Welcome Papa Noel / Joe Diaz plays Santa in the Amazon – Monroe Evening News

Sending Christmas wishes to everyone back in the USA from San Juan de Polis, a little village on a creek feeding a river, which is a tributary of another river, which is a tributary of the famous Amazon river.
We are in Loreto, state where Peru, Columbia, Ecuador, and Brazil come together. Many miles from what we would call civilization in the remote city of Iquitos.
Santa Claus, or as the kids here call him Papa Noel, is someone who doesn’t come annually like other places around the world. Depending on the river levels, the weather, and if the families have anything worth selling, it can be a days’ long journey just to get to the city. And villagers were not welcomed when the city was devastated by COVID.
We will visit and give gifts and toys to at least nine more villages or until our supplies run out. I’m the lucky one. I get to play Santa here. Just like I’ve had the honor to do around the world. Most of the time they were joyous occasions.
But some have brought me and those around me to tears. A couple of times when I was working as a volunteer at the medical research activity in Lima, Peru, I was the Santa at the American Embassy, where there were burned, deaf, crippled and orphan children. There is nothing harder than trying to smile and laugh while tears are flooding the fake beard.
The hardest was many years ago at an orphanage in Toledo. The kids liked the toys, songs and games. But what many asked for was for someone to take them home. And why. Just why do they have to live there? I never got over that.
Before you think this is about me – I need to stop you. I’m just the monkey holding the tin cup. This trip, gifts and toys bought here from Monroe were sponsored in part by people like Gary Sortor, Veronica Carlson and Cheryl and Richard Lanham. My wife and my luggage were at the weight limit because of them. ONLY toys and gifts. The rest is from my friends, Daniel and Nil, on the Momon River near Iquitos.
What is happening here in this remote part of the world is only a drop in the bucket to both the needs around the world (especially back home) and the efforts of many of you.
Organizations like the Marine Corps Toys for Tots, Samaritas, the Salvation Army, Goodfellows, the American Legions, VFWs, child welfare institutions, and so many more are bringing smiles, toys, food, and especially love to thousands, if not millions, back in our country and around the world. And, of course, ALL of you who donate time and money to these endeavors.
Like the old saying goes; “if everyone does a little,” what a better world we have. This Santa is saying thank you for giving and Merry Christmas from far away.
Joe Diaz of Carleton is a retired command master chief and spent 40 years with the U.S. Navy. He served in six wars and conflicts. He can be reached at joediaz00@hotmail.com.

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