April 3, 2025

Before reading this blog, Please read my blog “Hope for Boca da Valeria” published on January 19th, 2024. It will provide context for this blog and have you learn why this community is so special to Chongae and I. You can read it by going back to Page 1.

We are so happy to be back in Boca da Valeria. This is a community that we support through our Hope for Today Charitable Fund, and we are thrilled to be able to continue our support.

First, we were inundated with the warm greeting of the community’s children, those beautiful children, as soon as we arrived. Boca da Valeria is a tiny village of about 100 people with about a dozen homes along with a church and a school. It seemed like the entire population of children came out to see us. There was one particular little boy who immediately drew close to me and wanted to be front and center with me. I didn’t understand why until after we departed.

As we arrived later than last year, we could see that the Amazon River was already beginning to rise. This may require that the community leave their homes and move upstream until the tides subdue. In addition to the inconvenience of this uprooting it also makes it difficult for the men in the community to catch the Brazilian catfish which is a stable of their diet. In spite of these difficulties, the people remained happy.

Children love pets and as there are no dogs or cats in Boca da Valeria the children were proud to run into their homes and come back donning their ceremonial head dresses with their pets-friendly sloths!

As we were preparing to leave Boca da Valeria, I sat to take a final picture with some children when the boy in yellow who had been holding very close to me during most of the day came and stood directly in front of me. I couldn’t help but take his picture.

When I was preparing to write this blog, I went back to my blog of last year when we first visited Boca da Valeria (the blog I recommended you read) and there it was. When we were leaving Boca de Valeria last year Chongae took a departing photo with a few of the children. Look who is standing in the front, my boy in yellow.

I was so sad that I didn’t remember him and as I don’t speak Portuguese, I don’t even know his name. Yet, I was so happy that he has grown taller, let his hair grow longer and still exhibited a calming self-confidence. I was also happily pleased that perhaps he remembered me and that our support and visit has somehow touched his life.

Regardless of the fact if he remembers me or not, I will not forget him. Until God willing, we meet again.

Thanks for traveling with us.