Ademir and Jeana have been with the Vineyard for almost 20 years. They came to Altamira when the mission was beginning and within a few years were asked to go to a community along the river, Souzel, to pastor a church there. They spent 15 or so years there and 2 years ago they moved to a community about 45 mins away from Altamira ( inland…i.e. not on the river).

Cyndi and I have met with him a few times to listen, counsel and pray with them. Because of our experience in pastoring for many years and my terrible experience in ‘burnout’, we have been able to help them out and will continue to do so.

Recently, Ademir has been asked to oversee a number of the river communities. That would include regular visits, training leaders and encouraging the pastors. Jeana thinks this is a great idea since Ademir comes alive on the river. He has asked me if I would participate with him in visiting regularly these river communities.

I took my first trip with him in November. We traveled 5 hours by speed boat to Porto de Moz ( where we have a Vineyard church). The next morning we traveled on another boat, 7 hrs , to a community called Gurupá. It we would have taken a regular ‘bolsa’ – a boat that transports people and cars, it would be a 16 hour trip in total.

Ademir , Jeana and Rebecca ( their adopted daughter. They have 3 married children)

Leao ( Lion)- Pastor in Gurupaá and his adopted daughter

Edna, Leao’s wife. This is the look inside the boat we traveled on. Lots of hammocks. very relaxing way to travel.

Edna is educated as a teacher and is hoping to be teaching this year in Gurupá. 

We had a great time encouraging and praying for Leao and Edna. They have been working in this community for 3 years now and have seen God transform a number of families. 

We are hoping to see them every 1.5 months to encourage them.

Typical passenger boat on the river

Resting in a hammock

bagged and salted fresh water shrimp!!!!

The worship leader in Gurupá. Great heart. big smile. Very short:))

I can’t recall his name at this time but he was ‘adopted’ by Leao and Jeana as well. Not officially adopted but practically adopted. He got married just a week ago and Leao and Edna have been building a small house out back of their place. 

Part of the leaders that come out to the training on Monday night. I spoke in the service on Sunday and Ademir did some training on Monday night.

A neighbour boy climbing an ACAI tree. 

Mario and part of his family. They are the pastors in Porto De Moz. Here is a great story. We were going to take a ‘balsa'( see below) from Gurupaá straight thru to our final stop. If we did that we would not be stopping in to see this family. The day before I had this ‘sense’ that we should take a speed boat to Porto De Moz, spend the afternoon with this family and then get on the ‘balsa’ when it arrived. Ademir prayed about it as well and felt we were to do that. 

Well it all ended up being a ‘divine appointment’.  There was lots of encouragement that took place plus this daughter that is seated in the picture above gave her life to Jesus during the lunch time. It was awesome.

This is the ‘balsa’ that we traveled on. It carries passengers in the first and second floor. Everyone justs grabs a hammock spot. In the front is where they put cars, dump trucks etc.