In 1931, the first of many Luzeiro Medical Missionary boats was launched. Leo B. Halliwell and his wife Jessie, a registered nurse, had a dream to serve the people of the Amazon River and it's tributaries. Below is from a Memorative plaque I found on-line.
Leo and Jessie Halliwell, natives of Nebraska, veteran missionaries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, spent a total of 38 years serving the people of Brazil. Pastor Halliwell was the builder and caption of the first Luzeiro (Lightbearer) River Launch, spending twenty eight years on the Amazon River and its Tributaries, traveling more than twelve thousand (12,000) miles a year on these waters.
When the Halliwells first arrived on the Amazon, the native population was ravaged by malaria, leprosy, elephantiasis and malnutrition. There was not a doctor in the whole area of three million (3,000,000) square miles. They treated more than a quarter million Brazilians for scores of tropical diseases. Jessie, a Registered Nurse, delivered hundreds of babies. They gave some 50,000 smallpox vaccinations, distributed tons of medicines and patched up thousands of accident victims. Through the years they established hospitals, clinics, and helped build churches and Christian schools.
The Federal Government of Brazil in recognition of their role on the Amazon, bestowed on both Jessie and Leo the Brazilian Order of the Southern Cross. This gleaming medal is the highest honor the Brazilian government awards to civilians. A special stamp was issued during 1981 by the Brazilian government commemorating 50 years of medical missionary and launch work started in 1921 by Leo and Jessie Halliwell. Thousands of Seventh-day Adventist Christians in the Amazon Basin trace their Christian roots to the work of the Halliwells.
I, Kim Hess, had the opportunity to travel for the month of December of 1993 on the Luzeiro XXI. That was an incredible month. Unfortunately in 1998 the whole Luzeiro program came to a halt for various reasons. My dream is to one day soon start another Medical Missionary Launch program.
Leo and Jessie Halliwell, natives of Nebraska, veteran missionaries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, spent a total of 38 years serving the people of Brazil. Pastor Halliwell was the builder and caption of the first Luzeiro (Lightbearer) River Launch, spending twenty eight years on the Amazon River and its Tributaries, traveling more than twelve thousand (12,000) miles a year on these waters.
When the Halliwells first arrived on the Amazon, the native population was ravaged by malaria, leprosy, elephantiasis and malnutrition. There was not a doctor in the whole area of three million (3,000,000) square miles. They treated more than a quarter million Brazilians for scores of tropical diseases. Jessie, a Registered Nurse, delivered hundreds of babies. They gave some 50,000 smallpox vaccinations, distributed tons of medicines and patched up thousands of accident victims. Through the years they established hospitals, clinics, and helped build churches and Christian schools.
The Federal Government of Brazil in recognition of their role on the Amazon, bestowed on both Jessie and Leo the Brazilian Order of the Southern Cross. This gleaming medal is the highest honor the Brazilian government awards to civilians. A special stamp was issued during 1981 by the Brazilian government commemorating 50 years of medical missionary and launch work started in 1921 by Leo and Jessie Halliwell. Thousands of Seventh-day Adventist Christians in the Amazon Basin trace their Christian roots to the work of the Halliwells.
I, Kim Hess, had the opportunity to travel for the month of December of 1993 on the Luzeiro XXI. That was an incredible month. Unfortunately in 1998 the whole Luzeiro program came to a halt for various reasons. My dream is to one day soon start another Medical Missionary Launch program.
This picture of Luzeiro I was taken in 2005.
