From the Helm – Friday, June 18, 2010

As the sun came up we were underway to Flexal arriving in time to set up and begin work at 10 this morning.

For some reason, Flexal hasn’t been a source of many fond memories.  Nothing has ever happened to taint my opinion of the place; nothing particularly marking seems to have taken place.  It’s just been a stop along the way to other places.  Well, that has now changed…

- As in Castanhaduba, the work here is flailing.  All efforts of the past to sustain a viable presence among the people of this community have failed to one degree or other.  The people have become discouraged.  After a day’s work and some good conversation with several, it’s become clear they’ve felt abandoned; detached.  This, due to our absence for so many years.

Seven years ago, when AMOR felt led to move on to unexplored waters, we asked a sister organization to help with a continued presence here, in Mamuru as well as in Castanhaduba and Curua.  Their response was decidedly positive and the commitment seemed genuine.  Unfortunately, not a visit has been made since shortly after we departed the region.  This has brought great sadness to me.  I believe in my heart that if I’d known this would take place, I’d have never asked for the support in the first place and would certainly not have moved on prematurely.  I have no resentment regarding it all.  I more fully realize, though, that our manner of operating regardless of difficulty, distance and expense is not shared by many others who minister in the Valley.  I’ll just continue to follow as I feel led and be grateful for whatever ministry others are endeavoring to accomplish on behalf of these precious people of mine.  We don’t have to share the same vision or methodology.  My God will make all things work together well in the end…

- The afternoon was busy. Flexal is large.  The needs are a bit overwhelming.  All will be met according to God’s direction, mercy and providence.  Jed and I ended up doing seven eye deals between us.  It was all good.  I saw the priority to be eyes here so, dental was shut down for the day.  VBS was strong and the construction crew ministered in the neighborhoods and surrounding homes and fitted glasses to those our supply still helped.

We did the eye surgeries in the home of Iana.  This little lady of 31 was only 20 the last time I saw her.  She had polio as a child and has never walked.  He legs are drawn up tightly to the waist.  When we arrived, we were met with the news she is pregnant of about 24 weeks.  Immediately, my thoughts were negative. Upon visiting with her, she is happy about it all.  She is looking forward to being a mother.  I see where she deserves such a privilege of being a woman.  All my negativity subsided and I’m happy for her.  Very happy for her, indeed…

- The evening ended with a surprise birthday party for Amadeu!  He was set up quite nicely.  We  simply ordered a cake from the kitchen, with all the balloons and trimmings, for a birthday aboard.  He made his own cake and was surprised with it after the service this evening.  He was taken aback by the attention.  What a quiet, sweet man…

From the Helm – Friday, June 18, 2010

Around 3:30 this morning a windstorm blew in from the East.  It came up so quickly, we’d dragged our anchor more than 100 yards by the time we slowly began our idle to safe harbor.  The team was unaffected, snuggled in the A/C upstairs.  It was about time for me to get up anyway.  It was a good start to this new day.

I love the rain.  It is soothing and tends to remove any urgency from my consciousness.  Afterwards, all seems greener and fresher to sight and smell.  It’s reminiscent of the calm God’s presence has on my mind and in my soul after the apparent storms of life.  These storms never seem to be scary or unbearable.  My sense of His presence and ways makes all things less than I would imagine them to be.  It’s a beautiful thing, this dependence and trust on Him.  It never fails to produce its promises and rewards as long as I allow myself the privilege…

- The day yielded a few twists.  One of my dental patients decided to pass out.  She was pregnant and was desperate to have a couple of troublesome teeth removed.  I reluctantly agreed to do so.  After the procedure, she promptly fainted!  It was then it was brought to my attention that she was not only diabetic but had not taken her medication nor had she had anything to eat all day.  All ended well though.  I’d have probably done the same in her place.  Desperation leads to understandable carelessness at time.  It’s in our nature…

- Kendall has done more surgery this trip than normally appear for us to do.  She’s removed more tumors than seasoning was needed for our bean pot!!  It’s been good to witness her willingness to be of service in this way.  Most of what she did was for the cosmetic self-esteem of the patients.  This is of great value.  I’m grateful for her sensitivity, indeed…

- The service this evening was good.  Several testimonies from the locals were humbling for me as they expressed their gratitude for the help we had brought them. These people have no idea the pleasure and fulfillment it brings to us to be able to be among them; care for them; love them.  What a sampling of God’s kindness it is to be able to be right here, right now…

From the Helm – Saturday, June 19, 2010

The Beatriz headed out early this morning for Curua.  The night brought rest and the end of our time of active ministry among the villages of the trip.  No more clinics, VBS, dental and construction.  Today was a day of rest with Pastor Aluizio, his family and church.

About two this afternoon, Jed and I took Anderson and took off in a secondary vessel to post-op yesterdays eye patients.  All the sunglasses had been given away.  So, the crew got together and came up with 6 pair of their own to give.  I was deeply moved by this…

By the time we’d post-opted everyone and made a feeble, unsuccessful attempt to journey on to Mamuru to check on the snakebite boy, it was getting dark.  Mind you, I’d broken my own cardinal rule regarding always taking a flashlight and machete along regardless of time of day and proposed length of the outing aboard any secondary vessel.  Having said that, it is understandable that we had to pull our way through patches of tapagems (floating grass blockages) and dark came so quickly we could no longer make it further than back to Flexal…

When we pulled up, my friend, Cabecao, was outside his house and had his two sons lead the way in their canoe in the strong winds whipping across the bay in the darkness.  Needless to say, the crew of the Beatriz was eagerly awaiting us.  They were cautious not to discipline me as I’d have disciplined them.  However, the snide grins on their faces revealed they knew I’d have to be more tolerant of them when they, too, pushed the envelope on down the line…

- After a beautiful service with Aluizio’s church this evening, Kendall received word her mother-in-law had passed away.  This has been an expected event the family has been dealing with over the past several days.  The reality of which never hits until death actually arrives.  My prayers are with her family.  I know they are a close bunch.  I’m grateful two of her sons are on the trip to help comfort and ease the pain.

From the Helm – Sunday, June 20, 2010

Aluizio, Conceicao and Rosanna came aboard for breakfast this morning before our departure for Obidos and home.  The visit was sweet; sobering.  They shared of the pain, confusion and abandonment they’d felt over the last years when AMOR left and no one came to help them, as promised.  Once again, my heart and soul sank.  I feel totally responsible for this terrible thing.  I regret having trusted where I should have acted myself.  According to God’s grace and leadership, I am resolved to not commit such an atrocity again.  The way things appeared to this precious family was that a man they had trusted (me) had lied to them; turned his back on them.  Lord, thank You for allowing me to learn from this.  Thank You for the forgiveness in this family’s heart.  Thank You for another opportunity to do what is in front of me in the right way…

4:00 PM – Arrived in Obidos an hour ago after battling a feld tree and a couple of grass blockages along the way.  We made a brief stop in Mamuru to find that the snake bit boy is here in Obidos, doing well. 

When we arrived, I was able to access my email (this has been sporadic these past days).  What I Found was a beautiful Father’s Day mail from my Boys.  I cried a bit over its content.  I’m a blessed man to have these guys as my own…

- In a couple of hours, a bus will pick us up and takes us to Emmanuel Baptist for a service in our honor.  We are all a bit tired.  I look forward to the 2-day cruise homeward.  The days of this venture are coming to a close.  Time for some rest, fellowship and reflection.  I look forward to it all, indeed…