A group of 38 volunteers from the South American Division (SAD) headquarters participated in a mission trip in the communities of Nova Esperança and Nova Canaã, in the Brazilian Amazon. During the 10-day mission trip volunteers shared hope and support to people living in remote and hard-to-reach regions, leaders behind the initiative shared.
The initiative was driven by SAD’s Adventist Volunteers Services (AVS), in partnership with the Northwest Missions Institute, as part of the Amazon Lifeguard project.
The Amazon Lifeguard Project
The Amazon Lifeguard project offers volunteers the opportunity to live aboard a boat while providing various services to riverside communities. During their recent stay the group of church workers provided services in the education and health areas, with an emphasis on women’s care. They also promoted activities that fostered the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of residents. Volunteers also had the opportunity to participate in the construction and renovation of a house, a health center, and other buildings.
“One of the biggest challenges in these communities is communication, as people live in isolated, hard-to-reach areas,” said Eder Oliveira, captain of the Luzeiro mission boat. “Against that background, the importance of our mission cannot be underestimated. People will remember our visit and work, no matter how small it may seem.”
Volunteers participate in daily worship on the deck of the Luzeiro mission boat. [Photo: Gustavo Leighton] Service activities included house painting and repairs in the communities of Nova Canaã and Nova Esperança. [Photo: Gustavo Leighton] A group of volunteers pray before starting the activities of the day. [Photo: Gustavo Leighton] Volunteers participated in evangelism activities in the Nova Canaã community. [Photo: Gustavo Leighton]
One Mission, Several Possibilities
During the mission trip, volunteers carried out various community and social assistance activities, including improvements in basic infrastructure, evangelism programs and spiritual activities, basic health-care initiatives, and seminars on women’s care. They also organized community health fairs and held classes and activities for children.
Dieter Bruns, SAD AVS director, explained how much residents valued their service. “Some people approached us to know more about our group and even to assist us,” he shared. “We found it rewarding because serving others gives us joy, and it is an essential part of our mission.”
Participant Wendy Cisneros said she is already looking forward to the next opportunity to serve. “It is my first mission trip, but I already want to sign up for the next one. I want to give the little that I have to help others. It was a wonderful experience,” she said.
Adventist Health Brazil employee Maria Eduarda Vieira shared that “seeing a sparkle in the children’s and their families’ eyes was a great life lesson for me. We have so much, but sometimes we don’t value it enough.”
Juliana Garrido da Silva, leader of the Nova Esperança community, thanked the volunteers for their service. “We thank you not only for your physical work but also for your spiritual support. Some people in our community don’t know God yet, but this visit will prompt us to keep sharing our faith with those around us,” she said.
The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Portuguese-language news site.