December 2014: Rejoicing over the Birth of a Child

December, 2014

Dear Family and Friends:

Imagine the Acosta family’s joy over their child’s birth a week ago.  Imagine the urgency the family felt when the doctors ordered an immediate hospital transfer due to the baby’s critical condition.   Imagine their grief as the child passed away after almost ten hours of waiting for the transfer to be processed.  This particular hospital, one of Paraguay’s largest, has been condemned for an excessively-bureaucratic administration, rampant infections, infrequent nurse visits, malpractice and a lack of basic medications.  Margarita and I, along with her family, might spend part of Christmas Eve at this hospital.

Paraguayan families eat a big meal together late on Christmas Eve.  At exactly midnight, everybody wishes each other a “Merry Christmas” and exchanges hugs, handshakes or double-cheek kisses.  Then, the sky lights up with fireworks.  In order to include my father-in-law, Santiago, in this celebration, some relatives have mentioned going together to the hospital.  Last Friday night we checked him in due to an infection.  Regardless of where we spend Christmas Eve, we ask for prayer for the many families and patients, like Santiago, who will be in hospitals on that special night.  Also, please pray for the Acosta family.

Nativity scenes appearing in front of homes and stores, increasing sounds of firecrackers and intensifying heat mark the coming of Christmas in Paraguay.  These elements also indicate that the year will soon conclude, which causes Margarita and I to reflect on our ministry activities in 2014. This year we literally witnessed thousands of youth make decisions for Christ and weekly walked alongside hundreds of children and teens through discipleship and education.  All of this was possible through the support and prayers of people like you, for whom we give thanks to God. 

December started off nicely as 4 of our youth were baptized.  With classes out of session, we have been able to do more activities with the youth group like outings, sports events and a movie night.  Additionally, another prison discipleship course is coming to a close.  We’re also meeting with different ministry leaders to plan activities for 2015.  Since Antoine prefers to be more active after midnight, our summer vacation enables us to get in needed sleep.  He is growing quickly and was baby Jesus in a Christmas play.  Praise God for the Fuente de Vida youth group and for Antoine, who is our biggest gift of 2014.

The birth of a child is a joyful event.  For all people, especially those who are facing injustice, battling sickness or depression, or grieving the absence of loved ones, Christmas reminds us that there is good news of great joy because a Savior has been born…he is Christ the Lord.  Just as Ana knows that she will soon receive her presents under our Christmas tree, may all of you likewise put your trust in our Savior, who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine

November 2014: Thankful for New Life

Dear Friends and Family:

Three years ago Margarita and I became parents for the first time.  As you probably remember, it was a rocky start to parenthood because our daughter, Ana, was born with respiratory distress syndrome.  With that experience in mind, Margarita and I honestly had the jitters as we prepared for the birth of our second child earlier this month.  We instead tried to remember the wonders God has done in Ana’s life.  Meanwhile, many of you sent us encouraging messages and assured us of your prayer support, for which we are grateful.

Our and your prayers were indeed answered.  On November 7^th, at 7:30 A.M., Antoine Samuel arrived without any complications.  The doctors and medical staff were excellent.  Margarita was even more amazing.  Please join us in praising God for his wonderful acts.       

November has been a month of adjustment for the family.  Margarita is recovering.  I’m getting used to holding a newborn again.  Ana kisses her little brother at every opportunity. Antoine spends his day sleeping and eating.  Margarita and I are both sleeping little at night and are finding out that two children are significantly more work than one.  We are grateful for Margarita’s family who has been helping out quite a bit.

Likewise, Margarita and I thank all of you who began or resumed giving toward our mission work in recent months.  We will be able to continue serving in Paraguay with plans to visit the U.S. at the end of 2015.  Most of our material needs are met for the time being; though, please pray with us for direction and the resources necessary to complete the construction of our house this year.

