== News from Manaus ==

It's been a while since I have posted on our blog!
I hope you all have been well...
I write you today with a few updates on our ministry and news for 2012!
We had a couple of changes in the ministry and we are now moving forward and planning an amazing year of ministry.


Translators are very anxious for our great beginning of 2012!


We have reserved our boat for the year and its called TUCUNA - we are praying for God's leadership and protection upon us and our crew. 

              I know you want to see it, so please visit 

http://www.amazonnemo.com.br/pt/barco-hotel/index.php?var=tucuna

Our trip calendar you will find on are website www.amazonvisionministries.com under "Resources". Please notice the open dates and if you interested in leading a team contact us. Also, if you are desiring to come but your church is not coming, let me know as well and maybe we can plug you in one of our teams! :)

If you are on facebook follow us at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=51914987232 There you can leave comments on our wall, ask questions, post pictures from your past trip and interact with others that have been to the Amazon or are coming sometime. 

We are also on twitter: @AVM_BRAZIL

Stay connected and let 2012 come -- We are SO ready!

Blessings,

Sarah Castro

Amazon, Brazil.

sarah@avmbrazil.com

PALM BEACH ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY

Upon reflection of the trip I truly feel honored to have served the Lord and also very blessed to have met so many wonderful people. From patients to our mission families and translators on the boat, sailing down the Amazon River was an amazing experience and one I will never forget for the rest of my life.

...says Alba Medrano a team member from PBA - May 2011.

During their days in the Amazon they were able to visit three main communities being Trincheira, Darawuba e Careiro da Varsea. This team was in the Amazon for the first time in 2010 and they did an amazing job evangelizing and providing social assistance to the river people.

Most team members from their first trip came back in 2011 and it was an awesome trip. This trip was led by Angela Clauson and Marco Correa. They were able to assist over 300 people, had several activities for the kids in the community and Evangelized the areas they were able to reach.

Alba medrano was here for the first time this summer and she says that..

"Being born in another country other than the US, I definitely feel honored to serve those that we have met, because they remind me of what my own family has lived. We were only at the 3 sites for a few days, but in those days I feel like the world stopped leaving us, them, and the Lord guiding us to heal both medically and s

piritually. It is very fulfilling to use a gift that we have been given to help others.

Another thing that I remember that always brings a smile to my face is the children.

The children and babies I encountered during this trip were absolutely beautiful. Having a 2 ½ year old brother, it was great to spend time with them, whether it was playing with beach balls/jump ropes or thru sharing the Bible with them it was always refreshing to spend time with them. A child’s face always offers a symbol of hope and of happiness.

I know that I cannot change the life of people with just a few days, but I know that we can make a difference. With this mission trip, I know that my faith is strengthened and that my passion for the mission field has grown. I hope that the Lord is with me in my life so that I can once again be privileged to meet other brothers and sisters of ours that need our help, not only medically, but spiritually, and in all aspects of life."

[[ That is her story... come write your own! :) ]]

Please pray for people and leaders in Careiro da Varzea.

Living it,

Sarah Castro

AVM Missions Coordinator

Amazon, Brazil.

[[ Summer -- BUSY BUSY! ]]

What an amazing summer so far!!!

I am sorry for the lack of updates on our blog for the past couple of months, but we had several teams here in the Amazon and things got very busy - and we Praise God for that! :)

The next few posts will be retrospective of our summer, when I will share with you some of the great and at times tough things that happened with the teams we had this season.

We very grateful for what God has done and will continue to do this year through this ministry.

Please, do not cease to pray for us:

Pray for:

1. Lost in the Amazon

2. Our local leaders

3. AVM leadership and Board

4. Volunteers - that God will continue to call people to come!

5. Resources

You can adopt our ministry as well with any amount per monthy, see:

https://www.egsnetwork.com/gift/gift.php

More is to come... Go on a summer journey with us!

Sarah Castro

AVM Missions Coordinator

Manaus, Amazon - Brasil

(( Indigenous Leaders ))

"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb" rev. 7:9a

On Friday, April 14th,a meeting with the leaders of CONPLEI (National Board of Evangelical Indigineous Pastors) took place in Manaus, Amazon. It was a tremendous joy to hear what God is doing among the indigenous people not only in Brazil but in other countries of South America as well.

