October 2013

Dear Friends and Family:

The Paraguayan-Guarani saying, “Ikarêmba, sevo’i rapéicha” (It has as many curves as a pinworm’s route), describes the meandering course that Margarita and I recently experienced in moving towards our ministry goals.  We’ve traversed obstacles in the prison, school and in the upcoming outreach event, but now see the fulfillment of the hope that the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth.

Earlier this month the church that was most involved in the Puerto Falcon evangelistic event told us they couldn’t participate.  Then, another helping church began to plan a different activity the same day as the event.  Finally, the local pastor became discouraged due to job issues and seminary studies.  I prayerfully navigated conversations with the churches, making a few trips out to the Chaco area to speak in person.  They all renewed their decision to participate.  This coming Sunday afternoon (October 27^th) there will be two pre-event meetings.  Please pray for unity among everyone involved in the event.  Also, pray that the glory of the Lord shall be revealed as we reach out to the city of Puerto Falcon on November 2^nd and 3^rd.

Likewise, I turned a corner with the Tacumbú discipleship.  I previously focused on inmates already in the middle leadership level; however, this group proved to be too transient to complete the discipleship.  Many quickly moved up to the next level of leadership, or their prison terms ended.  Others exited the program due lack of commitment.  Now I’ve modified the program to reach out to new inmates and prepare them prior to entering the middle leadership level.  Four solid inmate leaders emerged from the last round of discipleship and they will help teach the next group.  I thank God for these four men—Dean, Gustavo, Guillermo and Ysidro—and ask you to keep them in your prayers.

At the New Horizon School, Margarita experienced obstacles in her work with a student who was struggling severely in all his subjects.  He couldn’t concentrate during the lessons.  His handwriting was unreadable.  When Margarita tested his academic abilities, she discovered that he was very much capable of achieving at his grade level.  After conversations with the student and interviews with his family, Margarita learned that his dilemma was not as much a learning problem as it was an emotional issue.  The boys’ parents fought constantly.  They weren’t spending much time with him and never helped him with his homework.  The only parental attention he received with his studies was punishment in response to failing grades.

Margarita’s student sorely lacked a safe and stable home environment.  He needed to feel affection from his parents.  Margarita presented her diagnosis to his parents, who accepted her report and began to follow her recommendations.  His parents resolved to work on their marriage.  They moved out of the overcrowded, extended family living situation.  They started spending more time with their son, doing activities together and helping him with his homework.  Margarita says the increased security and stability he now feels is evident in his improved school work.  Please keep Margarita’s students and their families in your prayers. Additionally, please pray for the New Horizon students as they begin their final exams.

Ana, too, is overcoming a few challenges of her own. She stopped drinking from her baby bottle and is making progress towards not using diapers.  Also, her pediatrician took her off most of the medications that she was taking a few months ago.  Join us in thanking God for Ana’s growth and health.

Margarita and I don’t pretend for a moment that every plan or project will always be successful.  We simply have witnessed that in successes as well as failures, there is truth to the proverb, Trust in the Lord with all your heart…and he will make your paths straight.

Yours truly,                                         Tim, Margarita and Ana Revett