 It’s the new sensation! It’s exciting! It turns people’s heads all up and down the streets of Leticia, Colombia, South America. Streets that are teeming with motorcycles. Few cars, but over 7,000 bikes. Housewives, students, professionals, families. Yes. A man, his wife, and perhaps four children—all astride one bike. And also, a person sitting behind the driver carrying a table and four chairs; or, perhaps, a full-length looking-glass; or five twenty-foot lengths of reinforcement rods; a hog headed for the butcher house. A man pretending to be Tarzan driving his motor bike with an anaconda coiled around his neck. But what’s the latest sensation? Leticia needs a new excitement. A brand new uproar. Its got it! It’s the missionaries—Jean and Erwin—riding double on a red four-wheeler! Heads turn! Horns honk! Everybody—well, nearly everybody waves. And talk about smiles—soon there are smiles, and miles of smiles! First of all we go to Telecom checking our communications. Then we go to Avianca “correos”—our post office box. Then to the bakery, and on to the grocery store. For us, no more “colectivos” (small buses) or taxies. We wouldn’t trade our red YAMAHA for our white mini-van left in the United States. With the four-wheeler, we’re traveling Colombian style. Right on! And Erwin is enjoying superb curb-service—service with a smile! Even though he carries his wrist crutches along with him, he finds that often he must park the moto even across the street from the place of business. So he has learned that he can run the four-wheeler up over the curb right to the bakery door. Beep, beep! And a sales clerk quickly appears—takes the order—returns with the bread and cookies and the change. The same goes at the hardware store; the drug store; the photo center; the copy place. “A su ordenes, Señor.” (“At your orders, sir.”) Erwin commands the respect of business people throughout Leticia. And he has also learned that he can drive the moto on the narrow market street between the clustered rows of vegetable and fruit stands. “A bunch of bananas, please.” And again, “These two papayas, por favor.” Just put them in my basket!” How did Jean and I get along these past years without this moto? As we zip past the D.A.S. office (known in the states as the F.B.I.), the uniformed men out front smile and wave. We recall the long walk, often with Jean pushing me in the wheelchair. We call to memory the sweaty, tiresome climb past Regalia, the Walmart of the Amazon. And now we can even purr across the international border into Tabatinga, Brazil, for some purchases. The exciting marvel is—we can haul this four-wheeler within the fiber-glass boat to Filadelfia, Brazil, to roll through the communities and pathways. And through village after village. May it now be said, “How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of him who publishes peace….” A double amputee—and the excitement continues to spread! Thank God for ABILITIES UNLIMITED (the company that made my prostheses); and for YAMAHA who built the four-wheeler; and for all the people who are made to smile! Laugh and the world laughs with you, Weep and you weep alone, For this sad old earth must borrow its mirth, But has sorrow enough of its own. Jean and I smile as we cruise the streets of Leticia. And soon—there are smiles—and miles of smiles! Yours for OUTREACH AMAZON,
Erwin and Jean Bourne
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