Amazon Adventures

From SPARK

One-sentence summary

Amazon creatures teach lessons of life and God's love.

Description

This book contains 11 stories about the Amazon rain forest. It is the largest rain forest in the world. This forest covers a huge area of South America. It is home for many different kinds of plants and animals.

Each story in this book is about one animal or some part of the culture of the region. Interesting facts are given and the stories have a Bible verse and spiritual lesson related to the topic. Each story is about six pages long and includes some small black and white drawings.

The story titles are

• The Electric Eel - the power of electricity is compared to the greater power of God. (This story might be difficult for non-literate people to understand.)
• The White Mayflies - These insect-like dragonflies follow a path that leads to destruction compared to humans who travel the broad way to destruction. They ignore God's offer of a Shepherd (Jesus) to lead them to safety.
• The Grasshopper Mind - Grasshoppers always jump forward without being stopped by the problems they meet. Like the grasshopper, a Christian should always move forward when following Jesus.
• The Jungle Turncoat - Chameleons change their colors according to where they are. Some who claim to be Christians change their opinions according to who they are with. Their lives do not always show the love of Jesus.
• The Grand Lady - The Brazilian ostrich has little common-sense and will eat anything. Some people "swallow" anything they hear and believe in superstitions. Christians need to pray for understanding. They should trust Jesus rather than superstitions.
• A Strange Christmas Dinner - The tortoise was created to have a long life. Yet it eventually dies without having an effect on anything. God created people to live and serve Him by telling others about Jesus. But some never do.
• Tapirs are Tough - Tapirs have a weakness in their armor. Brazilian hunters use this weakness to successfully kill the animal. Brazilian Christians also "hunt men for Jesus". People are "caught" when His word gets into their hearts and they believe and follow Him.
• Tip from an Elephant Tamer! - Destructive and dangerous elephants do not live in the Brazilian jungle. But destructive and dangerous people do. Elephants can be tamed and so can people. Dangerous people are tamed by the love of Jesus.
• Froggy shows the way - The sound of croaking Brazilian frogs lead thirsty people to life-giving water. Jesus' words leads thirsty souls to His living water.
• The Closed House - Empty houses in the jungle can attract unwelcome visitors. Returning owners need to clean the house before inviting visitors. Jesus will clean out the sin and enter our hearts.
• What Kinkajou can do - The Kinkajou looks cute and cuddly but is deceptive and dangerous to other animals. Alcohol may look good but it is deceptive. At first it looks glamorous and bright. Later it becomes our enemy.
• Amazon Quiz - These thirty-eight questions help the readers remember the lessons and apply them to their lives.
• Answers - These are answers to the thirty-eight questions.

The book was written by a UFM missionary who spent his life living in the Amazon region and experiencing the culture of the rain forest.

Considerations

• The illustrations add interest to the stories.
• The stories are often told in reference to the author and his wife.
• Some of the stories refer to places and things that would be unknown to some people groups. This would require some explanation or culturally-appropriate adaptation.
• These stories would be good as audio cassette with flipchart illustrations or as radio programs for children.
• The book has 95 pages.
• A similar book titled "Rainforest Adventures" by this same author is also available.

Limitations

Guidelines for Use

Where to Obtain

Link to Producer or Source Organization

Christian Focus Publications Ltd

Cost

Cost: $3.99 (UK pounds as of 2001)

Producer/Owners

Author/Artist/Producer

Author: Horace Banner Illustrator: Stuart Mingham

Current copyright owner

For contact information, see Christian Focus Publications Ltd If you are interested in translating these stories for a minority language, contact Christian Focus Publications. Working together you will make a Creative Commons License agreement.

Other Information

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