The Connection Pointe team met at the Indianapolis airport bright and early (4 am) on Tuesday July 23rd. 10 tired people and 11 bags of supplies. We were off and ready to begin our 24 hours of nonstop travel to Manaus, Brazil. To our great relief this travel experience was nothing less than perfect! We had no delays and all our bags arrived safe and sound. After hours on planes and in airports, we were more than excited to see Mike Haubner and Christiano’s smiling faces waiting for us to arrive. All we had left was a 30-minute bus ride through Manaus to the boat where we could unload and unpack. The staff were all awake and ready to welcome us with fresh ham and cheese sandwiches for an early morning/bedtime snack. After a lot of hugs and “hellos” it was time to get some much needed rest to prepare for the next stages of our Amazon adventure.

 Wednesday morning came and went with everyone sleeping in and finally getting to shower in the river powered showers. Everyone gets bunk mates and quickly has to learn to adapt to living on a boat with limited space. Overnight we had traveled upriver, but we still had a full day to go which allowed the team to prepare the boat for patients. Thousands of meds and vitamins were counted and separated. The team also put together about 500 hygiene packs to give to everyone who came on the boat. By the end of the day everyone was tired of counting to 60 and never wanted to see a pill counter again.

 Thursday morning came with an early wake up call to get breakfast and be on the top deck by 8:00 for group devotionals. Teddy Haubner led the team in a Portuguese language lesson and used maps to talk about the area and population we would be serving. Lots of bonus fun facts! (Did you know the deepest point in the river is 100m deep?) Next came the time to sing some worship songs in Portuguese. Let’s just say we had more mumbles than singing on the first day. No one will be winning a Grammy on this trip! But by 9:00, our medical stage was set and everyone was in position. We had two Brazilian dentists join this trip, and our team was able to rotate in to help as dental assistants. We had multiple nurses on the team who assessed, educated, provided would care and prescribed medications. Others were busy taking heights and weights, checking people’s eyes for glasses and making sure everyone gets a dewormer, hygiene pack, and a little toy for the kids.

 The next few days were more of the same: morning devotions led by member of the team, treating patients, and always a mid-afternoon nap before going back to work. We were putting in hours of hard work in the Amazon heat, but nothing could bring down our spirits. Everyone was always energetic and ready to greet the next patients in line. Getting to serve these communities was a blessing to all of us. To see the joy and thankfulness of these people for something as small as a bag of Tylenol really put into perspective how blessed we have been and how we can in turn be used by God to bless others. After treating all day, it is nice to sit down to talk about how the day went and enjoy each other’s company. We were also able to spend time within the communities over breakfast, playing futbol with the kids, or visiting a family home. Everyone is so welcoming!

 

In just 7 days between medical and dental we were able to treat over 700 people from 9 different communities. Being able to aid CBM on their continued work in the Amazon has been amazing. The relationships that are being built with these communities is laying a strong foundation for continued ministry.

 After those seven long days of treating patients, we made our way back upriver. We stopped in São Sebastião do Uatumã. Here we were able to tour the greenhouse that provides the boat with fresh fruits a vegetables. On the property is also a soccer field where kids can come to a safe place to play after school. We spent a few hours in town getting to talk with the staff and learn more about what CBM does for the community of São Sebastião. The girls on the trip had a fun ride back to the boat in the back of a tri-motorcycle while the guys went off to get haircuts in town. Because who doesn’t want to haircut on an Amazon mission trip?! The next morning, the boat started out on the long trip back to Manaus.

 

The team was up early the following morning to see the Encounter of the Waters where the Rivers Negro and Solimões meet but do not mix. You can clearly see the brown cloudy water and the dark water meeting but maintaining a clear divide. Short after the Encounter we made it to the docks in Manaus. Mike and Teddy Haubner led the team through the city. We got to see a very large fish and meat market that is unlike anything you would see in America. Massive fish and pieces of meat being “processed” and sold fresh. We were also able to do some shopping for those who wanted to bring back hand-made souvenirs. The heat in the city is no joke so we didn’t stay too long. We were all eager to get to our final destination; the floating dock where the boat parks when not in use. Once parked at the boat’s lovely floating home, it was time to relax and have a nice swim! After a hard week, we celebrated with a large BBQ with steaks, sausages and grilled pineapple. It is honestly some of the best meat I have ever had! It was the last time for the boat staff and the team to be together and we wasted no time in socializing and enjoying each other company. We were all dreading the final goodbyes or ‘see you laters’ that come with the end of every trip. Though we had only been together a short time and there was a language barrier, we were still able to develop meaningful and lasting friendships. I have always said “love knows no language” and this trip was the prime example.

 We left the boat at midnight to catch our early morning flight out of Manaus. Travel seemed to be going okay until we made it to Miami. We were all unaware that Florida was currently being hit by Tropical Storm Debby. Our flight did a touch and go when trying to land. We had to go back up and circle in the air before we were able to have a safe landing. Then we proceeded to spend hours in the airport only to have all the flights cancelled due to the storm. Our team was destined to spend more time together. We weren’t able to get home until a full day later, but exhausted and tired of traveling, we finally made it home. Our Amazon adventures were over and we were physically drained, but we were returning home spiritually full and proud of a job well done.