Trip Information

Servant Life partners with a local ministry in Brazil serving pastors, churches, and communities throughout the Amazon. Many riverbank and Indigenous communities are located in remote areas that can only be reached by boat, making local pastors and missionaries essential to the long-term work of sharing the Gospel and making disciples.
 

Teams come alongside these local leaders to proclaim Christ, encourage believers, meet identified needs, and build relationships that strengthen the ongoing work of the local church. Rather than simply completing projects during a week in Brazil, teams become part of a larger ministry that continues long after they return home.

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What will my team be doing? 

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Why serve along the Amazon?

Many communities along the Amazon are extremely remote, with no road access and transportation available primarily by boat. Local pastors and missionaries often travel significant distances with limited resources to evangelize, disciple believers, and strengthen churches. Some communities also have limited access to medical and dental care, clean drinking water, and ongoing Gospel ministry.

By traveling aboard the riverboat, teams are able to reach these communities while supporting pastors and local believers who continue serving there throughout the year.

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Teams join local pastors, missionaries, and leaders serving communities throughout the Amazon, traveling aboard a riverboat from the ministry base in Manaus. Each day, your team may stop in a different river community before sailing to the next ministry location.

Ministry opportunities vary based on the needs of each community and may include evangelism, home visits, discipleship, VBS and children's ministry, sports, men's and women's ministry, prayer, biblical training, community outreach, water filter distribution, and occasional construction projects. Teams with qualified medical or dental professionals may also have opportunities to provide healthcare in communities where access to these services is extremely limited.
 

Different gifts and skills can be used throughout the week. Whether through healthcare, teaching, children's ministry, evangelism, prayer, practical service, or simply building relationships, the goal is to serve alongside local believers and create opportunities to share the Gospel.

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Your team will also get a day of rest to enjoy the historic city of Manaus, where you can have a free day exploring the city, the market, etc. before heading to the airport for your flight home.

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What is life like on the riverboat?

The riverboat serves as both your team's transportation and home while traveling through the Amazon. Team members sleep in hammocks in air-conditioned sleeping quarters and have access to bathrooms and showers onboard. The boat also includes shared spaces for meals, team meetings, devotions, and fellowship.
 

Meals are prepared by the boat crew and served onboard. Because teams live together on the boat throughout the ministry portion of the trip, participants should come prepared for communal living, limited personal space, and a unique opportunity to experience life on the Amazon together.

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What does a general weekly schedule look like?

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• Saturday. Arrival in Manaus either Saturday around midnight or Sunday early morning.

• Sunday. Travel eight hours up or down the river to the first community. You will be serving alongside one of our partner pastors helping him minister in the communities. On this day of travel you will get to experience the Amazon: pass by villages, other boats, see birds, possibly pink dolphins, monkeys, etc. Our mission is to champion the riverbank pastors and their communities. Simply put, we come alongside these pastors encouraging and empowering them to share the love of Christ in the Amazon River Valley. Everything we do is about championing our pastors. You will get to champion our pastors.

• Monday - Thursday. Ministry, VBS, home visits, evangelism, possibly water filter distribution, possibly audio Bible distribution, playing soccer with the villagers. If you have medical or dental team members there is the opportunity to serve in these areas. Depending on where we are, you will get to swim in the Amazon or one of its tributaries. You may get to hunt alligators at night or fish for piranha. There may be some light construction (very seldom). You may get to help the farmers work in their manioc fields (a great way to build relationships). If school is in session, you will get to share your story and hang out with the students. 

• Friday. Thursday afternoon or very early Friday morning (depending on when your flight leaves) we will return to Manaus. If your flight leaves Friday night, you will have all day to visit a floating souvenir shop, *fish for Arapaima, *swim with the dolphins, visit the Manaus fish market, or just hang around on the boat.

• Saturday. Arrive back to the U.S. from an early morning flight.

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What does my cost include?

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• Housing. Your team will sleep in hammocks on our boat traveling down the Amazon with access to air-conditioned sleeping quarters, hot showers, and bathrooms. *$270 per each additional day on the boat

• Meals. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, every day on the boat! (Note: You need to pay for your meals at the airport while traveling, etc.)

• eVisa. As of April 10, 2024, Visa's are required for all travelers regardless of purpose. Servant Life will assist with the application process prior to travel. In addition, minors traveling without a parent will require an authorization letter notarized by the Brazilian embassy. 

• Supplemental Traveler's Medical Insurance. In the event of a medical emergency, you'll be covered with an international policy! *Interested in upgrading to a more comprehensive insurance plan that includes trip cancellation and interruption coverage? Ask a Servant Life team member for more information today!

• T-Shirt. Every participant gets an awesome mission trip t-shirt.

• Pre-Trip Training Material. We provide training sessions, trip overview documents, assistance from our team of mission trip experts, and communication with in-country missionaries to make sure your group is fully prepared for your trip.

• Pre-, During, and Post-trip Devotionals. This 4-week printed missions journal will help every team member grow and encounter Christ.

• In-country transportation. From the moment you land at the airport until the moment you leave, we will take you everywhere during the week. You will not need to arrange your transportation, but teams should be prepared to do some walking as we navigate different villages and communities.
   

Airfare is not included in the trip cost, but will be taken care of by Servant Life's travel agent who gets humanitarian rates and often free baggage. You may book on your own if you prefer to do so, but we ask to approve the itinerary first.

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Optional Ministry Resources:

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• Sawyer water filters to be given to churches along the river - $28.

• Evangelism Soccer Balls - $25.

• Ziplock bags with fishing line and hook – Cost Varies

• Craft Supplies – Cost Varies

• Medical Missions supplies & medicines – Cost Varies