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.

 
During the Carnival season, which literally means festival of the
flesh, we held our first Vineyard Camp, Cristovál, a festival of
Christ. It was such a blessing! Thanks to each one of you that held
us, and the camp, up in prayer. We had Chris and Susanne Donaldson,
YWAM leaders from New Zealand giving the talk the first night and the
next morning, and Steve and Elba Dolan from Altamira giving the rest
of the talks. The presence of God was so real. We are still
receiving feedback, and trying to gather the testimonies of what God
did in the lives of those that went. So many of those that went to
the camp are now excited and wanting to get involved in ministry. It
seems that God has used the ministry and preaching to breathe new life
into the church. We had various people accept Christ, and many
reconcile and rededicate their lives to Christ. We had 57 adults and
kids at the camp, as well as another 15 that came out to hear one of
the talks or visit the camp. (Please note: the original prayer letter had a wrong figure of 47- the actual number was 57, and 15 visiting.)

The food was good, and there was abundance. The last night of the
camp we had an "Israel Night". We killed a sheep and had a
barbecue, and everyone put sheets on their heads, and danced and
danced. It was such a joyful, happy time! See photos on our site,
www.holylamb.com

Regina just shared her testimony at church. She got home from the
camp to find that her husband had locked her and the children out of
the house. They managed to get in through the back door, but when her
husband got home, he started yelling at her that she served satan, and
she needed to get a lawyer because he was going to divorce her. She
started sharing some of what God had done, and some of the teachings
that Elba had given, and her husband started crying and asked
forgiveness, and said that she can go to church whenever she wants!
She shared that God had used the camp, not only to change and
transform her, but to transform her home also. God is so good.

The biggest complaint that we received about the camp was that it was
too short, only three days. People are already asking when we will
have the next camp. The best thing is that it seems that lives have
been truly transformed, which is what we had asked you guys to pray
for. Thanks!

We have another praise report. Right after we sent out the last
letter asking for prayer for Hannah and Raquel's health, right
away, they both got better. That is no coincidence. That is a God thing.

The construction has progressed beautifully, we are really happy with
the way things have been coming along. We are currently out of
resources though, and don't have enough to continue the
construction. Please pray with us that God would provide everything
that we need to finish the house soon. I put some photos up on the
site at www.holylamb.com if you want to see where the construction
currently is.

Another thing we would like prayer for, our computer is giving us
problems. The monitor is going bad also, and must be replaced. Our
computer is so important to us in our communication. It is really
hampering our ability to use digital photos, and get out letters.
Please pray that God would provide us with a new computer.

We would like prayer for the modern travesty called the IRS also. Our
accountant has said that he has never seen anything like what we are
going through, they loose forms, claim they never got them, demand
them to be resent, ignore the power of attorney, in short, acting like
the IRS Gestapo. Our accountant, Chris, asked for prayer because it
is sure looks like a spiritual battle. Please pray for us, but also
pray that the American people would just get rid of the IRS Gestapo
altogether. Perhaps it is time for a Tea Party?

Thanks so much for praying for us, and for the work here. Please
continue your prayers as we work together to bring the gospel to the
Amazon! Pray that the good work that God began at the camp would
continue at the church, and that God's Spirit would move in power
on our congregation.
posted by Eduardo Buck at Saturday, February 26, 2005