The SWAU Department of Nursing hosted a lunch n' learn on Monday to socialize and debrief on the recent mission to the Amazon in Brazil. A slideshow detailing highlights from the trip was presented. 

The Amazon mission was part of a project started in 1931 by an American couple, Leo and Jessie Halliwell. The Amazon Life Savers Ministry is now a branch of the Northwest Brazil Union Institute of Missions. The SWAU mission team, with two nursing students, two theology majors, three community members, and two nursing faculty, joined a Brazilian doctor, nurses, and other professionals on the iconic Luzeiro (Lightbearer) boat. They spent ten days sleeping in hammocks on the boat's upper deck, providing much-needed services to four remote riverbank communities in areas of significant geographical challenges along the Amazon River. 

SWAU students participated in medical clinics, service to the community (including painting a house), door-to-door visitations, children's ministry, and evangelistic meetings. Nursing faculty Dr. Marcia Azevedo, who specializes in maternal-newborn care, and Dr. Lakicia Foster, a mental health expert, met with community members and leaders in each village to discuss women's health and mental health issues, common challenges in the region.         

The team distributed beautiful dresses for the little girls, some with matching dolls, donated by the local and Dallas Fort Worth area Dress a Girl Around the World ministry. The little boys were delighted to receive flip-flops, a must-have item in this tropical region. The children also received a school supplies kit, toothbrushes, and crucial dental hygiene education. Food baskets were distributed to struggling community members, providing families with much-needed relief. Visitations in the villages helped the participants connect with locals, assess their needs, and understand their challenges. "It felt like we were living an adventurous, Amazonian lifestyle," said Vito Sifuentes, a senior nursing student and SWAU Student Nurses Association President. 

SWAU students hosted evening evangelistic meetings, sharing the gospel through songs and biblical messages. The children had their separate program with puppets and guided activities. "Leading out in worship wasn't just something left to the Theology majors," recounted Desi Gomez, a SWAU Theology student. "All of us participated in worship leading." 

The tribe Chief of an indigenous village expressed his appreciation for the service to his community and welcomed the team, inviting them for future mission trips. His six-year-old son was particularly attached to Rebekah Azevedo, a senior nursing student. "I helped him listen to his heartbeat with a stethoscope," she said. "He cried when we had to leave, telling me, 'You can't go!'. It was a very special bond." 

At the end of the week, the group enjoyed sightseeing and swimming with the Amazon pink dolphins. They also visited one of the many indigenous tribes, learning about their culture and traditional customs. 

Dr. Lakicia Foster, who has been on a number of mission trips, recounted how this mission trip changed her mindset. “I went on this trip thinking, ‘What can I give these people?’ By the end, I was blessed by what they gave me.” The nursing department is looking forward to the next mission, sharing our knowledge, living our faith, and practicing service as the hands and feet of Jesus.