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.

 
We sold the Volkswagen Bug. We barely got enough to cover the last repair bill. But we will have less headaches now. I think it was cursed for us. I hope the new owner has better luck. We have been doing a lot of walking. Spending a lot of time waiting for buses. I will probably buy a bicycle this week.

posted by Eduardo Buck at Thursday, September 23, 2004

 
Prayer Requests---------------------
- God's continuing provision and protection for our family.
- That God would raise up people to help Luciene in the children's ministry.
- Growth for the new church plants, and especially for faithful workers.
- Unity and teamwork among the church planting team.
- An increase in regular monthly support.
- God would raise up a worship team for our church and the new church plant.

Praise----------------------------
I was looking back over some of our past prayer letters, and I realized that I have not done as good a job as I could in keeping the praise reports coming. So many times, when we ask you guys to pray for us, our prayers are answered, but we don't let you guys know,so that you may be encouraged.

The church is doing good, and the new plant in Novo Horizonte seems to be off to a good start. There has been a sweet Spirit at the Marco Zero church, a real sense of God's presence in the midst of battle. Thanks so much for lifting us up.

Suzane is doing better, she was back at home recently. This was a real miracle, as the doctors had said that she had almost no chance of survival. She is right now back in Belem for a couple of days to do some further procedures. Thanks so much for your prayers for her.

Marcos Gean Dias passed away on the 28th of August at 11 am. He was 18. He was diagnosed with rheumatic fever, which results from strept throat that is not treated. I did the funeral the next morning, on a Sunday. I would appreciate your continued prayer for his family. His dad, Adamar, will be preaching this Sunday at the Marco Zero church. What was really cool with Marcos Gean is that he had a dream, he saw an angel fighting with a monster, and the angel had to go get another angel to help. They defeated the monster, then came and sat on his window and looked right at him. They told him that his time had come. Marcos Gean then asked forgiveness from his dad for everything wrong he had done, and got his house in order. That has been a comfort to the family in their pain.

Finances and Transportation----------------------------
For the third time we had problems with the bank. I tried to make a withdrawal at an automatic teller, and it said that the process was canceled and I didn't get the cash, but the money was taken outof our account. This was everything that we had for bills and food for the rest of the month. We have been repeatedly shaken and tested in our faith.

We finally got the car fixed and running, and put a for sale sign in it. Please pray that it will keep running, and that someone will buy it and it will be a blessing for them. Also, that the Lord would provide some other transportation for us.

Construction----------------------------
After six months of being completely stopped we started construction on the house again. We are so happy. We are trying to complete at least one room in the house. We have been in our little one room efficiency now for one year, and want to have at least one room so that we can have a little more space and so that we can have people visit. We sure appreciate your prayers.

posted by Eduardo Buck at Thursday, September 16, 2004

 
We got the VW Bug today from the mechanic. It has been at the mechanics for a week, just for this last problem, redoing the motor. I came home, picked up the girls, took them to school, and on the way back, the wheel fell off again. Thank God I was going slow.

This is the second time that the wheel has fallen off.

I put "for sale" signs in it today. We are going to sell it. Or maybe trade it in for a bicycle.

posted by Eduardo Buck at Friday, September 10, 2004