April-May 2015: The Challenges of Shepherding in Paraguay

Dear Friends and Family:

What do you say to children who recently came home to find their father dead from a tragic electricity accident and who had been taught by him to trust in God’s love and protection?

When Margarita and I visited the man’s family on Paraguayan Labor Day, we didn’t know what to say.  We could only listen to them share about all that this great man did for his family as well as for the dozens of youth to whom he ministered each week.  We prayed with them and left them with elements to start a small empanada business, provided by God’s generosity through others.

In addition to the two pastors who we mentioned last month that left the ministry, a colleague of ours decided to step down from ministry due to a faith crisis.  One pastor just had his 5^th heart surgery while another pastor practically lives in a hospital, accompanying his son who is recovering from a bad motorcycle accident.   Even Nico, the young man who helps me give public school presentations, faces trials.  His brother had an accident in a glass factory, and his wife is about to have surgery. 

Many serious obstacles arise in the lives of those who keep watch over people’s souls.  Please keep the Paraguayan pastors and ministry workers in your prayers.  

The other day I had a very interesting conversation with 5 inmates in the Esperanza Prison about the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John.  Two of them previously worked with animals, so they shared great insights about shepherding.  Considering the danger from dehydration, snakes and pumas, a good shepherd in the Paraguayan Chaco takes a certain measure of risk of laying down his life for his sheep.  Thus, the men grasped what Jesus meant when he used these exact words to illustrate his intense love for the world.

Our discussion led us to mentioning the countless Paraguayan adolescents wandering like harassed and helpless sheep without a shepherd and filling up juvenile detention facilities across the nation.  For 75% of Paraguayan youth, one or both of their parents—the adults who should be their first shepherds—are not present in their lives, which is one of the highest percentages of Latin America (Martinez-Restrepo 2012).  Please pray for Margarita and me as we teach and counsel adolescents at the New Horizon School and in the surrounding community.  Also, pray for my Wednesday night sports outreach activity with local teens.

Margarita and I thank God for the pastors and ministry workers with whom we serve.  Moreover, we thank him for the good shepherd, Jesus, who not only laid down his life for the world, but also leads anyone who chooses to follow him along life’s meandering path to find green pastures.  We pray that you experience some of those pastures this month, especially those of you who are mothers. 

Happy Paraguayan Labor Day and Mothers’ Day!

Tim, Margarita, Antoine and Ana

Abril 2015: La Comision despues de la Resurreccion

 Queridos Hermanos y Hermanas:

Una iglesia se cerró recientemente. Dos pastores-colegas renunciaron. Por necesidad, el Pastor Carlos ahora supervisa tres congregaciones, cuya membresía combinada no supera cincuenta. Él se siente solo. Viajó 5 horas a Asunción el 13 de marzo para presentar y pedir ayuda en la Noche de Misiones acerca de las dificultades que enfrentan las iglesias en Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. El versículo lema de la noche fue Mateo 9: 36-37, en el que leemos acerca de 
cuándo Jesús tuvo compasión por las multitudes “desamparadas y dispersas,” que eran 
“como ovejas que no tienen pastor,” y les comenta a sus discípulos, "a la verdad la mies es mucha, mas los obreros pocos." Irónicamente, las personas presentes esa noche eran pocos; por lo tanto, lamentablemente, el pedido por socorro de Pastor Carlos apenas se escuchó.

El Ministerio de Misiones y Evangelismo comenzó a visitar otras iglesias para compartir acerca del pedido de socorro de Pastor Carlos.  Ya hablamos en la región noroeste de Paraguay, y el próximo mes estaremos en la provincia de San Pedro en el norte. Mientras tanto, estamos hablando en las iglesias en el área metropolitano de Asunción. A pesar de la asistencia desalentadora en la Noche de Misiones, unas cuantas iglesias ya han dicho que quieren enviar equipos misioneros de corto plazo a Ciudad del Este este año. Por favor, siga orando que las iglesias en todo Paraguay capten la visión de apoyar a las congregaciones que están luchando en la segunda ciudad más grande del país.

Otro lugar donde se encuentran multitudes desamparadas y dispersas son las escuelas de Paraguay. Un joven maestro llamado Nico y yo presentamos en diferentes escuelas públicas en la ciudad de Lambaré sobre diversos temas que afligen a la juventud de hoy.  Al final de cada presentación invitamos a los estudiantes para poner su fe en Cristo, y ya hemos visto docenas de decisiones, gracias a Dios.  Ore por las presentaciones que Nico y yo damos en las escuelas públicas dos jueves cada mes.

