Brazil is NEXT!

So it's official...last Monday I received my final approval from New Tribes Mission to join their team in northern Brazil on January 22 and stay through May. I'll be flying into Manaus, Brazil in the Amazonas region then driving to a small village and from there taking a boat down the Amazon River to the NTM mission school called Puraquequera or PQQ. My main responsibilities at the school will be cooking/working in the dining hall and helping out with teaching. It's been exciting to see God at work already as the details of my trip have come together very quickly, like getting my visa into Brazil - a process that normally takes up to 2 months but mine arrived in less than 2 weeks! So I'm looking forward to seeing very soon what God is doing in the Amazon, and I'll update this blog as often as jungle internet allows :)

The PQQ School:

New Tribes Mission on Brazil

Brazil is a bit smaller than the USA, but its five regions form a remarkably diverse country. The north contains the Amazon region -- home to known and unknown indigenous people. The northeast contrasts desert with beautiful palm-treed beaches. The central west boasts one of earth's most unique wildlife refuges and is home to the capital with its modern architecture. The southeast, with its multi-ethnic feel and huge industrial production, is home to São Paulo, with the world's fifth largest urban population. The south, settled mostly by European immigrant groups, inspires with its plains and rolling hills that create a backdrop to the enduring gaucho culture. You will also find the majestic Iguaçu Falls at the convergence of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.

There are approximately 350,000 indigenous people in Brazil made up of 258 indigenous groups who speak 180 different languages. Some sources indicate that Brazil contains the majority of uncontacted people on earth. Sixty percent live in the Amazon region.

Brazil Facts:
Full Country Name: República Federativa do Brasil
Area: 8,514,215 sq km (3,286,487 sq mi)
Population: 184 million
Capital City: Brasília
People: 53% European ancestry, 44% African descent, with significant Japanese, Arab and indigenous populations
Language:
Religion:
Government: Federal Republic
President: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva