September 22, 2002,

Dear E-mail Friends,

There’s been lots of water under the bridge—there is
no bridge over the Amazon that I know of—but a lot of
water has flown by Leticia since you last heard from
me.  No Daily Devotions.  I can give several causes
for the absence, each legitimate.

·    My computer has been mal-functioning.  As of yet, I
have not found a solution to the problem.  I must send
e-mails one by one.  I cannot pull up my address book.
·A more serious problem has developed at the same
time—my one good eye has gone bad!  Blood floaters
appeared on my right eye almost blinding me.  Usually,
they soon go away.  I have had special laser work done
on both eyes, but now this problem has become severe.
For many days, I wasn’t able to drive the four-wheeler
on the streets of Leticia or over the border to
Tabatinga. 

·    Typing has been next to impossible.  Diabetes has
crippled my fingers so that I am now typing with my
two index fingers.  Jean has to do any reading for me.
I’ve loved the research necessary for my daily
“Message of Encouragement” on my brother’s WWW
program:  Somebdycrs4U.com.  I have had to quit
reading and typing.

·    I have not been well physically for some time.  The
stresses of carrying on missionary work in three
countries are getting the best of us.  My sugar yo-yos
badly throughout the night, and both Jean and I suffer
the loss of sleep.  Please don’t mind my complaining.

I am renewing my work on another book entitled THE
ITINERANT MISSIONARY.  I have been writing these
chapters for many years.  Since these are all
collected on my computer, I have but to correct the
spelling and rearrange the chapters, poems and photos.
I feel this is something I can do. 

Jean has gone through a lot of pain with her sciatic
nerves.  Also her prosthetic hips have caused great
distress.  God is healing these difficulties so that
she is walking much better.  Keep us both in your
prayers.

Yours for the AMAZON OUTREACH,
Erwin and Jean Bourne
<Outreach_amazon@yahoo.com>