On the 28th of February 2001, Buck and Luciene moved to the Amazon Basin of Brazil. We lived in Macapá, right on the equator. Why would a web designer give up his career and take his family from their comfortable life in Columbus, Ohio, USA, to live on the Amazon River? We came with a vision to save the Amazon, to tell people about Jesus, and plant a Vineyard church. We have planted a church, and we are turning it over to the national leaders, heading back to the States in Sept. 2009.

 
The sun hurts. Any breeze hurts. Dust can just about bring you to your knees. There is an epidemic right now of conjunctivitis here in northern Brazil. At least I think that is what they call it in English. Red swollen eyes, very contagious, very painful. We all got it, but I got it the worst.



Only those that have had it can truly understand the pain. For those of you that don’t understand it, I hope you never do.



I went to the emergency room yesterday, on a Sunday. My eyes were so swollen and sore that I thought that they would burst. There was no eye doctor person on duty. So then I went to a local health clinic, so I could at least see a doctor. They gave me some really good injection for pain, gave me an emergency admittance for the public hospital for Monday, and sent me home.

I went to the public hospital today. They said it was full, to return after 7pm. And I got that quick response because I had an emergency admittance from the health clinic. So I decided to shell out the money, and went to a private eye doctor. She gave me some medicine, and wiped down everything I had touched with alcohol. Ten days she told me to be a hermit, to stay home, cancel all activities.

I have been told so many home remedies. Eye wash with water and lime. Now that hurt. One guy told me today to make a solution of laundry soap and water, and it will take care of it. Another guy told me that there is nothing better for this than a person's own urine, just splash it in your eyes. I have had my fill of home remedies, and I think I will pass on that advice and stick with what the expensive doctor told me. Have been through three different medicines. This last one was expensive, and seems to be helping. But what has seemed to help ease the pain the most, other than that shot of course, is cold compresses.

posted by Eduardo Buck at Monday, June 02, 2003