Thank you all for your support this month. We have felt really carried by your prayers as the “mad,” end-of-year season came upon us.
The Country
Each year the commercial trappings of Christmas become more apparent. When I first arrived out here one hardly noticed that Christmas was coming. Now the shops are full of lights, decorations and “hard sell.”
The Churches
Last Sunday the Paraguayan Anglican churches had an away day out in the country, with a joint service at Emboscada. It was a very hot day, but everybody enjoyed the time together.
Meanwhile, back in the English church we began our Christmas campaign to “Give Christmas away”. We are collecting toiletries for the patients in the hospice in Asuncion.
The schools
The Primary English department spent approximately six hours with the children, between exams, putting together a production, showing that although Paraguay has problems, there are problems the World over. The finale showed that our children are the future of Paraguay and together with the Lord, they can make a difference. They finished with Patriotic songs and dances.
Our end of term graduations and services all went very well and the Lord’s presence was felt in a special way.
The exams are mostly over now but there is still an external Cambridge exam for my sixth graders on 3rd December.
We are all very sad to see the departure of two popular teachers, Babs Owen and Profe Diego, but we wish them well in the future.
Fermina
About three weeks ago I received an unexpected call from Beryl Baker to say that Fermina, my indigenous friend, for whom you have prayed before, had been admitted to the Catholic hospice in Asuncion. She was dying of cancer and she had asked to see me.
This has probably been the most moving three weeks of my entire time in Asuncion. I visited Fermina most days and accompanied her on her final journey to be with Jesus. The Lord had placed her in the most beautiful place to end her days, where she was cared for by wonderful staff, after a life of hardship. The hospice is a very special place, where there is a tangible presence of the Lord. The staff see Jesus in every patient’s face.
Our time together was precious. We prayed together and shared passages and psalms from the Bible. Fermina asked me to read to her from her New Testament in Enxtet, her native language. I did not understand what I read and I am sure that my accent was terrible but Fermina loved those times and she always smiled.
I also had opportunities to share with some of the other patients and their families, reading psalms, praying together and providing a hug and a shoulder for tears, when it was needed.
The final phone call came last Wednesday, when Fermina’s battle ended and I was happy to hear that she had gone to be with the Lord, surrounded by people who loved her.
Prayer points:-
1. Give thanks for the Lord’s mercy and for the way in which he cares for his loved ones. I give personal thanks for knowing Fermina and for being so touched by her humility and courage.
2. Please continue to pray for President Lugo and the government of Paraguay to work towards creating a better Paraguay, where there can be more equality.
3. Please pray for everybody here as we begin our summer break and celebrate Christmas together. Pray for safety in travel. Pray for our refreshment.
4. Pray blessings on Babs Owen and Profe Diego Caceres, as they begin the next part of their journey with the Lord. Diego has put himself forward for mission, possibly with OM. Babs does not yet know what the Lord has for her, whether it will be in teaching, sport or the church. Pray for them both to have peace and to know that their future is secure in Christ.
Linn Tedman working for the Church Mission Society, Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ email:- ltedman@hotmail.com
blog:- http://www.linninpy.blogspot.com for more details of news in Paraguay
