Amazon 2000
"Going Fishing in the Amazon"
by: Cathy Gordon - Team Leader

We caught over 50 first time believers for Jesus.  Mercy & Truth Medical Missions hosted a medical team of 23 people from Kansas, Missouri, Virginia, Colorado and South Carolina on an outreach to the Amazon River region of Peru.  The team left from Kansas City on March 25, 2000 for a weeklong adventure on the Amazon and Nanay rivers searching for souls to win in Jesus’ name. 

Upon arrival in Iquitos, the team boarded a riverboat bound for the Amazon and Nanay rivers to promote wellness, treat health problems, and share Jesus Christ with as many people possible.  Despite long red eye flights, dry docked river boats and scourging temperatures team leader, Sue Funk, RN guided the team through adventurous days of clinic, safari, cultural sensitivities and new areas of the world, as they treated approximately 500 patients, and prayed with 59 first time believers in Jesus Christ.  Many team members had fun casting lines into the river to lure exotic fish such as piranha, but they had more fun making friends among the Peruvians.

Parasites, dehydration and malaria were the most commonly treated aliments.   Observing the needs of the Amazonians clients, the team focused their time at teaching prevention and treatment of Malaria, dehydration and cleanliness.  In addition, special times were set aside to teach hand washing as well as tooth care.  Each child received a toothbrush and toothpaste donated by Shawnee dentist Dr. Russ Wismer. 

Team members included were:

Cathy & Emily Gordon, Sue Funk, Lucy Silk, Melinda Myer, Terry Busch, Barbara Kulenski, Arlene, Laura Deware, Ted and Glenda Stearns, Chris Jens, Sue Wilson, Dot Bergman, Laura McCoy, Betty Noel, Susan Cruz, John Hettinga, Joe & Karen DiCostanzo, Laverne Carbajo, Mark Ogle and John Murphy.

Mercy and Truth hosts teams to multiple developing countries of the world to promote health and wellness.  Both medical and non-medical persons are welcome to join a Mercy & Truth outreach.  Mercy & Truth Medical Missions is a Christian based non-profit organization desiring to share health care and the gospel of Jesus Christ with those whom have never heard.  For more information please call (913)248-9965. or info@mercyandtruth.com