OJ and the Amazon!

Three weeks ago We received with open arms our FIRST and ONLY guests from the United States.  Presenting...

Orlando and Jessica Martinez! (OJ)

For those of you who don't know this fantastic duo, they live in Arlington, MA and are part of the Boston Portuguese congregation.  Orlando is serving as an elder there and they are both pioneering together as of this year!  When we lived on Martha's Vineyard, Orlando lived in Arlington but would travel to the island on the weekends to support the Portuguese group.  In time he met Jessica who is from MV but was living on the Cape and supporting the Hyannis Portuguese congregation.  Happily as time went on our lives got all intertwined and a  friendship blossomed :)  Then before we knew it, they were here with us in Brazil!

After a day of post-traveling-recovery and a quick trip to the beach, we got busy in the work.  Orlando and Ben were able to do several shepherding calls to encourage the friends who will be left here to care for the congregation.  Orlando gave a public talk, Jessica and I did a demonstration and a special local needs was prepared by Orlando.  The friends were so encouraged by their visit - of only one week mind you - that a few cried when they left!

Jess preaching to two little boys who approached our car.    Orlando, "the loving elder" they called him.

But of all the good and kind things they did and accomplished, nothing tops what they did for Ben and me:

They made Gin and Tonics possible!! Thanks for the Gin guys. 

Well before they left us for a week to go see other friends in other parts of Brazil, we all headed to get our yellow fever vaccinations...

      

...because a week later we met them in the Amazon!!  We had an incredible few days touring and swimming in the Rio Negro.  Here's a few pics from our trip:

Anavilhanas Lodge.  A series of pretty, quaint cabins built into the river's coastline.  All-inclusive, complete with two personal guides and an hour by hour itinerary.  I called the it "adult camp".

Raise your hand if you knew there were Pink Fresh Water Dolphins:

These guys were ridiculously cute and SOFT.  I totally lost it.  I got so excited over them my voice took on an unusually high pitch and twice I almost cried.  It was embarrassing for all of us.  Moving on..

It's the rainy season in the Amazon.  The water levels were up 24ft!  This photo is the top of a tree.

 

   An ant-house.                      An anaconda look-alike.            Our canoes.

A vine climb.

We also saw a small poisonous snake, a massive and hairy tarantula, a sloth, baby alligators and ate a large grub that tasted like coconut.  You think we got pics of ANY of that?  Nope.  However...   

5:30am sunrise on the Rio Negro was captured.

Happy tourists :)