Happy 1st of June, and welcome to our fourth missions spotlight! Colombia is June’s focus country, and I hope you enjoy our little trip to this South American nation! Having friends that serve there makes this post even more exciting to me! So, let’s go!

But before we do...

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Country: Spanish Republica de Colombia

Continent: South America

Population: 50,882,291

Capital: Bogota

Largest City: Bogota

Motto: Libertad y Orden (Liberty and Order)

National Anthem: “Himno Nacional de la Republica de Colombia” (National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia)

Current Leader: Ivan Duque Marquez

Language: Spanish

Bordering Countries: Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

Religions: Catholic (79%); Pentecostalism (6%); Mainline Protestant (2%); other Protestant and Baptist (6%); Other Religion (2%); Unspecified (5%). Approximately  90% of the population is involved in false religion, and probably more have never heard a clear Gospel presentation from the Bible.

Animals of Interest: Blue-Billed Curassow (bird), Multicolored Tanager (bird), Pink River Dolphin, Cotton-Top Tamarin (monkey!), Orinoco Crocodile, 89’98 Butterfly, Jaguar, Capybara (a large rodent), and Poison Dart Frogs, just to give a sample!

Famous Foods: Bandeja Paisa (grilled steak, fried pork rind, chorizo sausage on a bed of white rice and beans, topped with a fried egg), Arepas (flatbread made of cornbread, served with butter or cheese), Fritanga (grilled chicken, beef, and pork, and fried plantain), Bunuelos (ball-shaped fritters, made with white cheese), Empanadas (a pastry filled with beef, chicken or cheese, rice, and coriander), Patacones (deep-fried plantain pancakes), Pandebono (bread made of cornflour, cheese, and eggs), Sancocho (a stew of meat, plantain, cassava root, coriander, sweetcorn, and potatoes), Cholado Colombiano (crushed ice, fresh fruit, condensed milk, shredded coconut, and blackberry syrup).

Fun Facts: In Colombia, a typical breakfast drink is hot chocolate with cheese! Colombia is the only country in South America that has two coastlines, the Caribbean and Pacific! One/third of Colombia is made up of the Amazon Rainforest! Every day at 6 am and 6 pm, radios are required to play the National Anthem! The colors of the flag stand for bloodshed in the War for Independence (red), the riches of the country (yellow) and liberty and sovereignty (blue)!

Missionaries: Aaron and Aubrie Vance! (bemagnified.org) This sweet family of 6 came to our church for our Missions Conference, and shortly after that, we took them on for support. They were expecting their 2nd daughter at the time. We got to spend a good deal of time together, and I was so excited to have Brother Vance help us out on our bus route on Sunday Morning. Being fluent in Spanish, my kiddos just loved him!

Prayer Requests: Pray that the light of the Gospel will reach this nation and turn it around from an idol-worshiping nation to followers of Christ. FBN is heard in this country, so please pray that God will bless the broadcast and that the Colombian people will hear the Gospel. And above all, pray for laborers to go and serve!

Don’t forget to check your list of missionaries at your church for Missionaries to Colombia! Encourage your family to pray for them and perhaps send them a note of encouragement!

Have a blessed week!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Welcome to our third missions spotlight! Bolivia is May’s focus country and I hope you enjoy our little trip to this South American nation!

Country: Republic of Bolivia

Continent: South America

Population: 11,673,021

Capital: La Paz and Sucre (yep, two Capitals!)

Largest City: Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Motto: La Unión es la Fuerza (Unity is Strength)

National Anthem: “Bolivianos, el Hado Propicio” (Bolivians, a most Favorable Destiny)

Current Leader: Juan Evo Morales Ayma

Language: Spanish is the main one, but they have multiple native languages recognized as well!

Bordering Countries: Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Peru.

Religions: Catholic (70.0%); Protestant (includes Baptist, because for some reason Wikipedia is confused on that, lol! We’ll forgive them I guess 😉) (17.2%); None (9.3%); Mormon/JW (1.7%); Other Religion (1.2%). Approximately  83% of the population is involved in false religion, and probably more have never heard a clear Gospel presentation from the Bible.

Animals of Interest: Spectacled Bear, Giant Otters, Capybara, Guanaco (a llama type animal), Viscacha (rabbit), Andean Condor, Chinchilla Rat, and Giant Armadillo, just to give a sample!

Famous Foods: Sopa de Mondongo (veggie and tripe soup), Sajta de pollo (Chicken with onions, tomatoes, peas, and yellow chili peppers and, with an array of seasonings, including cumin!), Arroz con queso (Rice and Cheese), Anticucho (beef heart, usually, kabobbed),  Silpancho (white rice, boiled or steamed potatoes, beef or chicken, and fried eggs), and Majadito (rice, dried meat, chopped onions, and tomatoes).

Fun Facts: Bolivia was named after Revolutionary Simon Bolivar, the first president of the country! Bolivia was home to the ancient Incan civilization! Bolivia has 37 official languages! Bolivia is one of two land-locked countries in South America!

Missionaries: (coming soon!)

Prayer Requests: Pray that the light of the Gospel will reach this nation and turn it around from an idol worshiping nation to followers of Christ. FBN is heard in this country, so please pray that God will bless the broadcast and that the Bolivian people will hear the Gospel. And above all, pray for laborers to go and serve!

