My first adventure in the Amazon began in Lábrea, a town at the heart of the Purus River in the Amazon. Imagine facing an 8-hour journey on a bus with no air conditioning. The air was hot and stuffy, making it nearly impossible to sleep during the long trip. Each turn of the road seemed to increase our impatience to arrive.
Finally, we arrived in Lábrea. Exhausted but excited, we loaded our bags into the truck that would take us to the YWAM base, located at the edge of the majestic Purus River. From the base, we could see the immense river connecting various riverside communities.
We stayed at the base for about five days. During that time, one of our friends contracted a disease called amoeba, resulting in constant diarrhea and vomiting. The sight and smell were unbearable, and we were all worried. Fortunately, after an extra day of rest, he started to recover, and we could continue our journey.
With the boat loaded with food and luggage, we set off at high speed down the river in a motorboat. The choppy waters made the boat sway, and we had to balance carefully to avoid falling. We reached the first riverside community, but to get to the houses on top of the hill, we had to cross a narrow and slippery tree trunk. One misstep, and we could fall into the water.
When we reached the top, one of our teammates looked at her leg and saw it was covered in mosquito bites, some already bleeding. Despite the difficulties, there was a sense of accomplishment. At the end of our first day, with everyone safe and settled, I realized that the adversities were part of the journey, but overcoming them made the experience unforgettable.