Since I was not able to attend our last expedition of the year I am having Andrea and Mindy keep us updated on what is happening in Brazil.

From Mindy’s Blackberry

   Yesterday we dedicated Claudio’s house…so perfect!  We took the whole group shopping at the grocery store and bought 3 carts full of food.  Our group carried the carts up the hills to his house and we stocked the cupboards, fridge and bathroom with supplies. We then gathered the neighborhood and dedicated the house.  One of our distributors offered the prayer…sooooo beautiful.  Andrea spoke and there wasn’t a dry eye…it was beyond words. Our Expedition group loved every second of it…our refection time was so heartfelt. 

  The Expedition group has soaked in every single experience we have provided for them.  It’s been so beautiful to see their realizations around so many of our programs. The Believers Project 2 program has been so wonderful.  This group is the first to truly interact with these kids and it has been such a privilege…the kids are DARLING! 

From the iPhone of Andrea Barnes

   Hi team, I am shocked that it is already Thursday.  We have had two of the most beautiful days. You’ve probably already heard from Mindy so I’ll just through in my two cents.  We were so fortunate to be able to participate in Cladios family Nehemiah house.  It was such fun and quite an adventure shopping for the family.  We filled three full grocery carts full of food staples and other necessities.  Sergio told the store owner of our mission and the store owner allowed us to take the carts up into the favela and even sent an employee with us.  The route to the house was very steep and the government was busy digging up most of it for new pipes.  We had to lift these very heavy carts through much of the journey.  We arrived in time to stock the cupboards and refrigerator and set up the bathroom for the family.  The ceremony was so beautiful and there was not a dry eye.  So many of our expeditioners brought simple housewarming gifts which we wrapped.  The mom solemnly opened each gift and placed them tenderly on her lap for safe keeping.  We were happy, sweaty and fully spent by the end of the day.  Our daily reflections are full of touching joyful moments and we are grateful for what they bring to the experience.  Today was Believers II.  We had a ball.  The school brought in a clown and we played relay races pop the balloon, we painted faces and the kids provided an elaborate and adorable show.  BII is in need of so many things and the kids are so terribly poor.  Mindy and I feel such a commitment to help make their lives better through our work.

   On a lighter note we are excited for a full day in Rio tomorrow.  Kudos Val and Linda for all that you did to make the week extraordinary!

   Thank you to everyone one of you who helps to support us. Our programs are truly making a difference and are having a widespread impact that cannot be fully measured.

By Katy Holt-Larsen, Executive Director of the MORE Project

August 2009 marked the first annual MORE Project VIP Amazon Expedition in Brazil. This trip offered distributors the unique experience of visiting the northern regions of Brazil as well as the MORE Project in Niteroi, just outside of Rio de Janeiro.

Manaus, Brazil

The expedition launched in Manaus where we stayed at the Ariau Towers, an eco-lodge located in the heart of the Amazon. Surrounded by water, canoes were our only mode of transportation to explore the beauty and wildlife. We swam with pink dolphins, witnessed an Amazon sunrise, caught piranhas, and hunted Cayman crocodiles at night. As we departed we traveled to The Meeting of the Waters, a beautiful location where the black waters of the Rio Negro meet the brown waters of the Amazon. The waters do not mix, creating a distinct line between the two rivers. It was a fascinating and beautiful experience.

Belem, Brazil

After Manaus we headed to Belem, an historic Amazonian city near the Atlantic Ocean. This city in particular has been positively impacted by MonaVie’s purchasing of acai from the region. We met the women who make all the beautiful açai jewelry sold on www.monaviemall.com.

The lives of these women have changed tremendously as they’ve made and sold goods to MonaVie distributors. We visited the dock where acai is brought to market and sold by basketfuls. The dock is a bustling, colorful place. Within the short time we were there, the açai was briskly sold and the docks were bare again. We traveled up the Amazon to meet with locals who make their living harvesting acai for MonaVie. Graceful trees laden with ripe acai were abundant along the entire riverbank. We were introduced to Diogo who demonstrated how to climb an acai tree and gather and process the fruit. Families from nearby villages brought their little ones to receive one of the thousand pairs of shoes we gave away that day. It was very moving and unforgettable to meet with them that day.

A New Nehemiah House

We flew the next day to The Believer’s Project and stayed at Village MonaVie. We toured many areas of Vila Iparanga. Words cannot describe the living conditions within the slums. It was a great privilege then to be invited to the dedication of a new Nehemiah House for Marcella and her three sons. Where there once were dirt floors, we now saw clean, new tile. Running water, including a shower and flushing toilet replaced a bucket of water that served as a sink to the entire family. New beds and bedding, clean sheets, and a fully functional kitchen gave even more for this family to be grateful for.

Each day we took time to share our own reflections. As a group we shared the feeling that this trip truly felt like a “gift” to all those who attended. We agreed that our hearts were full to overflowing every single day we spent in Brazil. 

Our Next MORE Project Expedition: November 1–8, 2009

Please join us for our upcoming expedition to the MORE Project in Niteroi, Brazil, and spend time with the families who participate in our programs. It will be a beautiful experience you will never forget. To reserve your spot, please contact Linda Larsen at LindaL@themoreproject.org. An application form will then be sent to you.