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The Amazon River is at the highest level in recorded history. That high water level is the reason a large boat carrying an eight-member team led by Shawnee Dentist Mickey Sehorn could make the trip to normally unreachable Brazilian villages last week.
Joining the Amazon Mission on the River, or AMOR, group with Sehorn were Larry Sparks, Diana Witten, Bill Roberts, Donnie Kuhn and Glenda Kuhn of New Beginnings Church, as well as Dr. Steve Woodson and Cameron Woodson from Stigler.
The group had originally been scheduled to join others on the AMOR group and travel to the Wai Wai nation. When unforeseen local travel delays shortened the trip, AMOR Director Boyd Walker postponed the visit to the Wai Wai nation. Instead, the team used the current river conditions to provide services to the villages of Sao Paulo and Sao Pedro, only accessible during high water. A small boat was sent to a third village, Sao Maria, to invite citizens to travel by canoe to and participate in the services provided by the complete 16-member AMOR team, which included volunteers from Arkansas, Missouri and New Jersey.
Sleeping in hammocks was one of many ways the team kept close during the two-day, 400-mile boat ride. An experienced crew provided meals and services. Two evenings during the long travel, team members joined crewmen for alligator hunts. Four were caught and released.
Stars were out each night to provide a unique canopy and light show. The Southern Cross was visible and, according to some, the Milky Way appeared as thick as a cloud. Cameras on board flashed as the Beatriz, the group’s boat, passed numerous flooded homes and beautiful foliage along the banks of the swollen Amazon tributaries.
Sehorn has traveled with AMOR on previous trips. This was the second trip with AMOR for family practitioner Woodson. Sehorn saw a total of 107 patients and extracted 220 teeth. Each patient received a toothbrush and toothpaste. Woodson, assisted by his son Cameron, saw 286 patients.
In a report to the congregation of New Beginnings on Sunday, Sehorn said the frustration of delayed flights and changed plans was God’s opportunity to send the team to the place of His choice. Sehorn noted that the number of those who came to Christ measures the success of the trip.
New Beginnings Pastor and Unity Health Center Chaplain Larry Sparks assisted with construction projects, led the team in devotionals and served communion during the trip up the Amazon tributaries.
“I suppose we journeyed to the ends of the earth obeying our Lord’s commission and with such a blend of God’s chosen servants. The Amazon is a mystery, the Brazilian nocturnal sky a cinema of stars, and the people are much as we are in love and purpose,” Sparks said. “We gained far more than we gave with the Amazon Missions On River.”
In a report to New Beginnings on Sunday, Sparks noted that everyone who contributed to the trip in any way by giving and praying traveled in spirit with members of this fruitful mission.
Ken and Elaine Stith of New Beginnings had traveled on a previous trip with AMOR and were aware of the need for reading glasses. The Shawnee couple purchased reading glasses to send along with the team. Others also donated to this much-needed service. More than 100 pairs of reading glasses were distributed to those who needed them.
Shawnee music teacher Bill Roberts carried recording flutes so he could share the joy of music with villagers. About 25 students gathered beneath trees or in the shade of buildings in these remote villages in the black water region of Brazil to experience and learn the international language of music.
Donnie Kuhn, who traveled as a member of the construction arm of the team, joined Ron Dunn of Arkansas and Larry Sparks as they used their skills and tools to provide one elderly woman of Sao Paulo an enclosed porch she used for a kitchen. In Sao Pedro, the construction team replaced thatch walls on a house with solid wood. The house was home to a family of seven. Glenda Kuhn, Donnie’s wife and director of Grace Missionary Society, also traveled with the team, providing encouragement and assisting Sehorn with dentistry.
An area pastor who had requested services to this region held a special church service at each village. In Sao Paulo 50 people made decisions to follow Christ. In Sao Pedro, sixteen people made decisions. There were no established churches in either village. A citizen of Sao Paulo has donated land for a church building. The men of the village are willing to do the work. Grace Missionary Society of McLoud is providing $1,400 in materials for that project. The pastor and AMOR ministries will provide discipleship of the new converts.
For information on how you can become involved with the many outreaches of New Beginnings Church, domestically and around the world, please contact the church or attend services at 1203 E. 42nd Street in Shawnee.
