In Ministry with the Kaiowá People of Brazil-- Building Stronger Bodies and Communities

UMCOR's Advance Story of the Month for May-June 2002 is about the work of the Methodist Mission of Tapeporã in Brazil. UMCOR provides financial support to two of the mission's projects: Mechanical Cow, Advance #714505 and the Dental Care Outreach Program, Advance #714408.

Prayer: God of compassion, we pray for all people who have been expelled from their land and seen their traditional way of life disappear. We pray for forgiveness for the role we have played in the oppression of others, either directly or through the standard of living we enjoy. Help us to become more conscious of the ways our lives impact others in remote corners of the world. We pray especially for the Kaiowá and other indigenous people of Brazil. Strengthen them as they rebuild their lives, their health, and their communities, and strengthen us in our commitment to support their efforts. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Children with empty plastic soda bottles wait in line for their daily portion of soymilk, a team of young women wear their new soccer uniforms and big smiles, boys run a race barefoot along a dirt road, a classroom is temporarily turned into a dental clinic and denture workshop, women and children cook together--these are the images in the photos sent to UMCOR by the Methodist Mission of Tapeporã.

Since 1978 the Methodist Church of Brazil has been working with the indigenous Kaiowá-Guarani people of Tapeporã, in the southern part of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The recent history of the Kaiowá-Guarani people is similar to that of indigenous people in many parts of the world. They were driven from their land and relocated during the colonial period. Exposure to outside populations, loss of their natural habitat, and the change in their way of life has brought disease, poverty, hunger, and an increasing rate of suicide. The indigenous population in this area is divided into 22 communities spread out over 500 kilometers along the border with Paraguay. The Methodist Mission of Tapeporã works with the Kaiowá people to improve their standard of health--physical, mental, and emotional--and to fight for their rights, particularly the right to land.

The Mechanical Cow

The Mechanical Cow produces soymilk from soybeans. When the Methodist Church began working with the Kaiowá people it became evident that programs were needed to address the high mortality and malnutrition rates among children and mothers. UMCOR gave the money to purchase mechanical cow equipment in 1994, and since it began operating in January of 1995, the health of women and children has increased dramatically and the mortality rate has fallen by about 80 percent. The soymilk is distributed to children ages 0-12, pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers, and elderly people. It is also used at the indigenous hospital in treating people who are malnourished and those who have tuberculosis.

The residue is used to make cakes and breads which are distributed to the schools and health post on the reservation. The National Foundation of Health in Brazil also uses the residue to make a multi-grain flour to combat children's malnutrition. The community as a whole is healthier now than it has been in previous years because of this vital source of protein. UMCOR continues to provide the necessary financial support to keep the mechanical cow operating.

Dental Care Outreach Program

Though dental care is a key component and the title of the second project-- the program entails much more than that. It also provides support for sports and recreation, and cooking and nutritional education.

A team of dentists from the Methodist Dental College in Brazil makes monthly visits to different communities to provide dental care. Within the course of a year, more than 2000 people have their teeth examined, restored, extracted, or have dentures made. In addition, the dental college is running a test program, introducing flouride into the soymilk of children in one of the communities to see if it will improve their dental health.

Another important aspect of this ministry is sports and recreation. Women, men, and children participate in soccer and volleyball teams with regional championship tournaments. Community tournament days are held several times a year with games and races for people of all ages. The program provides an incentive for children to stay in school so that they can participate in the teams and tournaments, has built self-esteem among the participants, and strengthened the community. Through the cooking program, women, children, and youth learn to cook nutritious foods and use the residue from soybean milk production to make bread, cake, cookies and pies.

How to Participate in This Program

Your gifts to the Methodist Mission of Tapeporã ministries help provide better nutrition, better overall health, and increased self-esteem among the Kaiowá-Guarani. You can continue to support their efforts to create a healthier, more self-sufficient community by giving to:

Mechanical Cow, Advance #714505
Dental Care Outreach Program, Advance #714408

For local church and annual conference credit, give your gift through your local United Methodist Church. Be sure that the project name and Advance code number appear on the memo line of your check. Gifts may also be sent directly to: UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Call (800) 554-8583 for credit card gifts.

Photos Credit: Methodist Mission of Tapeporã. Click on any photo to see a larger version.

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