1/18/2011 12:30am I just bought a Guarana from FlyCafe. I guess it was their initial attempt to "Americanize" the airport. Either way, Guarana is not American and rolls down your throat as if you were tasting a little bit of heaven. I get on the plane now and wait for Wilson to arrive on another flight later in the night. We reserved a cabin on the boat for our voyage back. We don't know how many days it is gonna take us, but hopefully not too long.
I lay face up, starring out of the window of a 6'x10' cabin in a boat in the middle of the largest body of freshwater in the world. If that is not filling your adventure crave - what Wilson and I had to do to get here would. Wilson and I were approved to take Wednesday-Sunday to move his things from Manaus to Belem. There are no moving trucks, or roads for that matter, that connect the two cities. By the time we got to Manaus we had 5 hours to get his things packed or sold, get them on the boat, sign off his "workbook" at his previous job and get on the boat ourselves. We got it all done but the last part.... We ran HARD. Its rainy season here- and it did just that- rained the whole time we were unloading the truck onto the boat. The cargo was loaded, but we still had to get the "book" signed off. We waved down a taxi, got the book signed off, and for the first time in this cultures history - the boat decided to leave early. We missed the boat with all of Wilson's things on it. The next boat didn't come until Sunday. A man told us that the boat might stop at the next port - Thank the Good Lord it did. We hopped on and were off! I lay here starring out of this window looking at the Amazon Rainforest. For the first time in my life I am physically bound. The thought crossed my mind- Until Sunday, I am in this 6'x10' cabin with Wilson and God with no way to go anywhere else on the face of this earth.
This room is a meat cooler. Cold as ice. Who would have thought in the middle of the rainforest you would be freezing cold? It helps the groceries we bought, but sleeping at night is quite agonizing. 3 days we've been on this boat. This morning was getting bad. Wilson and I were going on 4 days with no substantial food, I was starting to get the shakes. We needed food pretty bad, but not bad enough for a plate of death from the "Keelside Kitchen". Two Brazilians invited us to their house when we got to Santerem for some real food. At that point we would have gone anywhere that promised food. We ate, bought warm clothes, and settled down after a cold Amazon River Water shower. You could tell the bacteria on our skin was setting up a more permanent residence on us - we killed them with Johnson's from a local "Farma". New clothes, and since we last heard, 3 more days. Santarem is the halfway mark - we can see the light at the end of the tunnel - barely. I'm hoping all is well with Liz. I imagine it is - God sends His angels regarding us to protect us in all our ways. Next time, she either comes or I raise the money to pay for all the things we have gone to get. I'm pretty sure cow hearts and livers are good for you some how, but my stomach right now is not feeling it. Has to be better than nothing though. Thanks to everyone for the prayers. This life certainly requires them. The boat in front of us was attacked by pirates. They radioed back to us to say they were on their way, but the Coast Gaurd got to them first. Hallelujah!
These kids are killing me. If I would have run around a boat, in the middle of a jungle, yelling and screaming, all day and night. I would have got my butt tore up one side and down the other. But I guess this is culture, I don't know how anyone gets any sleep around here though. What is the craziest thing about it though - is everyone on the boat is getting frustrated no one will tell them to stop. Mind Blowing! I will. I just did. They had no clue what I said, but they figured out real quick how I said it. We can sleep now! I'm tired, hungry, sick, and ready to see Liz.
We are home now. We made it! We have floated the entire Amazon River. 5 days. It wasn't the most fun journey. But we learned a lot. The last leg of the trip was the best. The "river people" paddled their canoes up to the boat and people started throwing their stuff off of the boat for them. It was touching. The fact those people have that little, and the only way to get something is to have it thrown to you from off a boat. Mind blowing. I can't wait to see how the Lord uses us, all of us, to reach those people for His Kingdom. I'll post pictures soon. God Bless everyone. Pray that the Lord provides healing for our bodies- this climate starts taking a toll on you at least until you get used to it. Pray God works in the relationships with the missionaries here. Pray God allows us to see His direction and gives us the strength to take His path.
I lay face up, starring out of the window of a 6'x10' cabin in a boat in the middle of the largest body of freshwater in the world. If that is not filling your adventure crave - what Wilson and I had to do to get here would. Wilson and I were approved to take Wednesday-Sunday to move his things from Manaus to Belem. There are no moving trucks, or roads for that matter, that connect the two cities. By the time we got to Manaus we had 5 hours to get his things packed or sold, get them on the boat, sign off his "workbook" at his previous job and get on the boat ourselves. We got it all done but the last part.... We ran HARD. Its rainy season here- and it did just that- rained the whole time we were unloading the truck onto the boat. The cargo was loaded, but we still had to get the "book" signed off. We waved down a taxi, got the book signed off, and for the first time in this cultures history - the boat decided to leave early. We missed the boat with all of Wilson's things on it. The next boat didn't come until Sunday. A man told us that the boat might stop at the next port - Thank the Good Lord it did. We hopped on and were off! I lay here starring out of this window looking at the Amazon Rainforest. For the first time in my life I am physically bound. The thought crossed my mind- Until Sunday, I am in this 6'x10' cabin with Wilson and God with no way to go anywhere else on the face of this earth.
This room is a meat cooler. Cold as ice. Who would have thought in the middle of the rainforest you would be freezing cold? It helps the groceries we bought, but sleeping at night is quite agonizing. 3 days we've been on this boat. This morning was getting bad. Wilson and I were going on 4 days with no substantial food, I was starting to get the shakes. We needed food pretty bad, but not bad enough for a plate of death from the "Keelside Kitchen". Two Brazilians invited us to their house when we got to Santerem for some real food. At that point we would have gone anywhere that promised food. We ate, bought warm clothes, and settled down after a cold Amazon River Water shower. You could tell the bacteria on our skin was setting up a more permanent residence on us - we killed them with Johnson's from a local "Farma". New clothes, and since we last heard, 3 more days. Santarem is the halfway mark - we can see the light at the end of the tunnel - barely. I'm hoping all is well with Liz. I imagine it is - God sends His angels regarding us to protect us in all our ways. Next time, she either comes or I raise the money to pay for all the things we have gone to get. I'm pretty sure cow hearts and livers are good for you some how, but my stomach right now is not feeling it. Has to be better than nothing though. Thanks to everyone for the prayers. This life certainly requires them. The boat in front of us was attacked by pirates. They radioed back to us to say they were on their way, but the Coast Gaurd got to them first. Hallelujah!
These kids are killing me. If I would have run around a boat, in the middle of a jungle, yelling and screaming, all day and night. I would have got my butt tore up one side and down the other. But I guess this is culture, I don't know how anyone gets any sleep around here though. What is the craziest thing about it though - is everyone on the boat is getting frustrated no one will tell them to stop. Mind Blowing! I will. I just did. They had no clue what I said, but they figured out real quick how I said it. We can sleep now! I'm tired, hungry, sick, and ready to see Liz.
We are home now. We made it! We have floated the entire Amazon River. 5 days. It wasn't the most fun journey. But we learned a lot. The last leg of the trip was the best. The "river people" paddled their canoes up to the boat and people started throwing their stuff off of the boat for them. It was touching. The fact those people have that little, and the only way to get something is to have it thrown to you from off a boat. Mind blowing. I can't wait to see how the Lord uses us, all of us, to reach those people for His Kingdom. I'll post pictures soon. God Bless everyone. Pray that the Lord provides healing for our bodies- this climate starts taking a toll on you at least until you get used to it. Pray God works in the relationships with the missionaries here. Pray God allows us to see His direction and gives us the strength to take His path.
PTL! God Bless You Guys!
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