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Brazil

With the conclusion of our most recent trip (in May 2010) to the Amazon in Brazil, JMI’s ministry has suddenly taken a sharp turn toward a very specific strategy for the region. It’s a plan inspired through careful listening to the needs of the people, a desire to make a sustainable difference without interfering in a beautiful culture, and a certain belief that we are being called to this part of the world.

Six of our eight global initiatives apply to this region: Poverty (extreme); a lack of Education; an unforgiving Environment; the element of Human Trafficking; Disease in the form of malaria and water-borne illnesses; and Spiritual Hopelessness (mixed among people of stunning spiritual energy).

To begin our work, JMI is adopting three specific sites to pour resources into: the contiguous communities along Jaraquel Creek, otherwise know by the central village of Bella Vista; the village of Sao Tome’; and a primitive village we affectionately refer to as the “Naked Tribe.” All of these are tribes, meaning they have distinctive languages and cultures.

Our mission to these new friends will include providing them with training and items they can use to substantially improve their lives in self-sustaining ways. Once those resources are in place, we’ll move on to other, equally deserving and remote villages to replicate our work, though we’ll continue to stay in relationship with our friends through trips designed for those purposes.

In order to make systematic and measurable improvements in the areas with the greatest need, JMI will rely on volunteers with specific skills and the desire and ability to travel to the Amazon. We have a list of needs that we will prioritize in June 2010 (which will be published here on the JMI website). We will also provide a checklist that will demonstrate when a priority need has been met and in which community.

Needs we will be addressing:

• Establishing plantations and personal gardens, including
  • the provision of seeds
  • analyzation of soil and provision of fertilizers
  • the provision of pesticides
  • wood, hardware, tools and other materials needed to cultivate and demarcate the land
  • training in farming the land
  • consultation in establishing markets for crops grown
• Establishing a production of breeder chickens and egg-laying hens, including
  • consultation in the processes for breeding and construction of chicken coops
  • the provision of chicken feed
• Construction of homes, churches and cultural centers, including
  • the provision of essential tools and training in their use (such as table and circular saws, nails, etc.)
  • financing for some construction, including the purchase of cement
  • training for how to build items such as chairs, cabinets, etc.
• Mosquito nets
• Ant killer
• Yarn and training in crochet
• Implements to string beads
• Trips designed specifically to meet medical and dental needs

As we sequentially address our prioritized list, we’ll also enjoy some truly unique experiences with our Brazilian friends. Among those, a volunteer can expect opportunities to fish and hunt with the men of the tribe in their traditional ways; observe and participate in cultural dances; string beads and crochet with the women; spend an evening spotting Cayman alligators and visiting primitive tribes.

If you or a group from your church, medical group or construction team, would like to be a part of this incredible new ministry, please contact info@justiceandmercy.org for more information!

Because our trips are limited by the capacity of the boat we use, trips are limited to about 12 people. Additional trips may be scheduled at later dates to accommodate greater demand.

May 28-June 4, 2011 Brazil Trip

Our next scheduled trip date is May 28-June 4, 2011. It’s itinerary will resemble the following:

• May 28 Saturday
  • Depart for Manaus (usually a late evening flight)
• May 29 Sunday
  • 5 a.m. Arrive in Manaus…10 minute drive to grab a nap at Gloria’s house
  • 9 a.m. Breakfast at Gloria’s followed by a visit to the fish market and shop for hammocks
  • 11 a.m. Load belongings onto the Discovery (Ray of Hope boat)
  • 12 p.m. Cruise the Rio Negro and visit the Dessana people (primitive tribe)
  • 1 p.m. Travel to Jaraqui Creek (work with plantation, construction projects, provide training on computers, parenting training, etc.
  • 6 p.m. Return to Discovery for dinner and set up hammocks
• May 30 Monday
  • 7:30 a.m. Breakfast
  • 8 a.m. Morning devotional
  • 8:30 a.m. Repeat Sunday activities
  • 1 p.m. Lunch on Discovery
  • 6 p.m. Return to Discovery for dinner
• May 31 Tuesday
  • 7:30 a.m. Breakfast
  • 8 a.m. Devotional
  • 9 a.m. Cruise to Sao Tome’
  • 1 p.m. Lunch
  • 2 p.m. Conduct activities (similar to previous)
  • 6 p.m. Dinner
  • 7 p.m. Spot Cayman alligators
• June 1 Wednesday
  • 6:30 a.m. Jungle hunt
  • 10 a.m. Breakfast
  • 10:30 a.m. Morning devotional
  • 11 a.m. Work projects with the tribe
  • 2 p.m. Lunch (barbeque for the village)
  • 3 p.m. Projects
  • 5 p.m. Worship together or observe cultural dances
  • 6:30 p.m. Dinner on the Discovery
• June 2 Thursday
  • 7:30 a.m. Breakfast
  • 8 a.m. Devotional
  • 8:30 a.m. Cruise to the Naked Tribe village
  • 1 p.m. Lunch
  • 2 p.m. Fish for piranha
  • 5 p.m. Visit with the tribe and observe cultural dances
  • 7 p.m. Dinner on the Discovery
• June 3 Friday
  • 6:30 a.m. Hunt or fish with tribe
  • 10 a.m. Breakfast
  • 11 a.m. Cruise to see the meeting of the waters
  • 1 p.m. Arrive back in Manaus and check in to the Tropical Hotel
  • 1:30 p.m. Lunch at hotel or in town
  • 3-6 p.m. Free time to swim, sun and relax
  • 6:30 p.m. Dinner in town
• June 4 Saturday
  • 9 a.m. Complimentary breakfast at the Tropical Hotel
  • 10 a.m. Free time
  • 4 p.m. Check out and drop luggage at Gloria’s
  • 6 p.m. Pizza at Gloria’s
  • 9:30 p.m. Leave for airport
• June 5 Sunday
  • Arrive home in the morning

SPONSORSHIPS

Sponsorships to support the sequence of projects along the Amazon are $40/month. Sponsorship gifts will be applied sequentially to the prioritized list until all projects are completed. The website will reflect these successes as they are checked off the list.

By mid-June, sponsors will be able to select Brazilian families from our website. These families are representative of their entire communities and sponsors are encouraged to pray specifically for the family they choose. Written letters to your families may be submitted to JMI volunteer teams for translation and delivery.

Sponsors are encouraged to set up an automatic draft so that there is no delinquency in payments, but checks are also gladly accepted. Please follow the instructions that are available on the site to set up your automatic drafts.