Missão Brasil Fortaleza
Here are free resources about the Brazil Fortaleza Mission:
Aqui estão alguns recursos gratuitos sobre a Missão Brasil Fortaleza:
- Mission address and phone number
- Mission map
- Missionary blogs
- Facebook groups
- LDS Mission t-shirts and gifts
- List of past mission presidents
- Cultural articles written by returned missionaries
- Survey with RMs
*Other Mission Pages: Brazil LDS Missions.
Brazil Fortaleza Mission Address
Here’s a recent address for the Fortaleza Mission. We try our best to keep this information up to date, but it’s a good idea to double check the mission address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.
Missao Brasil Fortaleza
Av. Santos Dumont
1789 Sala 1612
Ed. Potenza, Aldeota
Fortaleza-CE
60150-161
Brasil
Phone Number: 55-85-3044-7555
Mission President: President Kent R. Chamberlain
Brazil Fortaleza Mission Map
Here’s a link to the mission map for the Brazil Fortaleza Mission (LDS). To access the official, up-to-date LDS.org map for the Fortaleza Mission, simply
Brazil Fortaleza Missionary Blogs
Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Fortaleza Mission. This blog list includes the name, URL and when their mission blog was last updated.
*Download free app for LDS missionaries learning Brazilian Portuguese
Brazil Fortaleza Mission Groups
Here are Brazil Fortaleza Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Fortaleza Mission.
- Missao Brasil Fortaleza Facebook Group (1,280 members)
- Brazil Fortaleza Mission – Missao Fortaleza Group (843 members)
- Missao Fortaleza Presidente Helvecio Martins Group (541 members)
- Missao Brasil Fortaleza (Presidente Arias) Group (486 members)
- Missao Brasil Fortaleza, 2002 a 2005 Group (216 members)
- Missao Fortaleza (Pres. e Sister Asconavieta) Group (196 members)
- Missao Fortaleza – Presidente Batt (2008-11) Group (181 members)
- Brazil Fortaleza Mission Lunch (Utah) Group Group (32 members)
- Fortaleza Mission – Missao Brasil Fortaleza Group (23 members)
- Fortaleza Mission Moms and Friends (LDS) Group (14 members)
Brazil Fortaleza Mission T-Shirts
Here are T-shirts for the Brazil Fortaleza Mission!
Shirt designs include Brazil Fortaleza Mission logo/emblem shirts and Called to Serve shirts. The shirts make great gifts for pre-missionaries, returned missionaries and missionaries currently serving. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL. The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you.
*Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: Brazil Fortaleza missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.
*Click here to browse Fortaleza Mission gifts
*Click here to see our new shirt design for the Brazil Fortaleza Mission:
Brazil Fortaleza Mission Presidents
Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Fortaleza LDS Mission.
- 2017-2020, Kent R. Chamberlain
- 2014-2017, Gilberto Bonini Ribeiro
- 2011-2014, Francisco A. Souza
- 2005-2008, Victor A. da Silva
- 2002-2005, Leonel Sa Maia
- 1999-2002, Jose M. Arias
- 1996-1999, Ronald D. Dennis
- 1993-1996, Joao Roberto Martins Silva
- 1990-1993, Athos M. Amorim
- 1987-1990, Helvecio Martins
Brazil LDS Statistics (2016)
- Church Membership: 1,326,738
- Missions: 34
- Temples: 6
- Congregations: 2,038
- Family History Centers: 341
Helpful Articles about Brazil
Brazil Fortaleza Missionary Survey
Here are survey responses from Brazil Fortaleza RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.
When did you serve?
- Aug 2013 to Feb 2015 (Claire)
- 2004-2006 (Patrick)
- 2004-2006 (Wes)
- 1995-1997 (Ener)
Which areas did you serve in?
- Conjunto Ceará, Pacajus, Taquari, Altos, Horto Florestal, and Veneza. (Patrick)
- Ipanema, Maracanau: Maracanau, Sobral, Junco and Sobral, PIndoretama/Cascavel. (Wes)
What were some favorite foods?
- Feijoada. The desserts! Coxinhas (Claire)
- Baião de dois, Feijoada, Arroz feijão e frango assado, Musse de morango, Suco de maracujá, and Castanha de caju. (Patrick)
- Farofa, Passion Fruit Juice, Star Fruit, Ascerola, Pitomba. (Wes)
What was a funny experience?
- A drunk man tried to kiss my brazilian companion’s hand and in the middle of us trying to stop him, he held on to her hand and decided to rub it all over his hair. She understood after that why I carried hand sanitizer with me everywhere. (Claire)
What was a crazy/dangerous experience?
