June 2013: The Gospel, Child Labor and an Asthma Attack

Dear Friends and Family:

Street signs throughout Asunción exhibit excerpts from the United Nations’ “Declaration of the Rights of the Child.”  Principle 9 of the Declaration reads:
 
The child…shall in no case be caused or permitted to engage in any occupation or employment which would prejudice his health or education, or interfere with his physical, mental or moral development.

Ironically and tragically, only a few yards from the sign one might see young children selling candies or washing car windows.  In fact, local news reports that at least 450,000 children under the age of 12 are employed in Paraguay. 

“Laura,” a student in the second grade morning class at the New Horizon School, was referred to Margarita for learning difficulties.  She failed all her classes.  Her teacher described her as “on the moon” during lessons as well as in her relating with classmates.  At recess she sat alone while the others played.  Margarita soon discovered that each day when Laura returned home from school, she worked from 12 to 7 as the solitary housecleaner and caretaker of her younger brother.  Laura’s “job” was the main obstacle to her learning.  Margarita and the administrators urged Laura’s parents to transfer her into the afternoon class, which forced them to find an adult relative to perform Laura’s duties.  Instead of working, Laura now spends her afternoons in school.  She is passing all her classes, and Margarita says she’s become an active, social little girl again.

Praise God for Laura’s restoration and pray that He would do the same for the thousands of Paraguayan child laborers.  Likewise, please keep the New Horizon School in your prayers as it educates and reaches out to children who might be in situations like Laura was.

Along with our work at school, Margarita and I have been active in the Evangelism and Missions Ministry over the last couple months.  The Trinidad evangelistic event in May was postponed due to rain.  Our next event will be a vacation bible school and youth concert in the Siloé neighborhood.  Please pray for this event on July 10^th through 14^th in addition to the missions conference we are organizing with churches in the Chaco region on July 27^th.

The primary goal of the Repatriación mission trip in April was to help launch a local church’s children’s ministry.  About 100 children came to the event.  I got to share about Christ’s ability to transform lives on a local radio station.  Unfortunately, at the end of the second day Ana had to be hospitalized for breathing problems.  We thank God for her recovery from the incident, but she will use an inhaler and anti-allergy medicine every day for at least the rest of the winter.  Please keep Ana’s health in your prayers.

Last month I sent out a flash prayer request for a presentation I gave with less than a day’s notice to 160 students.  There were some technical difficulties, but the message got across.  I explained C.S. Lewis’ use of the lion Aslan’s death in Narnia to depict Jesus’ sacrifice for all of humanity, and then concluded by asking the crowd, “Who wants to follow this man who loved you so much that he gave his life for you?” An overwhelming majority of the group raised their hands. 

Please continue to pray for Margarita and I, that we will “make known the mystery of the gospel."

For His glory,

Tim, Margarita and Ana