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!