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 18th and 19th.
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
