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.

 
Newton Guerra and I (Eduardo Buck Schmidt) just went to the Intervinha 2004 in Brasilia. It was actually held about two hours away, in a place called Cocalzinho, at the Hotel Cabana de Pirenes (or something close to that :-)

We had a great time. What a pleasure it was to meet other pastors from around Brazil and the United States, and Fernando Mora from Venezuela. To me the best part of the whole experience was the opportunity to meet with and share ideas with like-minded people, to share vision, to spur one another on to good works, to rub shoulders with those like Steve Nicholson, someone that I have long respected and studied church planting techniques through tape ministry.

The setting was just beautiful. Our room was literally right on the lake. This is the view from our room.

There were many neat things that caught my eye, like this wheel of an old cart.

This is Fernando Mora, from Venezuela, and Mark Fields, from the US.

My friend Ricardo Costa is developing an online study course for the Vineyard Brazil, and here he is showing us his presentation. From left to right seated, Richie Bouthilier, Ricardo Costa, Eduardo Schmidt, standing behind is Newton Guerra.

"And you are inviting us to come and visit you on the Amazon?" Manga, Boris, and Newton are looking over Richie's shoulder, to see the photos of the snake that ate a man in Altamira.

Newton, Richie, Boris, Eduardo, and Clenildo.

Joe, Newton, Steve Nicholson, Celso, and Eduardo.

Marcos and Newton standing, Fernando Mora, Joe, and Jason seated.

Roger Williams, Steve Nicholson, Mark Fields, and Fernando Mora pray for the four that were selected coordinators for the Vineyard Brasil. The four coordinators are, Elba Nolan, Bebeto, Celso (am I spelling your name right?), and Milton Lucas.

Praying for and blessing the coordinators.

Praying for the team in Altamira, officially made Vineyard now, Igreja da Vinha.

Roger Williams, Eduardo Buck Schmidt, and Steve Nicholson.

Lincoln, a very courageous guy to live in Rio!

If there are errors in spelling, please let me know! Se tem erros por favor me avisa!

posted by Eduardo Buck at Sunday, June 20, 2004