...new family members!

 We have gained 4 new family members since we've been in 

Paraguay!

My "baby" sister was married in May! 

 Next, my brother and his wife added a little baby boy 

to their family!

We can't wait to meet this cute little guy!

 Then in August my "baby" brother got married!

And finally, in November, my grandma got married!

We're looking forward to getting to know 

everyone better on our furlough/home assignment!

...a day at the creek!

Another missionary family took us to the Piribebuy Creek today!

That is Guarani (Paraguay's 2nd national language) 

for "Fish Country"!

It is about 2 hours away but so worth the drive!

Especially since we were the only people there today!

The water was clean and cool, 

the landscape around us was beautiful!

 

 (Above: Our oldest son is on the right.)

These boys had fun climbing the rocks and exploring!

 (Above: Our middle son is on the right.)

These boys dug themselves a seat in the sand!

And we all enjoyed the miniature rapids!

 I'm not sure what was better: 

being out in the country for a day,

watching the kids splash and swim,

the juicy watermelon we ended the day with 

or the fellowship we had with our friends!

Thank You, Lord, for a good day!

...new teammates!

This missionary family just arrived in Paraguay last week!

It's very fun to get new missionaries - 

it's like we're getting new family members!  

 The NTM missionaries who live in town, including us, 

had a Welcome/Thanksgiving Feast for them!

One of the single missionary gals made this very cool veggie turkey!  

Can you see it?

 If you think of this family, 

could you pray for them as they adjust to their new life here?

Moving to a new country is exciting...

but it's also emotional, challenging and exhausting!

 

...a day set aside to give thanks!

This tradition started last year and it's something we ALL

love doing!  We put up a poster board, lay the markers close by

and write down things we are thankful for all day! 

It's incredible how many things we can be thankful for!

(And it was so fun to get out last year's poster and read it!)

"...giving thanks always for all things to God the Father 

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..."  

Ephesians 5:20

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

...a great school year!!!

My husband and I are so proud of our boys!  

They successfully completed 1st and 2nd grade! 

 Our older son GREATLY improved in his handwriting

 and read stacks of books this year!  

He also learned all about carrying & borrowing in math!  

Our middle son is reading everything in sight now, including his 

Bible, and spelling very well!  He picked up adding & 

subtracting fast!  They also had a Spanish class with a Paraguayan 

sister in Christ once a week and attend a gym class in the area.  

They've grown in both these areas too!  

WELL DONE, my boys!!!

 They both thought they had one more day of school left 

but we surprised them by taking them to the Asuncion Zoo! 

 The zoo really does not have many animals but it does have a 

great selection of beautiful birds, many of which fly freely in Paraguay!  

 We had fun watching the monkeys play around!

 (Our smallest is starting a new fashion with his sunglasses!)

 

  We had a really fun day celebrating the end of a great school year 

and watching some of God's cool creations!

...safety in the storm!

     I know...it's been a super long time since I've posted!  I've been putting more time into studying Spanish as my husband and I are both hoping I can finish officially studying after my next evaluation on November5!  But there are some important things that have happened that I'd like to thank God for (publicly) and that I'd like you to know about!
     On the evening of September 18, a bad storm blew through our city.  Our "earthly protector" was at a Bible study that evening; it was just the 3 boys and I at the house when the lights went out, the roof started leaking and the wind began crazily blowing the trees every which way.  Thankfully our Heavenly Protector was with us!  Not long after, the storm settled down, the lights came back on and my hubby returned from his Bible study! 
     However, in a neighborhood not far from our home, a neighborhood that we frequently visit, a tragic thing had occurred...a tornado.  A tornado is a rare occurrence in Paraguay: the people have no warning system and no basements to hide in.  Around 1500 families were left homeless and 6 young people died.

A school room

A business

The shopping mall we occasionally visit.

     The next day was a sad day for our city.  We were very thankful for the Lord's protection.

...heart-to-heart talks and tears.

     I about had to force my middle son into the kitchen.  I wanted him to help me bake but he didn't like that idea today.  So, I let him sit on the counter and watch me.  We've been noticing that he doesn't speak as much Spanish as his older brother and I wanted to find out what was going on in his little heart.  While I got ingredients together, I began to talk to him and ask him questions.  He confessed, as he stirred the batter, that he's much more comfortable with American people.  He doesn't feel like he speaks Spanish very well and doesn't know how to answer people when they ask him questions.  *Big brother bursts in and wants him to play soccer.....  "Well, I'm helping Mom right now."  (My heart smiles.)

   

     As tears rolled down our oldest son's cheeks, I decided to push phonics aside the other day and just talk.  He had gotten up early in the morning with Daddy and taken another missionary family to the airport.  And this morning, as I hugged him, that airplane was carrying some of his good friends far, far away for a while, back to the USA.  Instead of picking up my teacher's manual, I picked up a small book we have about Jesus (designed to help kids through changes), and curled up to read with my grieving son.

          These are some of the hardships that MK's (missionary kids) face.  Our little guys have been troopers: we've lived in 9 different houses, 3 different states and 2 different countries in their short, sweet lives.  I used to ask myself, "Is this really fair to drag our kids around like this?  Why don't they get the privilege of living close to their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins?  Will they be stable men when they grow up or are we going to ruin these little guys by moving so much?"  But the Lord has shown me otherwise (oftentimes through my husband's wisdom)!  The Lord has not just chosen my husband and I to go overseas, but our whole family.  He's a good God and He will take care of these things I tend to worry about! 

     I cherish these tender moments, like the ones above.  I love to listen to them pour out their hearts.  I also love to remind them what a privilege it is, even though there are sacrifices, to serve our God!