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).