Además de los 22 alumnos del nivel primario con dificultades de aprendizaje en la Escuela Nuevo Horizonte, Margarita ahora también trabaja con las clases de primer año 
y segundo año del colegio.  Debido a una falta de docentes, la directora le pidió que
 ella fuera la "profe-guía," lo que implica una administración de esos grados y la enseñanza de una clase sobre asuntos sociales y desarrollo personal. 
Muchos de los estudiantes de Margarita están pasando por situaciones 
graves en sus vidas. Ore para que puedan tomar decisiones sabias y que 
Margarita pueda ministrar a ellos.

En casa, Ana comenzó clases de baile cada semana, lo que ella realmente disfruta.  Ella también "ayuda" a cuidar de Antoine, quien ahora está empezando a gatear y tener sus primeros dientes.

En el primer día de la Semana Santa, mientras Jesús se acercó a Jerusalén, vio la ciudad y lloró sobre ella.  Poco tiempo después, su tristeza se convirtió en acción porque después de la resurrección, Jesús envió a sus discípulos a predicar en su nombre el arrepentimiento y el perdón de pecados en todas las naciones, comenzando desde Jerusalén.  Margarita y yo damos gracias a Dios por sus oraciones mientras hacemos esto en Paraguay.

¡Que el Señor lo bendiga!

Tim, Margarita, Ana y Antoine

March 2015: After the Resurrection comes the Commission

Dear Friends and Family:

One church recently closed.  Two pastor colleagues resigned.  Out of necessity, Pastor Carlos now oversees three congregations, whose combined membership doesn’t exceed fifty.  He feels alone.  He traveled 5 hours to Asunción on March 13^th to pour his heart out at the missions night about the difficulties faced by churches in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, and asked for help.   The theme verse for the night was Matthew 9: 35-36, in which we read about Jesus having compassion for the harassed and helpless masses, who were like sheep without a shepherd, and commenting to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”  Ironically, the attendees that night were few; thus, sadly, Pastor Carlos’ plea was barely heard.

Praying for Pastor Carlos

The Missions and Evangelism Ministry started visiting other churches to share about Pastor Carlos’ S.O.S.  Last week we spoke in the Chaco region of Northwest Paraguay and soon will be in the San Pedro province in the north.  Meanwhile, we’re speaking to churches in the Asunción-metro area.  Despite the discouraging turn out on March 13^th, a few churches plan to send short term mission teams to Ciudad del Este this year.  Please continue to pray that churches throughout Paraguay will catch the vision to support the struggling congregations in their nation’s second largest city.

Another place where harassed and helpless masses can be found is in Paraguay’s schools.  A young teacher named Nico and I present in different public schools across the city of Lambaré about various issues that afflict today’s youth.  At the end of each presentation we invite the students to place their trust in Christ, and have already seen dozens of decisions made. The school principals eagerly open the doors to us and always invite us to return.  Please pray for Nico and me as we present in public schools two Thursdays each month.

In addition to 22 elementary students with learning disabilities, Margarita now also works with the sophomores and juniors at the New Horizon School.  Due to staffing needs, the principal asked her to be the “grade chair,” which involves acting as a mini-administrator over those grades as well as teaching a class about current social issues and personal development.  Many of Margarita’s students are going through serious life situations.  Please pray for them to make wise decisions and for Margarita as she ministers to them.  

At home, Ana began weekly dance classes, which she really enjoys.  She also “helps” take care of Antoine, who is now rolling over with ease and teething. 

On the first day of Passion Week, as Jesus approached Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it.  His heartbreak soon turned into action because after the resurrection, Jesus sent his disciples to teach to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, that a total life-change through forgiveness of any wrongdoing is found in him.  Margarita and I thank God for your partnership in teaching this in Paraguay.

Happy Easter!

Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine Revett

February 2015: Terere Day

Dear Family and Friends:

Last month’s suspicious death of attorney Alberto Nisman caught international attention.  His body was found the day before he was going to present his case against the Argentine government for an alleged cover-up in the investigation of the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, which, according to Haaretz, “was the bloodiest attack against the Jewish Diaspora since the Shoah (Holocaust).”  One detail in Nisman’s indictment is that prior to the attack the primary suspects entered Argentina after receiving logistics support—possibly including money and explosives—in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay.

