Missions Spotlight || Colombia

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...

Congratulations to Ribbon Ash for Winning the Giveaway! I will be emailing you your prize shortly!

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