Linn's Last Newsletter from Paraguay

Linn’s Last Newsletter from Paraguay July 2012

This is my final letter from Paraguay. I give thanks and praise the Lord for all of you who have supported me in so many ways over the years. May you be richly blessed.

Thank you for all your prayers this month. The Sosa family is settling in well and they are going to move in behind me when the Hickmott family move out. They will be six in the house. The Hickmotts and I seem to be on schedule for leaving, with packing and last minute tasks falling into place.

The church

Sadly Bishop Peter’s mother passed away so he and Sally have been back in the UK.

This month we witnessed two baptisms and seven confirmations in the English chapel. This is so encouraging, seeing commitment and growth.

The English chapel congregation said farewell to several of us last week, with a lovely shared lunch. It is sad to be leaving our church family here.

The school

School has been busy. There have been exams taking place in various departments, reports have been written and Parent interviews have been held. Most people seem happy with results.

For a bit of an educational diversion we took most of the Primary department to the cinema to see a historical film drama about Paraguayan Independence. The plot was thin on the ground but the costumes and photography were very good. I am not sure how much history sunk into the children. They seemed more interested in the popcorn.

Last weekend we had an Inter-schools sports event with football and handball competitions. 13 schools took part. The event was held at our Sports ground. The weather forecast was terrible but we all prayed hard and the Lord answered us by sending sunshine all day over our event, whilst all around us there were clouds building. It finally rained after we finished. It was a fantastic event. Parents and staff worked hard but had a lot of fun, along with the children.

The school mascot, Andy the Lion was in evidence all day. I don’t know how the person inside him survived. It was a hot day.

The Country

The month started with the first ever, wild, “Black Friday” sales in many stores in the city. These were followed by sales in the local market. It was as if the city had gone mad, with thousands of people on the streets and for once money seemed to be no object.

This month has been full of tension. In Curuguaty, to the north-east of the country, peasant farmers invaded private land and set up camps. The police went in to remove them and there was a shoot-out. Seven police and 11 farmers died and more than a hundred people were injured.

As a result the Lower house of Congress called for the resignation of President Lugo, whom they held responsible for the massacre.  He refused to resign so the Senate then voted to impeach him. They gave him just seventeen hours to prepare a defence for himself. The consequence was that the defence was poorly prepared and Lugo was deposed. A new President, Federico Franco was put in power. He is a Liberal.

Lugo accepted the decision, to avoid rioting occurring in the city. Thousands of peasant farmers had been bussed into Asuncion, in support of Lugo and they were ready to make trouble. Eventually it all ended peacefully, but there are still threats being made by Lugo’s supporters in Paraguay.

The countries in the Mercosur supported Lugo and said that the Senate behaved unconstitutionally. Next week sees the summit meeting of the Mercosur countries. Paraguay has been told not to attend as the new government is not recognised, but ex-president Lugo has been invited. Countries will discuss what to do about the situation. Some want to impose sanctions, while others do not want to go that far. There are interesting times ahead.

Despedidas

The Hickmott family and I have enjoyed several farewell parties given by colleagues and friends. It is customary in Paraguay for anybody that you have anything to do with to give you a farewell party, so life becomes one round of farewells. We have been fortunate that they are all occurring early and they have been spread out. Some people leave here totally exhausted from all the parties. Hopefully we will not.

Prayer points

1.       Please pray for the future of Paraguay. Pray for a peaceful solution to the current instability. Pray for the Lord to take control and for justice to prevail. Pray for the meeting of the Mercosur and for a good outcome for the people of Paraguay, whatever decisions are taken.

2.       Please pray for our Bishop and Sally as they leave their family in UK and resume work here. There is a very busy time ahead, with a Mission Paraguay team arriving from UK in July. Pray for the team, that they will be a blessing and will be blessed by their visit here this year.

