Linn's News November 2009

Linn’s News November 2009

Thank you all for your prayers this month. As yet there is no news as to the whereabouts of Fidel Zivala, (the kidnapped rancher) so please keep praying.
The children finished their term last Thursday. We had some very emotional services in each department. Now the staff are working in the heat until next week (11th December). It has been extremely hot!!

The Country
After a month of the government and the police leaving the Zivala family to try to sort out a ransom, the people in the Concepción and San Pedro areas were worried about the lack of security. Therefore the government sent in a special army team and lots of police to try to secure the area. This has prevented further kidnappings so far, but it is a vast area to police. The police presence has made the position of the Zavala family very difficult.
White ribbons are on display everywhere now as people try to support each other and demand peace for the country. There have been demonstrations of solidarity in Concepción.
President Lugo continues to be criticized at all levels. He has a difficult task to convince the people that he is a competent President.

The Church
Next weekend the young people from Zeballos Cue and from Roque Alonso churches are going on a retreat to Emboscada for the weekend. This is a new initiative with these groups. They have been involved in away days there with other groups but not in a whole weekend just for them.

In the Cathedral we have been thinking about how to reach out to the groups of teenagers who are involved in the current trend of going around in groups such as Goths, Floggers and whatever else they call themselves and how to bring them into the family of the church.

The Schools
The school term has now closed for the children. Each department in each school has had end-of-term services and there have been graduation ceremonies. It has been a busy time but there have been many blessings on each occasion.
The most moving service for me was the ninth grade graduation. I have been teaching them and they are a lovely class. They have been supporting some HIV positive children this year in a children’s home. Everybody was very emotional when the children put in a surprise appearance at the graduation service to sing for the ninth graders. There was a feeling of the real intensity of God´s love.
One pupil, Paul, gave a moving testimony, which really sums up what Colegio San Andres is all about. He has been with us for just five months, having been sent here by his parents, who are living in Germany. He is a quiet, sensitive lad. He told us that in Germany he had received a basic religious education and had heard about God. The difference here is that he has come to know and love Jesus through Bible studies in class. Now he does not want to return to Germany.
Prayer Points:-
1. Please continue to pray for peace and security in Paraguay. Pray for the President and the government.
2. Please continue to pray for the Zivala family. Nothing is impossible with God. Pray that the police will be able to track down and rescue Fidel.
The leader of the Paraguayan people´s army was seen on television this weekend. He seems to be a hard man leading a fight for his cause. There are other ways to do things.
3. Please pray for the young people going on retreat. Pray that this will be a time of unity with each other through Jesus. Pray for the weather to be cooler and pray that they have fun.
3. Pray for all the staff and children of St. Andrew’s as we finish the term and go on holiday. Pray that people will have good times of rest and pray that the Lord will protect everybody as they travel so that we can all return safely and refreshed for 2010.
4. Please pray for me, personally as I travel back to UK on deputation, visiting churches and prayer groups. Please pray that the Lord will keep me safe and that he will give me the right words to say to my supporting churches so that you are all well-informed as how best to pray and to help us here in Paraguay.

This will be my last newsletter this year. It will probably be the beginning of March when my next one appears. In between times I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous and healthy New Year.
I look forward to seeing many of you on my travels.

With blessings,
Linn

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