Brasil MISSIONS Spreading the Gospel in the Amazon
Photographer Letter 2016
C
September
MISSIONS IS LOVE
apturing Missions Photography’s (Massao em Missões) main goal is to reduce the distance between missions and their potential supporters through
active images. This ministry aims to capture missionary actions across diverse Christian organizations in Brazil and around the world. All the photographs taken are then donated to the specific mission in order to contribute to their communication efforts: activities, accomplishments, needs, goals and purposes. These can be used to reach both people who are unaware of missionary work as well as those who wish to deepen their knowledge and involvement. This is one of the callings that God has given me: go around the world capturing images of missions in action and use them to further God’s Kingdom. My purpose is to, through photography, show that we can take Christs’ message of Love and Hope to the world and be used by Him to transform lives. When everybody asks me: — Why photography? “Because an image is worth a thousand words!” Simple as tthat! z My name is ODAIR MASSAO KOBAYASHI, I’m 40 years old, I graduated
in Civil Engineering from Mackenzie Presbyterian University and have over 14 years of experience in construction management. I was born in São Paulo, SP, Brazil and lived there for over thirty-three years. Now I live in Sorocaba, which is a town located sixty two miles west from Sao Paulo, where I am a member of the Baptist Church Boas Novas. I accepted Christ when I was 18 and since then I have been serving the Lord in several ministries such as: worship, counseling, youth groups, and teenager groups. I also participate in the Word of Life institute, serving in summer camps, bible club, missionary projects, and also performing my own studies for the ministry. Most recently I have been supporting Missions working in visual communication, photojournalism and design, through the ministry CAPTURING MISSIONS, (Massao em Missões). God gave me the opportunity to do this work in the missionary projects led by my church, as well as for JUNTA DE MISSÕES, ASAS DE SOCORRO, JUVEP, AMAZON OUTREACH, among others. n Him, Massao
Massao
Photographer Volunteer
2
p r e s e n t s
3
MISSION IN THE AMAZON Missionaries from Texas, serving God in the Amazon river, with Amazon Outreach
4
5
The way It took more 20 hours by boat to arrive in the UatumĂŁ river, affluent of Amazon river. All actions this Missions, were in Villages over of UatumĂŁ river.
6
Our destination was down the Amazon river, and the scene was small houses along the Amazon river
7
PACKING UP! First step, preparation!
8
The team, packing up the donations that will be given to river communities.
9
Pit STOP First stop in San Sebastian Uatumã, where the missionary’s volunteers participated of worship service and sermon of Presbyterian Church.
10
Pastor Jose Carlos and the translator Rowan
The missionary’s volunteers participated the service in Presbiterian Church of San Sebatian of Uatumã
11
12
The missionary’s volunteers participated in worship and service, Tara share her testimony, and Mr. Don preached the sermon
13
Boat sweet boat Comer, dormir e Amar em MissĂľes. Todos os detalhes da nossa casa durante os dias de MissĂŁo.
14
Our home for seven days on the Linda Esperanรงa, a very confortable boat.
15
WE SLEEP, EAT, PRAY AND PRAISE THE BOAT WAS A VERY CONFORTABLE HOME FOR SEVEN DAYS
16
17
18
19
20
21
THE BOATS CROSSED ALONG THE WAY When the two boats of Amazon Outreach crossed during the missions. One boat going and another coming back to the Mission
22
23
24
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news Romans 10:15
25
The Villages
WITH THE BOAT OF THE MISSIONS, LINDA ESPERANÇA, OUR MISSION GOES THROUGH THE VILLAGES OF UATUMÃ RIVER WHICK IS A TRIBUTE OF THE AMAZON RIVER
26
27
T
raditional houses of riverside communities
in
the
Amazon are the “palafitas”
hous-
es and houseboats. These houses are suitable for a region governed by the dry and wet seasons. The “palafitas” houses are very simple houses made of wood and built by the rivers and streams on stilts. Already houseboats are built on logs of wood and adapted to float. The houses of the riverine have thatched roofs, indigenous influence or metal tiles. In most of them there is no electricity and no sanitation. In general, people sleep in hammocks. At the edge of the Amazon river, beyond the houses of locals, they are also found floating stilts and where work stations of fuel, schools and small markets that serve the local population. These were the villages that we carry out our missionary activities
28
29
30
“You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving.” Amy Carmichael
31
The boat LINDA ESPERANÇA in the Village where we spread the Gospel and reflect the Love of Christ through our missionary activities
32
33
34
Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. Mark 10:15
35
DENTAL CARE
MEDICAL
The actions in th Medical, Dental Care, Mens and Womens ministry, VBS, Eye Care and the Evangelism.
