Tuesday, September 4, 2018

First time invited to a birthday party

Dear Friends and Family: 

Ana met the Mbya Guarani children of the Zarate Isla community for the first time in February.  After playing with them for a half hour or so, she told Margarita and me that she wanted to celebrate her 7th birthday with them.  As time passed, Ana attended one friend’s party after another at Paraguay's birthday hot spots like Burger King, McDonalds and Pizza Hut.  However, she never asked to have her birthday party at any of those places.  Instead, she consistently reminded us of her desire to celebrate with the Mbya children.  Last Sunday her desire became a reality.  It was the first time that most of those children were invited to a birthday party.  Ana picked “Moana” as the theme, and the party began with viewing the movie.  Then hot dogs and soft drinks were served, followed by cake and piƱatas filled with lots of candy.  Everyone enjoyed the party.  Ana even said it was her favorite birthday yet.  When the party began, we explained that Ana’s desire was to show everyone there that God loves them and wants them to be in his family.  Pray that the Mbya children will sense their Creator’s love for them and recognize him.
Ana with guests (and Antoine poised to blow out the candle)
Last month you prayed for a new outreach effort at the Zarate Isla community.  Every Monday we collaborate with a local church to provide lunch and tutoring lessons for the Mbya children there. This is probably the heartiest meal these students eat each week.  In fact, the results of an improved diet are starting to show.  On the first day, the students could only get through half of the lesson in the allotted time, but now they’re completing the full lesson in half of the time.  As much as the physical food is fundamental, more importantly, we share spiritual food through a Bible story.  Pray that God’s word will go out through this educational program and will accomplish more than we imagine with the Mbya.
Zarate Isla Students
Additionally, Margarita and I coordinate another educational outreach at another urban Mbya community.  One of the students there, 12-year-old Trinidad, couldn’t read her name or identify any letters from the alphabet when we started.  Her family was awestruck last month when, after only two sessions with Margarita, Trinidad not only wrote her name without help, but also spelled it out, letter by letter.  Margarita credits God’s work in Trinidad’s life for the advancements.  We’ve heard from two Mbya Christians that “acts of God” were critical factors in their conversions.  Please pray for more “academic acts of God” to occur in Trinidad’s community so that they might trust in Jesus.  Likewise, pray for deeper friendship and spiritual conversations with a young couple from this community.

Next week we will start an adult literacy class at an urban Ava Guarani community in collaboration with a Christian teacher intern who is from the Pai Tavytera Native tribe.  Please pray for this class to open a door to the gospel among the Ava.

You are a part of a lot of good things happening down here in Paraguay, and we hope to tell you more in person.  While our plans are still flexible, this coming November through January, we’re planning on visiting New York, New England, the Pacific Northwest, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.  We would like for you to meet Gabrielli and our niece, Jazmin.  We also want to see how you’re doing.  Please set aside a time to meet with us during those months.
Yours truly,
Tim, Margarita, Ana, Antoine and Gabrielli