Brazilwave

Victor and Janice Nickerson have a continuing partnership with World Wide Church Planters. WWCP is led by Steve Wilkes, in Tennessee and Mark Davis, based out of Florida. They make several trips a year to Brazil. In the months of January June and August they reach out to the Ribeirinhos in the state of Amazonas.

Team in Fonte Boa - June 2008

Daryl Crouch led a team of Americans to work in the city of Fonte Boa, Amazonas. Fonte Boa is two hours by plane from the capital city of Manaus or over 3 days by boat. Daryl and team members worked with the pastor and church leaders to provide church planting training.

A team of 20 people with World Wide Church Planters, led by Dr. Mark Davis, worked with a team of Brazilians and IMB missionaries to reach river villages on the Amazon River in June, 2008. Many people came to know Jesus as their Savior during this evangelism trip. One couple, Harrison and Francisca Netiana were convicted that they should be married and asked one of the pastors to marry him. She has called the translator since that trip and shared that everything is different and that they are happy. We do not have missionaries working in this area, only teams that go out once or twice a year. For more details and pictures go to http://www.brazil.faith2live.com/3.html

Check out their website at www.wwcp.org .

This is information intended for volunteers and short-term missionary personnel coming to participate in WAVE in Field 1 of Eastern South America. We hope that this information will be of help in preparing to come to serve the Lord here in Brazil. Please address any questions to Victor and Janice Nickerson at: mailto:wave@pobox.com

General Information:
WAVE is Western Amazon Evangelization is the strategy of IMB missionaries working in the six northern states, Acre, Amazonas, Amapá. Pará, Rondônia and Roraima, for reaching the peope of northwest Brazil. Our field makes up 25% of the land area of Brazil. The state of Amazonas is about twice the size of Texas. The language is Portuguese. The most prevalent religion is Catholicism.

Brazilians are a friendly and welcoming people. They are very gracious and kind and want to please. Greetings are by handshake for men and women greet each other with a "kiss on both cheeks", although would probably greet Americans with a handshake.
The climate is hot, especially during the dry season. The temperature averages high 90s year round.

A Brazilian meal is rice, beans, and some kind of meat. There is an abundance of fish. There is good tropical fruit, many of them unknown to Americans. Vegetables are in less abundance. In the cities of Manaus, Amazonas, and Belém, Pará, McDonalds has arrived but fast food as Americans know it is not found in other areas. Brazilians have snack places that serve "salgados" which are fried meat and/or cheese pastries, hot dogs and Brazilian sandwiches. In the cities there are some good restaurants although the menu doesn't vary much – rice, beans and meat. The fish is especially good. In larger cities such as Manaus and Belém you can find Japanese and Italian restaurants. Brazilian food is unlike Mexican in that they do not use hot spices.

You need to drink a lot of water. Bottled water is the safest although in some places filtered water is ok. Tipping and taxes are usually included in the bill. Hotels and tourist areas often add 10 percent service fees as well as government tax.

Commonly asked questions:
What do I wear?
All clothing should be comfortable and suitable for a hot climate. Cottons and cotton blend clothing is best. It is best if you do not bring your best or favorite outfits, many times seating is rustic and dirty and clothing can be easily torn and stained.
For evangelism, VBS, and other ministry activities: Slacks, jeans and t-shirts are acceptable for men and women. Men and women should avoid wearing shorts although women can wear culottes or split skirts. Good walking shoes will be needed.
For Worship: Women can wear dresses or slacks. Normally suits are not necessary but ties are good for men who will be preaching. Brazilian pastors normally wear long-sleeves and ties when preaching and in larger churches they also wear a sports coat or suit. For leisure: What is acceptable in the US is usually acceptable in Brazil. Avoid short and tight clothing. Men and women are encouraged to only wear shorts during leisure times. Women should not wear short shorts.

What can I eat and drink?
A safe rule regarding fruits and vegetables is to eat only those that are are peeled or cooked. Soft drinks and bottled water are good but NOT ice. Be careful about drinking juice since most have been made with tap water and/or ice. You will need to drink a lot of water while you are here. We suggest you bring in some favorite snacks so that you have some "familiar" comfort foods during your stay.
What is the climate like?
Hot – high 90s every day. You will want to use a good sunscreen.

How do I get Brazilian money?
You can exchange dollars but it is not recommended that you bring in a lot of cash due to the risk of it being stolen. Visa credit cards and some debit cards are accepted in many stores and banks and can be used for getting cash from bank machines BUT you will need to know your PIN number. Master Cards are not as commonly accepted, especially not in Roraima. Traveler's Checks are difficult and time consuming to exchange.

