Dear
Friends and Family:
The
police once stopped me for what seemed to my Paraguayan passenger and me as a
fake checkpoint. I promptly presented my
registration and international driving permit, the likes of which the officer
had not seen before. The permit included
the text of the 1949 United Nations agreement that allowed for my U.S. license
to be valid in Paraguay. According to
him, I had to pay a fine because even though Paraguay was part of the U.N.
agreement, his town wasn’t. Not knowing
how to reason with the official, I replied in Guarani: “Ipora la kuatia, che
ra’a. Ndajapoi mba’eve vai” (“The
paper’s good, my friend. I’m not doing
anything wrong”). He stared at me for a
moment, and then smiled. Thanks to God
and to a little bit of Guarani I was freed me from an unpleasant situation.
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| Services in Cerritos take place under a mango tree. |
I’m
a little ashamed that after 8 years in Paraguay I can only say a few phrases in
Guarani, which is the Paraguayans’ “heart language.” I am thankful for an
opportunity that might change this by the end of January. After classes at the New Horizon School end
in early December, every Tuesday afternoon I will go to the “Cerritos” church
plant site about 1 1/2 hours away to help local leaders with a Guarani-only
discipleship, utilizing an audio Bible given to me by SIM. Pray
for safe travel, language acquisition, and for new followers of Christ.
Two
weeks ago Ana and Antoine learned that they will soon have a little
sister. Ana is excited; though, Antoine
seems reluctant to give up his status as the baby in the family. The child’s name is “Gabrielli Ester.” Margarita has liked “Gabrielli” ever since
she saw it on the side of a Brazilian tractor-trailer. We chose “Ester” because her birthday will be
near the Jewish holiday of Purim. Join us in giving thanks for her life as
well as for Margarita’s health.
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| We're thankful for Antoine's 2 years of life. |
Last weekend’s Ministry of Evangelism and Missions event in the city of
Mariano Roque Alonso resulted in a few decisions for Christ and a couple of families
beginning to attend the local church. Likewise,
about 10 inmates made decisions for Christ at the evangelistic service in the
Esperanza Prison. We thank God for his work and you for your prayers.
As
much as Margarita and I give thanks for the privilege to serve in Paraguay, a
more humbling reason for joy is that our names “are written in heaven.” Pray
that many more people, not just here in Paraguay, but everywhere, will experience
this gratitude for the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus.
Happy
Thanksgiving!
Tim, Margarita, Ana, Antoine and Gabrielli
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