From the Helm – Tuesday, June 22, 2010

4:30 AM – It’s been a long night.  I’ve been up and down several times, finally giving up sleep for good about an hour ago.  Several storms throughout the night have slowed us considerably.  The lights of Itacoatiara are on the horizon. 

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The Beatriz has performed impeccably all trip long.  Around midnight, her main engine began to falter at high rpm’s.  We’ve been cruising along at a mere thousand since then. At daylight, we will stop and investigate as best we can.

- These days have been good.  Much has been experienced.  A new outlook is beginning to come to view for me.  Over the past several years, AMOR has had to struggle in making ends meet.  Many times, our needs have been reduced by the mere absence of resources.  I’ve learned to depend more completely on God’s provision.  I’ve been able to accept what has come our way and learn from it all.

I feel led to travel deeper in to the Valley. The resources needed to do such are greater than what is available to us as we stand today.  More and more of my time is spent handling unexpected “crisis” than in actual time on the river.  God has the solution to this.  I am beginning to seek Him specifically along these lines.  He is beginning to show new paths.  I look forward to the journey.

7:00 AM – Well, the verdict seems to be that our fuel pump is failing.  We are about 2 hours below Itacoatiara.  I’ve made the decision to limp along to Manaus as it is.  All things remaining the same, we should still arrive by tomorrow afternoon.  All is well.  We will be underway once again, soon…