November is the last month of school in Paraguay before summer vacation. Since my classes wound down, I was able to give presentations about school violence and other topics in nearby public schools.  I concluded each presentation by encouraging the students to look to the Lord and his strength, no matter what difficulties they’re facing.  The other day one presentation finished with almost an entire room of high school students praying with me to return to or to begin walking with Christ.  At the New Horizon School, the teachers and I spent most of this month on testing, grading and saying good-bye to the students.  Please pray for the students’ safety during their vacation.  Also, please pray for the New Horizon School administrators this month as important decisions will be made for next year.     

Although Thanksgiving has passed, as you can see, there is still much to be thankful for.  Certainly any day is a good day to give thanks to the Lord and call on His name (Psalm 105).

Yours truly,

Margarita, Tim, Ana and Antoine    

September-October 2014: Child Exploitation and Child-like Trust

Dear Friends and Family:

Two-year-old “J.” arrived at the hospital with tuberculosis and severe malnutrition.  He wasn’t born with these conditions, but rather they are results of his daily exposure to smog, heat, cold, rain and a plethora of germs.  J. accompanies his parents as they walk up and down the medians at busy intersections, asking for change.   The doctors said J. needed to be hospitalized for at least a month.  Tragically, after only four days, the boy’s father took him out of the hospital and back onto the streets to beg.

More than half of Paraguay’s 705,000 impoverished children live in extreme circumstances similar to J.’s.  In addition to the widespread exploitation, 60% of Paraguayan children report violence to be normal life.  The hotlines and legal processes in place to support children rarely arrive at solutions.  There is indeed no easy solution to this serious threat to Paraguay’s future generation; however, it is an opportunity for the Church, who has to call to reach out to and welcome these little children in Christ’s name.   Through your raising awareness for, praying for and giving to missionaries like us and ministries like the New Horizon School, you have responded to this call.  Thank you for your response!

The New Horizon School provides a safe environment where children and teens spend most of their week learning information that enhances their development and acquiring skills that will help their families leave harmful cycles such as poverty and violence.  More importantly, the students learn about their immeasurable value to their Creator who endows them with talents that will enable them to transform their homes, community, nation and world.  Please pray for the Lord to guide the New Horizon School as it carries out its mission to educate a new generation of Paraguayan leaders.

Unfortunately, there are significant obstacles to an effective education.  Some of Margarita’s students suffer untreated medical conditions caused by pre-natal problems and difficult births that inhibit their comprehension.  Furthermore, many of the students’ parents not only neglected to teach them basic vocabulary like objects and colors at an early age, but they also fail to help them with their homework.  Next year, Margarita will continue treatment with these students.  She also plans to help parents better support their children’s education.  Margarita’s work, though, is now on hold as she is full-time resting and “nesting.”  Please pray for a safe delivery for her and Antoine Samuel, who will show up any day. Also, pray for an outreach event we’re organizing in the Trinidad neighborhood on October 18^th and 19^th.

Children have much to teach us.  When Jesus called them to Him, they simply went and welcomed His embrace and blessing.  Jesus makes the same call to us now.   Are we willing to humbly look past adult-like doubts and go to Him with child-like trust?

Much love,

Tim, Margarita and Ana

August 2014: Quell Fear in Latin America

[Last Month's Graduates from the "Quien es Jesus?" Course in the Tacumbu Penitentiary]

Dear Friends and Family:

60% of Paraguayans “tremble” as they step out of their homes for fear of assault and robbery, especially at night, according to La Nación.  The same newspaper reports that 70% of robberies in Paraguay are committed by teenagers.  Through praying, financially giving and raising awareness for Margarita’s and my work in education and spiritual formation among Paraguay’s youth, you are helping fight against the plague of delinquency, which is the principle social concern of most Latin Americans (Latinobarómetro, 2012).  Thank you for your partnership, and please pray for God to heal the region of this plague.

One cause of delinquency is a lack of education.  When school attendance and studies occupy teens’ days, they generally have less time to be involved in criminal activity.  Additionally, through education—whether in a school, stable home or church—youth learn about morally appropriate participation in society. “Miguel,” an inmate in the Tacumbu Prison, lived on the streets since he was 8 and rarely attended school.  No one taught him a way of life that wasn’t fraught with violence, robbery or substance abuse until he entered the Remar Christian Rehab cell block inside the prison.  There, he studied the Bible, gave his life to Christ and now disciples new inmates who grew up in similar circumstances. 

