Linn's News October 2009

Linn’s News October 2009

Thanks
As always, thank you for your prayers. You will see from my newsletter that we still need plenty of prayer for better weather.
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The country
On Saturday and Sunday morning the sun shone down on us and people donned summer clothes, praising that the summer had finally arrived in Paraguay. Some individuals even sunbathed.
After lunch on Sunday the temperature suddenly dropped from 38 degrees to 12 degrees in just a few hours. It has remained cold (now Wednesday) and we have been wearing two fleeces again.
Nothing changes much in the political arena. This is the time of year for preparing government budgets for next year. It is also the season for protests and demonstrations based on rumour and speculation of what the budget will be. This year is no exception.
The school
In school, the secondary department celebrated Youth Day with an amusing staff production and a variety of fun events followed by an afternoon off.
Some Primary pupils attended an annual science fair with other schools. They presented a project about bird migration. It was very slick and very interesting.
We also held our first Talent Show. The children and parents amazed us with their musical skills. We have a superb, young, third grade rock band.

A follow-up music festival was held last week. The children were so excited. They love to show off.
On Friday the pre-school sports day was held. It ran very smoothly and the children took part in some superb activities, which were watched with gasps at their dare-devil balancing and jumping skills.
We are now in the run-up to the Primary and Secondary department sports days.
We are currently without our Primary head of department. Poor Profesora Eva had a small stroke last week and this has left her with problems on one side of her face. She has been told to rest.

The Church
This weekend another Youth EJE was held in the school. Several of our students took part and also an ex-Annexe school student whom I have known for many years now, as well as our current young volunteer from UK. It was reported as being a very special weekend when the young people experienced the depth of Jesus’ love through a variety of surprises.

In the Cathedral we had an unusually informal service last Sunday, working in groups on Bible-based activities which were fun. The children gave a presentation on books in the Bible. It was followed by a lovely family communion.

Prayer points:-
1. Please pray for the country and for wisdom for President Lugo and his government as they try to juggle the country’s books. It is impossible to keep everybody happy, with limited resources.
2. Please pray for the health of everybody in St. Andrew’s school and the Annexe School in the ever-changing temperatures.
Pray especially for Profesora Eva to make a complete recovery so that she can return to work.
Pray for the P.E. staff and students preparing for Sports days. Pray for safety.
3. Pray for all the young people who attended the EJE weekend. Pray for their faith to continue to grow and develop. Pray for protection over them.
4. This is budget planning season. Please pray for Miriam Greco and Mags Southern as they prepare the proposed school budget for next year, in view of the current difficult economic climate.

Linn Tedman, Colegio San Andres, Casilla 1124, Asuncion, Paraguay, South America. Information on http://www.samsgb.org/people/documents/tedman.pdf If you’d like to support my work through SAMS, please contact Philip Tadman (Financial Secretary), Allen Gardiner Cottage, Pembury Road, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, Kent TN2 3QU email: finsec@samsgb.org Tel: 01892 538647. www.samsgb.org

Linn's News September 2009

Linn’s News September 2009

Thank you for your prayers. I am greeting you from a warm and sunny Paraguay as the temperatures are climbing and Spring appears to have arrived. The whole city is covered in a spectacular burst of blossoms.
In response to prayer Childrens’ Day was a great success. Also I finally received my new ID card at the third attempt to get it.

The Church

The second Mission Paraguay team arrived and we spent a lovely evening with them before they split up, with some going into the Chaco and some going to Concepcion. The Chaco group completed the walls of a church that was started last year. The Concepcion group ran some very successful children’s clubs and they reached around one thousand children with the gospel this year.
Ideas for tasks for next years Mission Paraguay teams are already taking shape.

The Children’s Saturday club from St. Andrew’s Cathedral spent a very successful Children’s Day out at Emboscada in the countryside. The sun shone and a good day was had by all concerned, especially the children! They are from the Chacarita shanty town so going out of the city on a bus was a huge adventure for them. Some were quite over-awed.

