Happy Independence Day!

[To those who received the e-mail: please forgive us for forgetting to use "bcc."  We will be sure to do so next time.]

Dear Friends and Family:

Instead of participating in class, 5-year-old “Victoria” would frequently say, “I can’t do it; I don’t know how,” then put her face on her desk and completely shut down.  Her teacher referred her to Margarita, who began an intervention that resulted in some improvement.  However, Victoria recently reverted back to her former practice.  Margarita concluded that without addressing the rejection that Victoria feels from her mother and her separation from her father, it will be difficult to overcome her obstacles to learning.  Sadly, Victoria’s home situation parallels not only many students at the New Horizon School, but the majority of Paraguayan children and teens, who don’t live with one or both parents (CEPAL 2008).

While Margarita and I provide academic and spiritual support to students and youth in situations like Victoria’s, many of them clearly need a multidisciplinary approach.  Pray that in spite of the absence of ministerial resources they and their families ultimately find support through knowing Christ who gives strength.    

Most youth in the section of our neighborhood around the Avamba’e public school live in extreme poverty and face situations like Victoria’s—and worse.  With our almost 4-year-old daughter Ana’s “help,” Margarita and I gave a recent presentation there.  Our hearts were broken to the needs of the students.  In attempt to maintain a connection, we invited them to a movie night hosted by our church’s youth group.  Attendance at the movie night exceeded twice as much as normal.  After the movie we invited the crowd to find peace with God through Jesus.  We are now following-up with those who responded in order to get to know them and their spiritual situations better.  Pray for us to effectively connect with the youth of our community.

One pastor in the Chaco region recently surprised us with the question, “How can I teach my congregation to share the gospel?”  The national Missions and Evangelism Ministry will facilitate an outreach workshop at his church on July 25th in response his question and to encourage his church to be involved in missions locally, regionally, nationally and to the ends of the earth.  We also continue to organize a mission trip to Ciudad del Este.  Please pray as we help mobilize congregations in missions projects.

Outreach in the Esperanza Prison is complicated by the fact that new Christians recovering from drug addiction share cells with active drug users.  I recently challenged eleven inmates to commit to a month-long discipleship, comparing it to what singer Alex Campos calls the “Taller del Maestro” (Master’s Workshop).  I told them that they would be put into the fire, but, as one refines silver, it will help them in the end.  Eight showed up for the first lesson. One of them recently gave his life to Christ and two of them recommitted themselves to follow him.  Pray for transformation to occur in these men’s lives as they study scripture.

Finally, pray for Margarita and me as we plan to visit family, friends and churches in the United States this coming winter.  If we could be of service to your church or small group during our stay, please contact us. 

The majority of Paraguayan youth know what it’s like to live without acceptance and affection from biological parents.  How much God the Father desires to lavish love upon them, along with everyone else!  Through your support and prayers for Margarita and me, you help many in Paraguay experience God’s affection and hear the invitation that anyone is accepted as a son or daughter of God through faith in Jesus.     

Thank you, and Happy Independence Day!

Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine Revett

*You can see a live performance of the powerful song referenced above,  "Al Taller del Maestro," (a classic from way back in the late 2000's) at 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LGPw5q_rsc