Hey, Y’all! Welcome back to Life of Heritage Corner! Okay, so when I was taking Spanish in school, this was one country I had so much fun saying! I could rattle all the South American countries off in order (lost that along the way, lol!) and several in other continents too! But that one has stuck with me! So, grab your sunscreen, and let’s head to Paraguay!

Country: Republic of Paraguay

Continent: South America

Population: 7,292672 (2020)

Capital: Asunción

Largest City: Asunción

Motto: Peace and Justice

National Anthem: Paraguayan National Anthem

Current Leader: Mario Abdo Benítez

Language: Spanish and Guarani

Bordering Countries: Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia

Religions: Roman Catholic (88.3%); Protestant (6.8%); Morman/JW (0.9%); None (2.6%); No Answer (0.8%); Other (0.5%). Approx. 91% 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, Tapirs (a pig looking creature with a small “trunk”), Ocelots (wild cat), Toucans, Giant Anteaters, Chacoan Peccary (boar), Giant Armadillos, Pampas Fox, Maned Wolf, Bush Dogs, Giant Otters, Guanaco (Llama family), Azara’s Night Monkeys, and Bothrops Jararaca (snake) just to name a few!  

Famous Foods: Sopa Paraguaya (Paraguayan Soup, it’s actually cake-like and contains cornmeal, eggs, cheese, chopped onion, and milk or whey); Chipa Cuasu (Savory Corn Cake), Mbeju (Starch and cheese flatbread); Mascada (Cassava root Hamburger patties); Butifarra (white sausage with garlic, bacon, and lemon).

Fun Facts: The largest feline of the Americas, the Jaguar, lives in Paraguay! Paraguay also has the largest Water Reserve in the world! Of all landlocked countries, Paraguay has the largest Navy! They used to be a larger country but lost 54,000 square miles to Bolivia in a war with Bolivia in 1865-1870.

Missionaries: (Subject to Additions!)

Prayer Requests: Pray that the light of the Gospel will reach this nation. FBN has been heard in this country, so please pray that God will bless the broadcast and that the Paraguayan 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 Paraguay! Encourage your family to pray for them and perhaps send them a note of encouragement!

Have a blessed week!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

PS. Comment below with any fun facts or Missionaries connected with Paraguay you know about!

Hey, Y’all! Welcome back to Life of Heritage Corner! I’m so excited to share about this particular Missions Spotlight because I knew someone whose family was from Guyana! It’s fun when you have some kind of connection! Anyways! Time to get into our spotlight! Hope you enjoy!

Country: Republic of Guyana

Continent: South America

Population: 782,766 (2019)

Capital: Georgetown

Largest City: Georgetown

Motto: One People, One Nation, One Destiny

National Anthem: Dear Land of Guyana of Rivers and Plains

Current Leader: Ifraan Ali

Language: English

Bordering Countries: Suriname, Brazil, and Venezuela

Religions: Pentecostal (22.8%); Seventh-Day Adventist (5.4%); Anglican (5.2%); Methodist (1.4%); Jehovah’s Witnesses (1.3%); Roman Catholic (7.1%); Christians (Not sure what all they consider Christian) (20.8%); Hindu (24.8%); Muslim (6.8%); Other (2.6%); None (3.1%). Approx. 79% 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, Arapaima (freshwater fish), Harpy Eagles, Giant Anteater, Giant River Otter, Black Caimans (alligator family), and Capybara, just to name a few!

Famous Foods: Curry (chicken, beef, lamb); Metamgee (a dumpling dish made from cornflour, yams, plantains, eddos root and cassava, cooked in coconut milk and grated coconut); Pepperpot (a stew famous for its hot peppers and spices, cooked with Beef and yucca); Garlic Pork; Plantain Chips.

Fun Facts: Guyana is home to the rarest type of Otter, the Giant River Otter! It’s also the home of the largest scaled freshwater fish! Guyana is the only South American country with English as its official language!

Missionaries: (Subject to Additions!)

Prayer Requests: Pray that the light of the Gospel will reach this nation. FBN has been heard in this country, so please pray that God will bless the broadcast and that the Guyanese 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 Guyana! Encourage your family to pray for them and perhaps send them a note of encouragement!

Have a blessed week!
Ryana Lynn

Happy February, and welcome to our 9th missions’ spotlight! I admit I knew nothing about French Guiana until I wrote this post! I hope you enjoy our little trip to this South American nation! So, without further ado, let’s take off!

Country: Départment de la Guyane (French Guiana is owned by France and is a member of the European Union)

Continent: South America

Population: 290,691 (2020)

Capital: Cayenne

Largest City: Cayenne (61,550)

Motto: Work Creates Abundance

National Anthem: La Marseillaise

Current Leader: Rodolphe Alexandre

Language: Guianese Creole French

Bordering Countries: Brazil and Suriname

Religions: 74.3% Catholic; 9.9% Protestant (including Baptist 😉); 3.4% Christian syncretic; 2.9% Chinese folk religion; 6% Other; 3.4% No Religion. At least 87% of the population is involved in false religion, and probably more have never heard a clear Gospel presentation from the Bible.

