Medical mission trip with FAME, July 2014

1. Medical
Mission Trip
to Amazonia
Lyle and Cheryl Kurth

2. 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.

3. 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.

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

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

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

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

10. Village homes—note
the electric lines and
satellite dish.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. Small grocery store
that served as the
“waiting room” for
our first clinic.

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

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

18. Inside the store—seedling
plants and variety of market
items.

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

20. Lyle was enamored with the
Brazilian children; their big,
beautiful eyes and shy smiles.

21. 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!

22. 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.

23. 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).

24. Fresh fruit and
fruit juice was a
staple at every
breakfast.

25. 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

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. Parking lot at the church and at the boat.

30. Life on the Amazon
Young children
travel alone in
small boats.
The clothes were hung on the
line while standing in a boat.

31. 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!

32. 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

33. Travelling in style

34. Meal preparation

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

36. 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.

37. 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.

38. 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.

40. 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!

41. 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.

42. 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.

43. Another busy clinic day

44. Reality check

45. 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.

46. 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.

47. Yellow school boat transporting
children to school.

48. The CBM Amazonia crew announcing our
arrival via the motor boat.
The waiting area and playground next door.

49. 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.

50. 26 day old infant
with pneumonia,
presented for
follow-up.

51. Open water allowed
for a little test drive.
There was a lot of
play in the wheel and
the current was
surprisingly strong.

52. 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.

53. Motor boats and cargo ships
share the river, near Manaus.
Floating gas station off
the coast of Manaus.

54. 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.