Two team members were forced to drop out at the last minute - Liz and Christina.  However, we brought them along with us and lovingly carried photos of them to many of our events and work-sites. Flat Liz and Flat Christina served to remind us of them, to pray for them, and to be thankful that they were part of this mission experience.  Here are some photos of them, having a robust adventure in many activities.

Farewell Photos

Sam let Tiago do an official teeth cleaning on our last night on the boat.
That's me with Patricia Torres.
Our boat crew lined up for a final photo: Captain Paulo, Jacare', Pastor Augusto, Rodrigo, Rosangela, Luana, and Olga.

My good friend, Thais Suzany

Gina with Hudson and Marcia (Pastor Augusto's baby and wife).

Birthday Party, Brazilian Style

In 1998 I met a 15 year old girl named Daniele in a small town called Novo Airao, along the shore of the Rio Negro. We became friends and stayed in touch as I was able to visit her town year after year with different groups of young American doctors who were studying tropical medicine. Eventually, I was able to help Daniele go to college. She got a degree in Pharmacology/Biochemistry and did so well that she received a full scholarship to go on and obtain a Master's Degree. She has completed that as well. On 20 July Daniele invited me to attend the birthday party for her baby (Maria Fernanda), celebrating one year of life. I went, and was thoroughly impressed with the gala. Perhaps 200 people attended. There was a live band, a magician performing at tables, a fine buffet dinner, and possibly thousands of intricate "party favors" for the guests to take home.

Home Stretch

River Day Five started beautifully for the team.

Set up was in an Assembly of God Church.

Assembly Church

John Hutcherson was on flouride duty. Open wide!

Ben and Mignon were on eyeglasses. 

Sam drew hundreds of things for the children. FYI - Sam also designed the logo for the team t-shirt. 

John and Flouride

Ben, Mignon and Eyeglasses

From Don:

Only 7 patients for me to see this morning. Doctor Rafaela has rejoined us. She saw an equal number, or a few more. 

We had peacock bass for lunch. Awesome. A big dragonfly sat on my shoulder all through the meal. I think he/she enjoyed the air conditioning.

The vet has not rejoined us. Lack of the vet as the work he does leaves two of this team with little to do each day. We have named these people "butterflies". Their job is to flit around and see whatever might be needed  from them.

The Universal Language of Art

Team Two was unable to swim in the Solimoes even once. Today their last clinic brought them through the meeting of the waters. Once they were on the Rio Negra, they got to play!

Rio Solimoies

Meeting of the Waters

Not a bad way to spend a birthday, Phil!

The Brain Trust: Ben, Tiago, Nathalia, Don

Ben & Tiago

Captain Ben

Captain Phil

Finally some water time on the Rio Negro!

 

 

So tomorrow it's back to Manaus. If the team follows the same schedule as Team One, they will have time in Manaus tomorrow, followed by time at Augusto's church on Sunday - a great way to wrap up the mission. More to come.

Til next time on the Amazonas

It's all about the Water

Hard to believe it's already Thursday. Team two is busy navigating very murky, busy water. Fortunately they have maintained two important things: a sense of humor and fondness for fish. Looks like they are feasting well. 

Peixe!  Looks very fishy.

Good eats thanks to these two women: Rosangela and Olga. They have been cooking for almost 10 river days now. Quite a gift to both teams.

Rosangela and Olga

Large peacock bass and tambaqui

Blog entry from Laura Clark - dated 7/16/2013:

RIO SOLIMOES
A.M. Parana do Iranduba. Went to a private floating (!) home where they held a community clinic. Medical consults, glasses, dental, arts & crafts for lovely kids
P.M. Paracuuba. Visited a school K-8. All consults plus crafts. Dental instruction & toothbrush distribution. Pastor Augusto initiated an impromptu English lesson we had our own impromptu lessons about piranhas, river currents and "surfing" dentistas. :)

This is a group coming in for dental care. That's how they roll!

Dental Patients

Family Vehicle

We'll look forward to hearing more from Team Two as they finish up their final day tomorrow and head back into Manaus on Saturday. 

P.S. We heard there are three birthdays on Team Two. Happy Birthday one and all! A great gift to yourself to have such an adventure on your birthday. 

Full Tilt for Team Two

Gina Johnson on Ian's birthday morning.

We begin with Gina at sunrise, thinking of her son Ian who is celebrating his birthday thousands of miles away.

25 Brazilian boys and girls, realizing it was Ian's birthday, sang Happy Birthday in Portuguese in honor of Ian and Gina.

Happy Birthday Ian!



The scene is placid, but apparently the river for Team Two is very different than it was for Team One. Here is the report from the boat:

We were in Manaqueri yesterday, a small town on the shore of the Rio Solimoes. This river is radically different than the serene Rio Negro. The current is much faster and the water roils disturbingly. Only an extremely strong swimmer would dare entering, for fear of being swept away. The color is a filthy brown and when combined with the choppy current we are unable to see any if the marvelous reflections that we so enjoyed on the Rio Negro. The best comparison I can propose is the Yellowstone at maximum spring run-off, but massively larger.

