Saturday, August 11, 2012

Saturday, August 11, 2012, 6:57 a.m.

 

Bom dia from Sao Joao Batista!  I write this blog early in the morning before breakfast, but I don't have time to try to post it
until after lunch.  The satellite works better with full sun and no clouds.  There is a better chance of those conditions
right around the lunch hour.  We spent yesterday morning in Samauma.  We divided into groups to work in our various ministries.
Andrew, Ryann, Brian, Johnny, Natalie, and Ananda worked in Vacation Bible School with the kids at the gymnasium.  Cody,
Sara, and Jacqueline worked in the eyeglasses clinic.  The need in the eyeglasses clinic at this village was sunglasses,
which we do not have enough of on this trip.  Izzy, Francisco, Mike, and Stefan worked in the men's ministry.  Like
yesterday, most of the men were out working.  I saw them chatting with a store owner for a long time.
Nadyr, Sara, Joanna, Linda and I were invited to thehouse of one of the ladies we met yesterday.  Her name was Maria
Francesca.  She was so excited to show us the house she and her husband were building.  She showed us where she currently
lived.  She showed us her daughter's house, too.  She has six children, five boys and one girl, all grown.  She and her
husband gave us some inga fruit from their tree at their new house.  I call it velvety sweetness.  When you open the pod,
there are fuzzy white sections.  Inside the fuzzy white stuff is a big black seed.  You only eat the white fuzzy part.
The flesh is very soft and sweet.  She gave us plenty to take back to the boat to share with everyone later.  She gave us
some papaya, a small green plant, some juices, and farinha.  We gave these items to the cooks on our boat.  Later, Sara
joined us, and we all talked to two teenage girls.  We chatted about everything with them, sharing with them what we do
for a living in the United States.  They shared with us what they want to do when they get out of school.  Our doctor
joined us yesterday.  We will be able to provide the medical clinic today.  Joanna is a nurse practitioner, and
she will work with him and learn how to treat the villagers.  He told us a little about himself last night.  He is 23
years old.  In Brazil, they don't have to go to medical school as long as we do in the United States.  This is his first
mission trip as a doctor.  Well, breakfast is almost served, and I certainly don't want to be late for that!  Tchau! - Bekah