Since our first visit to Humaita, we’ve recognized the advantages of having this as a strategic base. It is a fairly large city (50,000) but yet is also very close to the river communities. It is connected to Porto Vehlo (the capital city of the state south of Amazonas) by an asphalt road which is […]
Matt’s brother-in-law, Ryan Stoller came to visit last week with his son Braedon. Ryan serves as Vice-president of Amazon Salt and Light and Braedon is just a little older than Luke so we could take care of “business” and enjoy family at the same time. Ryan and Matt spent one day in the community of […]
A leadership group from the US was here a few months ago. During their time spent here, we spent many hours discussing what is the role of Amazon Salt and Light (the US mission) in advancing the Gospel here in the Amazon Basin. We felt God telling us to focus on two main areas; taking […]
Last week we had our first team from the United States! Five men from Illiniois and Indiana, including two pastors, arrived on Monday the 6th. Another mission based in Manaus, with an experimental plane that seats 8 people, was able to bring the team directly to Humaita from Manaus. This was a huge time saver […]
This week has been like no other. Janelle left last Saturday with Mariah to the United States. Janelle had gotten a thyroid biopsy done right before coming back to Brazil in January. The results came back “strongly suspicious for malignancy” so rather than start all the exams over again here, we decided it was probably […]
We live on the Madeira River. Madeira means “wood” in Portuguese. Some say it is because there are so many trees lining the riverbanks. Others say because there are so many trees, branches, and tree trunks floating down the river. Five hours (by speedboat) downriver are two Brazilian families living in the village of Auxiliadora. […]
Two Saturdays ago Matt, Mariah, Jaelah, Frank & Samires (the girls’ new neighbor friend) took an afternoon trip out to Neguinho do Acai’s house to perform the cell group that they have been having there every Saturday. Arriving there, they were warmly received by him, his wife, and his 4 daughters. After chatting for a […]
In early January, when my uncle Philip and his family were here, Dad & I & U. Philip & Naomi & Derek & Chloe & Rudy, along with Frank (the Brazilian leader) & his son, Michael, took an overnight trip to Auxiliadora to visit the two families living there. We took off Saturday morning by […]
We are about a week away from Luke and I heading back to Brazil. Three of the Brazilian missionaries have been in Humaita (the city we are moving to) last week going out on the river. They have already made some great contacts (a nurse that has an outpost many hours from the city), visited […]
Last month at 4:30 one morning seven guys left Santarem to “spy” out the land for our move next year. We drove over 1800 miles– mostly dirt. Two river trips allowed the Brazilian missionaries to experience the river culture in another state. Two families (including us) will live in the city of Humaita along with […]