The School

This has been a month of doing battle health-wise against the Yo-yo temperatures as the wind has changed every two or three days bringing cold air one day and hot air another. Several staff have succumbed to chesty colds which have warranted a day or two in bed. I have been battling an allergy to the mango blossom again and have a cough. The children are still going down with colds and coughs.
The second exam season is currently upon us. However, the children have had plenty of time for fun. Childrens’ Day became Childrens’ Week as we had a week packed with activities, beginning on the Tuesday of that week with a visit from an Olympic standard swimmer who gave the children a demonstration of good swimming.
Wednesday saw fun and games at our Sports ground.
On the Thursday I showed a twenty minute Powerpoint of staff and children not quite as they see themselves ranging from Baby monkeys to Superman and well known film characters. They laughed all the way through as they recognized people. We also had the annual dance competition that day. Although it is just an event for the children, each year we find more and more parents turning up uninvited. They put so much effort into helping the teams that they want to see the children in the competition. This year the hall was packed out.
On the Friday we celebrated the National Day of the flag. Two of our staff had put together a very professional video of our city and the flag. Unfortunately it is in Spanish or I would have purchased a copy to show in my link churches.
Just before lunch the Primary children were treated to a staff pantomime. It had been written based on the Three Little Pigs, involving swine-flu of course. The children loved it and the staff had fun over-acting it.
Both the Pre-primary children and the Primary children enjoyed two bouncy castle activities and they also appreciated hamburgers and Coca-Cola (Coke is normally banned in school).
In the secondary department some students went out for a ‘survival’ style night camp out on “The hill”, which they enjoyed and they all arrived back in one piece.
Also the secondary department has had a visiting maths teacher from UK, Simon Dowland. He had sacrificed a couple of weeks of his UK summer teacher’s vacation to come over and he found himself flung in at the deep end, taking maths classes. It was great to have him around and we hope that he will visit us again, maybe for longer.
This month Sophie Hirst, a volunteer, arrived to help out in Pre-school and secondary until the end of term.


The country

There is still much discontent in the country as the economic crisis deepens. President Lugo is very unpopular with the opposition parties.
The campesinos and the Indigenous peoples have had more demonstrations about their rights to land and housing, but with nothing happening to meet their demands.
The Swine-flu is still with us but people seem resigned to its effect and masks are rarely visible on the streets now. There have been a number of deaths as with the constantly changing weather people have developed severe respiratory problems. Intensive care units have been full to overflowing at times.

Prayer points:-
1. Give thanks for all the good things that have happened here over the past month.

2. Please pray for President Lugo. Pray for wisdom for the government and for the population to be more patient and to accept the reality of the economic crisis. Pray for the Lord to meet their daily needs.

3. Please pray for the staff and pupils of St. Andrew’s School. Pray for better health for everybody. We are all beginning to feel tired due to being ‘under-the weather’.

4. Please pray for Mags Southern and Bishop Peter as they work together on areas of finance. (Mags is Diocesan treasurer). Please pray for wisdom and encouragement for them both.

Linn Tedman, Colegio San Andres, Casilla 1124, Asuncion, Paraguay, South America. Information on http://www.samsgb.org/people/documents/tedman.pdf If you wish to support my work through SAMS please contact Philip Tadman (Financial Secretary), Allen Gardiner Cottage, Pembury Road, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, Kent TN2 3QU (email:- finsec@samsgb.org).

Linn's News August 2009

Linn’s News August 2009
Thank you for all your prayers. It was with great relief that the school holiday arrived, (but it already seems a long time ago).
Several of us travelled and so far there are no signs of swine-flu among us, even those who went to the UK and travelled on buses. I went to Curitiba in Brazil with Mags Southern and Gwen Carlisle. We stayed in a lovely hotel for two nights and walked miles trawling the shopping malls. Everything was very expensive compared to Paraguay so our purchases were carefully selected. It was very cold but sunny and we had a wonderful break.
The pre-school show was a great success.
I have not yet obtained my new identity card, mainly because I have been avoiding the crowds in the records office.