3.       Please pray for the pupils and staff of St. Andrew’s School as they take their mid-year break for two weeks. Pray for good rest, good health and refreshment ready for the next half of the year and all its demands. Pray for Mags Southern and Gwen Carlisle, our directors, who are returning to UK for a month of deputation. Pray that they will have sufficient time for rest and time with their families.

4.       Please pray for the Hickmotts and me as we return to our home countries of Ireland and England and try to adjust back to the culture and the economy  there.

Linn Tedman working for the Church Mission Society, Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ email:- ltedman@hotmail.com 

You can read more detail and see lots of photos on my blog:- http://www.linninpy.blogspot.com

Linn's News June 2012

Linn’s News June 2012
Thank you everybody for your prayers this past month. We have had some drier weather and most of our Chaco communities are now drying out and becoming accessible down the muddy roads. In school the second round of exams has been taking place and so far results are looking good.
The Church
Services in the English church have been both lively and inspiring recently as different people take them each week. A new projector, attached to the ceiling has made a big difference to the services. There is a lovely, family feeling as we meet together after the services.
School
This month, as well as doing exams, the children found time to celebrate Mother’s Day. This year we have been doing a whole school project about Great Britain. Each month there is a different aspect that the children work on. This month it was British Food. Therefore the Primary children decided to combine their project with Mother’s Day. They spent a few hours baking the day before and produced scones, chocolate cakes and shortbread for their mothers to share after each class had paid tribute to their Mums through song, dance and poetry. They had also made a gift (clay angels) to show their love for their Mums. There were lots of flashes of cameras and several tears of joy were shed. It was a lovely occasion.
In the secondary department everybody waited around a table spread with delights, then as the Mums chatted together after being entertained, the students swooped in. I had to giggle.       
Last week some secondary students went to Brazil with the PE staff and Mags Southern, to the, now annual, international sports camp at Ranchito. They had a truly wonderful time and as always displayed great sportsmanship and were a shining example to all the other schools there. In the picture the girls are praying before their next match. We are so proud of our children.
The Country
As I write, it is Black Friday, not a day of mourning as one would expect, but a day of Sales, with discounts of “up to 80%!” I made the dreadful mistake of going to the market after school to try to leave my Saturday free. The traffic was horrendous and it took me forty minutes for a five minute bus trip. People could be seen all over, buying all sorts of rubbish while I stuck to buying my necessities of fruit and veg.
We are now into the run-up to next year’s elections so the usual demonstrations are taking place to make the politicians aware of the people’s needs and demands. There was huge demonstration in the city last weekend.
Aside from these events not much has been happening this month. The news is full of doom and gloom as usual. The journalists are having to dig deep for things to keep interest going.
Personal
I have now begun the process of packing up fifteen years of my life prior to returning to the UK ready for retirement. My advanced shipment was taken last week. It is supposed to take about three months to arrive, but as yet has not left the depot.
I am a mix of emotions at the moment and I still have farewell parties to face. Fortunately I will be sharing most of these occasions with others who will be leaving. It is so difficult to leave a country that I call home and a job which I love, but I am sure that the Lord is planning something fresh and good for me, in line with his promises.
Prayer points:-
1. Please continue to pray for the government and the President of Paraguay as they continue to try to deal with some of the problems in society. They have been very efficient with their support for the Indians in the Chaco through the emergency. However, there are many others, here in Asuncion, who have been flooded out and who are crying out for help. According to news reports they feel neglected.
2. Please continue in prayer for our health and protection from mosquitoes. A new epidemic of dengue has started. There is also an influenza epidemic.
3. Please pray for our new teacher Rebecca Sosa and her family who have come from the United States. Husband Luis is going to join us too. Their four children are settling in nicely, but they need to learn better Spanish to cope with the Paraguayan curriculum. Pray that they will learn quickly.
4. Please pray for the Hickmott family and for me as we prepare to move back to our respective home countries.
Linn Tedman working for the Church Mission Society, Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ email:- ltedman@hotmail.com
You can read more detail and see more photos on my blog:- http://www.linninpy.blogspot.com

Linn's News May 2012

Linn’s News May 2012

Thanks for all your prayers this month.  Prayer has been a great support to us through a difficult time.

