Information about the Mission Field:
Paraguay, South America PDF  | Print |  E-mail

paraguay mapPopulation: 6.7 million

Capital City: Asuncion - 1.2 million (includes surrounding area)

Language: Spanish and Guarani (Native dialect)

People: 95% Mestizo (Indian and Spanish heritage)

*Over 40% of the population is under the age of 15

Government: Asuncion is the capital of Paraguay.  It houses the three branches of the democratic government and the elected president.

Geography: Paraguay is a semi-tropical country roughly the size of California. The Tropic of Capricorn cuts Paraguay in half.

Literacy Rate: 94%

Exports: Agricultural goods

Very service oriented workforce. Majority commute into city from outer lying villages and barrios.

Asuncion-Paraguay Dance Capitol
 
Religion and History of Church in Paraguay

City_view 85% of the people in Paraguay claim affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church.

Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the Constitution.

A Chilean brother, Juan Urriola, and a Uruguayan brother, Luis Ramirez, made missionary efforts in the 1970s.

Forrest McDonald was the first American missionary to work in Paraguay. Brother McDonald and his family worked there from 1981 through 1984.

In 2002 , there were 2 congregations meeting in Paraguay with a total combined membership of 35 brethren.

 

In September 2003, a team of six (6) brethren: Chris and Vickie Fry, Ethan and Ashley Hardin, Vanessa Heady, and Enoch Rinks committed to five years of evangelism in Asuncion.

On September 5, 2004, the Sacramento Street church of Christ had their inaugural service with 171 in attendance. That number included members from area congregations, stateside supporters, and people with whom the team had been studying.

March 2009 - The Capiata and Sacramento Street congregations merged into one congregation. The Sacramento Street church of Christ has approximately 80 members in regular attendance. This is the largest congregation of the Lord's body in Paraguay to date.
 


Population Information of Paraguay

Population: 6,831,306 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 37.7% (male 1,245,149 / female 1,204,970)
15-64 years: 57.5% (male 1,878,761 / female 1,862,266)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 145,899 / female 169,419)
Median age: 21.3 years
Growth rate: 2.45%
Infant mortality: 24.78 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.1 years
male: 72.56 years
female: 77.78 years
Fertility rate: 3.89 children born/woman
Nationality: noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite, and other Protestant
Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 94.9%
female: 93%

Geography of Paraguay

Location:
 Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Coordinates:
 23 00 S, 58 00 W
Area:
 total: 406,750 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km
land: 397,300 sq km
Area comparative:
 slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
 total: 3,920 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
Coastline:
 0 km (landlocked)
Climate:
 subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Terrain:
 grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Elevation extremes:
 lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m
Natural resources:
 hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone