Happy to introduce myself- I’m Ben Mathes, retired Presbyterian clergy who spent 42 years in the jungles of around 27 countries. For 17 years, I helped to provide people, money, and stuff for Presbyterian mission hospitals. At the age of 40, I started ROW, Rivers of the World. For the next 25 years, travelled very remote jungle rivers from off the Amazon to Zaire ( Now DRC).
Our goal was to ask folks, “what’s the toughest thing about living here, and what do you want to do about it? It’s your country, your people, your tribe, but it can be our problem!”
To us, the Amazon (or the Congo) was the interstate. We were looking for dirt roads like the Yavari, Sankuru, Lulua etc. loved every minute of it! About 1000 volunteers annually on ships in safer locales…
Of course we dealt with traditional Christian missionary work, but you also found us on Discovery In Britain for our work with entomopathogenic bacteria in the Loreto region of Peru. “Blade” magazine ran stories on the knives we carried. I did 800 specials on the KLOVE radio network. “The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene” reported on our efforts with Onchocerciasis in Congo. Schools used our “Lessons From the Forests” audio and print series for morning character development lessons. And most every Sunday I was in a pulpit somewhere!
This is way more than you needed- basically I just couldn’t get past my Land Cruiser being a hybrid, so went with the Grenny! I’ve kept my 83 FJ40…just had to!
I’m K4BCM, and in retirement serve as a Chaplain with Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office here in Georgia! It’s a blessing to be a part of this group!! My very precious wife, JianHua, and I look forward to crossing paths with many of you!
Our goal was to ask folks, “what’s the toughest thing about living here, and what do you want to do about it? It’s your country, your people, your tribe, but it can be our problem!”
To us, the Amazon (or the Congo) was the interstate. We were looking for dirt roads like the Yavari, Sankuru, Lulua etc. loved every minute of it! About 1000 volunteers annually on ships in safer locales…
Of course we dealt with traditional Christian missionary work, but you also found us on Discovery In Britain for our work with entomopathogenic bacteria in the Loreto region of Peru. “Blade” magazine ran stories on the knives we carried. I did 800 specials on the KLOVE radio network. “The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene” reported on our efforts with Onchocerciasis in Congo. Schools used our “Lessons From the Forests” audio and print series for morning character development lessons. And most every Sunday I was in a pulpit somewhere!
This is way more than you needed- basically I just couldn’t get past my Land Cruiser being a hybrid, so went with the Grenny! I’ve kept my 83 FJ40…just had to!
I’m K4BCM, and in retirement serve as a Chaplain with Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office here in Georgia! It’s a blessing to be a part of this group!! My very precious wife, JianHua, and I look forward to crossing paths with many of you!
