Pray for Aruba

Aruba is an island in the southern Caribbean.
It is located 17 miles north of the coast of Venezuela

Its capital is Oranjestad.
The population is 101,484

FACTS
It is a member of the three ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao)

Aruba was part of the Spanish and later Dutch West Indies.
Until 1986 it was a member of the Netherlands Antilles /the Dutch Antilles).

Unlike most of the Caribbean region, Aruba has a dry climate and an arid landscape.

Aruba has been called the "Las Vegas of the Caribbean.

The Tainio heritage is stronger on Aruba than on most Caribbean islands.
Although no full-blooded Tainio remain, most of the population is descended from them.

DEMOGRAPHICS
80%   White/Caribbean Amerindian
20%   Other

80.8%  Catholic
7.8%    Protestant
1.5%    Jehovah's Witness
0.2%    Jewish
4%       Atheist/Agnostic
5.1%    Other (Muslims, Buddhists, Animists)

HISTORY
Aruba's first inhabitants were the Caquetios, a branch of the Taino.
The Caquetios arrived from Venezuela around 1000 A.D.

Spaniards first landed on Aruba in 1499 and established a colony.
Due to the lack of resources no plantation society evolved on Aruba.

The Spaniards enslaved the Tainio population and sent them to Hispaniola,
to work in mines.

In 1636, Aruba was acquired by the Netherlands.

Britain briefly took over Aruba (1799-1802, 1804-1816) before giving
it back to the Dutch.

During the 19th century gold was discovered.

In 1928 an oil refinery was opened.

The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in tourism.

In 1986, Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles and became a separate,
autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

CONDITIONS
Arubans enjoy a high standard of living and a low unemployment rate.

The economy is dominated by five main industries: gold mining,
phosphate mining, aloe export, petroleum refineries , and tourism.

There are a number of resorts on the island.
Most tourists are from Venezuela and the United States.

Aruba has many immigrants from South America, Europe, Asia,
the Middle East and other islands of the Caribbean.

Recent migration has created some boundaries between the new arrivals
and older groups.

There has been a rising cost in utilities.

There is little environmental protection and no air pollution regulations.
Fuel is a major export, and there are frequent spills.

There are problems with drug and human trafficking

There are problems with domestic violence against women.

SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS
Most of the population is Catholic.
There are small number of Muslims, Buddhists, Jews and Animists.

4% of the population are Atheist/Agnostic.

Many of the Middle Eastern immigrants are unreached.

There are three Christian radio stations on Aruba:
The Gospel is also proclaimed on programs on secular radio and TV.

PRAYER NEEDS
Pray that issues with immigrants be solved fairly.

Pray that drug and human trafficking stop.

Pray that domestic violence cease.

Pray for better awareness of and protection of the environment.

Pray that the Gospel spread.

Pray that the Gospel spread among immigrants.

Pray for the fruitfulness of Christian ministries.