2008 BRAZIL FACTS

• The country gained independence from Portugal in 1822.
• It’s a mixture of European, African and Indigenous peoples and cultures.
• It’s the 5th largest nation in the world in terms of land mass and population.
• Brazil is the largest and most populous country in South America.
• It’s slightly smaller than the U.S. with a population slightly under 200 million.
• Brazilians speak Portuguese.
• ¾ of the country is Catholic.
• Brazil is comprised of 26 states + 1 federal district (Brasilia), which are divided into 5 regions—North, Northeast, Central-West, Southeast and South.
• Brazil was governed by dictatorship during the periods 1930–1934, 1937–1945 (both under Getúlio Vargas) and 1964–1985 (under a series of generals appointed by the military).
• Up until economic reforms in 1994, the country suffered decades of sky-high inflation (as high as 5000%).
• To give you an idea of the current Brazilian economy compared to the U.S. economy, the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of Brazil is 8,561 “international dollars” compared to the U.S. per capita GDP of 41,399 in 2005 (both calculated using “purchasing power parity” that takes into account the cost of a basket of goods).
• Brazil ranks 8th in the world in terms of income inequality; the U.S. ranks 33rd.
• The minimum wage in Brazil is currently 380 reais/month or about US$165/month (before taxes).

 

THE CITY OF VITORIA

• Vitoria (meaning “Victory”) is the capital of the state of Espirito Santo
• Founded in 1551, Vitória is one of  three Brazilian capitals built on islands
• It is one of the leading iron-ore ports in Brazil
• It has a population of about 1 million people in the metropolitan area

 

 

METHODISM IN BRAZIL

• Although the first beginnings of Methodism in Brazil can be traced back to 1835, the first official Methodist missionary to minister to the Brazilian population was J.J. Ransom in 1867. He eventually settled in Rio de Janeiro and founded the first Methodist church in Brazil there in 1879.
• The Brazilian Methodist Church has been an autonomous church since 1930.
• It currently has approximately 677 churches (in addition to 430 “congregations” and 675 “missionary points”) and 175,000 members.

 

Brazil Facts & Mission Background

The newest mission partner in relationship with our conference, the 170,000-member Methodist Church of Brazil, is a dynamic and growing community with a clear sense of mission and purpose.  

The challenge they face is great: since the 1980's, tens of millions of Brazilians have migrated to urban areas, where acute economic distress has created in this vast South American nation the greatest number of "street children" in the world.  The Brazilian government has proved unable to contain this humanitarian crisis, or to direct sufficient resources to families living at subsistence levels in the interior. 

Our Conference Offering for 2006 will support three initiatives of the Brazilian Methodist Church to deal with the crisis: the Shade and Fresh Water Project, which uplifts impoverished urban children, the Hospital Boat, which delivers health care to remote villages along the Amazon, and the Mechanical Cow, a community-based project that provides soy milk to indigenous children in southwestern Brazil.  In the coming year, IOH will be focused upon equipping Volunteers in Mission teams to go and experience these projects first-hand.  

 

The VAUMC Mission Webpage for Brazil “Initiative of Hope”

http://www.vaumc.org/index.cfm/fa/content.view/menuID/2255.htm

 

Light at the End of the Tunnel

http://www.vaumc.org/repository/Mission/IOH/Brazil/BrazilAdvocateStory.pdf

 

General Information:

Area: 8,511,965 sq km (a little smaller than the US)

Capital: Brasilia (2.1 Million People)

Total Population: 177 Million

Religion: 80% Roman Catholic; 20% Other

Infant Mortality: about 3%

Median Age: 27.81 Years

Life Expectancy: about 63.5 years

Per Capita GDP: $2,840

Exchange Rate: 2.89 Reals / Dollar

Population below Poverty Line: 22% (’98)

Unemployment Rate: 11.5%

Literacy: 86.4%

HIV/AIDS (Adults): .7%

People living with HIV/AIDS: 660,000

Languages: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French

Alliances and Coalitions: Organization of American States, Inter-American Treaty of Reciprical Assistance, Latin American Integration Association, Mercosul, involved in the Peru-Ecuador peace process, United Nations, non-permanent member UN security Council, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, nuclear safeguard agreement with IAEA, Missile Technology Control Regime

Brazil ranks 7th among the world’s industrial powers  

 

History:
Brazil was colonized and ruled by Portugal until 1822 when the prince of Portugal declared Brazil’s independence and established himself as Emperor with the title of Dom Pedro I. The new empire would not last, however. During the rule of his son, Dom Pedro II, there was a military coup in which a federal republic was established. Between 1889 and 1930 the country was a Constitutional Democracy, but in 1930 another military coup brought Getulio Vargas to power as the dictator until 1945. Between 1945 and 1964 the country was once again relatively democratic, but in 1964 another military coup overthrew the existing government and progressed toward more democratic reforms which culminated in the writing of the 1988 constitution of Brazil.