Paraguay’s second largest city, Ciudad del Este, is not a particularly dangerous place, but lax regulations allow for an open border and a tariff-free flow of merchandise, making it one of South America’s main shopping-tourism destinations.  Visitors to its sprawling downtown market area can hear prices being discussed in Portuguese, Arabic and Mandarin Chinese.  The city’s international community offers a good experience for Paraguayans who are considering foreign missions.  This, coupled with the struggles of some churches there, motivated us to select Ciudad del Este as the subject of our missions conference on March 13^th.  Please pray for the conference, and that churches in the Asunción-metro area will catch the vision to organize short-term mission trips and send missionaries to Ciudad del Este. 

Neither Ciudad del Este’s legacy nor the corruption mentioned in our last update overshadow the fact that the Lord is making things new in Paraguay.  Inside the Tacumbú Prison, for example, 16 more inmates gave their lives to Christ and finished the “¿Quién es Jesús?” discipleship.  20 new participants started the study this month.  Since the study is now primarily inmate-taught, I have time to teach “¿Quién es Jesús?” in the neighboring Esperanza Prison.  Please pray for more changed lives through the prison ministry.

*We are needing about 80 more Reina-Valera (1995 or 1960 translations) or Nueva Version International Bibles for the prison ministry.  If you would be interested in donating Bibles, please contact us.

Another area of renewal for Paraguay is found in God’s work through the preparation of future leaders.  I began classes last week at the New Horizon School with my 240 talented junior high students, for whom I have high expectations.  Margarita is teaching and evaluating disability levels.  Many students face serious obstacles to their studies and difficult home situations; yet, we are hopeful for a great year because, for God, nothing will be impossible.  Please continue to pray for the New Horizon School.      

                                    My 9^th graders this year were once my and Margarita’s tiny 2^nd graders

Various times each day Paraguayans stop their activities to serve a loose-leaf, iced-green tea called tereré to friends as well as strangers, all sharing it from the same “guampa” and filtered straw.  Tereré is being commemorated this week across Paraguay and reflects the culture’s hospitality and value of people over tasks. These norms point to the inviting love of Christ, through whom every culture and nation was made, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him.  Please pray for us as we encourage others to seek him.

Happy Tereré Day!

Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine

*For a brief visual of an uneventful, though, authentic tereré session, see www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P63SI453iY

January 2015: End Corruption in Paraguay

Dear Family and Friends:

When Horatio Cartes began his presidency two years ago, Paraguay held second place in corruption in South America.  Can you guess where Paraguay presently stands?  Again, second place on the continent and now twenty-fourth in the world.  Last week Cartes ordered the nation’s leaders, “Stop robbing the people!”  Sitting behind him on the stage at the moment were three of his co-partisans currently undergoing corruption indictments.

Paraguay is said to have a “culture of corruption.”  Fraud, bribery and contraband permeate every level of society, ranging from politicians who pocket millions of dollars from illegal business schemes and international aid, to transit police who almost always give motorists a chance to “work something out” to avoid paying a traffic fine, to poor day laborers who purchase pirated DVD’s which are available on any major street corner.  When Margarita recently turned in paperwork for her and Antoine’s national identification cards, she detected an ominous tone in the attendant’s voice indicating that she might be expected to pay a little money on the side for processing the documents.  Pray for us to be able to get all our documents soon.  More importantly, please bring Paraguay’s plague of corruption before God in your prayers.

A contributing factor to corruption is a heart-level focus on laying up treasures on earth.   The Fuente de Vida Church youth group began 2015 encouraging each other to flee such short-sighted passions and instead pursue things that are long-term and eternal.  Their decisions this year regarding work, education and relationships will shape their futures.  While we are very grateful that nearly all of them have decided to follow Jesus and heed his voice, their consistency in doing so will help draw their classmates, co-workers and friends toward making the same decision.  We ask that you pray for the Fuente de Vida youth to experience exponential spiritual growth this year.

Furthermore, please pray for the preparations for the 2015 school year.  Margarita and I—along with the rest of the New Horizon School faculty—are preparing to return to teaching.  The school bases its pedagogical approach on biblical principles like “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”  If New Horizon and other Christian schools succeed in their goal of educating a new generation of Paraguayan leaders to live out these principles, the “culture of corruption” could end. 

Through your prayers and support for the New Horizon School and for Margarita and me, you join us in building up hope to an end to corruption in Paraguay.   We thank the Lord for your partnership with us, and pray that throughout 2015 you and your loved ones will hear his voice, follow him and know that you, as well as your hopes and concerns, are known by him.  