The Country

This month we have had unseasonal, torrential rain all over the country. This has led to flooding in vast areas of the Chaco and also some parts of Asuncion.

The government declared an emergency situation and then people in Asuncion began a “solidarity campaign”, collecting food, clothes, bottled water and medicines. Helicopters have been evacuating people to higher ground, where they are now living under plastic sheeting.

Teams have been taking food into central collection points. Helicopters have dropped food into inaccessible areas.

Things seem to be much more organized than they were fourteen years ago when this situation last occurred, soon after I arrived here.

Last week a famous celebrity came to Paraguay for the first time. Sir Paul McCartney brought his “On the Run” concert to Paraguay. Sir Paul played and sang for over three hours, almost non-stop and the Paraguayans loved it, joining in with many of the songs that they know by heart in English.

Luis Palau is here this week with a big evangelism Festival, with bands for the young people. 30,000 attended last night.

The Churches

 The Easter services in the churches were very special. On Maundy Thursday the cathedral congregation shared a “Last Supper” with a time for reflection. On Good Friday in the English chapel we had a time of reflection about the people at the foot of the cross. It was very moving. Afterwards we gathered for homemade hot cross buns and hot cross mince pies (different!).

This weekend there is a team here from St. Mark’s church in Liverpool. They are sharing their experiences of church growth, with the church here.                                                                                     

The school                                                                                                           On Easter Sunday we received some devastating news. One of our pupils, Gabi Duarte, in the lower sixth form, was tragically killed in a motor accident. Gabi was a talented singer. She had been filming for an appearance on a popular TV talent show and she was returning home with a producer and another contestant, who were also killed. We were all deeply affected by the loss of such a promising young student.

Our first group of students went off to Brazil this week on an international Sports camp. They had a great time and we are proud of their sporting attitudes.

This Friday was Teachers’ Day. The students showed their appreciation by bringing in a live Mariachi band for breakfast and there was dancing.

The children produced a show for us and also we received many gifts.

There was a lunch for the staff and everybody received a beautiful, Spanish, personalized Bible with our names on them.

Personal news

Thank you to those who have been praying for my health and well-being over the last few weeks.  Last week I had a small operation on my gallbladder. In answer to prayer everything went very well and I am now well on the mend.

Prayer points:-

1. We give thanks that the Lord is here when we call out to Him and that he is a merciful and loving God.
2. Please pray for our indigenous brothers and sisters in the Chaco. Pray that all their emotional and material needs will be met during the current emergency and for as long as they need help. Pray that they will be able to return home soon. Pray for the government to continue to help where needed.
3. Please pray for our students and staff as the term continues, as pupils come to terms with the grief of losing Gabi. They are all much better, but these things take time. Some exams have begun and the students need to be able to concentrate.
4. Please pray that after all the rain there will not be any major dengue outbreaks or other epidemics. Please pray for the protection of our staff and pupils too.
5. Pray for our congregations to be inspired by the visit of the team from St. Mark’s.

Linn Tedman working for the Church Mission Society, Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ email:- ltedman@hotmail.com You can read more detail and see more photos on my blog:- http://www.linninpy.blogspot.com

Linn's News April 2012

Linn’s News April 2012

Thank you so much for your prayers and support this month. It has been a very busy time for the Primary department in the school. In answer to prayer, after some torrential rain this week, we are now enjoying much lower temperatures. Mind you, a couple who arrived on a visit from Ireland yesterday are finding it hot at around 25C.

The country

Surprisingly, glancing through the headlines this morning, the journalists are having to manufacture news, principally about health issues. Dengue fever is at epidemic levels once again, mainly in the metropolitan area. Our Primary head of department is just recovering after being kept in hospital for a few days with it.

