About Fortaleza...


The City
Fortaleza is the capital of Ceara, a state in the northeastern part of Brazil. It is located on the coast and has a population of around 2 million people. Fortaleza is a growing tourist spot with three thousand hours of sun per year and constant ocean breeze. Though Fortaleza is a modern city, there are still some poor sections and many people with great needs.

We will fly into Fortaleza and then drive about 30 minutes to Fortaleza Academy, a boarding school for missionary kids. We will stay at the academy and travel out each day to minister throughout the city There may also be the opportunity to travel three hours south to Mossoro to minister in schools and churches there.



The People & Religion
The people are simply wonderful! They are very open to Americans "Gringos". The northeast is known to be one of the poorer regions of Brazil; however, most Brazilians are still quite happy with what they have. It most often puts us to shame to think that we need so much to survive.

The predominant religion in Fortaleza is the Catholicism, as well as in the whole country. Most are Catholic because their parents were "Catholic", but practicng Catholics are much lower in number. Brazil is also very "loose" in sexual morals. What we would think of as "totally wrong", they see little problem with. That is why the people there are in great need of people to come and share the love of Christ with them. They are open and willing to hear.

The Climate
Daytime temperatures are usually around the ninety-two degree mark (32C) while the evenings cool to about seventy-six degrees (24C). There is always a nice sea breeze and evenings are very comfortable. In Fortaleza, the mornings have some low-lying clouds that form over the ocean, but by nine in the morning the clouds have burnt off and the sun has begun to dominate the sky. From then on until early morning, it’s clear skies and ocean breezes.

The Food
Food in Brazil revolves around three key things, 1) arroz which is white rice, 2) feijao which are black beans and 3) farinha which is like flour. It is very hard to try and avoid eating these although they do come in different shapes and sizes. These are usually eaten with either red meat, chicken or fish.

Overall, the food is wonderful. Breakfast usually consists of juice, fruit, cold cuts, eggs, and breads of sorts. Lunch is often the "heavy" meal of the day. It usually inclues a rice & black bean dish with chicken. Dinner is often light, such as a soup and sandwich. Brazilians do NOT eat on the go, they always sit and relax while eating. Desserts are obviously a tasty treat, such as Ice Cream (sorvete), which comes in many exotic flavors.

Then there’s the coffee! It has a flavor that is different from anything bought in the United States; even at the coffeehouses. The serving is small, but potent. It may not be for everyone, but if you are a coffee lover, you will greatly enjoy this and it will be hard to return to the coffee of the States.