This was not the post I expected to be writing!
We are now back in Manaus because this morning Peter slipped coming out of the shower in his room and partially broke his left femur, near the hip joint.
This dramaticaWe are separated by so much, but love for a common Saviour gives us love for each other. I have never felt as close to complete strangers!lly altered the day we had plannedand the week ahead.
We were due to visit a Marajo Indian community today but our plans were not God's plans.
Peter's accident couldn't have happened at a worse time on our trip because of the remoteness of Ãlvaraes.
We managed to get him into the back of a pickup truck and then to the local version of a hospital where he was given some painkillers by a lovely nurse and a very dodgy looking Peruvian doctor.
I dashed back to our hotel with the local pastor and threw all our things into our suitcases, then we started the difficult journey back to Manaus, which is the nearest modern hospital.
Peter was put into the back of the pickup truck on a stretcher and we were driven to the sandy beach on the edge of lake Tefè, where a number of local men manhandled the stretcher onto a speedboat we had managed to charter.
The nurse kindly accompanied us on the bumpy 20 minute ride across lake Tefè where we were met by an ambulance driver who seemed to think he was in rally car!
Peter was taken to Tefè hospital, which was a little more advanced than the one in Ãlvaraes. Here his hip was x-rayed and it became clear what the problem was. The doctor bound up his leg and waist so that it couldn't move and we started to think about what to do next.
The words of Psalm 61 came to mind and seemed so appropriate as we prayed together for God's wisdom and help:
'Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.' (Ps 61:1-2)
We were at the ends of the earth, our hearts fainting, needing God's help, wisdom and presence.
The psalmist feels overwhelmed by his situation - like a drowning man. And so he prays for help outside of himself. He prays for a place of safety and security: for a rock on which he can stand that is above the things that threaten to overwhelm him.
It is a wonderful image of the safe position of the person who is trusting in God. As we see this psalm through the lens of the New Testament we also see that the rock is Jesus. In him we are secure no matter what life throws at us.
The doctor said Peter needed to get to Manaus hospital where the facilities were much better. So we decided to explore our transport options.
I tried to ring the claims number on Peter's travel insurance only to be greeted by a very polite answering phone message telling me that the opening hours of the office were 9am-5pm Mon-Fri!
There was no space for a stretcher on the afternoon commercial flight out of Tefè so we decided we had no option but to charter a plane. Andrew had a Christian contact in Manaus who agreed to buy the ticket for us so that we didn't have to scrabble around maxing out our credit cards to raise the 5,000 reais (about £1,500) needed.
Another hairy ambulance ride later we arrived at Tefè airport and boarded the 5-seater twin propeller plane that would get us to civilization and treatment.
There is a verse in the Bible that says: 'As for God, his way is perfect.' (Ps 18:30).
It takes faith to believe that in the sort of situation we were facing. However we were to see the amazing providence of God, and the love of his people, in the hours that followed.
After the two hour flight to Manaus, we were greeted on the runway tarmac by an ambulance and by one of the pastors from the large Baptist church here: Pastor Paulo.
It turns out that a member of the church knows the secretary of the state. A quick phone call and the ambulance was arranged.
We experienced a similar providence when we got to the hospital. Another church member knows the secretary of health. A quick phone call and the necessary surgery has been booked for the earliest possible opportunity: Monday morning.
The doctor has told us that it is not advisable for Peter to travel due to his injury. He has said that the break needs to be pinned and then the leg put in a brace. After this operation he then needs to wait 3 days before travelling home.
The upshot if this is that we will not be returning to the UK on Wednesday as we expected. Depending when the op is done and how our flights get rearranged, the earliest we are likely to be back is Friday.
Andrew is due to fly back on Wednesday. His dad is still very poorly following his stroke. Please pray for him and the family in all this.
However God has provided for us even in this.
When we were in Tefè we got to know a British couple called Jason and Andrea Murfit, who work with river people in this area. They have offered to act as our translators when Andrew returns. Their 9 year old daughter Lucy attends school in Manaus 2 days per week, so they have accomodation here and know the city.
The care and love shown by the missionary community and local church here has been staggering and very humbling. It is yet another indicator of the supernatural unity that exists between believers in different countries.
Thank you to those who have prayed in response to the prayer link. We have really seen God answering your prayers.
Please praise God:
For his help in the complicated journey from Ãlvaraes to Manaus.
For the excellent medical care Peter is now receiving.
For the love and support of the believers here.
Please pray:
For Peter in hospital, that he would know God's peace.
That the op would happen on Monday and be a success.
For me as I liaise with the travel insurance people and
airlines to arrange our passage back to the UK when we are given the all clear.
I am also likely to be preaching tomorrow night at Dom Pedro church, please also pray for God's enabling to do this.
