Travel Journal - Day 2: "Lost in the Jungle!"
After getting into the Manaus airport a little behind schedule, I progressed through customs and met Tim on the other side. Since it was only 1:00 in the morning and we didn't have to catch the bus until 7:30, we decided to just hang out in the airport terminal and talk about Tim's previous week in Sao Paulo. I was happy to hear that he had a great experience; aside from familiarizing himself with the city and its poorer neighborhoods, he was also able to meet with another orphanage in Sao Paulo and had a productive meeting with a law firm (including a referral to a law professor in Manaus who could help us out).
By 5:00 AM we were anxious to get moving so we took a taxi to the bus station. It was just getting light so we got a nice view of the streets of Manaus during the 20 minute ride. To my surprise, it didn't look much different than cities in other developing countries.
Once at the bus station, we had a long wait which gave me my first up close view of the Brazilian people. My first impressions are that they seem to be a happy and somewhat carefree people by nature. Children are everywhere and dressed in bright, bold colors. The adults also take pride in their attire, displaying much fashion and flair (in fact, sometimes it's hard to tell what economic background people are from because they all look so bright and modern in their clothing).
Two hours after arriving at the station, it was finally time to board the bus for Itacoatiara. Although I'd hoped to get a good view of the countryside during the three hour trip, I was fast asleep as soon as I settled into my seat. I only woke up for a quick pit stop at a roadside cafe, then was out again until we arrived at our destination.
In Itacoatiara, we caught a taxi from the bus stop to the shore of the Amazon where we had to board a boat for Urucurituba. Being on the shore of the Amazon was an amazing experience! The river was so incredibly big, and we were only looking at a small portion of it. We scaled down the bank of the river to the ferry and then we balanced on some precariously placed planks of wood to get out to the boat. Being on the water was a welcome relief; the light breeze helped cool us off, and Tim bought some homemade guarana juice to help. It was also great seeing the waterfront from a boat; it just gave me a better backdrop for observing and understanding the culture of Amazon life.
Within an hour of shoving off, we arrived at our destination, Uricutatuba. This little town is only accessible by boat so there were a lot of people waiting at the shore for their loved ones to arrive. After unloading our packs, we climbed the steep river bank, then fought our way through the crowds of people. As we began walking down the street to the church where we were staying, one of the locals approached us and asked if we were the ones who had come to talk to the mayor about the orphanage. It was such an awesome feeling to know that people in the town were already familiar with our desire to start an orphanage there.
Once we arrived at the church property, we found our way into the home of the local missionary couple (they let us use their house while they're back in the states on furlough). As we began to unpack and get settled, we realized that the Brazilian pastor had already left for the Thursday evening service at another satellite church in the jungle. Since this was something that Tim really wanted to attend, we got in touch with one of the church members, Sr. Antonio, and he offered to guide us on the 15 mile trek through the jungle. We quickly loaded up our packs for an overnight trip, then caught a taxi (motorbike) to the shore of Rice Lake. Sr. Antonio met us there and we all boarded a small wooden canoe for the trail head on the opposite side of the lake.
The beginning of the hike took us through miles and miles of open land where the locals grow crops and graze animals, but as soon as we turned off the main path and onto a small jungle trail, things started getting really beautiful! The dense rainforest blocked out the heat from the sun and filled the air with sounds of wildlife. In fact, we saw many flocks of green parrots and even a few macaws! (Hiking through the jungle instantly reminded me of my childhood in the Santa Cruz Mountains.)
After two hours of enjoying the jungle by foot, the sun set and the jungle began getting darker. Everything started to look the same, as if we had already passed the same point before, however Sr. Antonio pressed on, making a turn here or crossing a creek there. Finally, it was completely black and our guide had to use a flashlight. Many times, Tim and I would think that it couldn't be much further, then Sr. Antonio would keep going for another half an hour without a word. Just when we thought we would never make it and would have to spend the night in the middle of the jungle, we saw lights in the distance. Upon rounding the next turn, we emerged out of the jungle and arrived at the church, just in time for the service to begin.
There were only about 10 adults and a handful of children in attendance at this rural church because it's dry season and the water from the Amazon had receded (during high water, people can take a boat right to the edge of the church property). It was neat to see this structure because Tim and a group from his church in Washington helped construct it last year. Now, the facility gets regular use and until a recent burglary, even had a generator to provide light and power for an occasional video.
The service was hard to follow, even for Tim who knows some Portuguese, but it was still a neat experience seeing this body of believers gather together in such a rural place. (It wasn't a full 15 mile hike for the church members, but many did have to walk a long ways to get there). At the end of the service, everyone personally greeted us and wished us a good night. We were even invited to dinner at someone's home, but Tim and I were so tired that we stayed behind while Pastor Alcideles and Sr. Antonio accepted the offer. In just a few short minutes, we set up our hammocks and were fast asleep, lulled by the sounds of the jungle (including some spooky sounding Howler Monkeys). It was a long day, considering I hadn't really slept in two days, but every minute of it was an incredible new experience that I'll always remember.

Watch your in-box for the next trip journal, "Approval from the Mayor!"