The Amazon River is at the highest level in recorded history. That high water level is the reason a large boat carrying an eight-member team led by Shawnee Dentist Mickey Sehorn could make the trip to normally unreachable Brazilian villages last week.
Joining the Amazon Mission on the River, or AMOR, group with Sehorn were Larry Sparks, Diana Witten, Bill Roberts, Donnie Kuhn and Glenda Kuhn of New Beginnings Church, as well as Dr. Steve Woodson and Cameron Woodson from Stigler.
The group had originally been scheduled to join others on the AMOR group and travel to the Wai Wai nation. When unforeseen local travel delays shortened the trip, AMOR Director Boyd Walker postponed the visit to the Wai Wai nation. Instead, the team used the current river conditions to provide services to the villages of Sao Paulo and Sao Pedro, only accessible during high water. A small boat was sent to a third village, Sao Maria, to invite citizens to travel by canoe to and participate in the services provided by the complete 16-member AMOR team, which included volunteers from Arkansas, Missouri and New Jersey.
Sleeping in hammocks was one of many ways the team kept close during the two-day, 400-mile boat ride. An experienced crew provided meals and services. Two evenings during the long travel, team members joined crewmen for alligator hunts. Four were caught and released.
Stars were out each night to provide a unique canopy and light show. The Southern Cross was visible and, according to some, the Milky Way appeared as thick as a cloud. Cameras on board flashed as the Beatriz, the group’s boat, passed numerous flooded homes and beautiful foliage along the banks of the swollen Amazon tributaries.
Sehorn has traveled with AMOR on previous trips. This was the second trip with AMOR for family practitioner Woodson. Sehorn saw a total of 107 patients and extracted 220 teeth. Each patient received a toothbrush and toothpaste. Woodson, assisted by his son Cameron, saw 286 patients.
In a report to the congregation of New Beginnings on Sunday, Sehorn said the frustration of delayed flights and changed plans was God’s opportunity to send the team to the place of His choice. Sehorn noted that the number of those who came to Christ measures the success of the trip.
New Beginnings Pastor and Unity Health Center Chaplain Larry Sparks assisted with construction projects, led the team in devotionals and served communion during the trip up the Amazon tributaries.
“I suppose we journeyed to the ends of the earth obeying our Lord’s commission and with such a blend of God’s chosen servants. The Amazon is a mystery, the Brazilian nocturnal sky a cinema of stars, and the people are much as we are in love and purpose,” Sparks said. “We gained far more than we gave with the Amazon Missions On River.”
In a report to New Beginnings on Sunday, Sparks noted that everyone who contributed to the trip in any way by giving and praying traveled in spirit with members of this fruitful mission.
Ken and Elaine Stith of New Beginnings had traveled on a previous trip with AMOR and were aware of the need for reading glasses. The Shawnee couple purchased reading glasses to send along with the team. Others also donated to this much-needed service. More than 100 pairs of reading glasses were distributed to those who needed them.
Shawnee music teacher Bill Roberts carried recording flutes so he could share the joy of music with villagers. About 25 students gathered beneath trees or in the shade of buildings in these remote villages in the black water region of Brazil to experience and learn the international language of music.
Donnie Kuhn, who traveled as a member of the construction arm of the team, joined Ron Dunn of Arkansas and Larry Sparks as they used their skills and tools to provide one elderly woman of Sao Paulo an enclosed porch she used for a kitchen. In Sao Pedro, the construction team replaced thatch walls on a house with solid wood. The house was home to a family of seven. Glenda Kuhn, Donnie’s wife and director of Grace Missionary Society, also traveled with the team, providing encouragement and assisting Sehorn with dentistry.
An area pastor who had requested services to this region held a special church service at each village. In Sao Paulo 50 people made decisions to follow Christ. In Sao Pedro, sixteen people made decisions. There were no established churches in either village. A citizen of Sao Paulo has donated land for a church building. The men of the village are willing to do the work. Grace Missionary Society of McLoud is providing $1,400 in materials for that project. The pastor and AMOR ministries will provide discipleship of the new converts.
For information on how you can become involved with the many outreaches of New Beginnings Church, domestically and around the world, please contact the church or attend services at 1203 E. 42nd Street in Shawnee.
