Every time we go to Brazil we learn something new. And our trip in June 2006 was no exception. In the past we have learned about the love of the Brazilian people and their care for us, “their North Americans.” We have learned that Brazilian Presbyterians are great folks to be with when a boat breaks down. And we have learned that the partnership between ROW and the Presbyterian Church of Manaus is a gift from God. And in the summer of 2006, we learned the names of all the members of the Brazilian soccer team!In June 2006, nine members of St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Dunwoody, Georgia, spent a week on the Zany Silva III. When we arrived in Manaus, our group of college students and young adults met up with Brazilian college students and young adults who would share the mission experience with us. We served the people of 7 villages – hosting Bible school for some 400 children, providing medical care to people of all ages, and ministering to the spiritual needs of the people. All of this was perfectly timed in order for us to stop at villages with electricity and satellite television to watch Brazil play in the World Cup!
One of the best aspects of these trips is the opportunity to really get to know our Brazilian friends who travel and work along side us. These are folks who are spending a week of their time on a mission trip, just like us. Through their eyes, we are able to see what it means to do mission work “at home” and it inspires us to respond to the needs of those around us when we return to the USA. Sometimes, you really do have to get out of your comfort zone to realize that there is a whole world of mission on your front door step or just around the corner. Because ROW invests and relies on the leadership of the people of the regions it serves, those people, in turn, invest themselves in the ROW mission groups. Their commitment opens our eyes to so many knew possibilities. It is a wonderful partnership through which our group certainly receives more than we give.
Shannon Dill
Associate Pastor
St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church
I’m going to Manaus, Brazil with the Margie Doorn group on June 27-July 5, 2009 Amazon trip. I’m in charge of VBS and would like to know how that works. Do we plan lessons, songs, crafts, games, and food for the children? I speak Portuguese and could do this, but perhaps it is the responsibility of the ROW staff and interns. Could you please tell me what other groups have done in the past? I would like to know what villages we are going to visit and what mother tongue languages they speak, if that information is available. Should we bring Bibles, New Testaments, cassettes, CD’s, DVD’s or videos with Scripture and related materials? Should we be organizing clothing, flip flops, school packs, medical packs, activities and treats for the children? Should we bring these along or would it be better if we purchased them in Manaus before boarding the boat? I don’t want to do what is already being done by someone else, so if you could just let me know, I would be able to make the arrangements. Thank you!
Lois –
Thanks for the question – In Brasil, VBS is a little different from what it typically is here in the states. You will probably have a different village each day, rather than having the same group for a week. And you may have a church sanctuary for VBS, or it may be in a field next to the church or just in the village somewhere. Plan to bring whatever you want to have there with you – just be sure to look up the rules on extra baggage traveling internationally – I know that Delta’s requirements change July 1, so if you are flying Delta, the rules may be different when you come back from what they are going there. If you can put everything in a footlocker, and then leave the footlocker there, that’s wonderful – they’re always looking for something to store things in.
The interpreters on the boat will lead VBS as much as you want them to – although with you speaking Portuguese, you will be able to do more than most groups as far as leading goes. They have songs that they can lead the kids in singing, which most of the kids will already know – and the non-Portuguese speakers of the group can learn the basics of the songs and definitely the hand motions, so they can also participate. In the past, we have had groups tell a story, and also bring coloring pages for the kids – give them each a couple of crayons, or break them up into groups and give them a box of crayons. The internet has some coloring pages that may already be in Portuguese, or just make your own. Lots of singing! You can play games – duck/duck/goose is a good one. You can bring Bibles, school packs, medical packs, clothing, shoes, activities, treats – all of that is great. You can bring cds, dvds, and videos – but you will have to also bring something to play them on, and it may have to run without electricity – some villages will have a place to plug in, but if you are in a field somewhere, you may not have access to electricity.
Typically, with the clothing we give it to the pastor of the village (or whoever Pastor Djard recommends) and let them distribute the clothing based on need, so that it can be given out to the neediest without embarrassing them. School packs, medical packs, etc can be given out at the end of VBS to each child if you have enough, or to a family group if you don’t have enough for each family. Depending on the village, you will have between 30 and 70 kids – of all ages. If you end up without enough for everyone, you can give the packets to the youngest ones. If you wanted to and have access to a Polaroid camera, you could take a picture of the kids and give it to them – many of them have never had a picture of themselves – although if you do this, bring lots and lots of film, because the mothers will want pictures of everyone.
I hope this helps – let me know if you have any other questions!
Have a wonderful trip!
Blessings!