The church
It was with great sadness that we said farewell to the Butler family this month. They have all contributed so much to the church and school here and they will be sorely missed. The airport was packed with well wishers to see them off.
This month has seen the first team arrive for Mission Paraguay 2009. They have been running sewing workshops in Roque Alonso and Remansito. Most of the team have had coughs and colds as the weather has been extremely cold and wet. They had hailstones through the roof one night and some suffered very wet beds. However, their presence and help has been well appreciated by the locals.
One of our congregation in the cathedral has been in intensive-care with swine-flu. Last weekend we heard that she would be able to move into a main ward this week. Several of our congregation are sick with flu, coughs and colds of various kinds. In Paraguay it is polite to greet people with a kiss on each cheek and they are still kissing in spite of warnings. They also share a metal straw when drinking their herbal tea.

The schools
Both schools have had pupils absent through winter flu. It was good to get away and have a break from the germs.
The government extended the school holiday for a week for the pupils but staff returned last week to prepare work for students. We also have to make up lost time by working through most of our September break.
A teacher at the Annexe school is very sick with pneumonia but the rest of us have been OK through the holidays.
The prolonged holiday and the extreme cold have meant yet another postponement of a trip to the Chaco for secondary pupils.
Staff had some in-service training last week when a doctor came to give us a lecture on swine-flu and taking precautions, as far as possible. The emphasis was on hand-washing with soap and water or cleansing with alchohol gel. Each room has been issued with some gel for students to use.
The students started back to school this week. They have come in bundled up in layers of warm clothes but many have been very cold. The temperature hit freezing point on Saturday and we do not have central heating in Paraguay! In the library we decided not to put on heaters as they dry the air too much and spread bugs. In fact we are situated above a swimming pool so we get some heat from that.
On Thursday we celebrate Friendship Day. The staff have a breakfast together. We also give our “secret friends” presents. It is a tradition here to draw a name from a hat and to send notes to that ‘secret friend’ who then receives a small gift on Friendship day.

The Country
This has been the longest, coldest winter for 34 years in Paraguay. The poor who are living on the streets (many are children) have really suffered. It is so sad to see children in freezing temperatures with no shoes on their feet. One or two temporary shelters were opened up and other people went to sit in the bus terminal out of the cold south wind. Hopefully the temperature will rise a little as August begins.
There has been the usual barracking between political parties and poor President Lugo has taken more ‘stick’ this month.
Last week there was a Mercosur summit with all the presidents present. President Lugo was busy working with the President of Brazil to get Brazil to pay more for its electricity from the Itaipu dam. He has signed a deal with the Brazilian president whereby Brazil will pay 200% more for its electricity. They have been underpaying for years. However, politicians are now saying that this all needs to be put before Congress. The income would mean a lot to Paraguay and hopefully it would be used wisely to fulfil promises made to the people.

Prayer Points:-
1. Give thanks that we all had a good break and have come back feeling refreshed. Please pray that we will be able to stay well to teach the children. Pray for the health of the children. There are quite a few still absent this week due to sickness.
Please pray that there will soon be an opportunity for the secondary students to go well-digging in the Chaco.
Childrens’ Day will be celebrated in August in the Pre-primary and Primary departments so please pray for this to be a lovely day with lots of fun.
2. Please continue to pray for President Lugo and the government. Pray that the wheeling and dealing will be in the Paraguayan people’s favour.
3. Please give thanks for the ministry of Patrick Butler in both the school and the churches here. Pray that the Lord will really bless him and his family as they settle back into UK life and Patrick takes up a curacy in Guilford in October.
4. Pray that the temperatures here will steadily increase a little, but that bugs will stay at a minimum. (No doubt it will not be long before we are complaining about the heat).