Your partnership with me directly confronts delinquency by ministering to past and present Tacumbu inmates like Miguel.  Last month, 26 inmates graduated from the “¿Quién es Jesús?” course.   All of them placed their faith in Christ and accepted the challenge to teach the course to other inmates.  In fact, 6 of them are currently team-teaching the 20 new participants who started the course this month.  With the discipleship becoming more inmate-led, there is the possibility of me teaching it in other prisons.  Pray for God to guide His ministries in Paraguay in the transformation of the lives of the thousands of incarcerated men and women.

Un-treated learning disabilities also contribute to delinquency because they can frustrate students who, in turn, might drop out of school.  Your partnership with Margarita as she diagnoses and treats early-detected learning disabilities opens the door for many young students to have a long-term, positive educational experience as well as an increased hope of a positive future.  Margarita will soon begin to wind down her activities due to the approaching birth of Antoine Samuel.  We thank God that she and the baby are healthy.  We ask you to keep them in your prayers. 

Likewise, please keep our financial situation in your prayers.  We are asking individuals and churches to give $25 or $50 a month, or make a one-time donation, in order to enable us to continue our work here through 2015.  Please visit www.uwm.org/missionaries/tim-revett if you are able to give. 

Miguel saw the death and destruction that comes as a result of delinquency.  He’s also since learned that there are choices that lead to life and prosperity.  Indeed, these are promises for anyone who chooses to love God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.

Yours truly,

                                Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine Revett

We praise God for "Princess" Ana's 3rd year of life!

July 2014: A Youthful Harvest

Ana hanging out with the big girls before one of the presentations.

Dear Family and Friends:

Last month Margarita and I asked you to pray for the short-term mission visit by Montavilla Baptist Church from Portland, Oregon.  Here are some numbers from their week in Paraguay:

• 8 schools visited
• 20 presentations
• 5 classrooms painted at the Avamba’e Public School
• 1 game of “death ball” (Paraguayan dodge-ball) with the Avamba’e faculty
• 3,000 students  saw and heard about Jesus’ love for them
• 1,000-1,500 students made decisions to follow Jesus
• 4 local churches connected with the schools for follow-up 
• 100% of the schools invited us to return and present again.

We also asked you to pray for the youth lock-in at the Fuente de Vida Church, which proved to be the highlight of our winter vacation from teaching at the New Horizon School.  30 teens and college-aged youth stayed for the whole 24 hours.  Another fifteen or so came and went, depending on their work and school schedules.  There were no accidents (a few did wake up in the morning with marker or toothpaste on their faces).  The group came away with a greater sense of unity.  One visitor, with tears in his eyes, shared that prior to the event he had been spiritually dry and felt the absence of a community who cared for him.  He sensed that God began to change his situation during the lock-in.

Seeing these results, Margarita and I assume you prayed.  Please take a moment to think about just these two recent activities that you were involved in through your prayers, financial support and encouraging messages.  Give thanks to God for the impact He is making in the lives of these youth.

Paraguay has the youngest population of South America with almost 75% of its inhabitants being under the age of 40.  Reaching out to the Paraguayan youth is reaching out to the nation’s majority.  Additionally, reaching out to the youth with the Gospel is giving hope for future Christ-centered, societal transformation. Margarita and I are privileged to have many opportunities to work with the beautiful and talented children through young adults of this country.   With a decrease in giving and a baby on the way, our financial situation may not afford us the ability to continue working into next year without having to pause for fundraising.  If you are not giving and are able to become a monthly supporter or make a contribution to our mission work, please visit www.uwm.org/missionaries/tim-revett or contact us at timothyrevett@gmail.com or margaritacohene@hotmail.com.

Years ago we were taught that it’s okay to brag when writing an update from the mission field.  Our intention here is not to boast about any work that we are doing, but rather to boast in the Lord.  Without Him, nothing mentioned above would have been possible.   He protected the mission team during their visit and the youth during the lock-in.  It was He who touched the hearts of those thousands of youth.  He calls all of us to join Him.  All we need to do is say “yes.”

