Resurrection for Paraguay's Murder Capital

Seminary for Pastors and Church Leaders in Paraguay's Most Dangerous City

Dear Family and Friends:

Aside from its status as the only Paraguayan city with reported cases of the zika virus, Pedro Juan Caballero leads the nation in murder, mafia activity, and marijuana cultivation (Paraguay currently holds second place globally in the latter category).  Pedro Juan Caballero is also the home of many pastors and church leaders working hard to shepherd congregations and transform the spiritual landscape of their city. Through your support and prayers for Margarita and me, you are a part of that transformation.

I spent last week translating for New Orleans Seminary professors Dr. Gil Lain and Pr. Ted Gross as they equipped over 30 pastors and church leaders who serve on the frontlines of ministry in Paraguay’s most dangerous city.  Please pray for these classes, which will resume in September, to empower the ministry workers who have been given the task of reconciling the people of Pedro Juan Caballero to their Creator.

Three weeks ago Margarita, Agustina, Ana, Antoine and I arrived in Paraguay.  We miss our friends and family in the United States.  At the same time, we know it is right for us to be back at work.  Classes recently started at the New Horizon School.  I teach about 180 middle school students and support others through chaplaincy.  Margarita works with about 70 at-risk teens and elementary students either identified or suspected to have learning disabilities.  Pray that the New Horizon faculty will be controlled by Christ’s love, and that many of the students and their families will receive the new life he offers.

During our U.S. travels, two local leaders headed up the Fuente de Vida Church youth ministry.  We are handing that ministry on to them indefinitely because we have been asked to organize more events this year for the national Missions and Evangelism Ministry.  Please pray for the city of Ñemby, which will be the focus of our weekend outreach projects in the coming months. 

Ana just finished her first week of school—for the third time.  She is currently enrolled in pre-school at New Horizon and is enjoying it, in part, because her best friend, Eirene, is her classmate.  We plan to keep her there for the rest of the semester and then transfer her to kindergarten at a school for missionary children where a U.S. curriculum is followed.  Continue to pray for Ana as well as her little brother Antoine, who has become a very active toddler.

Like Christmas in the U.S. and Three Kings Day in Paraguay, Easter is also a holiday that involves gift-giving.  Scripture teaches, “This is a gift from God…God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God.”* Pray for Margarita and me as we share this message of reconciliation between all people and their Creator. 

Happy Easter!                                                                  

Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine

*2 Corinthians 5: 18, 21

-->For an informative article about Paraguay's progress in recent years, go to www.stratfor.com/analysis/dark-pasts-and-bright-futures-paraguay

The Zika Virus Outbreak

In Seattle

Dear Friends and Family:

“Don’t get pregnant!”  This was the advice of a Paraguayan doctor to the women of his nation in response to the Zika virus outbreak, which is linked to birth defects.  It is indeed important to hear out the medical professionals’ recommendations in regards to Zika since cases have surfaced in the Amambay province, where I (Tim) will be later this month to translate for two seminary professors from Texas.  Please pray for an effective response to the Zika outbreak as well as for those who suffer from the illness.  Also, pray for the seminary course to equip and encourage Christian leaders in the Amambay province.         

Just as we began to pack, Agustina told Margarita and me, “I’ve decided that I’m not going back to Paraguay with you.” Her declaration was not a real decision but rather communicated the enjoyment she’s experienced in the U.S.  For the longest period ever, she has not simultaneously cared for a dozen grandchildren, cleaned houses, killed and de-feathered chickens, and cooked large meals.  In less than two weeks, we will arrive in Paraguay.  As soon as we get back, we’ll prepare for classes at the New Horizon School, which start on Monday, February 15^th.  Pray for us to hear God’s guidance during our transition back to ministry in Paraguay.

Before we return to Paraguay, we’ll spend next week in New York, Boston and Houston.  We’ve greatly enjoyed our time in the Pacific Northwest; though, it has passed by very quickly.  While we’ve been in the Portland-area for most of the past month, each weekend we either hosted a visiting loved-one, or we visited loved-ones.  We enjoyed our time in Pacific City, Eugene and Seattle.  We thank everyone who gathered together to hear all that God had done through our work in Paraguay over the past 3½ years.    

