"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 21st 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.
