August 14, 2008

Dear Friends and Family,

One of the two boats that the team of 33 people used to carry out the three-day clinic at Parauá.

Our trip to the Amazon was very good again this year, in spite of my bad health. The group from Florida arrived in Manaus on August 4, and we went directly to the World Vision boat that housed us for the trip. The next morning more dentists, doctors, nurses, missionaries, and volunteers joined us. We were 33 altogether, and so we also had to travel on the “Royal Banner,” the boat that belongs to the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil.

We arrived at Parauá, a small river community on an island on the Amazon River late that afternoon and set up for three days. The original plan was to utilize Parauá’s health post building, but it was not open for us, so the first day, one of the leaders of that community, Sabá, let us use his home as a clinic for the doctors. The dentists and the pharmacy were set up at a small school building next to his house.

Fabio, Sunghee and Rhanda chose the most needed treatment for this girl.

The local doctors and dentists worked very hard for the next three days, only one morning was slower. All medication previously received as donations, was given out free. After a couple of days, one of the nurses wondered why the population was receiving a certain medication, paracetamol. I explained to her that because of the dengue fever, the government warned those who suspected they had it to avoid taking aspirin, as the most serious type of dengue causes hemorrhage and can lead to death. The recommended drug was paracetamol, which we were providing for the population.

Three girls from waiting to see one of the volunteer doctors who were part of the medical team to Parauá, a small river community on an island on the Amazon River.

During the three days, most of the group from Florida helped me take care of the children. We told them about God, Jesus, and about following him. The kids really enjoyed the instruments Betty Ann brought them. We marched around tables, in a room kindly supplied by the Catholic Church. We also used the Catholic Church building for the doctors on the second and third days.

On Thursday evening we held a service outdoors. There were testimonies by Kathy and Maria. Rev. Licurgo, an old timer evangelist and preacher, delivered the good news, and our medical doctor, Dr. Sílvio, played the guitar and led the singing. Some people later came forward for prayer.

We left on Saturday, tired but very happy to have seen the Amazon and some of its beautiful scenery and people. As I came home I prayed for those who could only get part of what they needed in terms of health care. We are grateful for the Amazon Program of the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil, which together with Mission Aviation Fellowship and World Vision, keeps visiting the communities and doing good because of God's love. Thank you for supporting me and this ministry.

Marta Carriker

The 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 276