• We arrived to the boat around 5am; the crew moved our entire luggage from the bus to the boat. The crew had a snack available for anyone that wanted it. After room assignments and some information from Michael, it was time to get some sleep. While we were sleeping, the crew was busy guiding us to our first village 30 hours away. Wake up call was 10am, after a late breakfast we gathered around to learn the itinerary and Michael showed us where the villages are we would be visiting. After lunch, we went downstairs to sort the medications/items we brought with us. Once sorted some items were

• placed in the pharmacy, excess supplies were placed in totes to be stored in the boiler room. Some medications like vitamins and Tylenol were took up to the kitchen to divide into smaller quantities. They were placed in labeled baggies that were placed in the pharmacy to be distributed. Next was some downtime where we hung out on the upper deck admiring the views and looking for wildlife. After dinner, everyone was still exhausted from traveling and the day so most called it an early night.

• After breakfast, we enjoyed music and devotion time with the crew, which included a small Portuguese lesson. Since we were still traveling to our first village, the morning consisted of downtime where we enjoyed more views along the river, wildlife spotting and getting to know each other better. Along the way, we picked up a few crewmembers and Daniel the missionary over the villages we are traveling to. After we arrived at our first village São Benedito around lunch and officially started seeing patients at 1:30 after a small devotion in the village and saw our last dental patients around 8:00. During our time at São Benedito we saw 83 medical patients and 8 dental patients. After dinner we called it a night and most went to bed.

• After another amazing breakfast served by the crew we had our morning music and devotion time. We enjoy learning the worship songs in Portuguese and the crew humor us and our bad pronunciation of their beautiful language. Next we were moving 40 minutes up the river to the next village Nossa Sra das Gracas seeing patients all morning, after a lunch break we saw additional patients. Overall, we treated 79 medical patients and 5 dental patients. After leaving Nossa Sra das Gracas we travelled another hour up river through a narrow area to Bolivia where we stayed the night and were ready to see patients in the morning. While we were there, we explored the village, played tug o war and jump roped with the kids.

• After breakfast, songs and devotional we started seeing patients at Bolivia. Bolivia was a bigger village with lots of young families and kids. We started treating patients at 9am, took a lunch break from 12:00-1:30 and continued seeing patients until 6:00 with a few dental patients running until 8:00. Since it was late, we stayed put for the night. Overall, we treated 158 medical patients and 8 dental patients.

• We were on the move about 6:00am for a short trip to our next village Divino. Divino was a village with a lot of young families and children. After breakfast, it was time for music, a devotional and communion. Then we joined Daniel in the village for a short devotion and prayer, where we also taught the kids a song. Next, it was time to see patients. We saw patients all morning taking a break for lunch and finishing up at 3:00. At Divino we treated 132 medical patients and 4 dental patients. We then traveled 30 minutes to the next village. São Francisco was very tiny, on a steep hillside and was 1.73 degrees south of the equator. The village is the farthest north CBM has been. This was CBM’s first visit to the village. We started seeing patients on arrival and continued through the evening. At São Francisco we treated 22 medical patients and 3 dental patients. After another late night seeing patients and since our next village a short distance away the decision was made to stay put for the night. At dinner, we celebrated 3 crew members whose birthdays were during our trip.

• We started out the day with a short trip to Santa Rita. This was CBM’s first visit to the village. They were so grateful and even cancelled school and work for the day so everyone could visit the boat. After a devotion with the village, we taught them a song in their school building. We saw patients until 3:00pm; we treated 114 medical patients and 4 dental patients. We took off for our next village, which was a ways away but ended up stopping at another village to stay the night. During downtime, we looked at wildlife, played UNO and continued to get to know each other.

• After traveling to our next village Sagrado Coracão we ate breakfast, had music and devotion. We began seeing patients around 8:45am and finished around 10:30am. Before leaving, we went to one of the villagers homes to collect oranges from their orange tree. At Sagrado Coracão we treated 33 medical patients. Then it was on to São Sebastião, 8 hours away. Along the way, we looked for dolphins, various birds and other wildlife while also enjoying the amazing sight that is the Amazon River.

• We started the day with breakfast, music and devotion time. Next, we welcomed families from the partner churches in Sao Sebastio for medical and dental care. We saw 39 medical patients and 7 dental patients at São Sebastião . After seeing patients until lunch, we took a break until 4:00pm before heading into town to explore. We walked to Santana’s house where we saw the church they’re doing construction on, the Project Grow greenhouse, the chicken palace and soccer fields. All the fruits and vegetables served on the boat are from the greenhouse. We were also able to purchase some handmade beaded jewelry from Santana that is made from dried Açaí berries. After we returned to the boat, it was time for dinner and relax. We spent the night in São Sebastião.

• It was a relaxing morning we were able to sleep in if we chose to do so. At 9:00am we welcomed a few more church families onto the boat for medical care. During that time a few of us walked to see the new bridge that was built. At 10am, we departed for our 22 hour trip back to Manaus. Travel time looked different for everyone…naps reading, animal watching, etc. it was a cloudy, windy, rainy day on the Amazon where most of us had sweatshirts or jackets on to stay warm.

• Finishing our trip to Manaus, we passed Encounter of the Waters. After CBM exchanged our US dollars for Brazilian Real, we were off shopping. First stop was the fish market where you find not only various types of fish but beef, cow tongues, fresh fruit and vegetables. Then we were off to the market to purchase souvenirs and gifts for friends and family. We also visited the Havana’s store, the grocery, and hede (hammock) store. Then we were on our way to the CBM dock for swimming, downtime and a cookout. On the way, we went under the only bridge on the Amazon River. After a delicious meal, it was time to finish packing our bags, say goodbye to our new friends and head back to the airport.