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The catalyst for this trip is Jonathas Moreira, a 71-year-old pastor with family roots in Brazil. Moreira travels frequently to Brazil from his home in Orlando, Florida. Outgoing and enthusiastic, Moreira has found that leading medical mission trips perfectly combines his background in health services and his gifts in discipleship and evangelism.

It was on a business trip to Brazil in 1998 that Moreira first met José Mesqoita, a Brazilian pastor known as the Apostle of the Amazon. Through him Moreira caught a vision for sending Americans with critically needed skills to serve short-term alongside Brazilians in the region. Mesqoita leads the 4,000-member Presbyterian Church of Manaus (the major city on the Rio Negro, located near its confluence with the Amazon). Its river boat ministry--Amazon Vida Mission-- is assisted through support from World Vision as well as partnering with teams, like Moreira's, from the U.S. and Korea. Together they care for 60 villages, and every two months a medical boat visits each of them. Their combined efforts, though, can meet only a fraction of the overall need in the region.

After the journey, Moreira spoke passionately about the unfinished work as the group headed back to the Manaus airport by bus. "We had a chance to do very little. But we had a chance to do something."

Gary Gnidovic is the design director for Christianity Today. For information write to jmoreira@amazon-mission.org.

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today.Click for reprint information.

A slideshow of the photo essay accompanying this story is posted online.

For more information, visit the Amazon Mission Trip web site.

Other CT articles on Brazil include:

Inheriting the Cracked Earth | In remote Northeast Brazil, evangelicals are extending their outreach despite extreme poverty. (April 02, 2003)

Brazil's Christian Roots | Since the 1600s, the number of protestants has risen to more than 27 million. (April 02, 2003)

Evangelicals Grow as Political Force in Brazil | New interest in public policy fuels election wins. (Nov. 15, 2002)

Jesus for President | A Brazilian election judge sues Jesus for early campaigning. (July 22, 2002)

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February 2004, Vol. 48, No. 2