36
EYE CARE
VBS
he Mission 37
Triage The moment before the patients have a consult with the doctor. Important moment where the nurses check the most relevant signs before the consult and make the check list.
38
39
As important as the process of triage is each action of missionary’s volunteers reflecting the love of Christ
40
41
Medical Care Dr. Pablo attending residents of river communities.
42
One of the greatest needs is medical care, where we help this need.
43
“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.� C.T. Studd
44
45
How important is
MEDICAL CARE
A mother with her two daughters, faces obstacles and dangers to go in search of medical assistance service provided by the Mission.
46
“Love is the root of missions; sacrifice is the fruit of missions� Roderick Davis
47
48
Pharmacy The Pharmacy is a part of the medical ministry. Many villagers do not have access to basic medication. This ministry provides relief and care to many families.
49
Dental Care Dr. Dja attending residents of river communities. With Kattlen and Franco Visgarra
“The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become.� Henry Martyn
50
51
52
53
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10
54
55
Eye Care The missionaries attending residents of river communities and helping to see better.
Helping to see with new glasses, and helping to see with the eyes of heart through the Gospel
56
57
58
59
VBS The missionaries spread the Gospel to the Kids and reflect the Love of Christ throug the kids games, skit, puppets.
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
Women ministry This ministry through the actions like braiding hair and nails care, reflected the Love of Christ and spread the Gospel between the girls of river communities.
70
71
This ministry through the actions reflected the Love of Christ. And hearts open to the Gospel.
72
73
74
Through the actions we reflect the Love of Christ and spread the Gospel
75
The missionaries sharing their testimony to women of the Village of UatumĂŁ river, where they are showing how great is the Love of God.
76
77
78
“If I help one person to have hope, will not have lived in vain.�
79
Men ministry Through the testimony and discipleship the missionaries spread the Gospel and share words of Hope and Love of Christ.
80
81
82
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10
83
84
End of the Day At every village on the end of the day, the missionaries preach the sermon, gives the donations. And to finish, we play soccer; Amazon Outreach team versus village team.
85
“We ,must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God.�
John Stott
86
87
88
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Mateus 28:19
89
90
THE TEAM THE MISSIONARIES VOLUNTEERS Village Church, Texas - USA
91
92
93
94
95
Thanks so much to Mr. Don and Miss Brenda, leaders of this Mission in Amazon.
96
97
For this is what the Lord has commanded us: I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.
Acts 13:47
98
Thanks First I want to thank the couple Stephanie Craveiro and Guido Dal’Acqua, who contributed by leveraging this ministry in photography. I also thank all missionaries team leadership AMAZON OUTREACH, which from the beginning of this mission received me with open arms and believed in this ministry. All were always helpful and ready to help me as needed. Besides being extremely well cared for them, in this mission. So, my great thanks to Priscilla and Marco Rego. I want to thank every volunteer missionary, who participated in this missionary trip, especially Mr. Don and Ms Brenda and translators. All they contributed, in what was needed to take those pictures that make up this edition of the magazine, Missões I also want to thank my intercessors: Izabel Rainha, Liliam Mendes, Baldemea, casal Dani e Renato, Famí-
lia Pittol, Kamilla Zinezi, Lara Monteiro, Mario Sergio O. Silva, toda Família Prado, Andrea, Pr Elias, toda famíla IBBN e Natália Zinezi. Without forgetting and not least, I thank all stakeholders who participated in my support in the cost of airline tickets this missionary trip, and to support all the other challenges. And not least, my eternal thanks to God, my family. In particular, my godmother and my mother, who always believed in me and this ministry. In Him,
Massao
TEXT, PHOTO, REPORT, SET DESIGN: Massao Kobayashi REVIEW: Megan Eckert
99
Shooting Missions is to look with the heart, serve the Lord and obey the called.
Massao
100
ON-LINE
Social Networks You want to get to know much more about the universe MISSIONS? Follow us, Massao in MissĂľes- Capturing Missions, the leading social networks, just click the links below! These social networks, we show testimonies and photos of missions, from different places of Brazil! Follow us!
If you want support us, Pray for this ministry! We need prayers!
www.flickr.com/massaoemmissoes
@massaoemmissoes
f/massaoemmissoes
odairmassao@gmail.com
101
“HE IS NO FOOL WHO GIVES WHAT HE CANNOT KEEP; TO GAIN WHAT HE CANNOT LOSE” 102