Our team decided each of us would summarize one day.

 

We had 20 hours of travel time home to Chicago to Panama City to Manaus, and once onboard, we had another 20 hours or so travel time to our first clinic of the week.

 

It was in incredibly exciting day for us. I worked with Alex, our Brazilian Dentist. That guy’s skills are second to none. If I need big dental work done, I’m going to Brasil! (I am also now fluent in Portuguese as long as the person I am talking to is a Portuguese-speaking dentist who can also point at things. )

 

Amidst all that excitement, I learned that my 24-year old daughter had been rushed in for an emergency c-section to save our second grandson of 2025. I’m very much about family so I had a lot of anxiousness and guilt as random texts would come from home to update me.

 

I went up to the top deck of the boat in the darkness to sit and to pray for my family. As I sat and wept in prayer, the frogs were making a racket so loud that I joked in my prayer that God would never be able to hear me over their noise!

 

And in my prayer journal that night on that dark and noisy deck, I wrote out these words.

 

I sit alone beneath the weeping trees,

The jungle wrapped in hush, the stars withdrawn.

A cry rises with every breath and breeze—

My daughter’s child had come too soon, near gone.

 

The river holds its voice, the leaves stand still.

My whispered prayers climb high through shadowed air.

With shaking hands, I bend to sovereign will,

Yet beg the Lord to hold them both in His care.

 

Then all around, the frogs begin to sing—

Not song, but prayer that echoes back my plea.

Each note a hope, each croak a holy ring,

As if the forest knelt in prayer with me.

 

Though far from them, I’m not left alone—

God hears through frogs, who make my cries their own.

 

Thursday, April 10, 2025

São Tomé, Amazon River, 100 miles east of Manaus

 

 

I felt like we were able to get into a routine after a hectic first day. We had more time to breathe and really take in everything that was going on around us. We saw half as many people the day before. My concerns about what to do and how to do it were gone by this point. It was a great day, one of many more that would follow.

 

 

We were still docked at the same village as the prior day to see the remaining patients. We began the day with worship, and I remember as we were sitting there seeing people starting to gather watching us on the boat. It brought a sense of calmness in God’s purpose. After seeing the remaining patients, we went to the next village. They were in worship services as we arrived, and we went to the church. We were greeted by villagers with open arms, hugs, and thankfulness. It was very humbling. I am thankful for the experience and for our group.

 

 

Sunday, April 13, was Palm Sunday. The thoughtfulness of decorating the table for our services that morning was appreciated. We had our pictures taken with the young lady who had dressed up in character for that special day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem.

 

I always enjoyed our daily devotions first thing in the morning. It just kick started the day always on a positive note. I have pictures of “Barber” Darrin trimming a brave young lady’s hair. It also tickled me how Darrin enthusiastically helped out the youngsters that participated. I have pictures of that evening meal which was so delightful and so well prepared.

 

 

From sunrise to sunset, the enormity of this thing just amazes me. And within the vast wilderness, these beautiful people of God make their lives. Using the land, the water, their skills and adaptability, it seems effortless. While we know it is not, never did I get a sense of burden or hardship from anyone I met during this wonderful journey. It is truly humbling and inspiring.

 

 

We woke up to a foggy late morning. As the fog began to dissipate, we saw we had boats from visitors that had arrived overnight. After breakfast and our praise and devotion time, we began seeing patients. Once everyone here was taken care of, we began to cruise down to São Sebastião. From the dock area in town, we were able to walk to the mission property that has the church, some apartments, the nursery, and the greenhouse. It also contained a large soccer field. After the tour we visited with the staff of the church property. We watched a river dolphin and her baby dolphin play at the back of the boat next to us.

 

The trip to Brazil, then along the Amazon River with the CBM Amazonas, and the opportunity to serve the people of the villages is a highlight in all of my experiences.