Sincerely,    

Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine

The Happiest Country in the World

Dear Family and Friends:

According to the Gallup World Poll, Paraguay is the happiest country in the world.  This seems misleading when considering the impoverished and violence-stricken slums in which hundreds of thousands of people here live.  On the other hand, upon visiting these slums, one can hear laughter and children singing. 

Topographically and socially speaking, the Avamba’e Public School sits at the bottom of its neighborhood.  The gang-related graffiti adorning the few standing sections of the school grounds’ walls and piles of garbage decorating the recess area aesthetically match the surrounding residential area nicknamed, “Pantanal,” or “swamp.”  Despite the violence, addictions and poverty around Avamba’e, the school is filled with precious elementary school children and junior high adolescents who are eager to learn. Last month I sat in an English class taught there by a missionary intern, Alex.   He concluded the class by teaching the students the chorus of a Dave Crowder Band song.  It was powerful to hear the school’s halls filled with their voices singing “He loves us, oh, how He loves us, oh, how He loves…”  Despite the conditions in which the Avamba’e students live it still stands true that neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Pray that the students, their families and neighbors will personally know the Giver of this love.  Also, please pray for the short term mission team from Montavilla Baptist Church in Portland, who will be working in schools like Avamba’e at the end of June and beginning of July.

The families of many Paraguayan students struggle to provide school supplies for their children.  Years ago, when I was teaching in a public middle school in Northeast Portland  I collected all the pencils, pens, notebooks, calculators and other school supplies that the students left behind at the end of the school year.  The amount of items that were still in almost new condition surprised me. I selected enough to fill two medium-sized boxes, which I sent to a school in Paraguay.   Although used school supplies may seem valueless, Margarita and I have the opportunity to share Christ’s love in un-churched areas of Paraguay through distributing such items. Would you like to help us?

We are not asking for money or for you to buy new supplies.  As the U.S. school year comes to an end, please talk to students and teachers about gathering usable school supplies left in their classrooms to send to Paraguay.  When you have a box ready, please contact me and I will guide you in the best way to send it here.

Through your continued prayers and support, Margarita and I see a part of the great love the Father has lavished on us. We thank you and, with Fathers’ Day in mind, thank God for his love, which, is freely given to all of us. 

Happy Fathers’ Day!          
                
Tim, Margarita and Ana

April 2014: New Life in Paraguay

Dear Friends and Family:

One of my 7^th grade students recently wrote me the following prayer request:

“Pray that I can go live with my mother and that there would be no more shouting.”

Most New Horizon School students live with serious domestic problems.  Their families have been separated by infidelity, domestic violence, death and migrant labor.  There have been cases of sexual abuse and suicide attempts.  Many students have experienced physical abuse and neglect.  Additionally, some students face pressure to give up school and start working.

As Margarita works with the pre-school and kindergarten students trying to detect early onset of learning difficulties, she witnesses students behaving aggressively in one moment and then overly sensitive in the next.  For example, one student was not completing his assignment.  When the teacher called him over to help him, he broke out in tears.  While such behaviors are being seen in the classroom, at home more than half of these students’ parents are separated or going through divorce.  How can Margarita and I, along with the rest of the New Horizon School faculty, help these children—Paraguay’s very plentiful and most valuable resource?

For most students, the 4-6 hours that they spend at school are the most nurturing moments of their day.  They receive attention.  They are prayed for and encouraged to achieve.  Their education not only supports them now, but also supports the hope for them and a future generation to not have to endure similar situations.  Moreover, as the faculty delivers a comprehensive education, we do so with our eyes fixed on Christ, who promises that he will make all things new, even the corrupted world in which our students live.

Please pray for the students at the New Horizon School.  Likewise, pray for the faculty, that we would be renewed daily in our work with the students and their families.