People:
The people of Brazil are among the most diverse groups in the world. In the 16th century, the Portuguese colonized what is now known as Brazil. Therefore, many people can trace to some sort of Portuguese heritage. In fact, most people (55%) in Brazil can be classified as of European descent. This group includes ancestries from Portugal, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Poland. When the Europeans came to South America, the native population was pretty well eradicated. Thus, even to this day fewer than 200,000 Amerindians remain in Brazil. During the colonial period, the Europeans also acquired many Africans as slaves to work on plantations and such. However, as has generally been the case in Brazil, this ethnic group then mixed with other ethnic groups. Today, 38% of the population is a mixture of European and African ethnicities, or mulatto. Only 6% are considered black. The remaining 1% is made up of ethnic groups such as Amerindians, Arabs, and Japanese.

Geography:
Brazil is located in central South America and is about the size of the United States. It contains the vast majority of the Amazon Rainforest and river basin in the northern part of the country. The northeast coastline is semiarid. The southwest contains mountains, hills, and rolling plains. Brazil’s climate is mostly tropical or semitropical with a temperate zone in the south. Brazil boarders every country in South America except Ecuador and Chile.

Political System:
The current government of Brazil is Federative Republic with a bicameral legislature and separation of powers. The sitting president is Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a member of the left-leaning Workers’ Party elected in 2002. The president serves in four-year terms and is limited to two terms. The legislature is set up similarly to that of the United States with an upper house based on fixed and equal representation from all states and the federal district and a lower house based on proportional representation by population. This system is set up to favor geographically large but sparsely populated regions. Since there are 15 political parties, unlike the United States, several different parties must come together to form coalitions for common goals in order to accomplish anything.   

Overall the government of Brazil is fairly free and democratic. Corruption does not seem to run rampant as it may in neighboring countries. President Lula is Brazil’s first working class president and has made several important reforms in Brazil. Some of these reforms include raising the minimum wage, reform of the nation’s public sector pension system, and an overhaul of its tax system. In addition Lula has helped the Brazilian currency, the Real, to not only stabilize but recover by implementing several economic policies and has made slight progress on a “Zero Hunger” initiative that hopes to help the people of Brazil to have three meals a day.

Economic Issues:
Although the nation is one of the wealthiest and best industrialized in the region, Brazil still has major economic problems but is showing signs of improvement. When President Lula was first elected in 2002 the Brazilian economy was not doing so well. The real had depreciated 35%, foreign investors had cut some of their investments, public debt was up to 63% of gross domestic product (GDP), and and many thought that Brazil might default on public debt like Argentina had. Because of all of this, the International Monetary Fund lent Brazil $30 billion.  Since then, Brazil’s GDP has grown significantly, the real has stabilized and slightly improved, and interest rates, although high, have fallen. Unemployment is still high at 11.5% and the minimum wage is still very low at 240 Reals per month (about $83).Although there are still some problems with the Brazilian economy, the progress the country has made over the last couple of years shows great promise for the future.  The economy is very well diversified. Today, as with most major industrialized countries, the economy is primarily a service oriented economy. However Brazil has not abandoned its agricultural roots. Today Brazil is the global leader in both coffee and orange juice concentrate. In addition, Brazil has one of the most advanced industrial sectors in Latin America.

Health:
The major health issue in Brazil, like many other places, is the AIDS epidemic. This epidemic has taken its greatest toll on the lower class. The middle and upper classes tend to have access to healthcare and hospitals of comparable quality to that of the United States. However, the poor of Brazil generally do not have enough money at their disposal to receive quality healthcare. In addition, the desperate actions of the impoverished such as prostitution and escape through drug use often put them at higher risk for such things as AIDS. Since these people cannot afford healthcare, often when they are sick they do not go to get treated and end up spreading the virus to many other people thus perpetuating the epidemic.  In response to this the Methodist Church in Brazil has set up clinics, dental care programs, and classes to teach natural medicine to offset the dilemma of needing money to receive medical treatment. In addition, the church has also created the Semeador Project for the Disabled to assist handicapped citizens.  

