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 recently baptized four people. We also were able to organize and legalize the church under Brazilian law. This is a huge blessing. Thanks so much for your prayers.

We have had some very close calls in the vehicle, people almost hitting us, which always makes me grateful to know that people are praying for us and our safety.

On a recent trip to Cutias, a four hour drive which was an exhilarating four wheel driving experience through mud and water, we encountered a village full of children near Cutias. Luciene asked them if there was any church in their village. There once had been a Catholic church, but a tornado destroyed it they replied. A whole village full of people without one church. Please pray with us that God will raise up workers for the harvest!

We just got back from a week of traveling to InterVinha, the national meeting of Vineyard leaders from all over Brazil, which was held in Altamira this year. It was so good to see old friends, and make new friends. For the first time I was able to take the whole family, and we all enjoyed ourselves immensely. The kids were excited to be speaking English and playing with so many other children.

One bittersweet thing that has happened recently is that we sent out our first missionary out from Vineyard Macapá. Mayla Andrade went to YWAM about four months ago, and will be finishing up her training next month. She feels lead to follow her lifelong dream of missions. While it is hard to see one your best leave, it is such a blessing to see the kingdom of God going forth. Please pray for her, that she could raise the support she needs to continue serving God on the mission field. And please pray that this would be the first of many, that many others would be sent out from here to serve the Lord all over the world!

Prayer Requests
1. That God would raise up workers for the harvest (Luke 10:2b).
2. That Vineyard Macapá would have an eternal impact in advancing the Kingdom of God.
3. That our health and dental needs would be met.
4. That God would provide the finances we need to pay the vehicle off. We only owe 10 more payments but are in danger of loosing it because we are behind.
5. That Mayla would be able to raise the monthly support she needs to continue serving God on the mission field.
6. Blessings for those that pray for us and support us.


InterVinha 2008 in Altamira


We saw old friends...


...and made new friends.


The place was surrounded by beautiful flowers.


We took a cattle barge, which was a new experience for us. (Please, if you are a social worker, please don't write about how dangerous this was, especially if you are my mom or one of my sisters :-)


The kids liked to watch the cattle.


Manga helping to do worship. Manga is a famous singer here in Brazil, as well as a Vineyard pastor.


Eduardo, Luciene, and Nicolas with our friend Manga.


The place, Recanto Cardoso, was beautiful, but not as beautiful as Luciene.


Praying for the leaders of the Vineyard in Brazil.


The kids had a blast. Mud, swimming, slides, various ponds and pools, good food, speaking English- they just loved it.


Josiah, full of mud.

Labels: cattle barges on the Amazon, InterVinha, prayer requests, sending out missionaries

posted by Eduardo Buck at Tuesday, May 27, 2008