Margarita and I greatly appreciate your prayers during the previous month.  The Fuente de Vida youth ministry grows, and this month we are launching mid-week meetings in homes and at empanada stands. Regarding the Missions and Evangelism Ministry, many people attended the evangelism workshop.  Most returned the following night to help the host church with an outreach event, during which a few visitors accepted Jesus’ invitation to new life.

Give thanks to God for his work in Paraguay.  Please pray that my two former prison discipleship students, “Ignacio” and “Gustavo,” live out their new lives after their release.

Symbols of new life surround us all during Easter season.  This Sunday, as we contemplate Jesus’ resurrection, let’s also give thanks to God, who, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, will raise up with Christ anyone who believes in him.

Happy Easter!

Tim, Margarita and Ana Revett

P.S.:  Speaking of new life, Margarita and I are expecting our second child in November! Please pray for Margarita and the baby’s health.

Summer's End in Paraguay

 

February 2014

Dear Friends and Family:

Margarita’s interviews with the New Horizon School students’ parents reveal that complications in childbirth can lead to learning difficulties. “José,” for instance, was born with a hernia due to a difficult delivery.  His four-year time on the surgery waiting list extended into pre-school.  José couldn’t play soccer or other active games with his classmates.  He was the only student who wore a diaper, which his family had him use in order to brace his abdomen.  The mental and social effects of his hernia encumbered his integration into class and affected his learning.  Eventually, José received the awaited surgery.  He currently is in kindergarten and works with Margarita to overcome the challenges he experienced during pre-school.  Please pray for Margarita and her colleagues as they detect and treat early on the learning difficulties affecting the New Horizon pre-school and kindergarten students.

As much as Margarita and I wanted to visit you all in the U.S. this past Christmas-New Year Season, we know it was right that we stayed in Paraguay.  Margarita and I dedicated much of December to praying for and working toward the revival of the Fuente de Vida Church college-age ministry.  During 2013 the number of participants had dropped to five.  At the end of December we began to see a turn-around.  For example, two brothers who recently made professions of faith started regularly attending and helping in the services.  So far this year, the average attendance has been around 25.  Pray that these youth would continue to devote time to communion and scripture study in 2014.

In January Margarita, Ana and I made our longest road trip yet in South America to see a friend’s wedding in Montevideo, Uruguay.  We spent the days following the wedding getting to know the area (especially the beach), including a few churches and ministries.  Agnosticism is Uruguay’s most widely-accepted belief system.  Missionaries and pastors spoke about discouraging results from years of work.  However, a seminary director told us that last year he sensed the environment beginning to open up to the gospel.  Please pray for Uruguay and for our hope to lead a group of Paraguayan youth there for a short term mission trip, perhaps as early as 2015. 

While we were in Uruguay, the Tacumbu Prison was on the verge of what the warden called a massacre.  Prison guards went on strike, which created chaos inside the prison.  Groups of inmates attempted to pillage the storerooms of different cell blocks.  Authorities reported one death when someone climbed on a roof to confront inmates who were trying to descend into and ransack his cell block.  A week after the chaos subsided, I entered to complete the “Who is Jesus?” course.  This month we will celebrate the graduation of fifteen inmates from the course.  Keep these graduates in your prayers as they will soon be teaching the course to others inside the prison.

Last month the New Horizon School started its 14th academic year with over 700 students.  I teach nine English and two Christian Education classes at the middle and high school levels. Additionally I serve on the chaplain staff.  Margarita focuses on early elementary learning disabilities and early childhood academic stimulation.  Meanwhile, Ana will spend three mornings a week at a daycare across the street.  Pray for us to have a great school year.  In addition, please pray for a workshop on small group evangelism and discipleship that the Evangelism and Missions Ministry is organizing on March 14^th.

Margarita and I very much appreciate your support and prayers.  We want to make a special invitation for 31 people to devote one day a month to pray for us and for Paraguay.  If you are interested in being one of the 31 people, please let us know.  Prayer is one means to maintain solidarity in God’s family.  Prayer is also the means by which everyone is invited to approach God’s throne of grace…so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. 

We pray that all of you will know and thrive in this grace.

Yours truly,

Tim, Margarita and Ana Revett