At the Oregon Coast

We are thankful to the Lord who provided a rock-solid support network during our time in the U.S. through the hospitality of others.  As we travel and transition, we’ll continue to try to hear and heed his direction, because, as Jesus says, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Yours truly,

Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine

Christmas 2015: A much deserved vacation

Agustina, a long-time "Walker Texas Ranger" fan, found her favorite actor's name at the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Dear Friends and Family:

Many rural Paraguayan women tragically accept domestic violence as a part of life, but Margarita’s mother, Agustina, didn’t.  One day Agustina decided that she and her children would no longer tolerate Margarita’s father’s aggressive behavior.  She loaded everything in the back of a truck, gathered her five children and left for the capital city.  She wanted them--her daughters especially--to have opportunities that had been denied to her.  For one, Agustina wasn’t allowed to finish third grade due to childhood employment.  After leaving Margarita’s father, Agustina made sure all of her children finished high school, with one daughter, Margarita, becoming the first in the family to earn a college degree.  A vacation for Agustina’s hard work was long overdue, so last month she boarded a plane for the first time and traveled to the United States with us. 

A friend in Los Angeles commented, “Your mother-in-law visits the U.S. for the first time, and you bring her to Amarillo, Texas for a month?”  Regardless of Amarillo’s lack of variety of tourist attractions, Agustina, Margarita, and I very much enjoyed our time there.  We were invited to Christmas parties, Sunday school classes and almost daily meals out.  We are very thankful for the great hospitality shown to us by many friendly people there.

While in Amarillo, we took Agustina to Palo Duro Canyon, about whose size and beauty she remarked.  Margarita told her of a much larger canyon a few hours away.  Last week Agustina saw the Grand Canyon.  Soon after, she saw Hollywood, the Pacific Ocean, downtown San Francisco, and snowy passes in the Cascade Mountains.  She visited places that she had only seen in movies, but never thought she would see in person. Now we’re in the Pacific Northwest with a whole new set of sights and experiences awaiting her.   

Despite the years of struggle that Agustina endured, she is quick to acknowledge that God has done great things for her.  God’s mercy flows in wave after wave on not only Agustina and her family, but also on anyone who acknowledges him and sees and trusts in Jesus—the central character of this and all seasons.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

            Tim, Margarita, Agustina, Ana and Antoine

November 2015: It's been 20 Years...

Dear Family and Friends:

Margarita and I reached out to about 600 new at-risk students in public schools—witnessing many decisions to follow Jesus—and worked closely each week with an additional 300 youth in our community.  Over 200 inmates in the Tacumbu and Esperanza prisons completed Bible studies taught by inmate-leaders (some of whom have since left prison and are serving in local churches) with nearly all of them deciding to follow Christ.  We participated in other projects like a soccer ministry, children’s outreach, missions conferences, a mission trip and a medical clinic.  We saw churches grow as well as the nation experience one of its best economic years.  We thank God for this year in Paraguay.  We also thank him for you because of your partnership in the gospel.  

October and November were filled with preparations for our trip to the U.S.  We finished up grades, wrote up reports, suspended some ministry activities and made sure others were left in charge by colleagues who will carry them out in our absence.  Right before we left, we celebrated Antoine’s first birthday.  We’re thankful for him and are on alert because he now knows how to run.

We arrived in Texas last week.  We’ve rested and spent lots of time with family.  It was Tim’s first time in twenty years to celebrate Thanksgiving with his mother and brother in Amarillo. We also played in New Mexico for a few days.  Antoine experienced snow for the first time.  Ana made lots of snow-angels.

Our plans are to continue introducing Northwest Texas to Margarita’s mother, Agustina, through December 15^th.  We’ll additionally be thanking all of our ministry partners in the area and sharing about what God has been doing in Paraguay at youth groups, fellowship meals, small groups and congregations.  If you or your group would like to hear from us, please let us know. 