The BIG news is that Paul McCartney is coming to give a concert on 17^th April. I am disappointed as I may be in hospital then so I decided not to buy a ticket. I was eighteen years old the last time that I saw him in concert..... many moons ago.

Apart from that the country still plods on in the same vein with the same old problems.

The churches.

The churches are now preparing for Semana Santa (Holy Week). It is a busy time. There is a shared “Last Supper” planned for Thursday evening, a time of reflection in the English Church on Good Friday and then the Easter celebrations.

  The schools

The beginning of the month saw the team captain elections, all “above board”, even down to the finger printing.

With the run up to the Easter break the schools have been very busy.  The Annexe School held it Easter service yesterday afternoon.

On Wednesday there was the annual Easter egg hunt. This year it was held in school as torrential rain had made the Sports Ground inaccessible.

On Thursday we held the Easter hat parade in Primary. Last year the theme was Paraguay because of the bicentenary celebrations. This year with the Queens’ Jubilee and the Olympics in London, the theme is “Great Britain.” The children came in hats in various categories, such as “The Queen,” “The guards,” “Afternoon tea,” “The Beatles,” etc. etc. They were spectacular. There is never a lack of imagination.

Friday was hectic. Early in the morning the whole school took part in a presentation of the history of England. The Pre-School produced an amusing film of themselves as cavemen, with the Flintstones music as backing. The upper Primary gave us information about the Anglo-Saxons and the lower primary told us about the Vikings. The secondary department brought on Julius Caesar and the Sixth form produced an excellent film about the kings and queens of England. The entire thing was a lot of hard work but in the end it was all worthwhile.

The end of the term came with the final service. This was focussed on the Cross this year and what Jesus did for us. The third grade gave us a “dramatic” explanation of the Old Testament reading of Aaron standing in the gap for the Israelites. Pastor Ronnie helped that along.

The most moving part of the service was a dance drama by the sixth form about Jesus breaking our chains of sin to rescue us, and his forgiveness, through his suffering on the cross. It was a wonderful production and the children were all touched by it. Many of the secondary pupils had been reluctant participants in the service to begin with but by the end they were all moved by the gospel message. They were still talking about it later, after the service.

Prayer points:-

1.       Please continue to pray for Paraguay. There is still so much work to be done to relieve the plight of the poor. Pray for guidance and wisdom for the government and pray for those who struggle daily to get a meal on the table.

2.       Give thanks that we have reached the end of the first term this year. Pray for the teachers to get some rest in the week of holiday. Pray for safety for those travelling, especially the Hickmott family and Hannah Taylor and her parents. Pray for healing for Profe Mati, after a second heart operation and for Profe Eva, recovering from dengue fever. Pray for everybody’s health to improve. Many have flu and chest infections, including our school director, Gwen Carlisle.

3.       Pray for our churches here in the run up to Easter. Pray that it will be a time of reflection and of celebration that will extend into the local community to bring others to know the truth that Jesus is alive and with us today.

4.       Please can I ask for personal prayer. I am due to go to the hospital on Monday 9^th April for a colonoscopy. Depending on the results of this the surgeon may operate on me the following week. Please pray for me to have confidence and to take one step at a time. (My confidence is running thin at the moment.)

I wish you all a Blessed and Happy Easter as you celebrate our Lord’s Resurrection. Linn Tedman working for the Church Mission Society, Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ email:- ltedman@hotmail.com You can read more detail and see more photos on my blog:- http://www.linninpy.blogspot.com

Linn's News March 2012

Linn’s News March 2012

Thank you all for your prayers and support this past month. It has meant so much to me at a difficult time healthwise.

The Schools

All the children are now back at school. The children arrived back at the Annexe School feeling very excited. The new extension of a computer room is now finished and the school is looking incredibly smart.