What about Malaria preventative and vaccinations?
Please consult the health department, CDC or your physician for advice and suggestions.

Prescription medications should be brought in as well as a contact number for your physician at home. Teams should have someone responsible for a first-aid kit, which could include: sunburn relief, aspirin, ibuprofen and/or Tylenol, band-aids, medication for diarrhea and nausea, anti-itch, allergy medication and antibiotic treatment for cuts.
We do recommend that all visitors be up to date on Tetanus and Diptheria. You will need the yellow fever immunization and should consider seriously the hepatitis series. Malaria is present and volunteers may want to consider preventive medication. Please contact your local health department, CDC or your doctor for up-to-date information
about what is needed. Dengue Fever is a common "tropical" disease and there is no vaccine prevention so volunteers will need to use repellent in areas with mosquitoes. This disease is found in all areas, even the cities. Usually the symptoms are like a flu illness that can last for 2 or more weeks and cause high fever, headache, body aches, nausea & vomiting, anorexia, depression and malaise. You should not take aspirin to treat this illness. Children are prone to hemorrhagic complications that can cause bleeding and shock in its severest form. Volunteers sleeping out in the open (like on boats) should use mosquito netting. This can be purchased here.

What kind of health care is there?
In the cities emergency treatment is usually adequate for cuts, broken bones, etc. Outside the cities there is little or no medical treatment available. Diagnosis of illnesses is limited. Most modern clinics and hospitals found in the cities use disposable needles.
Volunteers should drink plenty of water (only bottled or filtered water), avoid eating fruits and vegetables that haven't been cooked, avoid ice and make sure your meat is well done. Volunteers should be careful buying food from street vendors.
What about safety precautions?

• Use common sense and be aware of what is going on around you.
  
• Don't call unnecessary attention to yourself. Leave expensive jewelry at home. It would probably be best not to use clothing with the American Flag emblem. Brazilians usually love Americans but it is best to be cautious.
  
• Women should not to carry purses if they can do without them.
  
• Traffic: Be careful and attentive when walking. Generally speaking, the pedestrian does not have the right of way.
  
• Sun: You are close to the equator while here so use a sunscreen.
  
• Insects: Use a good repellent when in areas with mosquitoes and other pesky insects. Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors.
  
• The team leader should have a copy of everyone's passport.
  

What is needed to travel?
Everyone needs a valid USA passport and visa from the Brazilian consulate. The best way for volunteers to come to Area 1 is to fly to Manaus, Amazonas, go through customs, and then take a connecting flight to their destination. Some groups go to São Paulo, check through customs and then take a connecting flight to Manaus and then on to other destinations. This adds an extra day of travel coming and going and usually involves a long layover in São Paulo. The only airlines that are flying direct Miami/Manaus/Miami right now is TAM (a Brazilian airline) and COPA. Within Brazil there is also GOL airline flying to locations in Area 1.

Make sure the missionaries on the field have your latest travel itinerary by confirmed email. You MUST clear customs and pick up your baggage in Manaus (or São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro and make a connecting flight to Manaus) and then to your destination. We will arrange pickup for you at your destination.

Suggested items to bring:

• Flashlight
  
• Insect repellent
  
• Sunscreen
  
• Snacks – peanut butter, snack crackers, candy bars, granola bars, etc.
  
• Tylenol, ibuprofen and/or aspirin
  
• Hand sanitizer
  
• Allergy medicine,
  
• Visa credit card
  
• Washcloth(s) – hotels provide towels but not washcloths
  
• Teams staying on boats or "camping" in hammocks will need to bring towels and sheets also.
  
• You may want to also bring a towel , washcloth and sheets – this depends on the hotel or boat you are staying in.
  

Items you do NOT need to bring:

• Toilet paper
  
• Cigars and cigarettes (volunteers cannot not smoke)
  
• Expensive jewelry
  

Suggestions:
Be prepared to be flexible and willing to fit in. We may do some things differently than in the U.S. but generally conform to western patterns. You will likely work with a translator that will help you communicate. Time is not as important for Brazilians as it is for Americans so many times activities will not start at the time mentioned but team members should try to follow schedules due to transportation and other logistics.
Be sensitive to the Brazilians around you, don't use hand sanitizer immediately after shaking hands with people, be discreet. Don't carry your drinks and snacks around, it is best to find a private location for teams to have their breaks.