You will be working with a WEC family to help with their church planting work among the Atikum people group. Their family lives in a small city and goes up into the mountains to reach the people there. There is a great need for workers, with 94 villages in their surrounding area! So far they working in 2 of them. 90% of the people there are indigenous. This is a VERY open place for sharing the Gospel. The goal of all of their ministry efforts is to share the Gospel with the people. There is much freedom to share, and the church is growing!

Opportunities:

• Children & youth work, teaching English – going into schools and churches (no English certificate needed for this). This is teaching spoken English, as not many of the people are literate. It will require the use of lots of visuals. There is internet and a projector. You would need to create your own program, and are encouraged to use the Bible in your teaching!
• Guitar/Music Teachers – Teaching music in their church plant to the youth is an huge need, as the youth love music and have guitars, but don't know how to play!
• Sports Ministry – Developing a soccer ministry would require a longer trip, so if you love soccer and youth and have a year to give, they can use you! soccer particularly.

Helpful Skills: Knowing Portuguese opens up an endless list of possibilities for serving. Knowing Spanish is very helpful, and could enable a person to do Bible studies with the people. You do not need to know Portuguese to teach guitar or to teach English, if you are planning to go for just a few months.

Accommodations: There is room on the 2nd floor of the church building, with places to sleep and a bathroom. There is a main hall downstairs and a shared kitchen. It is a safe place to stay. There is also the possibility to rent a house in the mountains if needed. There is electricity and running water.

Weather: in the summer it is around 100 degrees daily, but it is dry and dusty. In the winter, there is 2 months of cool weather, but it is not very cold.

*ABOUT THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN THE NORTHEAST*

The indigenous communities here are unique. They are deeply rooted in syncretism, blending Catholicism with their traditional beliefs, and they hold fast to their customs and traditions. Politically, they are well-organized and articulate, fiercely proud of their heritage.

In the region where we serve, there are two main ethnic groups: the Atikuns and the Pankaras, spread across 94 villages. By God’s grace, we are currently working in two of those villages, including the largest one, where we are actively planting a church!