Alcerir (blue shirt) is a Terena Indian from a tribe in Mato Grosso do Sul who ave felt called to minister to the indigenous in Brazil. He has left his tribe behind and with CONPLEI is now dedicating his life to sharing the good news with indigenous in Amazon and training others to share God's truth among their people.

As he describes his passions and calling he says:

"...The one leading was actually God, and God was preparing 'I' for this work - a Fulltime training Center. I believe that my God will prepare those who leave the school to, first of all, leave believing in Him, but also prepared to reach others for Jesus.

I was invited by my God to leave my people so I can reach "my people" - sons of the same Father - Jesus Christ"

Alcerir has been trained and empowered to raise an army to fight for the salvation of His people in the Amazon Basin. Praise God for that!

Pray for Him as he continues to serve God among his people and for us as we seek partnership with our indigenous brothers to reach others.

"...May all the peoples praise you, Oh God! May all the peoples Praise You!"

Psalm 67

Sarah Castro

Amazon, Brasil.

Time to Answer

"...For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Phil. 1:21

It is upon that belief that several Brazilian believers have committed to God's plan to take the hope of Christ to all people in the World.

On April 8 - 9 over one hundred believers in Manaus were gathered at the Constantinópolis Baptist Church's Camp to interact with Brazilian Missionaries from our International Mission Board in Brasil to hear about what God is doing through them on fields of Africa and Middle East (the target regions of our Cooperative Program 2011.)

Several participants came from different States of Brasil. There were people from Amapá, Roraima, Pará, Rio de Janeiro, and several churches from Manaus sent their members to the Missions Conference.

As the sessions continued to take place, it was impossible to not feel the presence of God and the work of the Holy Spirit amount the believers there in. The missionaries would share their story and the miracles God is doing in places completely resistant to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and people could only stop right then and pray. Videos were shown of the reality of those who live under the socio-economic-political reality of Islam and the slavery upon those who devoted their live to Voodooism. Jesus came so that they would have life!

However, the climax of it all was to see so many of them being called to be part of what God is doing! I had a chance to talk to a few that surrendered their life to the calling of Jesus to be a missionary in the Amazon, in Brasil and in the world. GOD is still in the calling business!!

We pray that we, as believers, would continue to be sensitive to His Holy Spirit and would too surrender to his call upon our lives.

May you join us and all the Brazilians who have been called to reach the Amazonas State for Christ!

Celebrate Jesus, Celebrate the Cross and Celebrate the work He will continue to do through us and in Us!

If you would like to know how to join one of our teams in 2011 or 2012 please contact us at: charles@avmbrazil.com

by His Grace Alone,

Sarah Castro

Amazon, Brasil. --- Be a part of it, leave your comments! ---

..Brazilian Volunteers Join AVM in the Amazon...

"May all the people's praise you Oh God!"

Nara Suellen is a volunteer missionary whom God has called to serve Him in the Amazon.

She has kindly shared her passion and experiences with us. We hope it encourages you!

We celebrate God's work within the Brazilian Churches and the work of His Spirit in calling people for His work!

"“Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,”

.Jeremiah 1:7-8

Dear ones, for last 3 years my heart has beat for missions, a strong and growning desire within to serve the Lord. God caught my attention to his work through the testimony of a girl from Pelotas called Andresa. I saw in her life a love for God’s work that I had not seen before. I was impressed by her they way she devoted her time to God’s service. One of the things she said was that : “God gives us 24 hours a day, if we take an hour to share about Jesus, that would be a lot already”; since then I was ashamed of myself and decided to spend my time and my life doing mission work.

I served in Pão de açúcar- Alagoas first. In desert parts of the northestern parts of Brazil was where I surrendered my life to the cause of the Gospel of Jesus Christ when I saw wonders happening in that place. The hand of God upon those people even though so many of them were life Joseph who spend most of his life in spiritual blindness but came to a true relationship with Christ through His grace.