Linn Tedman, Colegio San Andres, Casilla 1124, Asuncion, Paraguay, South America. Information on http://www.samsgb.org/people/documents/tedman.pdf If you wish to support my work through SAMS please contact Philip Tadman (Financial Secretary), Allen Gardiner Cottage, Pembury Road, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, Kent TN2 3QU (email:- finsec@samsgb.org)

Linn's News July 2009

Linn’s News July 2009
Thanks for your prayers. There has been more rain in the Chaco. It came in heavy bursts last Monday and Tuesday.
The Annexe school family is recovering slowly from their trauma and they are staying at Sharon’s house temporarily. Pray for their healing to continue.
The school This has been a month of cold, damp weather and sickness. There are many strains of influenza about, including the Swine-fever, of which the number of cases is growing rapidly. There is also a dengue-fever (bone-shaker) epidemic. This is carried by certain mosquitoes.
Some of the staff have had ‘flu’ and heavy colds but most have kept going at work. Meanwhile the children have been hit hard. Some classes have had more than 50% absence some days, due to ‘flu’. It caused a few problems with exam schedules for some students, but thankfully the exams are now finished.
Earlier this month the Primary children celebrated Father’s Day and they produced a show for their dads. The Nursery department did a small production on Friday for the families there.
Some secondary pupils were disappointed this week. A planned trip to dig wells in the Chaco was postponed for a second time, this time due to heavy rain. It is now hopefully rescheduled for August. Please pray that it goes ahead as planned.
This has also been a month of indecision by the Education department. It took them a fortnight to decide to bring the school holiday forward a week due to the cold weather and sickness. People had already booked flights and holidays.
This week fourth graders celebrated their first communion.
The churches

Pastor Jorge retired in May so the church in Luque now has an inter-regnum.
In Roque Alonso there was a special service last Sunday when Pastor Sefe celebrated 25 years as a pastor. He will be retiring soon.
Elaine Black and Rachel Rudman have started a new Bible Study group for members of the English-speaking church here in Asuncion.
In the Cathedral we had our Annual meeting with reports,..... encouraging but needing prayer.
The country
Very little changes. There have been more demonstrations. I was in town getting documents the other day and there was a demonstration near to the central police station, lots of loud thunderflashes but few demonstrators.
The campesinos have been blocking main arterial roads intermittently.
There is turmoil in the political parties. It is hard to follow who is in league with who as various members of parties want an alliance and others do not.
On an ‘up note’, the city of Asuncion has been a beautiful sea of pink as the Pink Lapacho trees come into blossom.
Prayer points:-
1. Please continue to pray for President Lugo. There is a lot of pressure on him and the government.
2. Please pray for the health of the people of Paraguay. Pray for those who are sick, that they will make a quick full recovery. Pray for protection from mossies.
3. Pray for the pre-school Family show scheduled for July 2nd to be a success.
4. Pray for staff and students in the St. Andrew’s Schools as we start our two week winter break on 3rd July. Pray that it will be a time of rest and recuperation. Pray that we can all stay well through the holiday. Often people get sick as they relax. Several of us have travel plans so please pray for good health and safety for us all.
5. Pray for the Lord to be calling people to be trained to pastor the churches here.
Pray for the young people to have a heart for the Lord’s work.
6. I give thanks that I managed to get all the necessary documentation together to renew my identification card here. The documentation process can be frustrating at times but mine all ran smoothly this time around. Please pray that I will receive my new ID card before the old one runs out in August.

Linn Tedman, Colegio San Andres, Casilla 1124, Asuncion, Paraguay, South America. Information on http://www.samsgb.org/people/documents/tedman.pdf

If you wish to support my work through SAMS please contact Philip Tadman (Financial Secretary), Allen Gardiner Cottage, Pembury Road, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, Kent TN2 3QU (email

Linn's News June 2009

Linn’s News June 2009

Thanks for your prayers over the past month. In response there has been a lot of rain here in Asuncion and in the Chaco this past week, (some very heavy), which has put water in the cisterns and has wet the land, creating very muddy roads. The Indians are very happy with what they have now. They should be OK for a while now, so praise be to God. It will also mean that a planned trip by students from school to the Chaco may now take place in June.

The Church
A couple of weeks ago a special evening service was held in the Cathedral for the young people’s congregation. Twenty seven people publicly declared their faith and became confirmed into the Anglican church. Bishop Peter confirmed them. In effect this was the planting of a new church, which is exciting news.