Meanwhile I missed the start of school in the main college, because I was recovering from a week in hospital. However, things went very well. The sixth form arrived in great style. They had discovered a rusty old double-decker bus somewhere. With parental help they got it going, painted it red and arrived brandishing Union Jacks. What they were unaware of is that this year we are doing a whole school project on Great Britain, followed by a project on the Olympic Games, so arrival in the next best thing to a real London bus was very appropriate.

Term started with the traditional service in the Cathedral. This year’s theme is Forgiveness. That is the theme that I am using to begin the first library project with my classes. The children have been listening to stories from the Bible and they are now busy producing posters with appropriate verses, which we plan to display around the school.

Our new teachers have all made a great start and there is a real team spirit as they support each other.

The churches

The city churches are now up and running again after a long summer break. It was good to get back into the English church, which has been pretty full every week since we started services again.

Bishop Peter and his wife, Sally are due back from UK now. It will be good to have them back at the helm.

The Country

Nothing changes very much. Although the country has not yet gone into a real recession like Europe, prices are escalating almost every day, due to other problems and the poor are finding it very difficult to feed their families. We have had more children knocking on the door for food recently.

There is still a huge drugs problem. It is hard to know what the answer is other than a massive Revival to bring people to the Lord. We need that to start with leaders of the country.

Personal news

Most of you will know that I was hospitalized with diverticulitis before the term began. It took me a week back at home before I was ready to start back to work.

The surgeon had told me that he would operate in March to remove what is causing the problems, which have been going on for five years now. I received various bits of advice from UK and from my family doctor here, which unsettled me immensely. However, the Lord has been in everything. My doctor spoke to the surgeon, saw all my results of tests etc and now the plan is to operate in May. That will give me time to recover fully from the infection and to get fit enough to cope with the operation. It is all a bit draining emotionally as I have also been trying to cope with a very restricted diet. However, today I was given a little more freedom, so out come the recipe books and the challenge is on!

Prayer points.

1.    Please pray for the government as they try to get to grips with problems. Pray for discernment. Pray for them to seek the Lord’s wisdom.

2.    Give thanks for the good start to the school year. Please pray for protection over the staff, especially the English staff. There have been some strange things going on among us, not least health problems. Pray for healing and for spiritual protection. Pray for Orfa, who has had to return to Columbia unexpectedly, to look after her sick parents.

3.    Give thanks for the doctors that are treating me. Give thanks also for the Christian Community Group here who have offered to help me through the operation in hospital, when the time comes. They will be an answer to my prayers.

4.    Pray for our Anglican churches in Paraguay to grow.

5.    Pray for the Lord to protect the Annexe School and its new equipment.

Linn Tedman working for the Church Mission Society, Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ email:- ltedman@hotmail.com

You can read more detail and see more photos on my blog:- http://www.linninpy.blogspot.com

Linn's News February 2012

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Dear Friends,

I cannot believe that we are nearly in February as I write. Time rushes by so quickly.

Holidays

Right now I am praising the Lord for holidays and no broken limbs, as last year. I had a few days away at the beginning of the holidays with the Hickmott family and loved having fun and relaxing in beautiful surroundings. Since then I have relaxed at home doing sewing, making chutney, reading and gardening. My garden gives me so much pleasure. I have a little rose bush which sits in the baking hot sun in the front garden. It should really shrivel up in the intense heat, but with care it and divine intervention it produces flowers continually. I love to see it as I pass in and out each day. God’s creation is wonderful.

I have had lots of time to spend in prayer for the addicts who come to visit my friend Sharon, across the road and for the girls in La Puerta, (our refuge for girls sent by the courts). Most of the girls have been abused,  they are psychologically damaged and in need of the Lord’s love. Initially they find this hard to accept, but we have seen wonderful breakthroughs as they come to know Him.

Some of you may remember Beto, a former addict, who works on the streets. I posted a photo of him on my blog in 2010 when he first came to our church. He has now kicked his habit. He loves the Lord and really depends on him, coming regularly for ministry in Sharon’s Bible group. Please pray for Beto. His life is a tremendous struggle and he is not well, mainly as a result of malnutrition. He is in his thirties and intelligent, but he has never been able to get proper work. These guys just plod on, living one day at a time, trying to make sufficient money by cleaning car windows, to buy some food to survive. They lose hope of any “normal” future with a job and a family.  However, the Lord is using Beto to bring others for prayer, counselling and to accept the Lord into their lives.

