Dear
Family and Friends:
When Horatio Cartes began his presidency
two years ago, Paraguay held second place in corruption in South America. Can you guess where Paraguay presently stands? Again, second place on the continent and now
twenty-fourth in the world. Last week Cartes
ordered the nation’s leaders, “Stop robbing the people!” Sitting behind him on the stage at the moment
were three of his co-partisans currently undergoing corruption indictments.
Paraguay
is said to have a “culture of corruption.”
Fraud, bribery and contraband permeate every level of society, ranging
from politicians who pocket millions of dollars from illegal business schemes
and international aid, to transit police who almost always give motorists a
chance to “work something out” to avoid paying a traffic fine, to poor day
laborers who purchase pirated DVD’s which are available on any major street
corner. When Margarita recently turned
in paperwork for her and Antoine’s national identification cards, she detected
an ominous tone in the attendant’s voice indicating that she might be expected
to pay a little money on the side for processing the documents. Pray
for us to be able to get all our documents soon. More importantly, please bring Paraguay’s
plague of corruption before God in your prayers.
A contributing factor to corruption is a
heart-level focus on laying up
treasures on earth. The Fuente de
Vida Church youth group began 2015 encouraging each other to flee such short-sighted
passions and instead pursue things that are long-term and eternal. Their decisions this year regarding work,
education and relationships will shape their futures. While we are very grateful that nearly all of
them have decided to follow Jesus and heed his voice, their consistency in doing
so will help draw their classmates, co-workers and friends toward making the
same decision. We ask that you pray for the Fuente de Vida youth to experience exponential
spiritual growth this year.
Furthermore,
please pray for the preparations for the 2015 school year. Margarita
and I—along with the rest of the New Horizon School faculty—are preparing to
return to teaching. The school bases its
pedagogical approach on biblical principles like “lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven.” If New
Horizon and other Christian schools succeed in their goal of educating a new
generation of Paraguayan leaders to live out these principles, the “culture of
corruption” could end.
Through your prayers
and support for the New Horizon School and for Margarita and me, you join us in
building up hope to an end to corruption in Paraguay. We thank the Lord for your partnership with
us, and pray that throughout 2015 you and your loved ones will hear his
voice, follow him and know that you, as well as your hopes and concerns, are
known by him.
Sincerely,
Ana, Tim, Margarita, and Antoine
Revett