Also there has been a visit from John Wigfield who came over from UK to talk about our relationship with God, the planet and the poor. It made a great impact on everyone, especially the young people.

The Schools
The children have been very busy with exams this month and the staff has been busy preparing and marking. They then have reports to write.
One group of students (a mix from grades six, seven and eight) has been very fortunate to be selected to attend a Friendship Sports Festival in Brazil. They had a thirty hour bus journey to get there.


The news is that they have done well, having lots of fun and they were an example of good behaviour to the other schools there. We are very proud of them. They are due back this weekend.

A family at the Annexe School has suffered terribly as a result of thunderstorms last Saturday night. The rain was so heavy that it washed away the ground where their house stood. It was a brick built house and it collapsed. Also a gas bottle exploded. The family of five, from the poor Chacarita area, is in hospital, some with horrible burns and other injuries. They lost just about everything so we put out an appeal among our school families in order to help them.
This Friday some of our Primary children set up a cake stall to raise money and the Primary staff invited parents to a breakfast of coffee and Mbeyu to raise funds. The family needs to buy medicines as the hospital has run out of many medicines which are needed. Their eighteen year old son is not insured so there will be probably be medical bills to pay.

The Country
There have been ongoing problems for President Lugo. He is receiving so much criticism for not delivering on the promises that he made in his manifesto. In fact he and the government have been working hard for the poor but some people consider that it is not enough.
Lino Oviedo has been extremely critical of Lugo. In return Lino Oviedo has been branded as a liar and his list of crimes was listed on the news by a politician…… So the political mud-slinging continues.

Prayer Points:-
1. We give thanks and praise to the Lord for his provision of rain in the Chaco during this “dry season”. Please pray for regular steady rainfall now so that crops will grow. They do not need more ‘heavy’ rainfall or they will be facing floods like they had ten years ago.
2. Give thanks for the people who have made a commitment to the Lord and the church. Pray for the Sunday evening young people’s congregation to go from strength to strength. Pray for suitable books and educational material to be found to encourage them in their walk with the Lord. Pray for wisdom for the Leadership team as Patrick Butler will be leaving soon.
3. Give thanks that our young students have set a good example on their travels to Brazil. Please pray for other students here to feel proud of them and for them to learn from that example.
4. Caroline Gilmour-White has begun the task of trying to sort out the Diocesan library. She is in need of fresh, new books and materials. Please pray for the Lord to provide resources. The material needs to be in Spanish.
5. Please pray for President Lugo and his government as they move forward to help the poor. Pray that the funds necessary to fulfil promises will be found. Pray for wisdom for the government.


Linn Tedman, Colegio San Andres, Casilla 1124, Asuncion, Paraguay, South America. Information on http://www.samsgb.org/people/documents/tedman.pdf If you wish to support my work through SAMS please contact Philip Tadman (Financial Secretary), Allen Gardiner Cottage, Pembury Road, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, Kent TN2 3QU (email finsec@samsgb.org).

Linn's News May 2009

Linn’s News May 2009

Thanks
Thank you all for you prayers this month. The weather has cooled down considerably but the pollution is still terrible some days. A thunderstorm earlier this month brought lots of black muck to our streets and patios from Argentina where the campesinos had been burning off the fields.
Added to smoke problems we are now having trucks coming round pumping anti-mosquito gunge into the air. Many people have chronic sinus problems as a result, but we are thankful that so far it has kept down the number of cases of dengue-fever in Asuncion.
Sue Nagaitis, our new teacher, is settling well and she has started language lessons.
The School
We celebrated Easter a little early in school with a lovely service in the Cathedral at the end of term. This was followed by a welcome break during Holy Week.

