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

Happy August, and welcome to our sixth missions spotlight! Ecuador is August’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 Ecuador

Continent: South America

Population: 17,643,054 (2020)

Capital: Quito

Largest City: Quito

Motto: Dios, Patria y Libertad (God, Homeland and Liberty)

National Anthem: “Salve, Oh Patria” (We Salute You, Our Homeland)

Current Leader: Lenín Moreno

Language: Spanish

Bordering Countries: Peru and Colombia.

Religions: Catholic (79%%); Protestant and Baptist (13%); Unaffiliated (5%); Other (3%) (Pew Research, 2014). Over  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: Galapagos Penguin, Toucans, Waved Albatross, Giant Armadillos, Harpy Eagles, Jaguars, Spectacled Bears, Scarlet Macaws, and Anacondas, just to give a sample!

Famous Foods: Locro de Papa (Potato Stew), Cuy Asado (Roasted Guinea Pig) Llapingachos (Fried Potato Pancakes filled with cheese and covered in peanut sauce, chorizo, fried eggs salad and avocado), Mote Pillo (Hominy and scrambled eggs), and Encocado de Pescado (Fish with Coconut Sauce).

Fun Facts: Ecuador literally means Equator! Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela used to be one country! Sad but true, Charles Darwin developed some of his evolutionary theories in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. Panama Hats actually come from Ecuador.

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 Ecuadorian 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

Happy July, and welcome to our fifth missions spotlight! Chile is July’s focus country, and I hope you enjoy our little trip to this South American nation! It’s been so much fun for me, reviewing all these countries I learned about in Spanish 2! So without further ado, let’s take off!

Country: The República de Chile

Continent: South America

Population: 18.73 Million (2018)

Capital: Santiago

Largest City: Santiago

Motto: Por la Razón o la Fuerza (By Right or Might)

National Anthem: “Puro, Chile es Tu Cielo Azulado” (How Pure, Chile, is Your Blue Sky)

Current Leader: Sebastian Piñera

Language: Spanish

Bordering Countries: Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina.

Religions: Catholic (45%); Protestant and Baptist (18%); Unaffiliated (32%); Other (5%). Approximately  77% of the population is involved in false religion, and probably more have never heard a clear Gospel presentation from the Bible.

Animals of Interest: Culpeo (fox-like creature), Chilean flamingo, Hippocamelus (a type of llama looking deer), Rheas (a large bird), Kodkod (a member of the cat family), and Southern River Otter, just to give a sample!

Famous Foods: Paste de Chocl0 (corn casserole with meat stuffing), Cazuela (beef, chicken, corn, rice, and potato stew), Completo (a jumbo hot dog with Mayonaise, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and Sauerkraut!), Porotos Granados (Bean stew with mashed corn, onions, pumpkin, garlic, tomato, and basil), Sopaipillas (Pumpkin fritters), and Chorlillana (sliced beef with fries, eggs {scrabbled or fried} and fried onions).

Fun Facts: The world’s largest swimming pool is in Chile! The Chilean Andes mountains have some of the largest active volcanos! Chile is home to the world’s oldest mummy!

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 Chilean 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 Chile! Encourage your family to pray for them and perhaps send them a note of encouragement!

Have a blessed week!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22