Thanks for all your encouragement, prayers and support this past month. Last week the sixth graders took their mock Cambridge Key English test. I had expected eight to pass, but to my delight thirteen passed well. They will move on to take the real exam in December and I will continue to coach them.
Now we are all enjoying a week of holiday. The weather has been glorious so far, praise the Lord.
The Church
The Cathedral continues to work on the course for building a healthy church.
Meanwhile I continue to attend the English church. Babs has had a rest from preaching for a few weeks as she has been busy with exams etc in school. We have therefore had a variety of preachers from the congregation, which has been interesting.
The country
Problems within the country still show no signs of resolution. We have a few glimmers of hope occasionally but generally the news is full of doom and gloom.
There has been a serious outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the Chaco and over 1000 cattle have had to be killed to try to contain the outbreak. Cattle here are inoculated against the disease so there is speculation about what went wrong. It has led to suspension of meat exports, which will affect the country’s economy.
School has been through another busy time this month in the run-up to a Folklore evening. This was a wonderful evening. The parents set up stalls around the basketball pitch and the children performed Paraguayan dances in the central arena. They told the story of dance through the ages. They were all dressed up and very excited. The parents were out in force with video cameras at the ready. The evening was barmy and warm and there was a lovely. family atmosphere. Ben and Sam, my Irish neighbours, were very proud of their new Paragauayan national costume and they both danced very well.
We are now on holiday. Pat Chapman, a former missionary here has been back on a visit, so a group of us went to Aregua on Monday. The weather was glorious and we enjoyed being out in the countryside, away from the city.
On Tuesday Caroline and I went to Clorinda shopping. Over lunch we decided to move on to Formosa and to spend a night there. It was such a relaxing trip. I loved Formosa. The pace was slower, the skyline was lower and the people were very friendly. The city was clean, green and had lovely wide avenues and interesting streets. We spent some time by the river relaxing and enjoying the cool breeze.
On a personal level I am so enjoying having the Hickmott boys nextdoor. They are determined to water bomb me. We have a lot of fun. It is like having grandchildren around. They are full of mischief.
Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and don’t prevent them. For of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matt 19:14
Prayer Points:-
1. We give thanks for a time of rest and relaxation. And we thank Jesus for keeping us safe.
2. Please continue to pray for President Lugo and the government. There are many issues to deal with at the moment. God’s wisdom is needed to run the country fairly so that the poor and needy do not continue to suffer.
3. Pray for us on Monday (3rd Oct). This will be a staff retreat day at our Sports Centre. Please pray for good weather, which is not too hot. Pray that we will all be touched by the Lord and that we will feel renewed by the Holy Spirit.
4. Please pray for the coming term with the run-up to Christmas and for the preparation for the final exams of the year in November and December.
5. Please pray for our safety around the city, especially for the Lord to protect young Hannah as she returns from friends at night in taxis.
Linn Tedman working for the Church Mission Society, Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ email:- ltedman@hotmail.com
blog:- http://www.linninpy.blogspot.com