We have a young gap year student, (Andy Poole) working with us for six months as a teacher volunteer. He has been an asset to the school, teaching in both secondary and primary departments. It was his birthday last week, so of course we all celebrated with him.
On 29th April we celebrated Teacher´s and Worker´s Day in school. The children entertained us well and then went home, leaving the staff to enjoy a wonderful barbecued lunch together, followed by a long weekend.
The Church
All the churches celebrated Easter. I attended a lovely, reflective Good Friday Service in the English Church followed by an Easter Sunday service in San Andres Cathedral.
Last weekend a very successful EJE (Youth Encounter) event was held in the school. It was a time when some of our youth could have the opportunity of a real encounter with Christ. Andy Poole also attended, a bit nervously, but his reaction afterwards was that it was a great weekend, full of surprises. The people who attend are all sworn to secrecy afterwards so that the surprises are unspoiled for future attenders.
The Country
Nothing really changes…., demonstrations and more demonstrations.
We also had the revelation that President Lugo (ex-Catholic bishop) has fathered at least two children and there is a total of six paternity claims pending. Lugo’s pre-election campaign was based on ‘honesty’. He has asked forgiveness from everybody publicly, in a very matter of fact manner. It was then business as usual.
There has been a very mixed reaction, but the news is already ‘Old Hat’. Most people say that it is natural for a man to father illegitimate children in Paraguay (there are lots of illegitimate children everywhere). They do not seem concerned about the fact that Lugo is a priest. (Once a priest always a priest, according to the Vatican). Others have condemned him because he has set a bad example as both a President and a male role model. His political party members have said that it is an attempt to destabilize the government. Not many Catholic priests have spoken out against him. Meanwhile Lugo now carries on in his presidential role, leading the government and saying that they will not be destabilized due to what he has done. He intends to remain in power until 2013.
Drought in the Chaco
The drought in the Chaco is very acute this year. Apart from one or two thunderstorms there has been no rain since last August. Water holes in the Central and Northern Chaco are now dry. Ranchers are having to sell off stock before the animals die. There is hardship and sickness as people struggle to exist there. Our own water tanker trailer is now out of commission because the water holes within transporting distance are dry.
Tim Curtis said that he may have to stop the Bible translation for the time being and send his team home as there is no water for them in Rio Verde.
Last week Pastor Elvio, one of the Chaco Indian pastors, came down to Asuncion and came into school to try to launch an appeal for water among the students and their families. You may remember that a few years ago we helped out.
The government has been sending in tankers but the water is not clean drinking water so it all needs to be sterilized. Indians are not good at heeding the need to boil water.
The tankers have started early this year so we do not know how long they will keep going into the Chaco. Even now the tankers cannot reach some communities. Some Indians in completely dry areas are locking up their shacks and moving to places that have a little water, which then uses more water in those communities.

Prayer points:-
1. We give thanks that your prayers for us are being answered.
2. Bishop Peter and his wife Sally have now begun their ministry. Pray for the Lord’s wisdom and guidance for them both as they work with the pastors in the Diocese.
3. Please pray for the nation of Paraguay. Pray for better role models to emerge so that the future generation will grow up to be more responsible people with a proper sense of Christian values and morals.
4. Please pray for the Indians at this time of extreme drought. Pray for the Lord to meet their needs and to sustain them. This drought could go on until at least September. Pray for the Lord to show us how best we can help them. Pray for them to have a heart to help themselves wherever possible and not to wait for others to come to their aid. Pray for rain to fall.
5. Please pray for all in St. Andrew’s school as we start the first set of exams this year. Pray for good health and for calm among the students, staff and parents.

Linn Tedman, Colegio San Andres, Casilla 1124, Asuncion, Paraguay, South America. Information on http://www.samsgb.org/people/documents/tedman.pdf
If you wish to support my work through SAMS please contact Philip Tadman (Financial Secretary), Allen Gardiner Cottage, Pembury Road, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, Kent TN2 3QU (email finsec@samsgb.org).

