Study + Serve Women’s Amazon Trip

Join Kelly Minter & Angela Thomas Pharr for a week of Bible teaching and mission work along the Amazon River!

Kelly Minter

Bible Teacher & Author

Kelly Minter is a Bible teacher, speaker, and author of multiple Bible studies and books, including Encountering God, No Other Gods, and Wherever the River Runs—a personal account of her early trips to the Amazon. Through her events and LifeWay studies, she’s helped thousands of women engage deeply with Scripture and live out their faith.

Kelly first traveled to the Amazon over a decade ago, not knowing how profoundly it would shape her heart and ministry. Since then, she’s returned every summer to co-lead the Study + Serve trip.

“The Amazon River is the single most compelling place I’ve been to out of all my travels,” she says. “I can’t think of anything better than combining the Word and mission into one unforgettable trip down the Amazon River… with you.”

Whether she’s teaching Scripture on the riverboat or serving in a village alongside the team, Kelly’s deep love for Jesus and for people is evident.

Angela Thomas Pharr

Bible Teacher & Author

Angela Thomas Pharr is a gifted Bible teacher, storyteller, and best-selling author of over a dozen books and Bible studies. Her relatable teaching has encouraged thousands of women across the world to walk in the truth of God’s Word and His deep love for them. Angela is known for blending laughter, vulnerability, and solid biblical insight in a way that invites women to draw closer to Jesus.

She has been teaching on the Study + Serve Amazon trip since its very beginning and describes the experience as one of the most powerful weeks of her year. Angela often reflects on how near God feels in the Amazon—how His presence seems especially tangible on the river, in worship, and in the women’s transformed lives throughout the week.

In the evenings on the boat, Angela guides participants through Scripture with warmth and wisdom, helping them stand strong in their God-given identity and freedom.

Lindsay McCaul

Worship Leader

Lindsay McCaul is a trusted worship leader and recording artist who has toured with Casting Crowns, Matthew West, Mandisa, and Shane & Shane. She regularly leads worship at her home church in Brentwood, Tennessee, and at women’s conferences around the world. A graduate of Moody Bible Institute with a heart for Scripture, Lindsay loves writing songs that help others connect deeply with God’s Word. She and her husband Mark live near Nashville with their two sons.

After three summers on the Study + Serve team, Lindsay describes the trip as “a spiritual retreat, a theological feast of a Bible conference, and an eye-opening, life-changing missions trip all wrapped into one incredible week.”

She says: “There is absolutely nothing like worshipping our Creator while floating down the largest river on the planet… I’ll never forget the sound of a boat full of daughters and sons of the Living God lifting up a grateful chorus of praise.”

About the Trip

Join us for a trip you’ll never forget! Experience a week of Bible teaching and mission work, with women of all ages, along the beautiful Amazon River. As we seek God and dig deep into His word, you will have the opportunity to see God’s hand at work through Justice & Mercy International, and minister to the people of the Amazon.

Trip Dates: June 13-20, 2026 | Trip Cost: $2,800 + airfare

*Dates may change slightly due to flight routes

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FAQs Trip Details

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Travel

All international travel arrangements will be handled by the Justice and Mercy International (JMI) staff. Individuals will fly from their home city to Ft. Lauderdale or Miami to meet the team. From there everyone will fly to Manaus and back together. A travel visa is required as of April 10, 2025, and you will need a current passport that is valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

Schedule

Each day will include daily teachings by Angela Thomas Pharr and Kelly Minter and reflection time on the boat. You will also be ministering in villages along the Amazon River. This may include gathering villagers together for singing, small groups, activities for the children, and visits to individual homes. There will also be opportunities to debrief with the team about experiences and participate in excursions to see all the wildlife and beauty the Amazon has to offer.

Accommodations

Teams will sleep on our brand-new triple-decker boat in hammocks with mosquito netting. There are no individual rooms, but rather an open area for all the hammocks. You will be sleeping right next to your friends on the team. It’s quite an adventure and we promise you will get used to it! The boat has several simple individual bathrooms and showers to accommodate everyone.

Food

Throughout your trip, your meals are prepared by our wonderful cooks on the boat. You won’t go hungry, the food is delicious! All our meals are served and eaten on the boat. JMI works hard to make sure all the food and water served is safe for Americans.

Weather

The weather on the Amazon River is usually in the upper 80s during the day and mid-70s at night. It is also quite humid. Everyone will get a nice detox from sweating!

Travel Insurance

JMI offers a comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers all participants on a JMI trip. The policy includes health coverage for team members while in international locations. Please see our FAQs below about purchasing trip interruption insurance (if desired).

Excursions

The Amazon is a beautiful place with many things to explore. We have a wonderful jungle guide joining us. Our guides know more about the Amazon region than probably anyone. They will guide you and keep you safe. Possible excursions include caiman hunting (searching for little alligators at night), jungle walks, swimming with pink dolphins, going to see the meeting of the waters, searching for other wildlife (sloths, monkeys, lizards, birds) on the speed boat, visiting local floating villages and artisan markets. Excursions will be finalized as the trip gets closer.

Physical Fitness & Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

It is inadvisable to attempt a trip to a third-world country if you are in poor health. The weather in the Amazon is hot and humid. You will need to be able to get on and off the boat as well as sleep in the hammock for the week. If you have a pre-existing physical condition that requires special monitoring, specific diet or refrigeration needs, or a predisposing fragility to your condition that could potentially deteriorate quickly, please consult your physician and JMI before committing to travel. Taking chances with your health may not only impair your opportunity to enjoy your time away but might also affect the ability of your entire team to accomplish its objectives.

TRIP CANCELLATION POLICY

Your $500 deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. If you need to cancel more than 30 days prior to the trip we can transfer your funds to another trip within 1 calendar year if we are able to find someone to fill your spot. If you need to cancel 30 days out all your funds are non-transferable and non-refundable.

*Please note after an airline ticket is purchased in your name it is non-refundable.

If you have more questions, contact Kari Bidwell at
[email protected]

Highlights from 2025

FAQ

Does this trip require a COVID vaccination or COVID testing?

Are any other vaccinations required for this trip?

What do I pack for this trip?

Do I need to purchase travel insurance?

JMI has you covered with a robust travel insurance plan that covers things like health emergencies/evacuations. However, it DOES NOT cover if you have to stay in Brazil longer for trip interruption.

If you would like to purchase additional travel insurance that DOES cover things like travel interruption, we recommend IMG. This is optional and you can contact IMG directly with any questions or concerns.

***Please note that JMI is not responsible for the cost of airline tickets if your ticket must be canceled for ANY reason (before or during your trip). Due to airline prices, you may have a disconnected ticket, meaning there could be unforeseen booking fees. Trip participants have lost money in the past. Please be aware! This is why we recommend purchasing trip insurance.***

Do I need a visa to travel to Brazil?

What does the trip cost include?

The price includes a week of Bible teaching and mission work along the beautiful Amazon River with Kelly and Angela! All accommodations, meals, drinking water, boat rentals, and excursions are included. Your airline ticket is not included in the $2,800 base cost. However, we will help you book the international part of your trip. Part of your trip price will also go to support the work of Justice and Mercy International.

What happens if I get sick?

Is there air conditioning?

Can I charge my phone?

What to wear? - make up, hair dryers etc.

What is the group size?

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About Justice & Mercy International

Justice & Mercy International (JMI) is a faith-based, non-profit organization that exists to make justice personal for the poor, the vulnerable, and the forgotten of the world. JMI primarily works in Moldova in Eastern Europe and in the Amazon region of Brazil and we do our work through programs that have the Good News of Jesus at their core.

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