Rio Piura separates the area where we live, called Castilla, from the larger and main city of Piura. It has three main bridges that cross it, along with two suspended walking bridges. I remember when we first arrived in Piura, just a year ago, walking the kids to school in the morning across one of these.
At that point, I usually found myself looking at the garbage strewn around the entry and exit to the bridge, or thinking about whether someone was following us, given the number of robberies that happen in the vicinity. I noted the strong smells associated with places like this, and thought of the stories people had told of the dangers when the water rises.
But over time, I came to note the beauty of this river. And of the city and people of Piura. I came to love the algorrobo tree, an acacia which grows large here and produces a bean in significant quantities, used to make the famous (at least in Peru) algorrobina syrup. It doesn't grow in Trujillo, I am told, and that seems to be confirmed as you see fewer and fewer heading south by bus.
Both the Rio Piura and the algorrobo tree have a lot to do with our churches and friends here too. If the river is high, it affects travel between Castilla and Piura, due to possible dangers of crossing the bridges at flood stage. There are church and family connections across it. It provides irrigation water to many of our families in the rural churches farther downstream, but also was the cause of their relocation back in 1998, when it overran the dikes holding it in. At low water times, the mosquitos are more prevalent, in the city and elsewhere, causing a concern over the dreaded dangue fever.
The algorrobo also plays an important role. The beans are gathered by many in our rural churches, to make that sweet and unique syrup. The wood feeds many a kitchen fire, or rotisserie chicken oven. Being one of the few trees that can survive in this hot, desert environment, it holds back the desert sands, and provides shade for people and animals alike. On a sunny and scorching day, looking for an algorrobo has been a common pastime for me.
Yesterday, Sunday, we celebrated our final service at Sector Oeste, the church we have attended this past year. They were so gracious, giving us a nice plaque to commemorate our time there. Our kids are going to miss seeing Pastor Miguel's kids, and we will miss him and the others in the church greatly. It has been a special year with them all, and it will be hard to leave.
Tomorrow, there is a meeting with the pastors of our churches here, and I am guessing I may shed a tear or two as I consider the consequences of this move. I will miss them all, especially those I have spents some good time with this last year. Sure, I will be back on a regular basis, but there is something to be said about proximity. Even if you don't connect, at least you feel like you could.
Well, enough rambling. Time to get back to packing. And maybe have a chance to stop by the river today or tomorrow.....
Below is a clip from that movie. Makes me a bit sentimental, thinking of many trips up the San Joaquin and King rivers outside Fresno with Todd Arndt, Sam Kyllo, and others to find our own trout fishing spots.
Saw some fish a few months back in the Rio Piura. Never tried fishing down there. Maybe I should!
Blessings,
Lowell
