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.

 
This afternoon I visited a young man named Tadeu and his family. I have known them for a couple of years, they come and ask for food every once in a while. They had moved, and I wasn't sure where they were living, so when he came by today and asked for money for medicine, I went with him to his house. His mom has 8 kids, some of them are studying, but Tadeu isn't. They really have a difficult situation, and I am not even sure where to start to try to help them. Their well isn't done yet and they don't have the money to finish it, so they have to ask neighbors for water. They don't even have an outhouse, and have to go to the neighbor's house to use the bathroom for big jobs.

I mean, I can't even help them with seeds for a garden until they have water, and I couldn't think of helping them raise chickens because they don't have a wall up around their property and someone would steal all the chickens, or they would end up eating them more likely because they are hungry. It is a really desperate situation. I have been giving them fish, but have not taught them how to fish. I even loaned him a fishing pole once, but he took it and sold it. Lord, give me wisdom and discernment, so I could know how best to help those that are the poorest of the poor.

I went and visited Albino tonight. He said he hasn't been drinking at all, since last Sunday the 17th. That is really good news. He doesn't know how to read, but I gave him a Bible anyways, and suggested that he get someone to read to him. I also prayed that God would open his mind, that he could learn to read through studying the Bible. He said that he would be there at church this Sunday.

I visited Ronaldo too. He said that he is still reading his Bible every day. He was telling me that there was a shooting last night right in front of his house. He said that he would be at church also this Sunday.

My brother-in-law, Jó, has Dengue Fever, really got a bad case of it, I stopped by tonight to see how he was doing. It is pretty horrible. He is getting better though, now on day five or so. Should be up and around in a couple of days.

Last night, one street away from where we are building our house, eight armed men entered the Assembly of God church, put the people that live on the property on the ground, and stole everything.

Lord Jesus, release your Spirit here in this place, that Your word would go forth in power, and this city, this poor lost city, could be won for Christ! Come Lord!
posted by Eduardo Buck at Thursday, August 28, 2003