Sincerely,                    

Ana, Tim, Margarita, and Antoine Revett

December 2014: Rejoicing over the Birth of a Child

December, 2014

Dear Family and Friends:

Imagine the Acosta family’s joy over their child’s birth a week ago.  Imagine the urgency the family felt when the doctors ordered an immediate hospital transfer due to the baby’s critical condition.   Imagine their grief as the child passed away after almost ten hours of waiting for the transfer to be processed.  This particular hospital, one of Paraguay’s largest, has been condemned for an excessively-bureaucratic administration, rampant infections, infrequent nurse visits, malpractice and a lack of basic medications.  Margarita and I, along with her family, might spend part of Christmas Eve at this hospital.

Paraguayan families eat a big meal together late on Christmas Eve.  At exactly midnight, everybody wishes each other a “Merry Christmas” and exchanges hugs, handshakes or double-cheek kisses.  Then, the sky lights up with fireworks.  In order to include my father-in-law, Santiago, in this celebration, some relatives have mentioned going together to the hospital.  Last Friday night we checked him in due to an infection.  Regardless of where we spend Christmas Eve, we ask for prayer for the many families and patients, like Santiago, who will be in hospitals on that special night.  Also, please pray for the Acosta family.

Nativity scenes appearing in front of homes and stores, increasing sounds of firecrackers and intensifying heat mark the coming of Christmas in Paraguay.  These elements also indicate that the year will soon conclude, which causes Margarita and I to reflect on our ministry activities in 2014. This year we literally witnessed thousands of youth make decisions for Christ and weekly walked alongside hundreds of children and teens through discipleship and education.  All of this was possible through the support and prayers of people like you, for whom we give thanks to God. 

December started off nicely as 4 of our youth were baptized.  With classes out of session, we have been able to do more activities with the youth group like outings, sports events and a movie night.  Additionally, another prison discipleship course is coming to a close.  We’re also meeting with different ministry leaders to plan activities for 2015.  Since Antoine prefers to be more active after midnight, our summer vacation enables us to get in needed sleep.  He is growing quickly and was baby Jesus in a Christmas play.  Praise God for the Fuente de Vida youth group and for Antoine, who is our biggest gift of 2014.

The birth of a child is a joyful event.  For all people, especially those who are facing injustice, battling sickness or depression, or grieving the absence of loved ones, Christmas reminds us that there is good news of great joy because a Savior has been born…he is Christ the Lord.  Just as Ana knows that she will soon receive her presents under our Christmas tree, may all of you likewise put your trust in our Savior, who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine

November 2014: Thankful for New Life

Dear Friends and Family:

Three years ago Margarita and I became parents for the first time.  As you probably remember, it was a rocky start to parenthood because our daughter, Ana, was born with respiratory distress syndrome.  With that experience in mind, Margarita and I honestly had the jitters as we prepared for the birth of our second child earlier this month.  We instead tried to remember the wonders God has done in Ana’s life.  Meanwhile, many of you sent us encouraging messages and assured us of your prayer support, for which we are grateful.

Our and your prayers were indeed answered.  On November 7^th, at 7:30 A.M., Antoine Samuel arrived without any complications.  The doctors and medical staff were excellent.  Margarita was even more amazing.  Please join us in praising God for his wonderful acts.       

November has been a month of adjustment for the family.  Margarita is recovering.  I’m getting used to holding a newborn again.  Ana kisses her little brother at every opportunity. Antoine spends his day sleeping and eating.  Margarita and I are both sleeping little at night and are finding out that two children are significantly more work than one.  We are grateful for Margarita’s family who has been helping out quite a bit.

Likewise, Margarita and I thank all of you who began or resumed giving toward our mission work in recent months.  We will be able to continue serving in Paraguay with plans to visit the U.S. at the end of 2015.  Most of our material needs are met for the time being; though, please pray with us for direction and the resources necessary to complete the construction of our house this year.

November is the last month of school in Paraguay before summer vacation. Since my classes wound down, I was able to give presentations about school violence and other topics in nearby public schools.  I concluded each presentation by encouraging the students to look to the Lord and his strength, no matter what difficulties they’re facing.  The other day one presentation finished with almost an entire room of high school students praying with me to return to or to begin walking with Christ.  At the New Horizon School, the teachers and I spent most of this month on testing, grading and saying good-bye to the students.  Please pray for the students’ safety during their vacation.  Also, please pray for the New Horizon School administrators this month as important decisions will be made for next year.     

Although Thanksgiving has passed, as you can see, there is still much to be thankful for.  Certainly any day is a good day to give thanks to the Lord and call on His name (Psalm 105).

Yours truly,

Margarita, Tim, Ana and Antoine