Linn's News April 2009

Linn’s News April 2009
Thanks for all your prayers over the past few weeks. The Lord has been busy answering them.
Bishop Peter Bartlett and Sally have arrived safely and in time for his consecration, which took place this morning.
Sue Hagaitis has also arrived safely and is settling in.
Raquel Greco has found accommodation nearby where she will be able to hold Bible studies for the youth here.
There has been a little rain in the Chaco from one or two thunderstorms, but they need very much more. At the moment the Indians are repairing water cisterns in the hope that there will be rain.
The School
This has been the month for school camps. The fifth and sixth graders went off on a Primary camp, where the Biblical theme was Samson. They had a very special time together with their teachers.
Secondary students have also been away on Christian camps and they all came back filled with enthusiasm. (The teachers came back shattered!)
Sue Hagaitis, our new secondary teacher, arrived last weekend and was thrown in at the deep end on Monday. The Lord is upholding her. She is a lovely person, who seems to be fitting in well.
I spent yesterday trying to orientate her a little with a visit to town and the market. Everybody is so busy that it is difficult for people to find time to show her around and she has felt the frustration. She does not yet speak Spanish.
The Country
There has been a lot of unrest in the country as the recession is biting hard. Of course Lugo’s government is being blamed for all the problems.
The campesinos have been marching and demonstrating in front of the congress building in town most of the past week. I was there yesterday and the riot police were too, on standby. The sesame producers have been up in arms about poor prices for their seed and they have been demanding subsidies from the government.
Last week there was an official visit by the President of Ecuador. The newspapers were quite scathing about him, saying that he expects to be treated like a king. In a speech he said that Lugo’s government is very left, but we already know that.
There seems to be all sorts of ‘wheeling and dealing’ going on between various Presidents in South America at the moment and it is hard to see the wood from the trees.
The past week saw the tenth anniversary of the assassination of vice-president Argana and the attempted coup by Lino Oviedo. Needless to say there have been more accusations that he orchestrated the assassination, but he just responds with “There is no proof.”
The Church
I bumped into Raquel Greco this week. She told me that she has found accommodation just two blocks from where I am living and about five minutes walk from the Cathedral where she is involved in the youth ministry. This has been such an answer to prayer for her.
The main news has been the consecration of Bishop Peter Bartlett,
which took place this morning. It was a beautiful morning. People came from all over Paraguay, the Southern cone of South America and from the UK, with Phil Tadman and his wife representing SAMS. The Southern cone bishops had decided to have their annual meeting here last week, so everything was very timely. Unfortunately the Bishop of Peru was taken ill and he had to be hospitalized. Another bishop went to be with him. Bishop Greg Venables came from Buenos Aires to consecrate Peter.
It was a colourful affair as the bishops stood before us wearing their various south American stoles.
During the service Rosie Butler read out a greeting from her father, Bishop John Ellison. It was a special moment. The worship was wonderful and there was a strong sense of the Holy Spirit’s presence. It was lovely to celebrate communion as such a large family.
Afterwards we all gathered for refreshments and chat. The bishops were very approachable and there was a real warmth of feeling extended to Peter and Sally.
Prayer Points.
1. Praise the Lord for all the answered prayer this month.
2. Please pray for Bishop Peter and for Sally as they begin their ministry here. Pray for their documentation process to run smoothly. Pray for them to become orientated quickly and pray for Peter as he starts to drive here. (Driving can be a nightmare in Paraguay). Pray for safety for him. Pray for all practicalities to fall into place with no problems, as they settle into their new home. Pray for them to have good health in the heat. Pray for the pastors to be supportive of them both.
3. Pray for the Bishop of Peru, that he will have a swift recovery from illness.
4. Give thanks for Racquel’s new accommodation. Pray that the contract signing will be OK and that she will be able to move in next week. Pray for her ministry as she begins to take more responsibility.
5. Pray for the staff and children of St. Andrew’s schools. There has been a lot of sickness, in the extreme heat and pollution that we have experienced recently. (I have had an adverse reaction to the atmosphere and have had another chest infection.) Pray that the break we have in Holy week will be a time of real rest and recouperation for everybody.
Pray for Sue Hagaitis as she settles. She is a mature lady and it is not always easy to learn a new language later in life. (It has taken me years!). Pray that the Holy Spirit will give her the gift of Spanish quickly.

Linn Tedman, Colegio San Andres, Casilla 1124, Asuncion, Paraguay, South America. Information on http://www.samsgb.org/people/documents/tedman.pdf If you wish to support my work through SAMS please contact Philip Tadman (Financial Secretary), Allen Gardiner Cottage, Pembury Road, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, Kent TN2 3QU (email finsec@samsgb.org).

