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)
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)
