Monday, June 9, 2014

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