Article March 15, 2004 Issue

Crocodile fears

By Rachel Crandell

We had been hiking all day with our guide in Manu National Park in southeast Peru. It was hot. We were almost back to the lodge, and I was looking forward to a cool swim in the long crescent-shaped cocha (oxbow lake).

As we approached the nearest end of the lake, we saw a huge 15-foot crocodile on the bank, basking in the sun. This South American caiman was enormous, and all my dreams of a swim vanished. After taking several photos of him, I mentioned my disappointment about a swim to our guide. He assured me that it would be safe enough to swim near the lodge, because the place where the crocodile was resting was at least half a mile farther down the lake. Perhaps I should have thought better of it. But our guide knew the region well, and I accepted his explanation.

Before this trip to the Amazon, my husband and I had prayed, as we regularly do, to get the clear assurance that our adventure could never take us beyond God's protection. God was everywhere, and we would always be safe in Him, no matter where we were on the map. Because there are many stories of dangers confronted in the Amazon jungle, we wanted to feel secure in God's care before we ever set out.

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About the author

Rachel Crandell and her husband spend several months a year living in the tropics, leading others on trips to learn about conservation. Rachel is currently collecting the stories of the Embera people of Panama, at their request.

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