I have seen God at work in Manaus, and some parts of the interior through the Pescador project. Recently I had an opportunity to serve with AVM and Indigenous missions as well. I was a great joy to serve through AVM with one of the american teams. It was a tremendous and encouraging experience. Even though I am a translator (yet) God gave me wonderful opportunities of ministry that week.

He kept on surprising me taking me to the middle of the Amazon Forest to be part of a missionary team that went to the Indigenous Reserve Sateré Mawé. There were so many challenges to minister to the indians there, beginning with the language barreer. However, we witnessed worship as never seen before. The Saterés kids called Riracariá were very responsive to and involved in the actitivies we did with them. The indigenous people are extremely simple but with big hearts and they are overwhelmed with joy, respect and love.

Dear ones, the word of God calls, recruits and requires action. I encourage you to press on and when everything around is against you, know that God is ready to empower you to do everything for the cause of the Gospel.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Rm 1.16

Nara Suelem- Missions Voluteer at God's service

-- AVM in Anama --

The work must continue!

We have been working in partnership with Pr Oseas for a few years to reach Anama with the Good News of Jesus Christ and disciple those who already know him as their personal Lord and Savior. He has recently resined from pastoring the Baptist Church in Anama to work in three other communities in that municipality.

Derek George and his wife, Donna George, lead a team comprised of people from 8 different areas that served the ribeirinhos with such love and humbleness this week. This team was blessed to have two dentists, two nurses, two doctors and others who also shared the Gospel as they had one-a-one encounters, did home visitations and VBS with the kids.

They were located in Parana do Iauara and Ajaratubinha where Pr Oseas has worked to bring them to a true knowledge of Christ. This team was challenged to share the good news at a community where they had no evangelical work until last year. Several people had many doubts about God and the Bible and answers were given bringing closer to the reality of a life with their creator. The obstacles in this area are great! We must pray that God will strengthen his worker Oseas to teach them with love and perseverance. Pray for the salvation of the people there in.

We praise God for the wonderful week of work and blessings!

Please continue to pray for our teams and for the people on the river.

Will you join us?

Team in Manaquiri

News from the Field!!

It's Harvest Time!!!

Pastor Larry Creamer's team from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Okalahoma, Texas and Florida, arrived in Manaquiri - Amazon on February 25th. They will be on the Amazon River from 24 Feb - 7 Mar.

The team sang praise songs at evening service in Manaquiri. They are working in a community where the Baptist Church was declining rapidly. However, with the passion and dedication of Pastor Edson Tavares, the church is reopened and through Bro. Edson's efforts to strength the work there is a renewed passion for God. Through the partnership of Bro. Larry's team and Bro. Edson, the community of Manaquiri is seeing the love of Jesus Christ as they meet the physical and spiritual needs of the people.

We had a couple of kids coming to the service on our first night and by the third night, more than 15 adults attended. God is at work!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNsMpX91UEk


Jack Janssen also had a great time leading the kids on sunday morning during VBS! check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-dPv_02l7o


Stan Hanes leads them in a Gospel presentation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rucgcHEZkU4

Let's continue to pray!!

...Faith Comes by Hearing...

“…faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God…” is a statement that reminds us of the importance of the proclamation of the Word.

We often forget how limited is the access to the Word of God for so many people around the world. Brazil is a free country religiously and even though people are not persecuted for reading, speaking or learning the World, several are kept from it for natural obstacles.

Recently when in Manacapuru we heard a story of a gentleman from Coari – AM that did not know how to write or read. He came to know the Lord through a local church but struggled to grow in his faith in the Lord because of the lack of understanding of the Word.

God through his faithfulness presented him with an audible version of the bible and he memorized an incredible amount of verses by hearing it over and over again the recorded version. Today he is the leader of his community and is teaching the Word to his fellows leading them to faith in Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey him.

What a blessing!

We can only imagine what the disciples would have done if they had the tools we have today!

We hope that you too will come and impact the people in the Amazon. May we continue to serve him with all that he has made available to us and may we make the most of every opportunity.

