In the Nova Esperança community, two-and-a-half hours by boat from Maués, in the Amazon, live more than 100 families who decided a long time ago to keep their original dialect, even the children who receive lessons in Portuguese in two schools that exist in the place. The Sateré-Mawé keep their traditions and customs alive even in the face of modernity, which is advancing towards the community every day.

"We are a very big people, and here we all speak Sateré-Mawé and Portuguese, but in everyday life, we only speak Sateré. The older ones hardly even speak Portuguese, and it is normal for us because we don't think we are different because we don't speak the same as the other people in town," details student Pamela Souza, age 16.

Souza coordinates the Adventist Hope Generation Choir "Hekatup Haria," formed by 25 Adventists from the community, ages 11–23, who sing praises in their native language. They attract attention wherever they go, and for this reason, they are always invited to perform in communities and churches in the region. "We are always ready to praise. We rehearse every week and, thank God, we are always going to take our culture to other places," says Souza.

Like every teenager, Souza has the dream of entering a university. "I still have time to choose, but I know I want to study something related to history and geography. These are subjects that catch my attention. I think about studying archeology and, after graduating, going back to help my people," she shares.

Adventist Presence

The Adventist Church is present in hundreds of indigenous communities in the Amazon. In the Maués region alone, the first indigenous people were baptized at least 30 years ago. Currently, there are four churches located in places that can only be reached by boat.

A challenge beyond the distance is the language for those who need to take the Gospel. This is the case of Pastor Hugo Matos, who has been working in the municipality for three years and serves indigenous communities. "The sermon is translated from Portuguese to Sateré-Mawé by a native brother who lives in the community. I have already made a sermon series, and it has always been like this. Today, I can already speak some words and even whole sentences that help in communicating with them. To make friends with them, you have to get together for a meal. They only talk at this moment, and that's when I can get closer to them," he explains.

According to the pastor, a missionary from the community currently ministers Bible studies to the communities. The work that started less than two years ago has already led 50 people to baptism.

The same attention is also paid in the regions of Sorocaima and Bananal, in Roraima. The indigenous communities, such as the Taurepang, together have more than 200 families who also maintain their traditions, customs, and native language. Recently, more than 50 natives were baptized.

Watch one of the choir's presentations:

The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Portuguese-language news site.