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

Happy Independence Day!

[To those who received the e-mail: please forgive us for forgetting to use "bcc."  We will be sure to do so next time.]

Dear Friends and Family:

Instead of participating in class, 5-year-old “Victoria” would frequently say, “I can’t do it; I don’t know how,” then put her face on her desk and completely shut down.  Her teacher referred her to Margarita, who began an intervention that resulted in some improvement.  However, Victoria recently reverted back to her former practice.  Margarita concluded that without addressing the rejection that Victoria feels from her mother and her separation from her father, it will be difficult to overcome her obstacles to learning.  Sadly, Victoria’s home situation parallels not only many students at the New Horizon School, but the majority of Paraguayan children and teens, who don’t live with one or both parents (CEPAL 2008).

While Margarita and I provide academic and spiritual support to students and youth in situations like Victoria’s, many of them clearly need a multidisciplinary approach.  Pray that in spite of the absence of ministerial resources they and their families ultimately find support through knowing Christ who gives strength.    

Most youth in the section of our neighborhood around the Avamba’e public school live in extreme poverty and face situations like Victoria’s—and worse.  With our almost 4-year-old daughter Ana’s “help,” Margarita and I gave a recent presentation there.  Our hearts were broken to the needs of the students.  In attempt to maintain a connection, we invited them to a movie night hosted by our church’s youth group.  Attendance at the movie night exceeded twice as much as normal.  After the movie we invited the crowd to find peace with God through Jesus.  We are now following-up with those who responded in order to get to know them and their spiritual situations better.  Pray for us to effectively connect with the youth of our community.

One pastor in the Chaco region recently surprised us with the question, “How can I teach my congregation to share the gospel?”  The national Missions and Evangelism Ministry will facilitate an outreach workshop at his church on July 25th in response his question and to encourage his church to be involved in missions locally, regionally, nationally and to the ends of the earth.  We also continue to organize a mission trip to Ciudad del Este.  Please pray as we help mobilize congregations in missions projects.

Outreach in the Esperanza Prison is complicated by the fact that new Christians recovering from drug addiction share cells with active drug users.  I recently challenged eleven inmates to commit to a month-long discipleship, comparing it to what singer Alex Campos calls the “Taller del Maestro” (Master’s Workshop).  I told them that they would be put into the fire, but, as one refines silver, it will help them in the end.  Eight showed up for the first lesson. One of them recently gave his life to Christ and two of them recommitted themselves to follow him.  Pray for transformation to occur in these men’s lives as they study scripture.

Finally, pray for Margarita and me as we plan to visit family, friends and churches in the United States this coming winter.  If we could be of service to your church or small group during our stay, please contact us. 

The majority of Paraguayan youth know what it’s like to live without acceptance and affection from biological parents.  How much God the Father desires to lavish love upon them, along with everyone else!  Through your support and prayers for Margarita and me, you help many in Paraguay experience God’s affection and hear the invitation that anyone is accepted as a son or daughter of God through faith in Jesus.     

Thank you, and Happy Independence Day!

Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine Revett

*You can see a live performance of the powerful song referenced above,  "Al Taller del Maestro," (a classic from way back in the late 2000's) at 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LGPw5q_rsc

May 2015: Missions and Student Mischief

Dear Friends and Family:

Fields in harvest, rolling hills and thatched-roofed wooden homes provide for pretty scenery while visiting rural churches in the San Pedro province of North-Central Paraguay.  Last month I traveled with a team of three young adults to cast vision and leave materials for churches to set aside one Sunday a month to pray for and talk about missions in other countries and among Paraguayan native tribes.  We demonstrated this vision by presenting about the challenges faced by the Church in two African nations.  Then, the wood-plank churches filled with the congregations’ clamor in Guarani for God to work mightily in those countries.  Pray that Paraguayan churches catch the vision to keep on praying for all the Lord’s people throughout the world to be a testimony to all nations.  Also, pray for our June 17^th informational meeting for the Ciudad del Este mission trip. 

In May, I worked with two local churches in presenting in about a half-dozen of public school classrooms over relevant issues to the current generation of youth.  After the presentations, we invited the students to put their trust in Jesus, in whom they can find guidance through the issues they face.  In two of the classrooms, nearly everyone responded to the invitation—approximately 60 students.  Both churches are following-up with those schools. Likewise, our youth group will host a movie night for students from another public school in addition to local colleges on June 27^th.   Pray that God’s Word, which is shared during these events, will achieve the purpose for which it is sent.

Like any Christian school, the New Horizon School has its share of challenging students.  One such group is in Margarita’s homeroom class.  They began the year struggling in responsibility and behavior.  Margarita and other faculty members were concerned about how to better support them.  In late April Margarita started using team-building strategies and delegated classroom governance responsibilities among the students.  Since it is a Christian school, she also resorted to a spiritual approach to the situation.  Margarita started organizing a monthly mini-church service in the class.  The classroom climate recently turned a corner.   We thank God that these efforts have already yielded some positive results.

Furthermore, Ana and Antoine enjoyed a week of playing with their Grandpa Bill Revett, who visited Paraguay last month.  We all miss him and look forward to seeing him, as well as the rest of our friends and family, when we visit the U.S. this winter.  For the time being, we wish all of you who are fathers a happy Fathers’ Day!

Believe it or not, there is a connection between the Church in parts of Africa, for whom we were praying last month, and the urban Paraguayan youth, with whom we directly we work.  Both face challenges.  They also are in areas where, based upon Pew Research (2011), and, to quote Luke 10:2, “The harvest is plentiful.”  Ask the Lord to raise up and send out more of his workers from and into his harvest field.

Yours truly,

Tim, Margarita, Ana and Antoine

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