We are Better Together

Its with great joy that we would like to share with all of you our recent agreement in partnership with the Home Mission Board in Brasil and the Amazonas State Baptist Convention!

As a ministry we have been working hard to take the hope of Christ to the Western part of the Amazon Basin and its a job that cannot and will not be done alone. One of our greatest challenges has been to find workers to serve and will continue the work in the areas that we are able to reach with our volunteer teams.

We, as the Home Mission Board, AVM and the Amazonas State Baptist Convention, are now joined in this effort and we will seek to provide and maintain missionaries in the interior of the Amazon. One of our goals is to develop and apply an effective strategy to reach the Ribeirinhos with the truth of Jesus Christ but also to have a solid plan to make disciples in those communities and regions. It is God's plan that His people will have the knowledge of His truths and that they will eventually grow in their faith becoming strong believers to the point of leading others to Himself.

We believe it can be done. We believe it will be done.

We are better together!

Please continue to pray for us and our partnerships that are in place - that God will guide our path and open our eyes to see Him and His plan for the people in the Western Amazon Basin.

We pray that you too will join us in Prayer, Going and Giving!

Hope after the Flood

Before the tragedy that struck the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian Baptist Convention, and the Home Mission Board and the Fluminense Baptist Convention are launching a campaign to support more than 960 homeless and displaced 1,280 others.

The massive mobilization of Brazilian Baptists, called SOS Serrana Region, aims to meet the urgent needs of victims, such as: water, food, toiletries and mattresses. To help with logistics of the campaign, some Baptist churches in Rio de Janeiro began to function as collection points for donations. Other temples, located near the areas affected by floods, they also serve as shelter for families affected by the flooding.

Through the Board of National Missions, who may also wish contribute financially, by depositing any amount in an account specific campaign. The entire amount collected will go to procurement of great need. For financial support, the Donors should use the banking details below and then send the deposit slip to the e-mail oferta@missoesnacionais.org.br, putting the name of the depositor and the same reason: SOS REGION
SERRANA / RJ.

It is a blessing to see the Church being the CHURCH to those in need.

Lets pray for God bless and watch over the families victims of this big tragedy.

2010 - A Year of Blessings

A GREAT God does GREAT things!

Have you ever tried to sit back and watch for places God is moving and for people He is calling for salvation? Out of sudden you start to see things and people through His perspective and receive a gentle and loving invite to join Him in doing wonders to change the world?

Yes? That we believe was the prayer and experience of most of our teams in 2010.

As a ministry we are grateful for the things God has done in the Amazon this past year through the people he has chosen to serve him in that region.

The Amazon is a challenging soil to reach but yet as our teams prepared and allowed God to guide and use them many lives were touched and changed for His Glory.

We were able to visit 44 communities on the Western part of the Amazon Basin and we had almost 500 decisions for Christ. Please pray for the Ribeirinhos who have accepted the Lord and for people who will follow up with them and help them to grow in their faith. Over 400 people were discipled and many joined us as we went door-to-door evangelizing learning how they too could do the same without us.

Our medical and dental teams were able to assist over 3000 people and Praise God for that!

Local pastors were encouraged and trained as well. Children were taught and temples were built.

It seems like a whole lot doesn't it? There is so much more to be done!

Please pray as we continue to follow the Lord and to serve him in obedience and we pray that He will continue to call people to the Amazon - Maybe it is you!

"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." Colossians 4:3-5

... Every Nation, Every Tongue...

We praise the Lord for the great ministry of our TRANSLATORS in 2010.

We had a group of almost 20 translators that have dedicated part of their year to missions translating with Amazon Vision Ministries. Many were encouraged and touched through their lives and through them we were able to accomplish the goal of this ministry which is to take the hope of Christ to the river people on the Western part of the Amazon Basin.

God is calling some these to full time ministry and we pray that they will continue to give their life to Him for the growth of His Kingdom.

In December 2010 we had a gathering will all the translators to celebrate the year of ministry we had. If you know them and/or served with them leave them a message! :)

2011 has just begun... We are eager to see what God will do through all of us this year!!