Linn´s News March 2009

Linn’s News March 2009
Dear Friends,
It seems a long time since I last wrote a newsletter. Suffice to say that I had a wonderful time with my family in South Africa during December and January.
My sister was very ill when I arrived but thanks to prayers and an excellent neurologist, she improved rapidly and by Christmas we were all able to celebrate Christ’s birth and to have a lovely family time together. The Lord is so faithful. We even managed to get away for some “South African experiences.”
My great niece and great nephew are a real delight to me. We had so much fun together.
I came back tired after the long journey but refreshed ready for this year in school. I was at peace saying farewell to my family, knowing that the Lord has them firmly in His hands.
THE SCHOOLS
When I returned I rushed down to look at the Annexe school. There a classroom had been demolished and rebuilt during the holidays. It has transformed the place and everybody is happy with the new classroom.
The main college had had some work done on it too, new air conditioner units in Primary and everything had been redecorated. The maintenance teams had worked very hard. Their leader, Alberto, has yet to take a break. He is so dedicated to the work in the school. Please pray blessings upon him.
The staff started the term with a spiritual retreat in beautiful surroundings.
It was a lovely time of being together as a “family” and there was a very relaxed atmosphere.
The children came back ten days later. We began with a beautiful service in the Cathedral.
We are now back into full swing. In Primary there has been a very quiet start and the students have valued the daily input during our assemblies together.
The Lord has been ever faithful in answering our prayers for another teacher. At the eleventh hour Gwen Carlisle was approached by somebody, whilst she was on deputation. As a result Sue Nagaist will hopefully be joining the secondary department in mid March. She had a real call from God and everything has fallen into place for her to come.
THE CHURCHES
The church pastors all took a much-needed holiday through January.
It was good to get back to church. Exciting news is that Raquel Greco has now finished her studies at Bible college in Chile and she has returned to work with the youth here, helping Patrick Butler in the Evening Youth services at the Cathedral. It has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm that she is radiating. She has a clear vision for the future.
The churches are now preparing for the arrival of our new bishop and for his consecration in the Cathedral.
THE COUNTRY
There is not much to report that is new. President Lugo is still being heavily criticized by opposition politicians. He has also caused problems in the judiciary after a clandestine meeting with some of the Supreme Court judges.
Demonstrations by campesinos continue, but the government shows virtually no signs of meeting their demands.
Hospital workers have also been demonstrating over the poor state of the health services. Some hospitals have no drugs, equipment is broken, unnecessary deaths have occurred and only skeleton staff are on duty as there is no money for salaries. It makes the British National Health service look luxurious.
Teachers have also been demonstrating. Help promised for students has not been forthcoming and headteachers are struggling as promised books and technological equipment has not arrived in the state schools. Buildings and basics like desks and chairs are in a terrible state.
All in all the media paints a picture of doom and gloom to match the World recession.
Prayer points
1. Thank the Lord that we all had a good break and that everybody has returned safely from their travels. Pray that everybody will have good health this year and that it will be a special year for the schools and the churches.
2. Please pray for Raquel who is looking for a house to rent nearby, where she can host Bible Studies for the youth here.
Pray also for her family. Her grandfather is gravely ill. Pray for the Lord to be merciful and to minister his healing power. Pray especially for her grandmother at this difficult time.
3. Please pray for Peter and Sally Barrett as they prepare to join us. Pray for their documents to come through, for a good flight out here and for them to settle quickly into their new home. Pray for discernment and wisdom for both of them.
4. Pray for rain in the Chaco. Farmers and indigenous leaders have been calling for a national emergency to be declared as nothing can be cultivated at the moment.

Linn Tedman, Colegio San Andres, Casilla 1124, Asuncion, Paraguay, South America. Information on http://www.samsgb.org/people/documents/tedman.pdf If you wish to support my work through SAMS please contact Philip Tadman (Financial Secretary), Allen Gardiner Cottage, Pembury Road, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, Kent TN2 3QU (email finsec@samsgb.org).