Day 29: I'm terrified. I just witnessed some natives being chained and beaten for trying to escape the plantation that the colonists created. They were covered in blood and nearly unconscious by the time I reached them. I tried to stop the colonists from killing the natives, but they just pushed me aside and threatened to tell my parents. A few days ago, I learned that the labor work for scouting out gold and silver was being done by the native people. There was so much gold piled in storage cells that my father showed me to! Originally, I thought they would get paid for it, but it turns out, their treatment is similar to slavery. I tried sending a letter to the Church, letting them know of the deeds that were being done to the natives. Still waiting a reply, or for some kind of action to be done. I should have never come. I should have tried convincing my parents to not chase this.This is so revolting and cruel.

Day 4: The older missionaries in the group told me to go befriend some natives. It's been less than a week and I've already interacted with a whole group of native children around my age. At first, they looked really timid and looked scared of me. I don't understand why, for I wasn't trying to appear threatening. They relaxed a bit more around me, and they even brought me to their village. There, I heard them chatter in their native language, smelled the spices that they used to cook with, and saw giant monuments, which I assumed were dedicated to their gods. Since I was instructed to spread the word of God, I gave them some bibles that the older missionaries handed me. However, some of the older natives witnessed my actions and chased me out of their village! I knew that some of them might not approve, but I didn't expect them to chase me out.

Day 1: Finally, I see land! It's been almost a month travelling by sea, not stepping foot on the stable earth. My parents decided it would be a good investment to control some land in Central America to use for labor. I overheard my father telling my mother of the riches in gold and silver available in the Americas, trying to convince her to agree travelling such a great distance into foreign lands. He was already one of the few people chosen to go on the trip, for he signed up early in advance (along with some missionaries), so he viewed it as a lucky opportunity. I just pray to God that my family stays safe. Maybe I could even open the hearts of the natives to God. It's strange that they are only sending a few of us to these new lands. Wouldn't scouting for riches require more laborers?