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.