goodbyes for good reasons.

     Last month we helped another missionary family pack up their house for their 6th move.  They left before sunrise the next morning, moving about 8 hours away.

T helping load the moving truck! 

The "chica" in the green shirt and glasses beside me is 

the wife and mom of 5 who moved. 

  

C and I enjoying their friend before he moves.

J playing away with his friend while the adults
pack, clean and load!

      Three years ago now, we arrived here in Paraguay along with several other families with young children.  Although we were encouraged to spend more time with Paraguayans than other American missionaries, we did look forward to our weekly meetings at the Mission!  After a week of straining to understand Spanish and attempting to string together words to make a sentence, it was so nice to hear and speak in English!  It was a relief to hear that others were struggling with home sickness, funny to share language bloopers we made that week and comforting to know that there were other people who understood what it was like to be an adult who could only communicate at a 2-year-old level (it probably would have helped to have those cute chubby cheeks and adorable grin that makes everyone smile!)!  So, in a sense, we “grew up” with these other families!

     Well, three years later many of us have completed or almost completed our Paraguayan language and culture study.  We are ready to embark upon the next step: reaching the unreached.  This was the first family to leave the "nest".  On one hand, it is hard to think about not seeing them each week.  On the other hand, the Paraguayan tribal group they are moving to may one day know and understand  TRUTH!  

So, although it was hard, 
I consider that a good reason to say 
"Goodbye!"      

         

all the kids who came to Vacation Bible School!

 During Easter week, our church decided to have a 4-day Vacation Bible School.  The main purpose was to invite the children back to Sunday school each week to learn more about what the Bible has to say about God (most are not from Christian homes)! 

 My husband and I were teachers for the 3-5 year olds, which was a lot of fun!  Our youngest son was in our class!  I'm not so sure these little guys understood the Bible stories about Jesus but we hope they felt Jesus loving them through us!

  Snack time circle

Ladies of the church serving the snack

I didn't get any pictures of our other boys because I couldn't find the camera after the 1st day - what a bummer!  But they really enjoyed their classes, snacks and game time!

I think the kids, as well as the adults, really enjoyed those 4 days! 

We're hoping that the relationships built will lure them back so they can learn about the Way, the Truth and the Life!

John 14:6

a risen Savior!

 "Don't be alarmed," the angel said.  

"You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, 

who was crucified.  He has risen!"  

Mark 16:6a

We woke this morning at 5:00am to prepare

for church, which started at 6:00am.

It's tradition: worship service at 6am followed

by a breakfast of chipa and cocido (sweet, hot drink).

There's one thing I love about rising that early

on Easter Sunday.....thinking about those women

walking to Jesus' grave just after sunrise

  and finding it empty!

Mark 16:1-7

chipa!

Easter is the most celebrated holiday here.  

The week before Easter is known as Holy Week.  

No stores are open on Good Friday, 

not even the grocery store!  

One very old Easter tradition here is to make chipa the Wednesday or Thursday before Easter.   Many "city Paraguayans" will take a trip to the country to visit their family and make chipa together! 

This has become one of our new traditions also!  We do our best to make good chipa though we don't have a big brick oven in the back yard to give it that Paraguayan flavor!

Mix in a blender:

1 cup milk

1 cup oil

4 eggs

100 grams of Paraguayan cheese

(this year our's came straight from the farm!)

1 1/2 tsp salt

100 grams corn flour

15 grams anise

Pour mixture into a bowl.  

Add 800 grams mandioca (aka yucca) flour

and start to mix/knead by hand.

Form into little loaves or wreathes.  

It is a PY tradition to let the kids make fun shapes!

Below is a little loaf.

Make light, diagonal slices along the top.

With the oven at the highest setting (ours goes to 

about 450 degrees), cook each side for 7-8 minutes.

Enjoy!

a very special birthday!

I don't know how he does it, but my husband

ALWAYS manages to make my birthday so

special!

He has brainwashed our boys into thinking

I am the best mom in the world!

Some of the things that made my birthday special were:

a homemade, boy-made breakfast,

 precious, homemade cards,

(made me cry!)

lots of big bear hugs,

 

 a trip to the park and a homemade, very tasty 

chocolate milkshake with Oreos!

I have a precious family!

To top it off, I received birthday e-mails from many 

family and friends!

I don't deserve a bit of it!  

But out of the Father's great love for His daughter,

He blessed me with all of you!

"I will sing to the Lord, 

for He has dealt bountifully with me!"

Psalm 13:6

how far the Lord has brought us!

Here's what the situation was this past Sunday.....
My husband and I had just finished teaching our 0-5 year old Sunday School class.  We were ready to walk downstairs to the Worship Service when my friend walked in our classroom.  She was supposed to lead Kid's Church but announced to us, "I have to lead the singing time in the Worship Service and I have no one to stay with the kids!"
OK.... 
3 years ago we wouldn't have understood what she was saying.
2 years ago she wouldn't have hinted to US that she needed help.
1 year ago we wouldn't have been ready to jump in and sub.
But yesterday...
because of all the Lord has taught us, we were able to help!

We didn't have a lesson, of course, but we lead some songs, played some Bible trivia, and had a good time getting to know them better!
The Lord has brought us so far!!!!  Thank You, Father!!!!

Follow this link to see a video of a game the church kids played while we were with them.  (Sorry, the video is a little bouncy.)
https://vimeo.com/62117703

more new teammates!

This missionary family arrived a couple weeks ago!

It's so fun to listen to new missionaries talk about their first

impressions of the country and people...

brings back lots of memories of when we first arrived!

"Jesus said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are few.  So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields."

 Matthew 9:37-38

We are very thankful for these new "workers" and how the Lord will use them in the fields of Paraguay!