Monday, March 23, 2020

Good News

Dear Family and Friends:

Riding a bus from Asunción to the countryside takes at least twice as long as a car because the bus drivers and passengers ignore the law that prohibits stopping at non-designated bus stops. There are also always a few extra delays along the way as passengers load large bags and crates of fruit, vegetables and merchandise for their country stores. Margarita and I feel like we’re on one of those buses right now. Our activities started to progress nicely in late February. The leader of the largest and least-receptive urban Mbya Guaraní community responded with excitement to our proposition to work at his school this year. A young Paraguayan woman accepted our invitation to tutor and teach Bible stories at another Mbya community, whose children haven’t attended school in two years. A local church started planning with us how to reach out to the Mbya children living around the bus station. Then, the Paraguayan president ordered a mandatory home quarantine for everyone, and cancelled all educational and religious gatherings
Two sharp former students from the Mbya community where, instead of attending school, the children collect change at intersections.
A few days before the quarantine began we visited an Ava-Mbya community where we recently started bi-monthly church services. Two Ava Christians accompanied us and led the service. The leader now wants his community to learn more about the Scriptures. Once the quarantine ends, we’re planning for one of the only Mbya evangelists in Paraguay to spend a week at the community. Ask God to powerfully minister in the Mbya and Ava Guaraní communities during and after the quarantine.
On our last visit to this Mbya community before the quarantine, we served lunch, taught Bible stories and prayed with them.
The last commercial flight left Paraguay on Saturday. The United States now recommends all its citizens to avoid international travel. We, along with most of our American colleagues here, made the decision to remain in Paraguay. There are relatively few cases of COVID-19, and the government seems to be taking appropriate steps to slow its spread. We are in regular communication with the U.S. embassy as well as our mission. Pray for an end to the pandemic that is affecting the world right now. Please let us know how you are and how we can pray for you.

Staying home has turned into opportunities to catch up on administrative tasks, work on the house, and discipleship. A young Mbya man comes over to work with me while he and I listen to and talk about the Scriptures in Guaraní. One day, we discussed the best translation of “good news,” which he now understands to be the message that everyone who calls on Jesus will be saved. Pray for the good news to be spread throughout your community and the world during this time.

Yours Truly,
Tim, Margarita, Ana, Antoine and Gabrielli
We might've broken the law just a little to gather the family for Gabrielli's 3rd birthday party.

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Their stronghold in time of trouble


Dear Friends and Family:

Ana was 10 months old when we she left her comfortable crib-bed, a bunch of fun toys and her favorite baby television programs to go with her parents to the mission field. While Margarita and I were happy to be back in Paraguay, Ana cried almost every day for the first few weeks, searching for her belongings and not understanding why she was in a strange, new place. It deeply hurt Margarita and me, and left us wondering at times if we were good parents. We decided to trust in the Lord and do the work we were called to do. Ana soon became accustomed to living in Paraguay, and has loved it ever since.  
Ana and Gabrielli excitedly cleaning out the room that is now their new bedroom. Antoine pretends to not see the sign on their door that says "No Boys."
Ana’s story was part of one of the many conversations about the difficulties of ministry I had during a recent seminary class in New Orleans. We studied and discussed how to care for people in ministry. I thought about my colleagues like one missionary family who endured the death of a close relative and constant relational strife life last year. Those who commit their ways to the Lord often pass through dark nights of the soul before the justice of their cause can shine like the noonday sun. Pray for those who serve in ministry.

My brief trip through the southern U.S. was mostly for ministry preparation, but there were times of thanking supporters and visiting family and friends. I sorely missed Margarita and the children; though, I came back refreshed for our ministry activities, which started the day after I arrived. Give thanks for safe travels.

Additionally, give thanks for our children’s healthy growth.  Ana won second place in a swimming competition. Antoine recently started kindergarten. Gabrielli still has one more year before starting school. In two weeks we’ll celebrate her third birthday.
These are some of the Paraguayan youth who will join us this year to engage urban Native communities
Thus far, the tribal leadership at one Mbya Guaraní and thee Ava Guaraní communities approved us to work with them in 2020. Next week we will meet with a Mbya chief and a group of Mbya parents to confirm plans to carry out weekly educational activities in their communities. One of those sites will be delegated to a local college student who is sensing a call to work with Native people. We’ll meet with another tribal leader about a group of young local Christians starting activities with children and teens at his community. Please pray for the Lord to continue opening doors and to reach many people through our ministry in 2020.
81 bags of cookies were passed out within 20 minutes to the children who live around the bus station.
You prayed last month for the at-risk Mbya Guaraní youth living around Asunción’s bus station. Pray for our meeting this Thursday at a nearby church to discuss how to reach out to them. Last Sunday the church’s pastor sent a group of Brazilian short-term missionaries with me to pass out cookies and tell the children and teens, “Ñandejara Hesucristo nderayhu” (Jesus loves you). At a follow-up event later that day, a few of them responded to the open invitation to everyone that salvation comes from the Lord, who will be their stronghold in time of trouble.

Yours Truly,                             

Tim, Margarita, Ana, Antoine and Gabrielli