- Getting robbed during my first day in Teresina. (Patrick)
- The bridge in Ipanema…a lot of people were robbed there. (Wes)
What was a spiritual experience?
- We hadn’t contacted a referral that we received and got chewed out for it. So we repented and headed over and they were the most prepared people I have ever met. The second time we taught them, the husband pulled up the Gospel Library on his phone and contributed a quote from Linda K. Burton that he read that day to our lesson. It was awesome getting to teach them and watch them make changes in their lives. Our best lessons were when we taught simple truths guided by the Spirit. (Claire)
- Helping a couple get married and baptized on the same day, which was also their son’s first birthday. (Patrick)
What are some interesting facts about your mission?
- In Brazil we had 15 minutes lessons with everyone. They made it possible for us to visit everyone we needed to teach and help us keep working. (Claire)
- At the time I served it covered the entire states of Ceará and Piauí. My last week on the mission, our mission baptized over 700 people. (Patrick)
- It’s also one of the cheapest missions to live in. (Wes)
What was the weather like?
- It was just hot, hot, hot in Brazil. (Claire)
- Hot, humid. And hotter and more humid. (Patrick)
- Hot all the time. (Wes)
What do you like about the place/people you served?
- Everyone was so kind. You could say hi to everyone on the street. They were all religious as well and wanted to be Christian. (Claire)
- In general, the people are humble and very receptive to messengers. (Patrick)
Any packing/clothing advice?
- Skirts that stay down when the wind comes. Short sleeves. Chacos for Brazil! Nice and sturdy! (Claire)
- Cotton shirts. They are thicker and might seem like they would be hotter but they wick the sweat so you don’t smell like sweat all day. Other thinner shirts don’t wick sweat and then you’d stink all day. Take plenty of sunblock. (Patrick)
- Gold bond powder is very nice when you need it. (Wes)
What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?
- I have so many new friends. A better understanding of the Gospel and how we can share it. A better understanding of how I can live the Gospel every day and what’s really important. (Claire)
- Knowledge of how to get things done when there is nobody else to help me, public speaking skills, new friends that will last a lifetime, language skills that I now use at work, and a knowledge of the life of the Savior. (Patrick)
What are some skills you gained on your mission?
- Time management. People skills. Planning skills. (Claire)
- Doing laundry by hand, machete skills, public speaking, interviewing skills, and leadership skills. (Patrick)
- Ability to go to work when you don’t want to. (Wes)
What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?
- It’s okay to not be perfect, and it’s important to repent. Work with the members! Love them and don’t criticize. Charity is having patience for those who hurt you. You can truly adapt to anything. (Claire)
- How to efficiently pack my suitcase. (Patrick)
- Just that it isn’t wise to let the little things that your companion does or doesn’t do bug you. (Wes)
Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to your mission?
- BE OBEDIENT to the Spirit! Love the people you’re with. (Claire)
- Try not to take offense when they can’t understand you because even though you are speaking correctly, they can’t hear past your ethnicity. (Wes)
What was a funny language mistake your or another missionary made? (if applicable)
- I’ve said twice in a lesson, “your Telestial Father loves you” when I meant to say Celestial Father, or Heavenly Father. (Claire)
LDS Church & Missionary Work
Cameron (Brazil Fortaleza Mission)
–Paraphrased from Cameron’s mission interview–
The Church in Ceará today
Fortaleza is the capital of the state of Ceará. In 2013 the Fortaleza was split into the Fortaleza and the Fortaleza East mission. Fortaleza covers most of the capital and few suburban and rural city. There’s a few cities including Itapipoca, Pecem, Paracuru and Canindé where the church only arrived while I was in Brazil. There’s 16 stakes in the state of Ceará, with 8 in the capital. The Fortaleza temple was announced recently, and the ground has been broken. There was about 230 missionaries in the Fortaleza mission, but only about 30 of them got to go into the more rural areas of the state. Construction has yet to begin, but the church is growing really fast there.
History and Growth of the Church in Ceará
The first stake in Fortaleza was organized back in 1980, but now there’s an additional 15 stakes. Most church members were “converts,” meaning they were baptized into the church and not their parents. I met very few second and third generations church families. Members in Ceará love the missionaries and are super excited about missionary work. I loved bringing people to church, which was easy because the buildings were well-known and absolutely people. When a new person came to church, they were wrapped up by the members and they really felt the Savior’s love. It helps that most of the members know what it’s like to show up to church for the first time, and they can empathize with visitors.