Animals of Interest: Collared Peccaries (swine), Squirrel Monkeys, Harpy Eagles, Agouti (rodent), White-Faced Saki (monkey), South American Tapir (swine-like), Red-Handed Tamarin (?), Greater Long-Nosed Armadillo, just to name a few!

Famous Foods: Bouillon D’Aoura (smoked fish, crab, prawns, vegetables and chicken, with aoura, a savanna tree fruit); Forrest game with red beans and rice; Couac (grated and dried yucca); Blaff (Spicy fish chowder); Roti (oil fried bread used for dipping); and Doku (a creamy corn dessert with cinnamon and brown sugar).

Fun Facts: Cayenne pepper (a favorite in my family, especially in the winter!) is named after the capitol of FG! Guiana means “land of many waters”! Since they are members of the EU, FG uses Euros instead of their own national currency.

Missionaries: (Subject to Additions!)

Prayer Requests: Pray that the light of the Gospel will reach this nation. I’m not sure if FBN is heard in this country, so please pray that God will bless the broadcast and that the Falkland 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 French Guiana! Encourage your family to pray for them and perhaps send them a note of encouragement!

Have a blessed week!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Happy January, and welcome to our Eighth missions’ spotlight! The Falkland Islands are our first 2021 focus country, and I hope you enjoy our little trip to this South American nation! So, without further ado, let’s take off!

Country: Falkland Island (a territory of the United Kingdom)

Continent: South America

Population: 3,525

Capital: Stanley

Largest City: Stanley (2,213)

Motto: Desire the Right

National Anthem: God Save the Queen

Current Leader: Barry Rowland (under Queen Elizabeth)

Language: English

Bordering Countries: None

Religions: 57.2% Christian; 10% Catholic; 31.5% Non-affiliated or did not answer the survey; 1.3% Other. Nearly 75% of the population is involved in false religion, and probably more have never heard a clear Gospel presentation from the Bible.

Animals of Interest: There are 5 species of Penguins on Falkland! Gentoo, King, Macaroni, Magellanic, and Rockhopper!

Famous Foods: Because England owns this country, Fish and Chips (fries) are popular on the Island! Diddle Dee Berry Jelly is a popular condiment. Seafood and mutton are popular on the Island, but because the country is part of England, they don’t appear to have many recipes of their own. Am I wrong? Drop a comment below and share about Falkland Cuisine!

Fun Facts: 740 Islands make up the Falkland Islands, but combined, they are only Connecticut’s size! They have their own currency and are financially independent of Britain in everything but their defense services. The Penguin News is the only weekly paper in the nation! There are no chain restaurants on the islands!

Missionaries: (Subject to Additions!)

Prayer Requests: Pray that the light of the Gospel will reach this nation. I’m not sure if FBN is heard in this country, so please pray that God will bless the broadcast and that the Falkland 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 the Falkland Islands! Encourage your family to pray for them and perhaps send them a note of encouragement!

Writing Prompt: Know any fun facts about Falkland? Do you have any missionaries to the Islands your church supports?

Have a blessed week!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Happy September, and welcome to our Seventh missions spotlight! Guyana is September’s focus country, and I hope you enjoy our little trip to this South American nation! So without further ado, let’s take off!

Country: República del Guyana

Continent: South America

Population: 786,552 (2020)

Capital: Georgetown

Largest City: Georgetown

Motto: One People, One Nation, One Destiny

National Anthem: “Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains”

Current Leader: Irfaan Ali

Language: English

Bordering Countries: Suriname, Brazil, and Venezuela.

Religions: (As of 2012) Hindu (24.8%); Pentecostal (22.8%); Other Christians (20.8%); Roman Catholic (7.1%); Muslim (6.8%); Seventh-Day Adventist (5.4%); Anglican (5.2%); Irreligious (3.1%); Other (2.6%); Methodist (1.4%); Jehovah’s witnesses (1.3%). Nearly 75% 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, Caimans, Sloths, Howler Monkeys, Horses, Anteaters, Coatis, Ocelots, Geckos, and Giant Otters, just to give a sample!

Famous Foods: Pepper Pot (Slow cooked Stew of meat, Caribbean peppers, cinnamon and cassava root sauce); Metemgee (stew of yams, plantains, cassava, and coconut milk curry broth); Fried Bora (a Chinese green bean, fried in a garlic soy sauce glaze).

Fun Facts: Kaieteur Falls is the number waterfall in the Worldwide Waterfall Database! Guyana is the only South American Country with English as it’s first language! Guyana means Land of Many Waters!

Missionaries: (Subject to Additions!)

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 Guyanese 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 Ecuador! Encourage your family to pray for them and perhaps send them a note of encouragement!

Have a blessed week!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22