Japura

Well Pam's prophecy was for more than me. Within 24 hours Robert was laid low two. Now after two days he's back on his feet and we are back touring round Manaus investigating the favelas or 'invasions' as they are called here. Its a rather complex situation that we in the North don't always grasp. There are differences too. Taruma where the little church was begun by Robert and one of his long standing converts was given to the people by the Prefecture. An 'invasion' is private land commandeered by an organised group, some who have property elsewhere, some genuinely homeless from the interior. They fight off the police to keep the land. When 12 thousnad people start building little shacks overnight its difficult for the authorities to prevent them! It usually happens around election time when politicians are anxious to curry favour with the voters!

Anyway tomorrow is my last full day in Manaus. Calvin and maybe Robert and I are heading inland to a place where there are caves and waterfalls, about 100 kilometres away. On Sunday I will go out to speak at Taruma church before I head to the airport, so the preacher won't need to be too long otherwise I will be in Manaus for some time to come. It will be nice to finish my visit with the little church there before I leave. I will be in Miami over the July 4th holidays so that should be intersting, heading home on Wednesday night, back on Thursday in London in the morning. So until I next get a chance to blog