Today I got up early and began reading the bible in Psalm 17. The heading in my bible says “A Psalm of David: Prayer with Confidence in Final Salvation”. Amen. David is reflecting on his life and telling the Lord that he is upright. The lord has tested his heart and tried him and found nothing. What a great example we have in David. I have found myself free from the daily load in Syracuse and after 12 days have had time to reflect on my relationship with Jesus. Although I can not confess Davids innocence, I do not have the cares of the world weighing me down making me more able to witness. Hallelujah!
After the word, the family packed up and we headed out to take an airboat tour with Airboat Adventures. This is one of those 2 hour swamp boat tours that takes you on the Bayous and canals though the wetlands of Louisiana. You will never guess what lives in the bayous and canals! If you don’t know…keep reading. Airboats are flat bottom boats made of heavy aluminum and use a 8 cylinder racing engine to power a fan that propels them. Here is what ours looked like.
You have to wear ear protection because it really loud. Our guides name was Kevin. He is as much a native to Louisiana as it gets; strong accent and very knowledgeable about the swamps. The name of the lake the bayou was a tributary to is called Lake Salvador. Salvador is Spanish for Savior! Amen. Looks as though the Lord wants me to witness to Kevin! Once on the boat, I could see the excitement building in the kids. My wife and I did this once before but the kids never had done it. We buzzed done the bayou looking for…you guessed it alligators. After a time, Kevin slowed the boat and entered a canal.
Insects galore! We stopped the engine for some explanation then headed for the swamp lands. As we cruised, we saw something move in the water. An alligator! Oh yeah! He was small and in a distance. We kept going. Then we saw another one. This one was much bigger. Our captain, Kevin, stopped the boat, picked up a bag….a bag of… marshmallows and began throwing them against the water. He told us alligators have great vision and only see black and white, hence the white marshmallows. Sure enough the 5 foot alligator began to swim towards us. Our guide Kevin turned off the airboat and walked out on to shore with something in his hand. What happened next is not to be repeated except by one who does not value hands and feet. He began to play with the alligator by tapping its nose then he displayed a chicken wing to the alligator.
He also told us how they pick up the eggs, hatch the eggs and restock the canal. In the wild, 10% of the alligators make it. He also told us that one 4-6 foot alligator will make one boot! We left the canal and headed for a larger pond. Then it happened. Here came George, the 8 foot alligator who would not be challenged. George knew Kevin and Kevin knew George. George came right up to the boat and our guide did the same tricks with George, only this time George climbed head first right into our boat! Well at least up to his front feet. Kevin tells us they can jump ½ their length in hieight. He demonstrated this. By the way that’s who they hook them. They put chicken on the end of a hook and hang it from a limb, the alligator then jumps to snap at the chicken and on the way down gets hooked! Cool uh!
We ended our tour here and rode back to the dock, bought a T-shirt, saw an albino (all white) alligator then left. Oh yeah! Here we are holding a baby gator.