For Future Missionaries
In Fortaleza you will have experiences with the members and the leaders and you will learn to help others feel the Spirit enough to have faith and repent. You’re going to help people make great changes in their lives, which is amazing. You will show people how to draw closer unto Christ. Every day I think about my mission and the people I met there, and I know that you will meet a lot of great people and develop great relationships while you are there. I know that the Church is true and that Jesus Christ is our savior.
Reid (Brazil Fortaleza Mission)
–Paraphrased from Reid’s mission interview–
Mission Boundaries
The Fortaleza mission had already split once before I got there. While I was there, the mission split again. It was going to be split into three but they decided not to. There are a lot of missionaries and a lot of members. There are 15 stakes and a lot of work to be done with the members. There are thousands of less actives who haven’t been contacted in a long time. While that is unfortunate, seeking after these members is a wonderful opportunity for missionaries. They almost always live next to someone who is interested or they have family members that want to be baptized. The harvest is plentiful and truly the field is white. When you pray about who to visit they will often give you a list of members to visit. The Lord will take us to the people we need to meet. We would be on our way to some place whether it be a less active or not, when we meet someone. That opportunity is great.
The People
Houses always have gates. When you walk around there is always someone to talk to. A lot of people are willing to listen. The people are so outgoing, loving, and accepting. They may not want to listen to your message but they will offer you a drink or food. Sometimes that is a way you can start talking to people that wouldn’t listen otherwise.
Cameron (Brazil Fortaleza Mission)
–Paraphrased from Cameron’s mission interview–
Mission Boundaries
After six weeks I was called to the mission office where I served as the executive secretary. I learned all about the church in the area around the city of Fortaleza. The mission had just split when I entered the MTC. They created the Fortaleza East mission when I was in the MTC. Fortaleza takes most of the city of Fortaleza and a few interior cities outside of the capital city. While I was there they opened up a few interior cities. There is a small city with a branch I went to. There are others on the coast with small branches that were opened as well. While I was in the office we opened up a city where my companion went to open. It’s a very Catholic city.
Mission Culture
It’s a special opportunity to serve outside the capital city. There are eight stakes in our mission. President Monson announced the temple in Fortaleza in 2009. It hasn’t been constructed yet, but while I was there the church was growing really fast. In 2015 Elder Christofferson came to visit us. In the late 1980s the first stake was created and 15 more have been created since then. There are lots of members. It was cool seeing the church in it’s first and second generation. It’s rare that you find a family in it’s third generation in the church. Everyone remembers the missionaries. Within the church it’s so missionary minded because each of them have personal experiences. They loved the missionaries because they see us with our name tags and they see the people that brought them joy. I love bringing people to church. The buildings are very beautiful so it isn’t too hard to get people there. When they get there they get wrapped up in this awesome culture of love and unity. There are lots of other churches there but they say that they feel the difference. The church members know what it’s like to go to church for the first time. A lot of us don’t know what its like, but the people there understand where these new members are coming from.
Jake (Brazil Fortaleza Mission)
–Paraphrased from Jake’s mission interview–
Mission Boundaries
The mission is in the northeast of Brazil. It’s one of the first parts of Brazil settled by Europeans. It has really good beaches. I never saw them on my mission but I heard that people go to them from all over the world. The church is strong in Fortaleza. It’s been in the city for 30 years and there are 20 stakes and 2 missions. Most of the wards I served in probably had 80 to 100 people coming each week. It’s been the highest baptizing mission in the church. They’re building a temple there that should be done in the next couple years. The great thing about the people is that they’re very open and helpful. The church has expanded a lot in the city itself. Recently the church has started to expand in the interior cities.
For Future Missionaries
I think one trait every missionary should have is humility. Not as in being afraid to talk to people, but in that you should be humble and teachable. Your mission is for you and you will learn a lot, but remember that it is not just for you. God doesn’t want to just save you and the 15 million members of the church, but he wants to save the whole earth. You’ll have success, you’ll have failure, you’ll be rejected; but most of the people you meet will be very friendly. Miracles will happen every day, some of which will be too sacred to talk about. Most of all, the mission changed me. Many experiences will test your faith, but many more will build your faith as well. I know that Christ’s atonement is real and that this is the true church, and it was such a blessing to be able to share that with others.
