What do you know about Brazil?

The famous Brazilian songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, and pianist/guitarist Tom Jobim (Girl from Ipanema) was once quoted as saying, “Brazil is not for beginners.”  I recently read another similar quote saying, “São Paulo is not for amateurs.”  Having lived as a missionary there for over four years, I would tend to agree with both statements. 

To get a feel for life in São Paulo, I’ve posted some links and videos which give a small glimpse of what living in Brazil is like. I hope you not only find them informative (i.e. understanding the high cost of living in São Paulo or how poverty affects the lives of the children in the slums), but will be moved to partner with me in praying for the poor communities and at-risk children I work with. Ask the Lord of the harvest what role He may have for you in ministering in this part of the world.

From Operation World, fact sheet on Brazil and video Prayercast:

http://www.operationworld.org/country/braz/owtext.html

Video on ‘Poverty and Economic growth in Brazil’ by DW-TV reporter Roberto Manhães Reis, who explores the streets of his hometown São Paulo, Brazil after an absence of ten years.  This video is shot in the ‘South Zone’ of São Paulo, where I live, and some of the scenes are neighborhoods near where I worked. This is a very eye-opening journey into the heart of a slum.

http://youtu.be/Bcg7j2-vqMQ

Cost of Living in São Paulo:

http://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-living-review/Brazil-Sao-Paulo_300.cfm

Article on why things cost so much in Brazil:

http://super.abril.com.br/blogs/crash/why-everything-costs-so-much-in-brazil/

Learn about the city:

http://wikitravel.org/en/S%C3%A3o_Paulo

For thrill seekers – video of a crazy motorcycle driver maneuvering in busy São Paulo traffic. Motorcyclists are dangerous not only to other drivers, but to pedestrians as well!

http://youtu.be/UxC0QVobxuE

Ten fun facts about Brazil

Fact 1:
Brazil has the 10th highest number of vehicle owners in the world.
Fact 2:
The world’s best and most delicious coffee is produced in Brazil.
Fact 3:
Brazil has the biggest rain forest of the world, the Amazon forest
Fact 4:
Brazil has the 2nd highest Christian population in the world.

Fact 5:
Almost 200 million people live in Brazil, which makes it the fifth largest country in the world in terms of population.
Fact 6:
About 1 million people who live in Brazil are Asian.
Fact 7:
Scientists have estimated that there may be up to four million species of plants and animals in Brazil.
Fact 8:
Brazil has won the soccer world cup five times.
Fact 9:
Brazil has one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, the Christ Redeemer statue, located in Rio De Janeiro.
Fact 10:
Brazil is the largest country in Latin America.