 

Celebrations:

• Carnival - Brazilian equivalent of Mardi Gras.   The name means “farewell to flesh” It is a celebration that occurs before Lent as a last party before Lent.  Rio de Janero hosts the biggest Carnival.  The Carnival is most famous for its parade of the Samba schools.  Sambodromo is the street where the Samba school parade takes place.  The Samba schools are dance schools teaching the famous Brazilian dance of the “Samba”- which originated in the Brazilian province of Bahia from African dance rituals.  The Samba schools are mainly composed of poor people who all dress in elaborate and brightly colored costumes for the competition.  With their elaborate floats and accompanying songs, the Samba schools dance in the streets, flaunting their talent for all to see.  People from all over Brazil, rich and poor, gather to dance and celebrate for days.
• Christmas - One Christmas tradition is for families to construct a nativity scene, or a Presépio.  Papai Noel is the gift-bringer (the Brazilian Santa Claus).  According to legend, he lives in Greenland. When he arrives in Brazil, he usually wears silk clothing due to the summer heat.  A huge Christmas dinner includes turkey, ham, colored rice, and wonderful vegetables and fruit dishes.  Brazilians attend a midnight church service on Christmas Eve.  After the dinner called Ceia de Natal they either sleep or go to the beach.  Real flowers are used as decorations, and fireworks are shot off all through Christmas night.  Three Kings Day (January 6th) is also celebrated with dancing and singing.  January 6th is supposed to be the day when the Three Kings reached Jesus.
• Easter - Since the 1950's, villages have preformed passion plays on Easter, which thousands turn out to see.  Carnival plays a big role in the festivities leading up to Easter.  Holy Week in Brazil begins with the blessing of the palm branches, which are woven in intricate patterns representing crosses, banners, letters, and other related objects. Streets are decorated with colored patterns drawn on the road surface over which a procession walks, carrying statues of Mary and the body of Christ. A special food called pacoca, is prepared by mixing together crushed nuts and other ingredients into a paste, which is given to visitors. On Easter Saturday, Carnival makes a brief reappearance with a Hangover Ball to celebrate the hanging of Judas.

 

Brazil Social Issues

Women’s Issues:
Women’s rights in Brazil, although better than in many other countries in the world are not quite as advanced as those of American women. Although, women in Brazil have access to the same kind of education and same rights of the men in their society, women are still relatively unable to hold upper level positions in the business world. This is not necessarily because of any formal policy but more because women often hit a so called “glass ceiling.” The Methodist Church in Brazil is making its best efforts to correct this practice within its structure though. In fact, their first female Methodist Bishop was recently appointed.  

• Women have equal access to education, but still are shut out from most upper management positions.
• The Methodist Church is doing a lot to correct this; the first female Methodist bishop was recently appointed (Bishop Joao Alves de Oliveira Filho).  

Colleges and Education:

• 893 Universities
• 1.5 million students
• Many private and federal schools
• Methodist University of Sao Paulo- has a seminary  

Health:

• A major health crisis in Brazil is AIDS, which has taken the greatest toll on the lower class.
• The middle and upper classes of Brazil have access to health care and hospitals very similar in quality to that of the United States. 
• Clinics, dental care programs, and classes to teach natural medicine have been established by the Brazilian Methodist Church to aid those without the income to receive proper medical attention. 
• The church has started the Semeador Project for the Disabled to help handicapped citizens.      

The Methodist Church in Brazil has stated that the greatest social problem of the nation is the suffering of the homeless children.  To get by on the streets, the children perform tasks such as shoe shining, selling candy, washing windshields, and selling newspapers, and stealing.  Many of these children are even driven to prostitution and drug dealing.  Many social problems, including drug use, prostitution, and the AIDS epidemic, could be helped if a solution is found to the problem.   

These children face many hardships; among them are    starvation, crime, and the “death squads” hired to put a  quick end to the problem.  The death squads are often hired by shop keepers to keep them from stealing.  One street child, Ricardo, stated, “When we can, we sleep during the day. It’s just too risky at night.”

The problem has attracted attention from the Methodist church in America.  Many ministries exist for the street children in urban areas across the country. (To find opportunities for mission and giving in Brazil, visit http://gbgm-umc.org/) . Among the most powerful programs in Brazil is the Shade and Fresh Water Project, which is showing God’s power in the children’s lives.  In Brazil, the phrase “shade and fresh water” can be translated as finding a place of safety.  Truly, a place of safety is precisely what the children on the street need.  The program gives the children a place to go for children while the schools are not open, but more than simply giving the children food and shelter, it gives them hope.  The program is a real example of God’s love working through the Methodist church.  The problems facing Brazil’s children are great, but when we connect with the Brazilian church and work as one in Christ, we can make a difference through our Lord.      

Send your questions and comments to: wcarter@gbgm-umc.org

  

Methodist Church in Brazil

Origin of the Methodist Church:

• The Methodist Church in Brazil is the result of the mission endeavors of the two Methodist Episcopal Churches in the US in the nineteenth century.
• By the 1930's, the Methodist Church of Brazil had attained its autonomy and embarked on a process of self-determination and discovery.  

