Chapter 52: The Uritoyacu Villagers Relocate Again
AS TOLD BY JOHN AGERSTEN
From Uritoyacu to Ugarte on the Marañon.
In the previous chapter, we told the story of the Awajun Group that formed a village in Uritoyacu. It turned out that the land around the lake was of poor quality. Bananas and manioc, which are important parts of the indigenous people's diet, grew poorly. There were plenty of fish in the lake during low tide, but at all other times, fish were scarce. Wildlife was also limited in the area. After several years, they began to look for a new place to settle. Everyone agreed that moving would be the best option. Usually, the indigenous people choose to live along one of the many smaller tributaries, but this time they found an area on the banks of the large Marañon River. They were already accustomed to living by the larger river after all the years they had spent in Laurel. The location was on higher ground alongside the river, so that they would not have to worry much about flooding. Previously, there had been a cattle farm here, but the "owner" had left the site many years ago. The law was such that whoever cleared a piece of jungle land owned it as long as they lived there and used it. However, if the site was abandoned and left fallow, anyone could settle there after a certain number of years.
During our visits upriver along the Marañon to Saramiriza, Borja, and other villages, we often traveled past this location where the forest was slowly reclaiming the grassland. The area was just upriver from the village of San Juan. A narrow river that flows into the Marañon separated the two places.
Relocation to Ugarte
The villagers from Uritoyacu decided on this new site, which was previously called Ugarte. They held a meeting with the authorities and received a document confirming their right to settle there. After that, the men traveled to Ugarte, where they cleared land for houses and small fields. Eventually, they built a few small huts called "tambos." This entire process took time. They could not move with their families until at least the manioc was ready to harvest. The bananas take about a year to ripen as well. Gradually, one family after another left Uritoyacu in small canoes with their few belongings. It took at least two days to paddle from Uritoyacu upriver along the Marañon to Ugarte.
In February 1979, we traveled together with the Wilhelm family and some visiting friends from Lima to Uritoyacu with an important cargo. At that time, most people still lived there, although a few were already in Ugarte preparing for the move. We had received several boxes of New Testaments in the Awajun language from Wycliffe Bible Translators. It was a very special day for the friends in Urito—and for us as well. Everyone wanted to see and touch the books containing God's Word in their language. Many of the younger men could read, as could some older children, both girls and boys. Some began reading aloud to others. It was a joyful celebration day, ending with singing praises and giving thanks to the Lord for the New Testament in their language. The Awajun groups in the tributaries of Potro and Cahuapanas had already received their first New Testaments in Awajun.
Before we traveled to Norway in the summer of 1980, most of the people had already moved from Uritoyacu to Ugarte. Visiting the believers in Ugarte and gathering for a service in the small, temporary church was a special experience. Soon after, they built a new church from materials gathered in the forest, where all the wood was tied together with vines. We were blessed to be part of the church’s dedication. Humberto Patricio, who had led the community in Uritoyacu and during the early days in Ugarte, later moved to another village.
In the previous chapter, we told the story of the Awajun Group that formed a village in Uritoyacu. It turned out that the land around the lake was of poor quality. Bananas and manioc, which are important parts of the indigenous people's diet, grew poorly. There were plenty of fish in the lake during low tide, but at all other times, fish were scarce. Wildlife was also limited in the area. After several years, they began to look for a new place to settle. Everyone agreed that moving would be the best option. Usually, the indigenous people choose to live along one of the many smaller tributaries, but this time they found an area on the banks of the large Marañon River. They were already accustomed to living by the larger river after all the years they had spent in Laurel. The location was on higher ground alongside the river, so that they would not have to worry much about flooding. Previously, there had been a cattle farm here, but the "owner" had left the site many years ago. The law was such that whoever cleared a piece of jungle land owned it as long as they lived there and used it. However, if the site was abandoned and left fallow, anyone could settle there after a certain number of years.
During our visits upriver along the Marañon to Saramiriza, Borja, and other villages, we often traveled past this location where the forest was slowly reclaiming the grassland. The area was just upriver from the village of San Juan. A narrow river that flows into the Marañon separated the two places.
Relocation to Ugarte
The villagers from Uritoyacu decided on this new site, which was previously called Ugarte. They held a meeting with the authorities and received a document confirming their right to settle there. After that, the men traveled to Ugarte, where they cleared land for houses and small fields. Eventually, they built a few small huts called "tambos." This entire process took time. They could not move with their families until at least the manioc was ready to harvest. The bananas take about a year to ripen as well. Gradually, one family after another left Uritoyacu in small canoes with their few belongings. It took at least two days to paddle from Uritoyacu upriver along the Marañon to Ugarte.
In February 1979, we traveled together with the Wilhelm family and some visiting friends from Lima to Uritoyacu with an important cargo. At that time, most people still lived there, although a few were already in Ugarte preparing for the move. We had received several boxes of New Testaments in the Awajun language from Wycliffe Bible Translators. It was a very special day for the friends in Urito—and for us as well. Everyone wanted to see and touch the books containing God's Word in their language. Many of the younger men could read, as could some older children, both girls and boys. Some began reading aloud to others. It was a joyful celebration day, ending with singing praises and giving thanks to the Lord for the New Testament in their language. The Awajun groups in the tributaries of Potro and Cahuapanas had already received their first New Testaments in Awajun.
