Dear Family and Friends:
When “O.,” the young Mbya Guaraní man you prayed for
last month, found out that his co-worker tested positive for COVID-19, I urged
him to get tested and stay at home. He
told me that it wasn’t necessary because the Mbya have a
remedy. “O.” notified the
community shaman, who responded by performing a daily ritual that involved
blowing smoke on him to guard him from the spirits of the sickness. Please
pray for protection for the Native tribes as last week eight members of a
community in northern Paraguay tested positive for the virus.
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| A new Bible study in Guarani with three young Ava men who want to serve in ministry. |
Likewise, pray for protection and wisdom for Margarita, me and our
ministry colleagues. Along with the gradual increase of COVID-19 cases, we are seeing unprecedented biblical interest in the Native communities around Asuncion. We started four new Bible studies in Guarani. Another recent breakthrough is
the development of a ministry team consisting of a young Ava man, "C.," who wants to teach the Bible, and a young Mbya man, "E.," who wants to sing Guarani hymns. Our house becomes
something like a seminary once a week when they come over to study the
New Testament and take guitar lessons with a young worship leader. Ask God to work through
“E.” and “C.,” and keep “C.” in your prayers as he re-starts teaching
adult literacy classes in his community. Also, pray for me as I fill in for United World Mission's South America Regional Leader through September.
Margarita and I sent out a flash prayer request through
social media two weeks ago when our car got stuck in mud after delivering food
to the Villeta Ava-Mbya community. Thanks to the neighbors who placed boards
beneath our tires for traction and the group of Native men who pushed the car
while I accelerated, we managed to get out. Give thanks to God for providing help in difficult moments.
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| Margarita made blankets with the women of the Villeta community and used the colored tassels to share about new life in Jesus. |
After praying about how to respond to “O.’s”
insistence on his tribe’s immunity to COVID-19, I acknowledged the shaman's authority in his community and his
tribe’s traditional use of smoke rituals. I pointed out that since this is a new
virus that comes from non-Natives, he should not ignore non-Native medical advice. I also encouraged him that while he stays at home to go into his room and pray to the Maker of heaven and
earth, in whose name we find help. He recently told me that he started doing this. Please continue to pray for "O." and the Mbya Guarani.
Yours truly,
Tim, Margarita, Ana, Antoine and Gabrielli
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| Ana and Antoine started the school year with online classes |
