Young Anibal & Erica Pittau

In 1959, at the age of 16, I heard this great missionary extend a call to young people to dedicate their lives as missionaries. I felt deeply moved by the message and decided to follow in the footsteps of the great leader Halliwell. Though I had other talents, like Pastor Leo, in 1961 I decided to also study theology, nursing and some dentistry. In addition, I prayed that God would lead me to a young lady who had the same missionary spirit, and God lead me to a beautiful young woman named Erica Otto, whom I married. Today we have been married for almost 50 years.

Life on a Boat

In 1964 we received a call to be missionaries in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. I was to be captain of the Luzeiro III boat. We also ended up working on the Luzeiro I and Luzeiro V, sharing hope and spiritual health with thousands of families in the Amazon.

After eight years of living on boats, God gave us a beautiful daughter (who is now the wife of Pastor Omar Grieve, head of the Department of Health of the Washington Conference) and a darling son, John Keylor (now an electrical engineer).

Dental Work

In 1972, quite exhausted after establishing schools industries in addition to our ministerial work, we accepted a call to the country of Uruguay. However, we stayed there only five years for once again, in 1977, we were called to work in the Amazon in Manaus, Brazil.

The field blossomed with souls and in 1980 I was called as president of a newly formed mission in Rondônia/Acre (West Amazon Mission). During this time I helped found an educational institution in the heart of the jungle (Adventist Agricultural Institute of the Western Amazon, IAAMO) today dedicated to the training of hundreds of young people to be leaders for the Church. Eventually affected by health problems, we returned to our native country, Argentina, and later became residents of the United States in 1985.

Pr. Anibal & Erica Pittau

Forty years have gone by. Today, after retiring, Erica and I feel that God still wants us to continue our ministry to families living in the midst of great need, and thus we are returning to the Amazon. We feel privileged to join this ministry of volunteers to support the work of the Church.

Our purpose is to raise “centers of light” across the Amazon. Clinics, churches and schools must be established. To build these buildings will plan to start brick industries using clay and cement and a 30 ton hydraulic press. With this industry we plan to manufacture the material required for each base, so that in the future every family can benefit from clean homes, running water and solar power.

Brick Industry

Furthermore we wish to found other industries such as tropical fruit pulp industries. Currently in many places these fruits are wasted by lack of demand and economic incentives. These industries could economically support ASVAM in the work of preaching the gospel, the medical work and in construction of schools for thousands of children born in the jungles. They would also be a source of employment for our people.

We pray that donations from people who love the cause will help us acquire the land needed for these industries.

With my help as a mechanical engineer and pastor, and with the help of my wife Erica, along with other brave volunteers, we trust that God’s work will go forward in a mighty way. Are you willing to join us in this challenge for the future?

Anibal and Erica Pittau

Salva Vidas I

On three previous occasions the project led medical-mission trips to the Mount Zion Indigenous community, noticing that the community had a religious leader from the Pentecostal denomination which is widespread in the state of Amazonas. During our visits, in addition to performing medical and dental care, we would always leave literature for the community residents. On one occasion, our boat captain Saturnino Lima, left a copy of one of the Spirit of Prophecy books for Mr. Quintino, the community leader.

Bible Studies

Months after the last contact with our staff, Mr. Quintino was no longer feeling satisfied with the way his church was acting in his community, and after questioning several of his religious leaders and not finding answers to his concerns, he decided to pray on several occasions, asking God to show him where and how to proceed. Then, one Saturday, touched by the Holy Spirit, he decided to make a visit to the Adventist church in the city of Coari. Feeling an inner peace, he saw clearly the call of God to study more with the Seventh Day Adventists. However, as leader of his community, he felt he should share the information with the others, so he asked the Adventist Pastor to do Bible studies for the community, and in particular, for the members of his Pentecostal church.

Pr. Disraeli Baptizing Mr. Quintino (Community Leader)

Finally Pastor Disraeli Almeida was able to go to the community, and after 15 days of public evangelism and several Bible studies held in homes, 22 people (almost the whole local Pentecostal congregation) decided to place their lives in God’s hands and be baptized to became Seventh-day Adventists. Among those baptized were Mr. Quintino, community leader, two teachers and the community health worker. The community has decided to tear down their old church to build a new Seventh-day Adventist temple. It was so surprising to see most of the Pentecostal members, sincere heart, decideding to become members of the Adventist Church. This will be the first Adventist Church in Lake Mamia.

New Church Members

Dear friends, the Holy Spirit has increasingly worked to convert people to the truth. I do not know where you are at this moment, but be sure, whether you want it or not, this message of the gospel will be preached to every tongue, tribe, race and nation.

Would you like to take part in this wonderful work in the distant regions of the Amazon? You too may have a part in the progress of this work! Help the Mount Zion community to have a new Seventh-day Adventist Temple. Your donation will help with food, fuel and supplies such as shingles, nails and wood to be used in construction, enabling these recent converts to have a place to congregate. The cost of building new churches has been approximately $6,000 USD. If you can somehow participate in this project, please contact us. Be sure that God will bless you richly.

We sincerely ask everyone to continue praying for this new group, because the enemy is cunning and greedy, and will try to interfere in many ways in this new area. May God bless you all.

By:

Dr. Ricardo Faria

Coordinator and Volunteer Physician (River Solimões Base)

Team

In the month of April, a team of volunteer Bible workers started a 20 day mission project in the village of Monte das Oliveiras, about 77 km from the city of Coari. The team was lead by Milton Leite and Geraldo Dantas. They spent the days making home visits, giving Bible studies, and offering lectures at the recently constructed church. The community received them with open arms, and as a result, many are studying and preparing for baptism.

New Church

During this time, two couples (among them the village leader Mr. Francisco) decided to put their lives in order and get married. The wedding was conducted by Pr. Ivan Jr.

Baptisms

In addition, a wonderful surprise occurred through the working of the Holy Spirit. Mr. Pedro, the owner of the land the village was built on, after accepting Bible studies, decided to get baptized. So after the wedding celebrations, the community walked down the trail to the river where a beautiful baptism was held.

We praise the Lord for his marvelous workings.

Ricardo Faria

Solimões Base Coordinator

Base Veranda

With the worst flood in the history of the Amazon, the project base is going under water! The rainy season started early this year causing the river to rise more than usual. Eighty percent of the cities, towns and villages are flooded. A state of emergency has been declared. Outhouses have been washed away, causing disease to spread.

Laundry Room

Schools are unable to function and affected villagers are constructing elevated wooden platforms in their houses in order to walk around. Soon, there will be a lack of food since many crops have died.

The last few days there has been little rain and the river seems to be stopped. Everyone is hoping and praying that this will signal the end of the flood.

Flooded Community- Using Canoes as Bridges

However, no one knows for sure. At the base, the laundry room and the veranda are both flooded. If the river rises eight inches more, the kitchen and pharmacy will be flooded as well. It is very probably that many of our fruit trees will die from the flooding too. However, we feel very grateful that God has taken care of us so far.

We ask for your prayers as we seek to help the many villages who are in great need.

Lina Mills