Linn’s News August 2010
Thank you all for your prayers. It has been an “interesting” month, especially with regards to our winter holidays.
The Church.
This month we have seen some new faces around in both the Cathedral and in the English-speaking chapel, which is encouraging. We have also had some visitors passing through.
In the cathedral I met Fermina, an indigenous lady from the Chaco. She had hitched a lift to Asuncion for a medical appointment. She is very poor and she came home for lunch with me. We had a very special time together sharing a meal and then the Bible. Her Bible was a New testament in Enxtet (Indian language), mine was in English and we conversed in Spanish! The Holy Spirit brought us together in an amazing way. It was an afternoon that will remain wedged in my memory.
We have also had some young men from La Puerta (our drug rehab centre) who have joined us.
One weekend we had a visit from Dr. John Forde from the USA. He preached to us about God’s Grace and he and his wife were well-received. That Sunday we had a “Bring and Buy” lunch to raise funds for medicines for sick members of the congregation. It was a glorious day and it was a very successful lunch.
The English church enjoyed two weekends of music led by the Trew family. They were on a return visit from Northern Ireland, on holiday. It was so good to see them again and they thoroughly enjoyed renewing old friendships.
Babs Owen has now taken over as the co-ordinator of the English chapel. She is also preaching there and occasionally in Roque Alonso, where she lives. She is very happy to be using her theological gifts.
This month the first of two Mission Paraguay teams is with us, running sewing workshops. The number of enthusiastic locals attending is growing.
The school
Before the break we acquired two new additions to the school. The ninth grade went to visit a university to see how to breed fish. They want to start breeding fish in a pond at our sports ground. In fact they came back with two baby rabbits. They made a pen for them on the secondary patio and we are now waiting to find out if there will be more baby rabbits.
The ninth grade also ran a very successful Inter-schools football tournament, giving up precious time after school on four days. They are trying to raise enough cash to buy a sofa for a children’s home.
July saw the Winter break from school. This year, once again, the government extended the holiday due to the cold weather. Initially this caused some confusion but in the end we had three days extra holiday. It means that our September break will be shorter, but we are happy with the outcome.
During the holiday Mags Southern and I enjoyed an afternoon trip to Clorinda in Argentina for some shopping. It was quite an experience, standing on a very crowded, ramshackle bus, with no shock absorbers for one and a half hours, passing along a bumpy track. However, we made it pay and came back with full rucksacks.
Today we celebrated Friendship Day with a staff barbecue at Marcela’s house. It was hot and sunny and a great way to end the holidays.
Prayer points:- 1. We give thanks for holidays. It has been so good to come into the Lord’s presence, rest and catch up on ourselves.
2. Please pray for Fermina, (the indigenous lady). She returned to Maxawaya, with a story to share about the Lord’s provision. Pray for the group of ladies with whom she shares Bible studies.
Also, please pray for Mauricio, Bieto, Diego and Rodrigo, recovering addicts. Pray that they will gain strength through the Lord and His Word to remain free of their habits. Pray for them to tangibly feel the Lord’s love.
Pray for Babs Owen as she co-ordinates the running of the English church services on top of her already heavy workload in the school. Pray for her to have stamina and wisdom. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide her well. Pray for good support from those around her.
3. Please pray for the children and staff of St. Andrew’s as we return to school. Pray for good health and for stamina to see us through a busy term.
You can read in more detail some of the things that we have been up to this month on my blog at http://www.linninpy.blogspot.com
Thank you, from Linn Tedman –My work can be supported through The Church Mission Society/LatinAmerica, Watlington Road, Oxford OX4 6BZ You can find more information about me, on the CMS website at http://www.cms-uk.org/tabid/519/language/en-GB/Default.aspx
About Me
- Linnette Tedman
- I have been a teacher missionary for fifteen happy years in South America. Before coming here the Lord allowed me to pass through many trials but they were all preparation for my work. Now I have come to the end of my service here. I am sad to leave the country that I have come to think of as "home," and I will miss the children so much. I will be moving on in the blogging world. This time it will be in Spanish for my Paraguayan friends. It has been fun writing about my time here. I hope you have enjoyed following my adventures.