Then, we’ll begin our trek through Arizona and California on the way to the Pacific Northwest, where we’ll spend the month of January.  Please keep our travels in your prayers.  And, join us in giving thanks to God this season for he is good; his love endures forever.   

Happy Thanksgiving!             

Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine Revett    

*Amarillo Folks:  Please come to our going away party at the Blue Sky restaurant on I-40 and Western during the evening of December 14th.  A percentage of all the sales will go to help finish the construction on our house in Paraguay.  (Just say "This is for the Revett Family missionaries" when you make your purchase.)

October 2015: Coming Soon to Your Area...

Dear Friends and Family:

Margarita taught Ernesto from pre-school through first grade.  Last month, at 16 years of age, Ernesto was on his motorcycle delivering food for his job when a truck hit him at high speed.  Instead of helping Ernesto, the motorist proceeded to the nearest police station and “worked something out.”  Ernesto died a few days later.  Despite the testimony of witnesses and security camera footage of the hit-and-run accident, there has still been no response to Ernesto’s family’s plea for justice. 

The people of our city face a challenge in making a just decision in the current mayor elections.  The incumbent mayor, Cardenas, is under indictment for taking school lunch program funds and for providing faulty construction to a high school that resulted in a roof collapsing and seriously injuring students.  His opponent, Gomez, is under investigation for money laundering. 

Margarita and I wish we could say there have been improvements in cleaning up the corruption in Paraguay during 2015.  Transparency International continues to rank the nation as the second-most corrupt in Latin America.  Pray for a new generation of “good shepherds” who will truly care for the people of Paraguay.  

The New Horizon School is getting ready to have its third graduating class.  The majority of the previous graduates study in universities and many serve in churches.  We recently graduated one more class from the “¿Quién es Jesús?” course inside the Tacumbu Prison (*see the video on Tim's Facebook page of the inmates giving thanks).  Over half of the group confessed to not know Christ at the start of the study, but since made decisions to follow him.   This year alone, more than one hundred inmates completed the course.  Give thanks to God for these men, and pray that they share what they have learned with other inmates and with their families.

The CDE Mission Team

During last month’s Ciudad del Este mission trip a handful of new decisions to follow Christ were made.  The local church was strengthened and encouraged.  At one point, the mission team took the local youth group out to interact with and pray for people on the streets.  Through this activity the youth gained a practical experience in outreach, and the church now has a dozen or so people for follow-up.  Thank God for his work during the mission trip.  Please pray for the churches in Ciudad del Este.

Ernesto’s tragic death and the widespread corruption bare evidence of intentions to harm the people of Paraguay.  Yet, we can see God’s intentions for good through the saving of souls in Ciudad del Este and the Tacumbu Prison as well as through the hope in the New Horizon students.

Yours truly,     

Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine Revett

                                                

*We'll be in the United States soon, accompanied by Margarita's mother, Agustina.  Here is our itinerary:

November 18th-December 15th:  Northwest Texas

December 16th-17th:  Arizona

December 18th-21st:  Southern California

December 22nd-23rd:  Northern California

December 24th-February 2nd:  Oregon/Washington

February 3rd-9th:  New York/Boston

February 10th:  Houston, Texas

February 11th:  Paraguay

September 2015: Bring Hope to Unemployed Masses and At-Risk Teens

Dear Friends and Family:

4,000 workers recently lost their jobs in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay.  Its urban market—one of South America’s main shopping tourism destinations—experienced an 80% drop in sales largely due to the depreciation of the Brazilian real.  Many of the city’s inhabitants face an unexpected life transition without any clear direction.  A former seminary professor and fisherman once told me, “Fishing is best done where there is a transition in waters.” If this is true, next week’s timely mission trip to Ciudad del Este could yield a sizeable harvest.  Pray for us on the 9^th, 10^th and 11^th of October as we share a message of hope to people in a desperate situation.

Really, we need your prayers for this trip.  We leave in one week, and we still don’t know who all will go.  Paraguayans often make last-minute decisions, and some church members may suddenly decide to go on the trip while some team members may decide not to go.  Some doubt if the church van will make it there without problems (even though a mechanic recently fixed it).  Also, as much as Margarita and I want to bring Ana and Antoine, we hesitate to do so remembering the 2013 mission trip when Ana was hospitalized for an asthma attack.  Please pray for wisdom and for our mission team.

