we couldn’t see what was going on under it. In the end, we thought they might have moved under the shower. We only use that shower for storage, so Marco would demolish the shower the next day and redesign the bathroom.

A day later we had a much more spacious bathroom. But no termites were found, only an old bee nest. So, the search continued. On Sunday evening, we wanted to get clean clothes off the shelf when we discovered that a whole population of termites was moving through our clothes. We needed to knock out every item one by one and put it somewhere else. Now we have an empty wardrobe and stacks of clothes in our bedroom. The next morning, armed with a spray can, knife, and flashlight, Marco checked every seam between the boards for their secret passage. A lot of spraying has been done with pesticide. The only place in the house that has not yet been checked is the pantry. That job will follow. We will continue to hunt these termites.

We are grateful that no cases of Corona have been detected in the Wajana’s area so far. They know a little bit of what is going on in the world, but for them it is a far-off scenario. Some find the many precautions rather exaggerated and they do not fit the culture at all. People live together on short distances. Whole families sleep together in one room, all hammocks tied next to each other. The threat is getting closer, the jungle town where they visit the bank and do their shopping already has some Corona infections. We pray daily for God’s protection, because there are no possibilities to treat the people here when they would get very sick.

We decided that it would not be wise for Anneke Kempeneers, the youth worker for the Wajana youth, to stay alone in Maripasoula. She has been with us in Lawa for over two weeks now. We are doing well together.


Suriname also closed the international airport a few weeks ago. The Wajana’s themselves closed their airstrip two weeks ago because of the risk of contamination with all prospectors who flew in and out. Marco helped the health assistant to record a number of videos about the Corona virus with what was prescribed by the doctors as a new code of conduct. These were distributed via Facebook and WhatsApp. In this way we try to prepare people for what might be coming.

On Sunday during the service, we noticed how little they know about the threat and all the government regulations to protect the people. The leaders were planning to have an Easter Conference at the end of this week. Between 100 and 150 guests from the surrounding villages would then come to Lawa to stay together for three days. That is not allowed by the Surinamese government, but who of the Wajana’s knows that and feels called to adhere to it? We met with the elders yesterday, showing from the Bible that we should obey the government and that it is wise to learn from the mistakes of others. Fortunately, it has now been decided that everyone celebrates Easter in his / her own village. Services are held in Lawa, but the church building is large enough so we can keep a good distance.

bicycle practice

We wish you a Good Friday and a beautiful Easter weekend in this special memorable year.
The Lord is risen indeed!

Dutch pancakes

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