Mary (Brazil Fortaleza Mission)
–Paraphrased from Mary’s mission interview–
For Future Missionaries
You’ll meet some of the greatest people on earth in Brazil. Be prepared, because it’s definitely a different world and a big culture shock. Be prepared to be changed, and be humble and willing to accept change. Work hard and love your companion no matter how you feel about them. Hold your investigators to a high standard and hold yourself to a high standard as well. Even when others mess up, forgive them. When you’re learning Portuguese or any language, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Be obedient. Do what your mission president tells you to do. Be the kind of missionary that members would want their children to be so that you won’t regret it 50 years down the road. You’ll make mistakes, but just go and do it, and the mission will be the best experience for your life.
Culture, Language, and Travel
Cameron (Brazil Fortaleza Mission)
–Paraphrased from Cameron’s mission interview–
Fortaleza, Brazil
The first thing you’ll see when you search Fortaleza on google are the beaches and big tall highrises. It’s funny because most missionaries don’t go to those areas. Most Brazilians in Fortaleza live in humble brick and concrete homes, that are normally lined up in rows. Most of the roads are paved, but there are a few dirt roads in less developed areas.
One thing I love about Brazilians is that they love talking to you and getting to know you. They love meeting new people, and they’ll instantly become your best friend.
Missionary Transportation
Transportation for missionaries is all done by the public bus systems. Bus rides are fun because they’re fast and they’re packed. Riding the bus is a huge part of missionary life in Fortaleza, even within one area. There’s no cars and bikes for missionaries.
Lifestyle in Fortaleza
Fortaleza is super hot, because it is close to the equator. The sun just beats down on you, especially right after lunch when most people sleep. Once the sun comes down and it starts getting cooler, people come out with their chairs to sit and talk. For Brazilians, the evening is a very social time of day.
The richer part of Fortaleza is Aldeota. People would come from all over Brazil to live there and to enjoy the seaside living. The farther you got away from the coast however, the poorer it gets. People also come from all over Brazil and the world to enjoy the beach and the water. Fortaleza has perfect beach weather, and the water is always 80 degrees.The cost of living in Fortaleza was pretty high, but for missionaries who lived a simple life it was generally cheap. Houses there generally aren’t as nice as American homes, but they are a lot humbler in Brazil.
Brazilian Food
Brazilian Food is awesome! My favorite was Churrasco, which is Brazilian barbecue. It was only on special occasion, and I loved it. Normally in Brazil, missionaries will eat lunch with members, and on rare occasions dinner as well. For every meal, we would eat rice and beans. Normally in Ceará these will be served with some kind of meat, including chicken, sausage, or feijoada which is a black beans mixed with pork meat. Natural juices are popular because of the tropical climate. A Brazilian soda that I loved was Guaraná.
I was humbled by how well church members served the missionaries. Many Brazilians live in humble circumstances, and you can tell they valued missionary work by how much they were willing to sacrifice. Brazilians loved to cook weird dishes for Americans just to see our reaction. One that comes from the old ranching tradition is cooked cow intestines. Even investigators and random people that we met would offer to cook us dinner or lunch.
Brazilian Culture and Religion
Brazilian people love life and they love laughter. Especially in Fortaleza, the culture is super friendly. Another thing I love about people is that everyone has a belief in God. They may disagree on churches, but almost everyone believes. In my two years in Ceará I only met three people who were Atheist. There’s a lot of different religions there, including Catholics, the Assembly of God, the Universal Church, Jehovah’s witnesses, and others. But almost all of these sects believe that God exists, that Christ is our savior, and that it’s important to be a good person. All we did as missionaries was add to their beliefs the message of the Restoration and the Atonement. Overall the people there were just so great to be around.
Crime and Safety in Fortaleza Brazil
Fortaleza is a great city, but there is a high rate of crime. Most of the crime is related to the drug trade or getting money to buy drugs. Missionaries weren’t allowed to carry anything with them besides pamphlets or books. Most people knew not to assault us because of that. We had a reputation for good there and we knew almost everyone, so we were friends even with the bad people. There is some danger though. In Brazil it’s really hard to obtain a gun, so if a criminal has a gun (or pretends to) they can control any situation. Most assaults would happen with two guys showing up on a bike. You don’t have to worry too much, but it’s important to be careful.
Packing Advice
As a missionary, you’ll only need one or two normal shirts. I would recommend bringing short sleeved white shirts. Pack two pairs of sturdy shoes, because you will walk a lot and go through them. If you pack lower quality shoes, you may go through three or four. Be sure to bring duct tape and USB’s. Good duct tape is impossible to find in Brazil, and the flash drives were useful for storing photos. Don’t pack a lot of extra stuff that you don’t need, because you’ll have to drag it around with you everywhere.
