On the Amazon In Brazil

This past Saturday, Sept 18th, a team from our church headed out to Manaus Brazil.  Our goal was to visit two churches that we had sponsored to be built along the Amazon River.  We would also be delivering water filtration systems to the people that go to these churches as well. 

When we arrived in Manaus, we went straight to the boat that we would spend the next four nights sleeping in hammocks and going up river to visit the villages.  We stayed docked in Manaus until we left at 3am to go up river.  Not all of us were wrestling to get comfortable in our hammocks because there were two air conditioned cabins that four of our team members used while we were on the boat.  We actually got used to sleeping in the hammocks and they were quiet comfortable when you learned how to lay in it.

We arrived at our first stop in a town called Manacapru. It has a population of about 75,000 and it is also where we went to church on Sunday morning.  Actually, we were late arrivals because of our travels and the service didn't begin until around 12:30.  We were greeted by the congregation holding a sign that read "Welcome Champions of Jesus.  God Save America."  We were warmly welcomed and the service began.   I preached and Missionary Mark Lemos was the interpreter.  One teenage girl gave her heart to the Lord and the altars were filled with these wonderful Brazilian people seeking the Lord. 

After service, we gave one of the water filters to the pastor.  He was very appreciative as were all of the people who received one.   As we continued to travel up the Amazon River, we stopped at two more churches and handed out the remaining water filtration systems.  The water filtration systems will help the people because it will filter out the bacteria, parasites and other items in the river water. 

Everyone seems to be enjoying the trip and trying new experiences.  The people are very friendly and we have had a wonderful time.  As we have traveled the Amazon, we also have been able to do a little peacock bass fishing.  That has been a blast.  We have caught several peacock bass, Parana and another type of fish that is pronounced "try-eata".

We are now in Manaus and staying in a hotel.  That is the reason that I am able to update.  Where we were at on the river, there was modern conveniences that we enjoy.  The hotel is nice and we will go to the last church that we had sponsored to be built here in Manaus.  Tomorrow we will visit the leper colony and then begin making our way back home.

It has been a great trip and everyone seems to appreciate how blessed we are.  Personally, I am ready to be home and see the family.  I am missing Mitchell's first soccer game while I'm away but hopefully someone will have photos or videos.  That should be funny to watch.  Missing the family and ready for my bed.