That Which Comes to Destroy a Home

Dear Friends and Family:

Moments before Margarita and I began last Thursday’s home group meeting, one of the participants discovered that her husband was cheating on her.  We obviously couldn’t go on with the meeting after such a traumatic discovery.  All we could do is pray, mourn with our sister as she poured out her destroyed heart, and then pray some more.  Please keep “Leonardo,”  “Daniela,” and their two young children in your prayers.  Also, pray for us and the local church as we try to support them during this difficult season.

A 2016 El Tiempo survey in a South American country reported that 80% of men confessed to have been unfaithful at least on one occasion.  A renowned Paraguayan psychologist says that 75% of his patients come to him for issues related to extra-marital affairs.  Marital infidelity contributes to the dysfunction in the homes of many of the children and teens with whom Margarita and I work.  We have also seen that if not curbed, this destructive habit can become a cycle repeated in the next generation.  Through your prayers and support for us, you support hundreds of Paraguayan youth with Christ-centered teaching, which is a light that will guide them and their families along the path to life, and not to destruction.

In mid-April, another volunteer team worked on the Siloe Church.  During an outreach event that evening, about 20 youth prayed to accept Christ.

As we celebrate Teachers’ Day in Paraguay this weekend, Margarita and I recognize our coworkers’ hard labor in letting their lights shine in their classrooms.  Give thanks to God for the New Horizon School faculty, and please pray that his blessings be upon them and their families.  Margarita and I also give thanks for our missionary colleague, Sue Givens, who stepped down as principal of New Horizon.  Her persistent invitations played a role in me coming to Paraguay in 2008.  Even though her position changes, Sue will still work with children and students in Paraguay.  Pray for her during this time of transition. 

Ana and her classmates presented a country dance at a celebration for Sue’s 17 years of service.

When I’m not teaching in the classroom, I sit down with New Horizon School students to hear how their year is going and how their families are doing.  One student’s father died shortly after classes started.  Some students’ parents have life-threatening sicknesses.  There is at least one incarcerated parent.  A few homes have been recently torn apart by extra-marital relationships.  Jesus came so that these students, their families, as well as anyone who listens to his voice may have life, and have it abundantly.  Please pray that many more people in Paraguay will experience abundant life in Christ.

Sincerely,                    

Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine 

*60 Reina-Valera Bibles (1995, 1977, or 1960 translations) are needed for the Tacumbu Prison inmates who will complete this year’s “¿Quién es Jesús?” courses.  If you want to donate a Bible, please contact us.

Building up a Broken-Down Community

Finishing the Floor for the Siloe Church

Dear Friends and Family:

A couple of months after the Siloe Church in Ñemby, Paraguay lost her pastor due to his misconduct she also lost her building due to political maneuvers by the local government.  One Sunday morning during that very tough season for Siloe, Margarita and I worshiped with the congregation under a mango tree.  Their songs of thanks for God’s steadfast love in the midst of trials resounded throughout the neighborhood. 

On the Saturday before this past Easter, we organized a volunteer team to lay the floor for Siloe’s new church building.  After the work was done, the volunteers prepared a special dinner and service to encourage the church members.  Thirty children were the first to show up for the service, leaving the team—most of whom knew much about construction work but little about children’s ministry—at a loss on what to do.  The guitarist improvised some children’s songs that he remembered from his childhood while I ruminated on how to condense the message into an interactive, age-appropriate presentation.  It turned out to be fun, especially for the children who watched us fumble around and try to act like kids.

Following our un-planned children’s service, we gathered about 7 adult church members.   We listened to testimonies of how the church’s hardships over the years had taken their toll on the morale as well as the size of the congregation.  Then, we let the book of Nehemiah speak about God’s history of building up devastated communities.  The same “great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love” and rebuilt his community after Babylonian exile, is the same God to whom we and the Siloe congregation pray.  Keep the Siloe Church and the city of Ñemby in your prayers.   And, on another note, please pray for a favorable response to our proposal for a grant from a Texas foundation that’ll help us finish building our house.    

18 inmates, who are our new brothers in Christ, recently finished the "Quien es Jesus?" course.

Margarita and I know that work with at-risk populations involves bittersweet moments.  For instance, Margarita enjoyed weekly “girls’ times” with three teenagers from dysfunctional families, but would frankly speak to them about the warning signs she observed in their dating habits.  Even though she tried to guide them, they ultimately made their own decisions. During Easter week we visited one of them, “Lisa,” at the hospital where she had just given birth to a healthy girl.  In spite of the difficult road ahead for the single teenage mother, we encouraged her and celebrated the life of her child.  Pray for Lisa as well as her baby.

Finally, we thank God for you.  His constant sustenance for us is just one example that he keeps his covenant of love and that he is really not far from each one of us.

Sincerely,

Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine

"Queen Elsa" and "Superman" recently joined us for a stroll in downtown Asuncion.

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