Back to work.

Now we are preparing for the new school year in St. Andrew’s. Last year was hard work but we had fun, celebrating 200 years of Paraguayan Independence. Now we are planning for the year ahead.

We are all wondering what God has in His plans for us this year and whether we are fitting into those plans. Each year it becomes more difficult to find teachers who are willing to come from UK to teach with us. These days jobs and pensions in UK seem to hold people back. This year there is a new initiative. We are taking on two ex-pupils, to teach in the Primary department. Although they are not native speakers of English, they are both proficient in English. They have helped in the school before but have not actually taught. This will be a tough year for both of them, particularly for Vicki De Gasperi as she gets to grips with teaching English to both second and fourth grade. Ali Spinzi, married with a small son, will be teaching some children with special needs. They can be very challenging and a lot of patience will be needed. Please keep these two young ladies in your prayers. Rocio Mazzeloni, another ex-pupil with great teaching qualifications, will take over as head of the Primary English department.

If there are any Christian teachers out there in UK who would consider a year or two teaching out here, I can promise you that working for the Lord in a Paraguayan, Christian school is a challenging and very different experience. We would love to hear from you. There is always a need at all levels.

Annexe development

This year the Annexe School will celebrate forty years of ministry to children from the Chacarita (shanty town), so no doubt there will be celebrations there. Over the holidays a new floor has been added, by the old library. This will house a computer room, bringing the Annexe school further into the 21^st century.

The church.

Not only have the schools been on holiday, but also the pastors of the churches have been taking a break through January. They will all be back in February ready to lead the churches forward to being “Healthy churches.”

Hope?

Within the country, the feeling of hope that came with the Bicentenary celebrations, seems to have faded.  Now the hype, associated with choosing new candidates for elections which will take place next year, has begun. There are still many problems in the country which need dealing with. There is still insecurity in the north and the People’s army is still causing problems. It will take a God-led government to deal with all that needs addressing.

The most pressing problem at the moment is the drought which is affecting many areas of the country. There have been many wildfires in the Chaco and in other areas, where there are forests. Today the President called a state of emergency on the grounds that people need food and water. He has now called eighteen states of emergency during his time in office.

The drought has caused the river Paraguay to drop to its lowest level in memory. This has meant that supply ships have not been able to get to the port. This has greatly affected imports and exports and many businesses adversely. It has also brought an increase in our shopping bills as products are being brought in by road from further down river.

and me!

On a personal note, I celebrated my birthday this month. I am now beginning my last year before I retire. It is rather unsettling to know that, after fifteen years, I have to leave the country that I have come to love and call “home.” I rest, confident that the Lord will be with me through this time, supporting me through others and that as he closes the door on my teaching career, that he will be holding a new door open for me to step through back in UK, when the time comes. He is forever faithful.

Prayer points:-

1.    Give thanks that we have had holidays and time for refreshment. Pray for the staff and children of St. Andrew’s College and our Annexe School as we begin the new school year. Pray that we will gel as a “family”, supporting each other well. Pray for good health and for spiritual protection.

2.    There are many people in Paraguay who are suffering through one thing or another and they need the Lord’s love and support. Pray for the churches, that as they pay attention to being “healthy churches”, that they will grow, reaching out and bringing more people to know the Lord’s love and to trust in him for their future. Pray for the sewing groups which reach out to the poorer members of the community, that they will grow and develop. Pray for Bishop Peter and his wife Sally as they return from UK. Pray that the Lord will fill them with wisdom as they lead us into another year.