Structure:

• 200,000 members
• 900+ churches and congregations
• Hundreds of ordained clergy and dozens of national missionaries
• 8 regional conferences - 6 autonomous conferences, 2 missionary conferences (which are unable to support themselves financially)
• About 25,000 children and 28,000 adults attend Sunday School every Sunday.
• 49% of all Methodists go to Sunday School.
• The Mission programs set up by the Methodist church include day cares, tutoring programs, literary programs, and drug rehab clinics.
• Women are allowed to be ordained, just like in the United States.  

 

Teca (Maria Tereza) Greathouse is a United Methodist missionary with the General Board of Global Ministries serving in the Fourth Region of the Methodist Church in Brazil along with her husband, Gordon, since 1978.

 

Born and educated in Brazil, Teca is a teacher who was deeply involved in rural education in the Amazon region prior to her marriage. Utilizing radio and on-site visits, she helped build hundreds of schools in isolated regions and train teachers from local communities. She continues to use these teaching skills in service as a missionary. Following their first assignment directing the Conference Camp in Nova Almeida, Espirito Santo, the Greathouses spent 14 years founding, developing and directing Sao Gabriel Community Center in one of the largest poorest neighborhoods outside Belo Horizonte -- Brazil's third largest city. Their program works to promote self-esteem through self-help projects in which poor people from the slum areas gain skills to become more economically independent. Today, the Sao Gabriel Community Center operates a wide variety of programs that have gained widespread interest. Its woodworking shop, weaving center and community laundry provide training and employment for the poor. In addition, the center offers professionalizing courses for teenagers and adults that better prepare them for the job market. After-school programs with sports and tutoring help underprivileged children advance through school. Working mothers are able to leave their children at a day-care center or kindergarten.

Since 1996, Teca has served as the Brazilian coordinator of the Latin America Network of Programs Supporting Children sponsored by the Latin America Council of Churches. She is also working with the national coordinator of educational programs of the Brazilian Methodist Church especially in the area of editing training materials and leading workshops. Maria Tereza Greathouse is available for Covenant Relationship support in Florida Annual Conference, North Georgia Annual Conference, Oregon/Idaho Annual Conference, South Georgia Annual Conference.
Missionary code: 07696Z

 

Additional Resources

Customs:

Manners

• Many Brazilians (and often Europeans and other Latin Americans) are shocked by our eating habits. The following is a list of helpful information regarding eating habits and table manners.
• (Note: Once again, please understand that these behavioral "facts" are relative and may not apply to all people you meet. Use good judgment!)
• Do not touch any food with your fingers. Using the hands is considered ill-mannered and unhygienic. Brazilians use utensils for pizza, sandwiches, fruit and chicken.
• Fruit is often served in a dish or sliced as it is eaten.
• Wrap food carefully with a napkin before picking it up.
• Wipe your mouth after every sip of drink taken.
• Try to eat in the "continental" style, with the fork in the left hand at all time and cutting with the right hand.
• Food should always be shared, even if the amount of food is clearly not sufficient to share, the offer should be made.
• When offered something in Brazil, one must say "yes" or "please." "Thank you" indicates a refusal, "No, thank you" is considered rudely blunt. Always offer an excuse so that the one offering is not offended.
• Feijoada is a standard Brazilian dish, traditionally served on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It consists of highly spiced black beans and assorted (!) meats, eaten with, orange slices and rice.
• Coffee is only served during breakfast, and usually with milk. It is served following other meals. Brazilian cafezinho, after dinner coffee, is very strong and very sweet.
• The American habit of belching and then excusing oneself is particularly repulsive to Brazilians. Brazilians consider belching highly offensive, and to call attention to the belch after the fact is considered embarrassing for all. The same goes for sneezing and coughing, one should simply leave the table or at least turn completely around, away from the group.
• Toothpicks (palitos) may be used at the table, but the mouth must be covered with hand or napkin.
• Brazilians keep both hands above the table while eating. The American habit of keeping one hand on the lap strikes them as very odd and may spark jokes.
• When not being held, the knife rests with the handle on the table and the tip on the side of the plate.
• Never use the fork to cut anything.
• When talking, rest the silverware on the plate.
• When finished, place the utensils across the plate.
• In a restaurant, patrons may have to call the waiter both to order and/or to get the bill. Waiters are beckoned with the index finger of an upraised hand, saying softly garçon. To signal the check, mimic the writing of a bill, and say, if within hearing distance, "A conta por favor" Snapping the fingers is considered extremely rude!
• The bill should either be paid for by one person or evenly divided among the group. Brazilians find the American habit of itemizing a bill for each to pay the exact amount petty.
• Brazilians do not drink from bottle or can, they will always use a glass.
• If invited to a Brazilian's home, you will be expected to eat a lot of whatever is offered. Do not voice any displeasure at any of the food. Acceptance of what is on the plate is tantamount to acceptance of host, country and company.

 

 

 

 

 

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