Sacha Muyo - Lessons from the Amazon Rainforest

Sunrise in my new classroom

Last November, one of my students won an all-expenses paid Me to We Trip and had the opportunity to bring 3 other friends, along with a teacher to share in the experience! We spent months dreaming and preparing for the adventure that awaited us. To be honest, I went into the experience as a teacher - knowing that I would be touched and impacted, but also expecting to have to maintain my "teacher" role. Very  early on in the journey there was a shift in the way I was living this experience. Instead of being the teacher, I became a student and the Amazon Rainforest, along with the incredible community of Mondana, became my new classroom. In this new classroom I learned lessons of: joy, gratitude, courage, perseverance, humility, grace and most of all, the importance of Minga (community members coming together to accomplish a task). It is my sincere hope that these reflections will honour and capture the true essence of the lessons learned and the seeds that were planted during my time in the jungle! 

There are experiences in life that are both uncomfortable and challenging, yet so incredibly amazing! It's the irony of these moments that makes sharing with others - that haven't lived something similar - hard to do! Truthfully, how many of you would believe me if I told you that giving up the comforts of home - meaning: being unplugged, not having unlimited access to electricity, hot water, dry clothes, and teranchela-free zones, or even something little like putting your toilet paper in the toilet and not a waste basket - could actually be fun and not all that bad? At first glance, the thought of spending  time in this type of environment could sound horrible! But in all honesty, being pushed out of our comfort zones, in very real and tangible ways, is what made this such a transformational journey for all the participants (young and older alike). 

JOY & GRATITUDE

A member of Sacha Muyo Artisan Group showcasing her work

It would be easy for me to point out all the material things that Mondana doesn't have; but if I was to do that you would easily get the impression that theres is a community filled with sadness and despair - which is FAR from the truth. What this community lacks in material goods, they make up in terms of joy, laughter and gratitude! The people we met didn't focus on what they didn't have, instead they shared with me the things that they did have! Each time we visited a local business (i.e., Vargas farm, cocoa farm, Sacha Muyo Artisan Group) the people were so proud to show us their work, but even more than that they were graciously willing to share what they had with us! Laughter was a common sound at the chosa build site! Joy and gratitude from both the community members and ourselves, overflowed and was contagious! My hope is that we can find joy and show gratitude in our lives regardless of the circumstance that we find ourselves in, because it's there! Sometimes we simply have to shift our way of looking at the situation in order to see it! Let's focus and share more of what we have, rather than focus on what we don't have! 

COURAGE & PERSEVERANCE

Our Work Boots

Stepping out of your comfort zone and willing to be stretched to new heights takes real courage. Becoming vulnerable with complete strangers and being willing to share experiences, thoughts, stories, dreams and even tears takes real courage. Being willing to ask for help, fumbling to find words or even gestures to be able to communicate your message - even if it means looking a bit goofy - takes real courage. Being willing to invite perfect strangers into your community and trust that they are there to work alongside you and not to judge you takes courage. And doing all of this day-in and day-out, despite the task that is being asked of you, the rain, the fatigue, the heat or the humidity, takes perseverance and a lot of heart! All of the participants on this journey were amazing, as were our facilitators and the community members, and each one of them reminded me what true courage and perseverance looks like. As I get ready to leave for France, where the daunting challenge of trekking 27 days, for a cause that is near and dear to my heart, awaits me, I want to remember to be bold, courageous, vulnerable and perseverant - despite the discomfort of the situation! 

HUMILITY & GRACE

Sacha Muya Chosa Build Site

We teachers are interesting people! We're use to being the leaders and to being in control of our classroom. We're use to keeping our emotions in check and to not let students know when they've gotten to us! We're warned throughout teachers college to not get too attached or too emotionally invested, otherwise it will become too draining. We're use to being the ones that point out the teachable-moments. But out in the Rainforest all of that changed! I worked alongside pregnant women, who would work long hours at the build site, despite the heat and rain. This reminded me of the importance of fully investing ourselves in our own communities; because this is what will leave a lasting legacy to its current and futur members. I worked alongside some of Mondana's youth, who were way more knowledgeable about construction then me and who were helping me complete the task at hand. These youth also reminded me about the importance of taking time to have fun, even if there's a job to be done. But the most important reminder came from a young man, who showed me that our youth are NEVER too young to make a difference in our communities and in this world! In our home communities we can all be teachers and students, as there will be times in our lives that we will need helping hand. A good teacher is not someone who tells us what to do or simply gives the person the answer or handout; rather, they must be someone who is willing to walk alongside us and work with us to get the job done. A good student is someone that is able to humble themselves and admit that they need a helping hand. I want to be a person that walks alongside those in need, but who also remembers that it's okay to admit that I don't have all the answers and to be able to ask and accept help. Most of all, I want to always remember the valuable and powerful lessons that our youth can teach us!

These are the lessons that this experience has taught me! I hope to carry these jungle seeds (Sacha Muyo) into the next journey that awaits me! More than that, I want to carry them into my classroom during the coming year and plant them in the lives of my students!

- Buen Camino