Don’t forget to check your list of missionaries at your church for Missionaries to Bolivia! Encourage your family to pray for them and perhaps send them a note of encouragement!

Welcome to our second missions spotlight! Brazil is February’s focus country and I hope you enjoy our little trip to this South American nation!

Country: Federative Republic of Brazil

Continent: South America

Population: 210 Million (2019)

Capital: Brasilia

Largest City: São Paulo

Motto: Ordem e Progresso (Order and Progress)

National Anthem: “They hear stand on Placid Shores of the Ipiranga River”

Current Leader: Jair Bolsonaro

Language: Portuguese

Bordering Countries: French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.

Religions: Catholic (64.6%); Protestant (includes Baptist, because for some reason Wikipedia is confused on that, lol! We’ll forgive them I guess 😉) (22.2%); Spiritism (2%); Other (3.2%); No Religion (8.0%). Approximately  78% of the population is involved in false religion, and probably more have never heard a clear Gospel presentation from the Bible.

Animals of Interest: Jaguars, Capybaras, Armadillos, Anteaters, Tamarins (a kind of monkey), Maned Wolves, Amazon River Dolphins, Giant Otters, Piranhas, Three-Toed Sloths, and Poison Dart Frogs, just to name a few!

Famous Foods: Feijoada (a stew of pork and black beans. I’ve tried this, but personally, I think it needs a tad more flavor, but it was good, nonetheless), São de Quejo (cheese bread; I’ve had this too!), Brigadeiro (chocolate truffles); Açaí (considered a super-food, you can have this as a sorbet or made into a parfait), Brazilian Lemonade (okay, this one is a favorite of ours. It’s basically lemon {or lime} juice, sugar, water and sweetened condensed milk! Tangy and sweet and a delicious specialty drink for a game night), Coxinhas (shredded chicken wrapped in dough and fried), and Pastels (pastries filled with combinations of meat, cheese, prawns, chicken with cream cheese, and heart of palm).

Fun Facts: Brazil is the largest country in South America! And it is the lone Portuguese speaking country on the continent! Only two countries in South America do not share a boarder with Brazil! Can you guess which ones? Brazil has three time zones! Brazil is home to a good portion of the Amazon River! 60% of the Amazonian Rainforest is in Brazil!

Missionaries: Pending—I will update this as soon as I can!

Prayer Requests: Pray that the light of the Gospel will reach this nation and turn it around from an idol worshiping nation to followers of Christ. FBN is heard in this country, so please pray that God will bless the broadcast and that the Brazilian people will hear the Gospel. And above all, pray for laborers to go and serve!

Don’t forget to check your list of missionaries at your church for Missionaries to Brazil! Encourage your family to pray for them and perhaps send them a note of encouragement!

Welcome to our very first missions spotlight! Argentina is the country of interest today and I hope you enjoy our little trip to this South American nation!

Country: The Argentine Republic (aka Argentina)

Continent: South America

Population: 44.78 Million (est. 2019)

Capitol: Buenos Aires (pop. 2.89 Million)

Largest City: Buenos Aires

Motto: En Unión y Libertad (In Unity and Freedom)

National Anthem: “Hear, Mortals, the Sacred Cry: Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!”

Current Leader: President Alberto Fernández (Elected: December 2019)

Language: Spanish

Bordering Countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay

Religions: Catholicism (62.9%); No Religion (18.9%); Protestantism (15.3%) {This includes Baptists, though we are not Protestants. We did not come out of the Catholic Church.}; Jehovah’s Witness/Mormon (1.4%); Other Religions (1.2%); No answer (0.2%). (2019; Source: from Religion in Argentina, Wikipedia) Approx. 84.4 % (Possibly more) of this nation is lost.

Animals of Interest (click on the name for a look at these animals!): Guanaco (in the llama family), Southern Right Whale, Magellanic Penguin, South Andean Deer, Maned Wolf and Pampas Cat, just to name a few!

Famous Foods: Empanadas (a pastry “pocket” that can be stuffed with desserts or meat mixtures); Dulce de leche (“Candy of Milk”; a thick caramel sauce); Asado (Argentinian BBQ!).

Fun Facts: Argentina is the 8th largest country in the world! Its name is derived from a Latin word meaning Silver. Argentina had 5 presidents in 10 days in 2001! It is also the largest Spanish speaking country in the world. Perito Moreno Glacier is the 3rd largest freshwater source and is also a glacier that is growing, not shrinking! Abortion is still restricted in Argentina, except in rare instances, which while still wrong, it’s a huge step in the right direction! (Source: SeriousFacts.com)

Missionaries: Patrick and Leslie Henry, Faith Baptist Church, Lanús, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Prayer Requests: Pray that the light of the Gospel will reach this nation and turn it around from an idol worshiping nation to followers of Christ. FBN is heard in this country, so please pray that God will bless the broadcast. More people in Argentina listen to the radio by percentage than any other country, so pray that they will come across FBN and hear the Gospel. And above all, pray for laborers to go and serve!

Don’t forget to check your list of missionaries at your church for Missionaries to Argentina! Encourage your family to pray for them and perhaps send them a note of encouragement!

That's it for now! Have a Blessed Day!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22