Jake (Brazil Fortaleza Mission)
–Paraphrased from Jake’s mission interview–
Life in Fortaleza
Weather in Fortaleza is very hot because it’s near the equator. It’s also very dry, but they have both a dry and a rainy season. When it rains in their “winter” sometimes it’ll rain for 3 or 4 days at a time. Bring an umbrella, and pack for the heat too since there’s very little AC. Houses in Brazil are generally much smaller than in the U.S. Most are made out of brick and concrete. There’s a large income inequality… they have favelas which are basically slums, all the way up to large high rise apartments. Most people rely on the bus, which is usually very packed. Motorcycles and bicycles are very popular too. Generally, only wealthier people will have cars
Beware of people on bikes… most assaults come from one or two guys coming up on a bike. Try not to carry anything valuable, and don’t get your cell phone out in public
Religion and Culture in Northeastern Brazil
In Northeastern Brazil, religion is very important. Catholicism is the dominant faith, but there are a lot of Evangelical churches. There’s a church on literally every street, and different sects are sometimes hotly contested. Juazeiro do Norte is a city founded by a Catholic priest. His statue stands there, and it’s actually the third biggest human statue in the world! Catholics will come from across Brazil to visit this landmark.
Brazilian Food
The most common Brazilian meal is rice, beans, and chicken. They also make a salad with beats, lettuce, mayonnaise, and other vegetables. Salgados are another Brazilian snack which are basically different varieties of deep fried meats.
Portuguese
Portuguese is a very interesting language. It’s like Spanish, but better. One interesting aspect is that they adopt a lot of English words and phrases: for example, the word for mall is “shopping.” Portuguese sounds like a mix between Spanish and French, and that’s kind of true because there’s a lot of difficult nasal sounds.
Mary (Brazil Fortaleza Mission)
–Paraphrased from Mary’s mission interview–
Benfica, Brazil
Benfica was about a 20 minute bus ride from Fortaleza, so there was still quite a few people in the town. One thing that is amazing about Brazilians is that they’re so willing to chat. Every night, people will take their chairs and sit out on the street just talking. In Benfica it was my first time that I was exposed to Salgados and Pastel, which are different deep fried snacks.
Guarembi, Fortaleza, Brazil
My last area was the neighborhood of Gaurembi in Fortaleza. It was a slightly more dangerous part of the city. Sometimes people would ride by on a motorcycle or bike and grab your bag. Because of this, people were slightly more afraid to talk to strangers. This made it difficult to find people to teach, and a lot of people came from outside the area to work.
We met a woman in Gaurembi named Luiza, who had taken the missionary lessons before in Minas Gerais. We taught her and invited her to church. She said she’d go, but would be just a bit late because of work. At church we were a little bummed when she didn’t show up. But right before sacrament meeting, she walked in the door! She said that on the way there she had cut her foot and then gotten lost, and she had thought about giving up and going home. However, she had had a dream the night before that she had somewhere she needed to be, so she kept pressing forward. She and two of her kids were baptized within the next few weeks.
Brazilian Food
My favorite Brazilian food is Feijoada, which is a kind of black bean soup with ham and all parts of the pig in it. It sounds gross, but it’s completely delicious! Rice and beans are what you eat every day. I got tired of it a lot of the time, but it felt healthy. There is a great salad that they make with beats, mayo, and a mix of other veggies. They like to have a lot of dessert with condensed milk. For example, they’ll make fruit salad and just poor condensed milk all over it.
Fruits are used very often in Brazil. Passion fruit mousse was my favorite. They also have a fruit called pequi which they would put into a pot of rice to add flavor. Caja, Pitamba (which was like a grape within a hard shell), mangos, and starfruit were among some of my other favorites.
Brazilians are Blunt
If Brazilians don’t like your hair, they’ll tell you. If they think you’re fat, they’ll tell you. I learned, however, that it’s not because they want to be mean, but because they love you. I really appreciate it because they’re real and they show you that they care.
Packing Advice for Sister Missionaries and Women
If you’re a woman, bring sandals. Bring closed toed shoes only for special occasions, but for day-to day walking you’ll need sandals. Bring skirts, especially black ones that can go with any shirt. Wear lots of colors for everything else. People will give you lots of gifts as you leave areas, so pack light and don’t bring anything that you would mind losing. Bring rain gear, or buy some as soon as you get there. Bring a picture album to show people your family and help them get to know you. I would recommend varying your shirt lengths as well so you don’t get any crazy tan lines. Peanut butter is very rare in Brazil and makes a great bargaining tool