Linn's News March 2011

Thank you for your prayers. My hip healed well and I can now walk to school with no problems. The healing in my arm seemed to have reached a plateau, but a visit to the surgeon a fortnight ago gave me the go ahead for physiotherapy. This has helped, but the physiotherapist said that I have to be more patient and not expect too much too soon. After two and a half months, my patience has been wearing thin. However, I have seen some progress in the last two weeks and I have a bit more strength back.
The churchesThe pastors are now back from their holidays and the churches are getting back to having services again. The congregations are happy to be back to fellowshipping and worshipping together.
The countryThis has been an extremely wet month with some flooding in places.
Everywhere we look there are notices announcing things to do with the bicentenary celebrations. Many of the billboard adverts are displaying the bicentenary logo along with their persuasion to buy whatever.
President Lugo has been out and about and he is looking much better as his hair is now growing back after his chemotherapy.
The local news is depressing, with so much violence reported that I have given up watching for a while. There does not seem to be much reported in the papers at the moment other than news from other South American countries.
SchoolThe staff started back quite early this year, at the beginning of February. Our first day was spent at a retreat centre in the countryside. It was a beautiful place and a truly wonderful spiritual start to the year.
Back in school there was a lot to prepare ready for the Bicentenary celebrations in May. This is all reflected in the decor of the school this year. Our art teachers are having a wonderful time. Profe Ceci has painted a huge mural on the Primary patio area. It depicts the history and culture of Paraguay. There is also an exhibition of local artisan work, pottery, carvings of animals and weaving feature at the moment. We all worked very hard over two weeks and the school looks lovely.
We also had some in-service training and we have been planning our work for the year.
In assemblies we are all learning patriotic Paraguayan songs, a bit of a challenge for we English-speaking teachers. This week we celebrate the day of the Heroes of Paraguay, so the children in sixth grade gave us a presentation about the wars. The boys loved coming in with ragged t-shirts after they were torn in battle!
The sixth form came in style on the first day. This year they came on the back of an old army truck, with as much noise as possible to announce their arrival. There was a small band blasting and several fireworks added to their grand entrance, leaving us in no doubt that they were back with us and that this is their last year in school.
In the library I arrived back to discover that my librarian assistant had left. I was desperate for a replacement as I could do very little without help. The Lord responded to prayer and a pupil who left last year has come to help me. He needed a job and I needed a librarian. He was a tremendous help moving books around. The library was moved in December so a new floor could be laid. In moving it back all the books were in the wrong order or on wrong shelves so Santiago’s help has been invaluable. We now have things back in their Dewey order.
Fermina. Many of you have asked how Fermina is. She had a blood analysis two weeks ago and it was positive. She has one more chemotherapy session booked. Her hair has already started to grow back and she has been without her headscarf for the first time in several months. Please continue to uphold her in prayer.
Prayer points:-1. Give thanks for the Lord’s healing. Give thanks also for the provision of Santiago to help me in the library. Please pray for Santi to cope with the quietness of the library. He is naturally gregarious and he likes to have people around him.
2. Please continue to pray for Paraguay. There is still a huge problem here with drugs. The drug squad has been finding and destroying huge hauls of marijuana, but there is also a lot of cocaine becoming easily available. Pray for the government and police to gain good control over this. So many young lives are being destroyed by it.
3. Pray for the churches here as we get back to worshipping and praying together. Pray for more outreach so that lives may be changed by the Good News of Christ.
4. Pray for the school as we all get into the rythmn of work and study. Pray for good health and for stamina for the staff. Please pray for the Christian camps that start this week with the fifth and sixth grades. Pray that the camps will bring a time of bonding between staff and pupils, but most of all pray that each child will receive a spiritual awakening as they have Bible studies and learn more about heroes of the Faith. Pray for protection and safety for everybody. Pray for new arrivals from UK, Beth (for 2 years teaching), Jo and Zoe (volunteer helpers for a few months). Pray for them to be very happy here in Paraguay. Pray for their protection.