1. What is done while on board?
2. Is it safe to go up the Amazon River?
3. What happens if someone gets sick and needs immediate hospital attention?
4. What should I bring?
5. Would you provide translators to help us during the trip?
- What is done while on board?
The duration of each mission trip is of 7 or 8 days. The Presbyterian Church of Manaus has trained groups of professionals, such as physicians, nurses, dentists, lab technicians, social workers, teachers and evangelists; and some volunteers, to assist the needs of the people. As soon as the boat docks on the riverbank, people immediately come around bringing their children and their sick people to be seen by the doctor. While the health team takes care of them, others will go on land, visiting the houses, helping the villagers with agricultural matters, and hygiene orientation. Many times the participants of the Mission, formed by foreigner visitors from countries around the world, will get involved in the healthcare program and also in carpentry, fixing painting houses, playing with children, teaching good hygiene with teeth and body. In the evening they call all people; villagers, crew and mission participants for a worship service, where they sing, listen the gospel and watch the Jesus Film in their own language.
Personal evangelization takes place at all times.
A great distribution of Bibles, New Testaments and Christian literature is always a part of the ministry.
Special projects: To build a small sanctuary to start a church. Or to built a modest house for the missionary that will station there for a while. To implement such projects time for preparation and planning are demanded. In that case the Church provides the necessary material, tools, paints, etc.
- Is it safe to go up the Amazon River?
Yes. First we are doing God's mission and He promised to protect us. Second, all boats are kept in very good navigable conditions. They are inspected by the State Authorities once a year and they will not leave the port if any irregularity can be found. Third all of them are equipped with extra safety boats, individual lifesavers, maps and a good radio communication system and a telephone via satellite. To swim is permitted only when the Capitan knows it to be absolutely safe.
- What happens if someone gets sick and needs immediate hospital attention?
Keep in mind that the boat always has a MD aboard. But, if the case requires immediate hospital assistance we implement our plan of emergency as follows:
a - If we are not too distant from a hospital, the sick will be transferred by our small faster boat.
b - If the doctor prescribes an urgent assistance, the ASAS DO SOCORRO, (Mission aviation Fellowship) is called via satellite and the patient will be transferred in an amphibian plane in a matter of hours. In this case the cost will be paid by the patient. An insurance to cover health expenses is recommended.
- What should I bring?
Your reading material, Bible, camera, sandals, shorts, t-shirts and also one or two long sleeves shirts, but everything very light, repellants, tennis shoes, a garment for attending the night worship service, or jeans/pants, sun glasses, sun protector, personal things, and more than anything else, a lot of enthusiasm and love for those that otherwise will not hear the good news of the Gospel.
- Would you provide translators to help us during the trip?
The Youth Department of the Presbyterian Church of Manaus is very active in this project and a number of students have been studying English quite intensively in order to help those who are coming down from the United States. They have been working as volunteers. In order to show appreciation for their efforts and to encourage them to continue the good job they are doing, we suggest that a love offering should be taken to be divided among them. They invest their own money in their English classes in order to be be able to help our Mission and also our foreigner visitors.
