Our Sites: amy's blog | fisher academy | the tuttle tribe's photos | Support

Showing posts with label superstitions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label superstitions. Show all posts

The Dark Side of the Jungle #5

0 comments Posted by the tuttle tribe at 11/05/2010

You might have thought that mermaids were mythological creatures... but in these parts of the jungle they are considered very real and very dangerous. There is the common belief that whole cities and even huge empires of mermaids live in the deepest parts of the rivers. These half human / half fish creatures have supposedly been seen by many people. I have a good friend who is totally convinced that, as a child, he saw a fishermen catch a mermaid in his net and then put her on display in the main square of Yurimaguas. This man is not crazy, he is very respected and known as extremely honest. Was he imagining things? Was it one of those childhood dreams that you end up thinking was real?

I talked to one man who claimed to have seen a beautiful female mermaid sitting on the beach and combing her hair. He couldn't resist the temptation to see who she was and when he drew near she grabbed him and took him underwater to the mermaid kingdom where he was imprisoned for 100 years. He finally escaped and got back to our above-water-world and to his own village where just one year of time had gone by.... He's not the only one that claims such an outlandish experience. Many, many men have supposedly disappeared because they saw a beautiful mermaid and then got too close. 

Contrary to the popular opinion around here, I don't believe that these stories are true. But one thing is for sure; these beliefs about mermaids are a great illustration of the warnings found in Proverbs 7:21-26:

“With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him. Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would cost his life. Now therefore, listen to me, my children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth: Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths; For she has cast down many wounded,
And all who were slain by her were strong men.”

 

Labels:

The dark side of the jungle #4

1 comments Posted by the tuttle tribe at 11/04/2010


Fresh water river dolphins called “bujeos” live in the Huallaga and all along the Amazon river basin. There is a species of this dolphin that is pink, known as the “bujeo colorado” (these really do exist. You can look it up if you'd like). We come into the dark side of the jungle with the common belief that these “bujeos colorados” are demon possessed and can actually transform into gringos that steal, rape and murder in the villages.

I was in one village where they told me that every time they had a party several gringos would show up out of nowhere and would begin to steal, rape and murder. The villagers had no idea where these gringos came from and so they decided to plan a party and if the gringos showed up they would try to trap them and figure out who they were...... At midnight when the party was really going strong the gringos started to show up. All at once the villagers tried to grab the gringos. The ones that were caught, instantly turned into “bujeos colorados” and the ones that got away ran to the river, dove in and swiftly swam off as pink river dolphins.

When I heard this outlandish story I began to laugh at the unbelievableness of it all, but the 15 or so villagers that told me the story looked at me very seriously and just said “You wouldn't laugh if you understood our jungle.” I stopped laughing and read to them the words of Jesus:

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

 

Labels:

The Dark Side of the Jungle #3

1 comments Posted by the tuttle tribe at 11/02/2010

“El Churichaqui” is a demon that can appear to you as you walk along a trail in the jungle. Many people claim to have seen him and he always appears in the form of a friend, loved one or a family member. He will tell you to follow him and if you obey, thinking it really is someone that you know, he will lead you to certain death. The only way to realize that he is not the person that he appears to be is to look at his feet. One of “Churichaqui's” feet is a human foot and the other is a wild boar hoof. If you see his hoof you'll know instantly that this is a dark, deceitful and false impersonation ….... Run for your life!

This superstition is a tremendous illustration of the truth of 2 Cor 11:13-15 says: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Run for your life from false doctrine, if you look closely enough you'll recognize it!

 

Labels:

The Dark Side of the Jungle #2

1 comments Posted by the tuttle tribe at 11/01/2010

Almost everyone here in the jungle believes that something called "El Tunchi” exists and is very real. The people that live in the small villages and out in the countryside have all had their run-ins with the “Tunchi” and he is greatly feared by all.

The “Tunchi” is the wandering spirit of a person who has died and goes about the countryside haunting whoever it can. This “Tunchi” makes a distinct whistling sound and if you try to imitate it's whistle it comes closer and closer in order to terrorize and even kill you. “El Maligno” is the Devil himself who is always flying around behind the “Tunchi” trying to catch him and take him to hell. According to the belief, you really shouldn't mess with the “Maligno” because he will treat you even worse than the “Tunchi” would.

We who know the True and Living God have nothing to fear because we are to: “ be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”  (Eph 6:10-13)

 

Labels:

The Dark Side of the Jungle #1

1 comments Posted by the tuttle tribe at 10/29/2010

“Yacumama” is quetchua for “mother of the water”. This is the term that the jungle people give to a supposed 150 foot long anaconda with bristly hair, big ears and lion-like eyes that have the power to pull you in like a giant magnet. The legend of this “monster” has it's many variations, all of which are quite far-fetched, yet almost everyone that lives here believes it. On my last trip down the Haullaga river I talked with three people from three different villages who claim to have seen Yacumama in the last few weeks. The sightings have made quite a stir in the villages and have put a temporary halt to all swimming and fishing in the area..... Huge anacondas do exist.... But when does “yacumama” become a lie of the devil that enslaves people to fear and spiritual darkness?

Thanks be to God for the truth of Romans 8:15 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”



 

Labels:

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

ShareThis