Tiago surfing the Rio Solimoes

Small and sometimes large islands of floating plants pass by in an endless parade of micro-ecosystems. They are mostly less than 4 feet in diameter, but some are 60 order feet across, with the occasional 4-5 foot trees growing atop.

Faster boat passing by

Very large boats pass by, going up or down the river. Those ascending stay near the shore while those descending ate 100-200 yards out. A huge propane ship passed last night, going downstream. When its wake hit us along the shore, the waves swept chairs off the deck near the kitchen and a squeegee mop, too. The fearless Jacare dove in to retrieve the chairs before they sank, but couldn't get back to shore because of the current. Ediny jumped into our small aluminum boat and rescued him. They even found the squeegee floating further downstream. 

The dentist, Tiago, caught some small catfish and Ben caught 2 on the ice fishing pole that he brought (hey, it packs well). Paulo's 12 year old daughter, Glenda, is new on this trip. She caught a very big catfish on a huge hook and handline.

The school boat

The vaccine team in the morning was Debbie Irby and Mignon. They became Cirque de Soleil stars, successfully navigating lengthy planks of just 4-6 inches for long distances with no handrail. Phil and Barb Borman were the afternoon crew. They waded in to their sites, often in thigh deep, muddy, moving water. Phil thought about the huge anacondas we'd seen in the zoo on Sunday. That motivated him to reach dry ground expeditiously.

John Hutcherson and Rodrigo ran the ever bustling eyeglass clinic. Ben and Sam joined Nathalia for teeth brushing demos, fluoride application, and then did arts and crafts. Gina Johnson and Patti Bonness were my medical assistants. Cathy Welliver and Judy Hutcherson organized the pharmacy, including 10 boxes of new meds that just arrived. 

Don wrote:

Medical work was very slow, maybe 14 patients total. A very good young doctor goes there every Monday, Rafaela Nunez. The town is in good health. She was also with us and will be back later in the week. Her birthday is the same as Phil's.

I  saw a 23 year old woman with leprosy changes all over her arms and flanks. Gina provided wonderful anxiety relieving strategies to a woman who couldn't control her nervousness after seeing a nephew bitten severely on the ankle by a piranha. She was the perfect person to see at the perfect time. Just try to imagine the phenomenal string of events that led to Gina being right there on exactly the right afternoon.

Very few children were there as well. School is out because the water is at its  doors. Mud surrounds it now, and they'll return in a month. 

Sounds like Team Two is embracing the challenge of rougher, muddier days and is already rolling with whatever comes up. Semper Gumby. You are in our thoughts and prayers as you bless those you encounter.

In the meantime, Team One is making their way home. Tim, Angela and Jenn were stranded in Brasilia for 24 extra hours. They had all day to tour Brasilia today which was very nice. But sounds like they are ready to be home.  Stay tuned to hear more from Team One via the blog when they are back with technology!

Meeting of the Waters

How apt that Saturday, July 13 included a trip to the meeting of the waters. This is where the black waters of the Rio Negro meet the brown waters of the Solimoes River. Apparently the differences in the two rivers keep the waters from merging for many miles, and the two colors remain distinct as they travel side by side. When they do finally mix, they become the Amazon River. What a perfect metaphor for two teams bringing their distinct gifts, talents, and interests together for a total of ten days of medical mission work on the Amazon.

Both Teams on the Bus to the Meeting of the Waters

As Team One wrapped up their time in Brazil, Team Two stepped into the action. Seems that one way to get your feet wet in Manaus is barefoot bowling. Almost 50 bowlers (that's 100 bare feet, 500 toes more or less) bowled their way into friendship Saturday night.

Ben, Sam, and Mignon Jump Right In

Thais, Ana Luiza, and Debra

 

 

 

 

Ben, Sam and New Friends 

    

 From Barefoot Bowling to the Bug House. For those members of Team Two that missed the Bug House - not to worry. Read the last post. There are plenty of bugs ahead. All Aboard!

Another of God's Beautiful Creations Lands in Manaus!

 The boat received a new air conditioner; not sure of the status of the satellite dish that was demolished on Friday. Speaking of boats, this is a photo of the World Vision medical boat with a caiman skull atop. Not that we're competitive, but Don is having elk antlers shipped down asap.

For those on Team Two worried about the food, here is "The Last Breakfast" for Team One: chocolate cake (OK, that was cropped out) and maracuja pudding/cake (passion fruit).  Rumor is coffee is served at 7 a.m. Sounds like the crew of the medical boat is invested in the well being of the team.

 Stay tuned for photos, videos and posts from Team One as they make their way back to technology and begin to reminisce via blog posts about their experiences on the  Amazonas, the mighty river made of two waters coming together.