February 8, 2010
Fortaleza from Ten Floors Up
Staying with friends in their new apartment in Fortaleza, couldn't resist taking these shots from their tenth-story window.
Talk back to the missionary: What is the view like from your window right now. Wax descriptive in the comments section.
Posted by Andrew at 5:27 PM
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February 4, 2010
Brazilian Musical Interlude: Prisma singing Asas da Alva
The following video is of the evangelical group Prisma singing the song Asas da Alva--literally "Wings of the Dawn". While the style is not particularly Brazilian, the words are in Portuguese, and they are a beautiful adaptation of Psalm 139.
I could do without all the posturing and posing, but the audio version of this song has calmed my jangled nerves on many occasions.
Talk back to the missionary: What Christian song has been particularly helpful in your walk with God?
Posted by Andrew at 5:24 PM
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Brazil and the Social Web
I came across the following video today (in Portuguese) about Brazilian use of the internet in general and the social web (Orkut, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc.) in specific:
Here are some of the more salient statistics he mentions:
* Brazilians spend more time per month (20 minutes more, to be specific) on social sites than in clubs.
* The social web brings together 55 million users.
* If Orkut were a Brazilian state, it would be the largest state in the country. It would also have a population larger than that of Argentina.
* Brazilians represent the second largest audience for YouTube.
* 2.6 Million Brazilians update their blogs daily.
* The use of Twitter in Brazil grew 1,382% in 2008 alone.
* São Paulo has the fourth largest population of Twitter users in the world.
Meanwhile, elswhere in Latin America, tin-pan dictator Hugo Chavez is, shall we say, annoyed with Twitter. Apparently too much free speech going on for good 'ol Hugito.
Talk back to the missonary: What are some creative ways Christians can glorify Christ on the social web? Wax innovative in the comments section.
Posted by Andrew at 3:09 PM
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February 2, 2010
Brazilian Stamp of the Week: Dutch Influence in Brazil
Between 1630 and 1654 much of the Northeast part of Brazil--including the city of Recife, was under Dutch control. While the later Portuguese conquest of this region was total, several vestiges of the conquest remain, particularly in architecture seen in and around Recife.
Last year Brazil issued a set of stamps commemorating the Dutch influence on the country.
On the top left we see Mauricio de Nassau, influential Dutch governor of the region. Next to him is a Dutch ship from that time. The following stamps show archaelogical remnants of the Dutch occupation still present today.
In addition to smoking pipes and architecture, the Dutch had left a theological legacy on Brazil as well. The first translation of the Bible into Portuguese was done by a Portuguese man named João Ferreira de Almeida, who was converted by Dutch Reformed believers while in the Dutch colonies in what is now Indonesia.
Talk back to the missionary: The US also has a great Dutch heritage. Can you think of anything in American culture that comes to us via the Dutch colonization?
Posted by Andrew at 4:41 PM
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January 30, 2010
Congratulations to Tiago Fernandes
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Talk back to the missionary: Besides Pele and now Tiago Fernandes, can you name any famous Brazilian athletes? (This question obviously directed at our North-American readers). Demonstrate your encyclopedic knowledge of Brazilian sports in the comments section.
Posted by Andrew at 3:46 PM
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