3.    Pray for President Lugo and the government. Pray for the Lord to take control over the choice of future candidates for the presidential elections next year. Pray for the situation with the drought, that the Lord will bring rain to those areas that need it and that there will not be further outbreaks of fire. Pray for people to receive the basic help that they need to survive.

Blog site:- http://www.linninpy.blogspot.com

Email:- ltedman@hotmail.com

January 2012

Linn’s News January 2012

Thank you everybody for your prayers and support throughout 2011. This has been a good year for me personally and for both of our schools. The Lord has been with us every step of the way.

The Church......   The English church held Advent services through December, during which time we said a sad farewell to our co-ordinator, Babs Owen. 

       On Christmas Day lovely services were held in the English church in the morning and in the cathedral in the evening.

Now the pastors are taking a well-earned break through January.

Our friends, Beryl Baker, Tim Curtis and Ed and Marie Brice spent Christmas in the Chaco with their churches there.

The country........ December saw the Annual pilgrimage of Catholics to Caacupe to pay homage to the Virgin of Caacupe. Almost a million people attended.

Not much changes in the country. There is still unrest. This past week the doctors in the state hospitals have been on strike.  The strike finally ended last night. (30^th December).

The Chaco Indians have been camped out in Asuncion, demanding their rights to land in the Chaco. The mayor of Asuncion is tired of them camping in the Plaza Uruguaya in the centre of Asuncion, as they present a health hazard. He has therefore ordered metal railings to be installed around the square. The work has begun and should be finished by March.

The Schools....... The staff of both schools celebrated the end of the year on 14^th December.  We all enjoyed a barbecue lunch in the main college where we said a sad farewell to Babs Owen, (now returned to UK) and to Diego Caceres (who is off to South Africa next month to train and work as a missionary for OM).

As soon as we broke up work started down at the Annexe School to redevelop the second floor where the library was. A new computer room is being built on there, thanks to the generosity of a UK church.

Holidays....  Now we are enjoying our summer holidays. I shot off almost as soon as school finished, for a few days away with my Irish neighbours, the Hickmott family. We had a wonderful time, staying  in a small hotel in a Paraguayan village, Santa Maria de Fe, in Misiones, followed by a visit to the Jesuit ruins of San Cosme and San Damian and finally ending up in a super hotel with a swimming pool, from where we visited the ruins of Trinidad and saw the Sound and light show at night. It was fantastic.

I was back in time for Christmas. 20 of us congregated at Mags Southern’s and Gwen Carlisle’s house to have a shared traditional Christmas lunch, seated round three tables in their breakfast room. It was great fun. We had traditional turkey and other meats and even had Christmas puddings.

Now I am busy Spring-cleaning my flat and clearing out rubbish, doing a little each morning before the heat of the day causes me to rest. It reached 47C one day and looks as if it could do so again as I write. The electricity failed one day for several hours, leaving us with no fans and air-conditioning.  I drank gallons of water that day!

I am not sure that I will go away again as I am saving to visit my family in South Africa in 2013.

New Year ....... I wish you all a very happy New Year, pray that you will enjoy good health and trust that 2012 will be a good year for you all, in spite of the doom and gloom that the media reports.  May God go before you and be with you in all that you do.

Prayer Points:-

1.       Please pray for the President and government of Paraguay to have discernment and wisdom in 2012 as they deal with problems in the country.

2.       Pray for the poor and the indigenous of Paraguay, that they may receive justice, that their lives may improve in 2012 and that their daily needs will be met.

3.       Please pray for Bishop Peter and his wife, Sally, all our teachers, missionaries and pastors who are now on holiday. Pray for safety in travel and for refreshment and renewal ready for the coming year.

4.       Pray that 2012 will see more people in Paraguay and more of our students touched by the Holy Spirit and that they will come into a deeper personal relationship with Jesus.

Linn Tedman working for the Church Mission Society, Watlington Road, Oxford, OX4 6BZ email:- ltedman@hotmail.com

You can read more detail and see more photos on my blog:- http://www.linninpy.blogspot.com