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.

 
Hey, some of you may have sent me e-cards, but you may have noticed that I never opened them. I have just made it a matter of habit not to click on any link in an e-mail, and not to go to any e-card sites. I'm sorry if you are dissappointed, as I know that it may have taken some effort to create and send, but I have just decided that the risk isn't worth the cute cards. Check out this story to see how widespread is the mining of data through e-card scams.
posted by Eduardo Buck at Monday, September 25, 2006

 
One of the most exciting thing that has been happening lately is a big push for unity among pastors and churches. I have been taking part in the National Convention of Independant Evangelical Churches and Communities (or Convenção Nacional das Igrejas e Comunidades Evangélicas Independentes (Coniceib) as it is known in Portuguese). There are currently 38 different denominations taking part, and we are pleased to represent the Vineyard Church of Macapa in this push towards unity in the body. It has been a pleasure to get to know other brothers and sisters, to solidify relationships with other pastors, and to see God moving in His body. This week there is a pastors communion on Monday, then a three day conference on unity in the Body and called "Winning Cities", and finally a concert by one of the best (in my opinion) worship leaders in Brazil, David Quinlan. Join me in prayer for Macapa, for reconciliation, for more unity, and for revival! Lord, pour out your Spirit!

Here is one of the meetings of the National Convention of Independant Evangelical Churches and Communities.

posted by Eduardo Buck at Sunday, September 24, 2006

 
Nicolas really liked this moth.




Checkmate! As part of their home schooling, I have been trying to play chess with the kids daily. Hannah and Raquel have both beaten me, and I don't let them win. They have both gotten quite good, and I sure can't hope to win if I don't concentrate and play the best I can. Nicolas just loves to try to imitate us, and acts like he is playing too.


posted by Eduardo Buck at Sunday, September 24, 2006

 
I love this photo. The tension of the hungry lizard, and the beauty of the butterfly. Who will be around tomorrow to tell the story of this encounter, the lizard or the butterfly or both? Is the butterfly even aware that death is stalking him, that there are those whose intention is to kill him? Or is he like many today completely oblivious that there is an enemy stalking him, that wishes him dead?

posted by Eduardo Buck at Saturday, September 23, 2006

 
Check out these fish! They told me they were Dourado when I bought them, though I wouldn't know if it was or not. I know that they were good, and we ate on them for quite a while. One of the fringe benefits of living on the Amazon.

posted by Eduardo Buck at Friday, September 22, 2006

 
Finally, after years of planning and dreaming, our water filter ministry is one step closer to being realized. One of the big problems here is with parasites, worms and ameoba, and all kinds of nasty water borne illnesses. With this mold, we can begin to make concrete biosand filters, which can virtually eliminate these problems. Our friends, the Staubs, helped bless us with this filter mold which came from PAZ in Santarem. What a blessing! We pray that we could soon get it up and operating, that God would be glorified through this filter ministry, and that people would see the love of God through this very practical ministry of providing clean and healthy drinking water. We sure appreciate your prayers, that God would raise up the right person to take this ministry to where it needs to go.

posted by Eduardo Buck at Friday, September 22, 2006

 
We went to the September 7th celebration that was here close to us. September 7th is the Brazilian Independance day. There were the normal amount of politicians trying to get recognition, but the kids really liked seeing the soldiers marching by. Even though I am an American, I felt a certain pride in seeing the military marching by. I have really come to love Brazil, and feel pride in the accomplishments of this, my adopted home. It makes me happy to see free, democratic countries flourishing. Please join me in praying for Brazil, that Brazil would continue to enjoy religious freedom, and that justice would begin to prevail. May God pour out His Spirit on this place, and raise up a people that are Holy and Righteous, people that will reflect the same mercy and grace that we receive from God.




This is Pastor Adernailton Sampaio, or Pastor Ton as they call him, praying for Bukola. He is the national director of Impact World Tour in Brazil.

posted by Eduardo Buck at Friday, September 22, 2006

 
We got to see our good friend, Bukola, who lives in England. It went too quick though. Here they had a going away party for her, and we all prayed for her.


Here is Bukola with Nicolas at our house.

Check out those shades!

posted by Eduardo Buck at Friday, September 22, 2006

 
It is ironic that the cults seem to have sufficient money for their deceit. The mormons bought half of a city block, and within a couple of months, they built a beautiful church, complete with grass and trees, and a white steeple. There are always lots of missionaries walking on the streets in their distinctive white shirts complete with big black name tag badges, witnessing and inviting people to church. So much devotion, and to a lie- young kids expected to give at least two years on the mission field serving a false religion.

Where is the passion, the devotion to truth, to God, that will cause His people to give up or postpone their own plans to dedicate time to the mission field to tell people about the real Jesus? Lord, raise up workers for the harvest!

There is another cult here, the army of redemption, and they have been buying buildings and properties to continue teaching reincarnation and complete subservience to their general, some old dude with a funky uniform that everyone must salute and grovel before. The list goes on, the teachers of voodoo and spiritism have buildings and trainings, and speakers coming in to do conferences.

It is sometimes hard to understand why false prophets prosper, why do they seem to have unlimited funds, when God’s people often have to eek by, praying and fasting, and sharing the vision, and praying some more, and waiting and praying. I know that I am not the first to wonder about this, the Bible is full of the question of why the wicked prosper.

It is not only financial support though. I mean, where are the young men and women of God that are willing to come as short term or long term missionaries, and reach out to the street kids, to the drug addicts and prostitutes, to teach english to young kids, to evangelize and pray and help bring God’s kingdom here to Macapa? Lord, raise men and women, fully Yours, humble servants to come and join us in the work here in Macapa, so that we can plant healthy reproducing churches, and that Your Name would be glorified here on the earth.
posted by Eduardo Buck at Saturday, September 16, 2006