Before we traveled to Norway in the summer of 1980, most of the people had already moved from Uritoyacu to Ugarte. Visiting the believers in Ugarte and gathering for a service in the small, temporary church was a special experience. Soon after, they built a new church from materials gathered in the forest, where all the wood was tied together with vines. We were blessed to be part of the church’s dedication. Humberto Patricio, who had led the community in Uritoyacu and during the early days in Ugarte, later moved to another village.
Christmas Celebration at the Church in Ugarte in 1990
In 1990, we visited Ugarte during the Christmas season. They had a new church that had been built a few years earlier. The women in the church prepared a delicious chicken soup with manioc and green cooking bananas for all of us after the Christmas morning service. It was a joyful moment to see their gratitude, both for our visit and for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. At this time, we lived in Betania near Saramiriza and traveled a distance down the Marañon River to reach Ugarte. Elias Piaza had been elected as the new leader of the congregation. He was a highly respected leader and pastor for many years, even though he could neither read nor write. His children read aloud from the Bible and hymnbook for him. Like many others who became Christians, he gradually learned to read. Elias was a great blessing to the congregation. He had received the Holy Spirit and possessed a gift for shepherding and leadership. After a few years, he stepped down as pastor. He wanted to let a younger man take over who had studied at the Academia Biblica. He remains a strong support for the younger leaders now emerging.
In 1990, we visited Ugarte during the Christmas season. They had a new church that had been built a few years earlier. The women in the church prepared a delicious chicken soup with manioc and green cooking bananas for all of us after the Christmas morning service. It was a joyful moment to see their gratitude, both for our visit and for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. At this time, we lived in Betania near Saramiriza and traveled a distance down the Marañon River to reach Ugarte. Elias Piaza had been elected as the new leader of the congregation. He was a highly respected leader and pastor for many years, even though he could neither read nor write. His children read aloud from the Bible and hymnbook for him. Like many others who became Christians, he gradually learned to read. Elias was a great blessing to the congregation. He had received the Holy Spirit and possessed a gift for shepherding and leadership. After a few years, he stepped down as pastor. He wanted to let a younger man take over who had studied at the Academia Biblica. He remains a strong support for the younger leaders now emerging.
Later Visits
Although we left the work in Peru in 1999, we had several opportunities to visit again, and also still keep close contact with some of the leaders and pastors in the area. Gro and I had the opportunity to visit Peru and the jungle area again in 2010. On our way down the Marañón from Saramiriza to San Lorenzo, we stopped by Ugarte. There weren't many people present at home since we arrived unannounced on a weekday morning when most people were in the fields. The village had grown a lot since they moved in the beginning of the 1980s.
They now had a church that was built nearly ten years earlier. The old one had become too small, and the palm roof was starting to rot. The new church also stood on a concrete foundation, but the walls were made from planks cut with a chainsaw. They, along with several other churches and outposts, received help from a team from the Saramiriza congregation for the construction. The church was already completed in 2001 when I visited Peru with Jørgen Cloumann, who was then the Pentecostal Foreign Mission regional secretary for Latin America.
In 2016, we visited Peru with a group from Betania Church, Sokndal. The believers in Ugarte had just consecrated a new church building. There had been some erosion along the riverbanks in Ugarte, and the previous church was very close to the river. Additionally, termites and the humid climate had damaged the wooden structure. The believers had saved enough money for gasoline to run the chainsaw they borrowed from the Saramiriza congregation. They used it to cut out planks and framing. They also had money for some of the corrugated iron sheets for the roof. With help from supporters in Norway, we were able to send funds for cement and iron for the foundation pillars on which they now planned to build the church. Most of the work they did themselves, but once again, believers from Saramiriza came to help them. I was able to see this new church building again on my last visit to Ugarte with Lewi and Solfrid in 2019.
Although we left the work in Peru in 1999, we had several opportunities to visit again, and also still keep close contact with some of the leaders and pastors in the area. Gro and I had the opportunity to visit Peru and the jungle area again in 2010. On our way down the Marañón from Saramiriza to San Lorenzo, we stopped by Ugarte. There weren't many people present at home since we arrived unannounced on a weekday morning when most people were in the fields. The village had grown a lot since they moved in the beginning of the 1980s.
They now had a church that was built nearly ten years earlier. The old one had become too small, and the palm roof was starting to rot. The new church also stood on a concrete foundation, but the walls were made from planks cut with a chainsaw. They, along with several other churches and outposts, received help from a team from the Saramiriza congregation for the construction. The church was already completed in 2001 when I visited Peru with Jørgen Cloumann, who was then the Pentecostal Foreign Mission regional secretary for Latin America.
In 2016, we visited Peru with a group from Betania Church, Sokndal. The believers in Ugarte had just consecrated a new church building. There had been some erosion along the riverbanks in Ugarte, and the previous church was very close to the river. Additionally, termites and the humid climate had damaged the wooden structure. The believers had saved enough money for gasoline to run the chainsaw they borrowed from the Saramiriza congregation. They used it to cut out planks and framing. They also had money for some of the corrugated iron sheets for the roof. With help from supporters in Norway, we were able to send funds for cement and iron for the foundation pillars on which they now planned to build the church. Most of the work they did themselves, but once again, believers from Saramiriza came to help them. I was able to see this new church building again on my last visit to Ugarte with Lewi and Solfrid in 2019.
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