The Ciudad del Este mission trip will include a children’s event, home visitations, a soccer game, and evangelistic services.  We’ll help a church that has been led all year by two recent seminary graduates since the former pastor left the ministry.  Despite divisions and struggles, the church experiences growth among children, young adults, and women; however, there are very few men.  Furthermore, we are told that when it rains, no one participates in church activities.  Please include the weather in your prayers for the trip.

[Margarita’s juniors researched and presented about the Toba native tribe.]

Additionally, pray for Margarita’s junior class to overcome negative family cycles and to make decisions that will result in beneficial outcomes.  One day, the students demonstrate great talent and creativity.  The next day, they make bad decisions that could result in destructive consequences.  Nearly all of them live with dysfunctional families and have few positive adult role models outside of the New Horizon School. 

In July, you prayed for 8 inmates who started a Bible study in the Esperanza Prison.  7 finished, and there is hope that they will reach out to other inmates.  Likewise, we now request you to pray for Margarita’s students in addition to the people in Ciudad del Este as we encourage them to put their hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption (Psalm 107:30).

Yours truly,     

Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine Revett

August 2015: Hindrances to Education, Hindrances to the Father

August 2015

Dear Family and Friends:

After recently reading the letters my 9^th graders at the New Horizon School composed for an assessment, I understand that behind their occasional rowdiness in the classroom lurk some serious life challenges:

“When I was little, my father died.  Two years later, my sister died. We thought that we couldn’t move on.”

“My grandfather passed away.  I feel I am colder because no one loves me like he did. ”

“I went to my father’s room and there was his phone.  I choked when I found a conversation between my father and a woman.  I was so angry with my dad.  I hate him."

“I met my dad at my 5^th birthday party.  He came to my house with a big teddy bear and later he took me to dinner.  I was really happy for that.  Later that year, he left me and I didn’t know anything about him.”

Margarita saw some similar issues in the evaluations she just finished with early elementary students suspected of having learning disabilities.  She reported that a few of them wouldn’t struggle if their families would only spend time with them on their studies. Other students, including a boy who never received support for past abuse, experience serious emotional obstacles to their learning and will continue to need Margarita’s intervention as well as possibly treatment from a psychologist. 

Your partnership and prayer enables us—along with our colleagues—to counter such hindrances to the healthy development of children and youth in Paraguay.  Thank you, and please pray for our students.  Also, pray that we effectively support them in their education while encouraging them and their families to come to Christ, who is the image of their invisible, yet faithful and ever-present, Father in Heaven.

The Fuente de Vida Church is blessed with an impressive group of youth.

The Fuente de Vida youth group organized a special service last week.  They impressed the crowed with their talents in music, dance, theater and public speaking.  About 15 new youth visited the event.  Pray that more neighborhood youth will be added to the number of their peers who have chosen to follow Christ.

One night last month, five little giggly girls in pajamas and with asymmetrical make-up on their faces ran around our small apartment until 1 A.M.  Ana wants to have another pajama party for her 4^th birthday party later this week.  We thank God for our daughter and can hardly believe that she starts school in a few months.

Antoine looks on at his big sister's first pajama party.

The Missions and Evangelism Ministry held a missions night last month to encourage local churches to reach out to their neighborhood public schools.  One congregation soon after helped with an event at a nearby school and then conducted their own outreach event at their church.  While that was going on, Margarita and I were four hours out in the Paraguayan countryside, accompanying a medical mission team from St. Matthews Church in Belleville, Illinois.  When the week was over, between 100 and 150 people had made first-time decisions to follow Christ.  Keep the local churches in your prayers as they continue reaching out to their communities.

Margarita taught Bible stories in Guarani to the children at the clinic.

The harvest is indeed plentiful in Paraguay.   In spite of many obstacles, we aim to do the works that God has called us to do here with the hope that many more would choose to follow Jesus, who is gentle and approachable, and in whom we can find rest for our souls.

Sincerely,

Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine