Dear Friends and Family:
Margarita and I attended a “secret meeting” last month
during which four Mbya Guaraní men shared about their tribe’s spiritual beliefs.
The Mbya are prohibited from revealing their religion to outsiders, but these
Mbya Jesus-followers felt it was necessary for their “juru’a” (non-Native)
co-workers to understand what the Mbya believe. The oldest of our Mbya teachers
was previously a highly-ranked shaman who fervently opposed Christianity. When
he began to hear the Scriptures, he became compelled by the Creator´s love to
accept the invitation to be reconciled to Him. He and the other brothers
dedicate their lives to sharing that message with their tribe. Pray for the
Mbya ministry workers and their families.
 |
| Celebrating the birthday of our pastor, Pablo
Mora, and his more than 40 years of church planting and mission work. |
Thank you for praying for our colleagues who accompany us in reaching out
to the Mbya Guaraní and Ava Guaraní communities around Asunción. Our team continues to grow as two young Ava men, “S.”
and “D.,” have helped us on a few visits. Sany, our former New Horizon School student,
committed to weekly tutoring students and mobilizing Paraguayan youth visits in
Mbya and Ava communities in 2021. She led
a group of young adults to gather local donations for “Christmas boxes,” which we
passed out to Mbya and Ava children last week.
 |
Ava and Mbya children
in one community receive Christmas presents and hear the Christmas story for
the first time. |
We’re concluding our visits to the communities
this year by telling the Christmas story and passing out bags of food for each
family. In one community we left an audio Bible so that they can continue gathering
to listen to the Scriptures until we visit them again in January. Additionally, three Ava women graduated from another
section of the adult literacy program. Give
thanks to God for a successful year of work in the Mbya and Ava communities in
the Asunción metro area.
Next week our family will start our brief summer
vacation. Aside from working around our house, we’re planning two short trips
into beautiful, rural areas. We’re also getting ready to celebrate Christmas
and New Year “Paraguayan style,” which involves lots of food and fireworks. Pray for a restful and fun Christmas
vacation.
 |
“S.” reported that
his family was safe after he made a provisional structure out of the tin roof
that was blown off of his house (his house is now being repaired). |
A windstorm swept through the Piraju Ava-Mbya
community last month, removing the roofs from nine houses. We brought food to
the community the following morning and facilitated a time of prayer, in which
many participated. No one asked, “Where was God when this happened?” Instead, they
sang hymns for over an hour in Guaraní to the One “who has gathered up the wind
in the hollow of his hands.” As different types of
"storms" sweep through many people's lives this season, pray that they will be reminded of the hope
that comes from the Christmas story and will trust in Jesus, whom even the
winds obey.
Merry Christmas!
Tim, Margarita, Ana, Antoine and Gabrielli
