Friday, March 8, 2019

"Instead of getting better she grew worse."

Dear Friends and Family:

When Margarita and I saw the Ava Guaraní chief’s grandson, Damián, who is the same age as our daughter, Gabrielli, we could tell right away that he suffered some sort of illness. He couldn’t stand on his own or keep food down. His bones were showing. Aside from crying, Damián made no sounds normal for his age. Margarita and I offered to bring him and his parents to the pediatric hospital. However, after experiencing two months of racial discrimination at expensive doctor visits that resulted in frustration for them and no benefit to their son, Damián’s parents had already decided to take him to an Ava shaman. So, we prayed. Some of you prayed too.

Damian and his parents on the way to the hospital.
The Gospel of Mark talks about a woman who, for twelve years, “suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet, instead of getting better she grew worse” (5:26). Margarita and I shared this passage with Damián’s parents at the hospital where he is now receiving good care. The doctors are still administering studies to see what his diagnosis is, but said that if his parents had waited two more days to bring him in, he could’ve died.  Give God thanks for Damián’s treatment and gradual recovery, and please keep him in your prayers.

Last August, I began praying for an open relational door with Damian’s father. Since the hospitalization, he and I have had good conversations and I’ve talked with him about trusting in Jesus. He and I are now studying the Scriptures together.  Pray for Damian’s father, who is a key person in the Ava community and someone God might be calling to reach his people.
Antoine and his friends, Daniela and Eliseo, on the first day of school.
Antoine, along with thousands of other students in Paraguay, started school in February (Ana’s school started the day after our return from the U.S.).  For Margarita and me, February was a month of preparation and reconnecting. We visited most of the Ava and Mbya communities that we worked in last year. The chief at the main Mbya community was excited for us to return, and asked us to continue helping at their school. Right after that conversation, we found a young woman with a Gideon’s New Testament. She, as well as at least one other woman in the same community, said that they want to study the Bible with Margarita. Pray that God will open doors among the Mbya.

In January, one urban Ava community and one urban Mbya community joined together and moved to a new location outside of Asunción. The Mbya chief asked us to help with their children’s educational needs. The Ava chief, who attended a church in his youth, wants help starting a Bible study and prayer time. Praise God for the trust extended to us by them, and pray for wisdom for us as we reach out to this community.
Mbya Guarani Chess Club
The woman in Mark 5 was left hopeless by her experiences with the doctors. Damian’s parents had also given up hope, but your support enabled us to be there at the right time and get him to the hospital--just in time. Your prayers contributed to his recovery and the opening of relational doors with his family. The woman in Mark 5 only had to draw close to Jesus in order to experience the peace she needed. Your partnership stokes hope that the Mbya and Ava will draw close to Jesus. Pray that not only they, but also people in your community and all over, will find peace through him. 

Sincerely,

Tim, Margarita, Ana, Antoine and Gabrielli


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