Medical Mission Trip to Amazonia

Lyle and Cheryl Kurth

More than 100 pounds of ‘over-the-counter’ medications were donated by Lyle’s co-workers at LABCONCO and from our church friends at Blue Ridge Bible Church.

Arrival time in Manaus was midnight, after departing at 6:00 am from Kansas City International. Suitcases were loaded on the bus; we soon had our first look at our home for the next 11 days.

The boat left Manaus early the next morning and saw our first views of the city and the river.

We were amazed, every day, at the size of the river. The flooding is expected seasonally for the people of the Amazon.

Common sights: 3 house boats with fishing boats towed behind and the most common form of transportation on the river for the villagers.

Floating island on the Amazon. Self-sustaining accumulation of vegetation.

Village homes—note the electric lines and

satellite dish.

First day activity of any medical mission trip is to organize the medications. Several hundred pounds of medications were in our

suitcases and we spent hours grouping like meds together. Any available container was used.

The stuffed rabbit was sent by Bailey to remind us to be thinking of her.

Next task on first day of a medical mission trip is to re-package the commonly used medications. Vitamins were counted, 60 to a bag, and labeled.

Ibuprofen was also counted, 15 to each bag, then labeled. This process was repeated on several occasions, as needed to meet the demand.

At the end of the trip, we calculated that nearly 60,000 vitamins had been distributed to needy villagers.

Clinic day. One of the boat’s crew launches the motor boat to go

ahead to the village to announce our arrival.

Our captain positions the boat into place and it is tied between trees.

Our arrival is also announced with a few blasts of the boat’s horn.

Note to self: do not stand in front of the horn when it is sounded.

The mast is a tree branch.

Small grocery store that served as the “waiting room” for

our first clinic.

Lyle and team leaving CBM Amazonia to assist at the waiting area at the store.

Parking lot for the grocery store. The CBM Amazonia as viewed from the store.

Inside the store—seedling plants and variety of market

items.

The journey from the “waiting room” and the boat.

Lyle was enamored with the Brazilian children; their big,

beautiful eyes and shy smiles.

Our quarters.Hammocks or rede, pronounced hedgy, were the choice for some to rock to sleep. We did bring one home—it IS

the perfect spot for a nap!

Devotions were held on the top deck after breakfast, led by Pastor James “Beaver” Terry. Five members from Belmont Christian church in Virginia were on the trip. Their pastor, his wife, college age son, a physician and another member. Each morning we practiced Portuguese words and phrases and learned some songs that we could sing during church services.

Breakfast was a cheese wrap or deli sandwich. The “tortilla” is made from manioc, a root plant, that produces tapioca. The root is ground into flour-like substance and formed into flat rounds. A variety of cheeses were used in the wrap. Some were prepared with ham and cheese. Cake was available on some mornings. The coffee was really good. The cook made sweet coffee (like southern sweet tea, aka syrup).

Fresh fruit and fruit juice was a staple at every

breakfast.

Lunch and dinner consisted of a meat dish

or casserole, noodles, rice, and salad were always on the side.

Chicken tetrazzini—Brazilian style

Pot roast

Beef stir fry

Fried chicken, bean soup over rice, sliced vegetables

A large quantity of children’s black “Crocs” were donated and delivered by Belmont Christian church. The shoes were eagerly received by the children and their parents.

Water was stored in the large elevated container. These homes had electricity, we could see lights on in the evening.

Flat screen televisions were also visible through the windows.

Lyle and team arriving at the CBM church serving as the waiting room for clinic day # 2.

The CBM Amazonia was 20 yards away, separated by water 3 foot deep.

The village children played freely in the flooded river during the heat of the day.

Parking lot at the church and at the boat.

Life on the Amazon

Young children travel alone in

small boats.

The clothes were hung on the line while standing in a boat.

Life on the Amazon

All the villager’s boats leaked and each had something to use to bail water.This chair was occupied by a little girl, 2 or 3 years of age. She helped bail with the dried gourd. However, the water never left the boat. She emptied the gourd beside her chair, in the boat!

Life on the Amazon

Tree branch to support the antenna

Floating island, 10 x 4 feet.Many birds used it to ride the river.

Line fishing for piranha.

Daily rain

piranha and caiman

Travelling in style

Meal preparation

At last a bit of dry land for clinic day # 3.

Traffic control is always a big concern to the patients and the doctors. An even and steady flow is needed and keeping the patients in order is necessary to prevent complaints. Telling people where to go is my gift.

Cheryl weighed everyone that came on the boat.

We had learned a Portuguese word for “step up”, but I never could say it correctly.

Universal language took over when it came time to take off the shoes or flip-flops. EVERYONE removed their shoes in order to save a few ounces off their weight!

I also had to be careful with the word, “ok”. If said before the weight was complete, the patient assumed I was done with them.

The rabbit was present for a distraction when needed for little kids.

One little girl decided that the rabbit was hers and when we snuck it away from the child, then the Mom wanted it.

After that, we made sure the rabbit stayed out of sight.

Steps between decks. They were somewhat steep and tricky to navigate at night, since there was no light on them.

Most of the babies were healthy and appropriate height and weight for age.

The moms breast fed until at least the children were toddlers. Breast feeding took place openly.

We took 7 dozen small inflatable balls to share with the children. What a hit!

Kids barely old enough to walk, knew how to kick and imitate soccer moves.

Our guys had plenty of hot air to spare!

One of our clinics was next to this fish market.

The fishermen brought in their catch, the fish were cleaned with lightning fast precision, the entrails push into the water, weighed and placed on ice.

The fish were catfish with unusual markings.

Two youngsters were fishing near the market, bringing some nice sized catfish.

We crossed to other side of the river for the next clinic. The boat

was, again, tied to trees.

The store had a small raised

garden behind their home.

Children being taught Bible stories while waiting to see the doctor.

Another busy clinic day

Reality check

Eventful day at this location

The field had not been used recently since they had no soccer balls. Many had been donated and they played well into the night under the lights from the boat.

The field was used for a worship service after the clinic was finished for the day.

Soccer served to bond the Brazilians

and the visitors.

German tourists on Amazon River Cruise. Visited our boat while bird-watching. They

reported that they had also seen a government medical boat earlier in the day.

Yellow school boat transporting children to school.

The CBM Amazonia crew announcing our arrival via the motor boat.

The waiting area and playground next door.

The village’s playground area was nicely maintained. The rest of the village reflected the reality of daily life.

Open trenches allow raw sewage to flow to the river. It was common for all waste to be deposited in the water.

That was true for the boat, also. In addition, any food scraps were tossed overboard, after meals.

26 day old infant with pneumonia,

presented for follow-up.

Open water allowed for a little test drive.

There was a lot of play in the wheel and the current was surprisingly strong.

Difficult to see but this is a portion of the “Meeting of the Waters”.

The Amazon & Rio Negro flow side-by-side for several kilometers; the Amazon is brown and muddy-appearing. The Rio Negro is more clear.

Motor boats and cargo ships share the river, near Manaus.

Floating gas station off the coast of Manaus.

Little boat at one of the villages. Three people arrived in this boat!

Like most cities, Manaus was busy, noisy. Pedestrians did NOT have the right-of-way.