Our day started on the boat with a time of devotion and worship—such a great way to refocus before stepping into the day’s work.
Visiting Sagrado
Today, we visited Sagrado, a small Amazon village with about 80 families. Many of these families had as many as 15 kids. It’s hard to imagine the challenges they face daily, but we were here to serve however we could.
Morning: Serving in Optical
I spent the first half of the day working in Optical, helping distribute reading glasses. With the help of our translator, we’d first talk to each person to understand how poor eyesight was affecting their daily lives.
• Many women shared that they could no longer sew, which is critical for their families.
• Many men struggled with farming or fishing because they couldn’t see well enough to do their work.
Once we understood their needs, we helped them find the right strength of readers. The most common prescription was 1.25x. After that, they got to choose from a bin of glasses in their strength—men typically preferred simple, solid-rim styles, while women enjoyed all kinds of designs.
Before they left, we asked if we could pray for them. They were incredibly grateful—not just for the glasses but for being heard and cared for.
A Special Lunch for the Village
For lunch, we bought the village a whole cow (fair warning—some photos might be a little graphic). It arrived in pieces on a flat-bottom boat, and the villagers quickly got to work butchering and preparing it. Meanwhile, the cooks from our boat made huge portions of rice and beans to go with it. It was a meal for the entire village, and it was amazing to see everyone come together to share it.
Afternoon: Teaching and Worship
After lunch, we split into groups for men, women, and teens. My buddy led a powerful discussion with the men about turning your life around and not looking back.
Just like the day before, we ended with worship and handed out food packs to the families. It’s hard to put into words how much these moments mean—not just to those we’re serving but to us as well.
Every day here is a reminder of how much we take for granted and how much joy there is in simply showing up, listening, and serving.
Chuck in the Jungle 