Bathtime!

It is going to rain soon. I was busy at school and with our missionaries all day in meetings.

A storm is coming so I have to get off anyway. I don't want to risk burning the computer a second time.

We have a special 15 year old birthday blessing ceremony at church in three hours.

These are cute pictures of BATHTIME.

Now look at clean feet and tan lines from the sandals. It has been around 100º the past couple of days.

Okay...gotta go...I hear thunder!

Beautiful during the day, beautiful at night

Orchids out back!

2008 School Year Program

Last night was our end of the year school program at Colegio Privado Adonai. We had beautiful weather and there were about 500 in the crowd. My favorite part was when the third graders presented a choreography of a beautiful song about Paraguay. "Paraguay, a blessed land, Paraguay, land of God." They wore their Paraguay sports shirts and held up flags. It was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. The first graders in the second picture sang "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord" in English. Teacher Monica taught them this song. The pre-schoolers had a short play about Christ's birth and then the Kinder- gardeners had a play about the Gift of Grace. We had to set tape borders around the stage so parents wouldn't push the limits taking pictures during the program.

After the program the guys were putting everything away. Oscar and I were visiting with the teachers and parents when out of the corner of my eye, I saw Edson with a microphone singing...lalaaaaaalaala lala la laaaaaaaaaa. I ran to take his picture. He looked so cute! He had no audience, none of the chairs were still set up, everyone was leaving but he was singing his heart out on stage...just like he saw everyone else perform minutes before.

Holiday Preparations

For so many years, I had a friend, IRENE, who loved to cook. She grew up in one of the worst neighborhoods of the city. She didn't have an easy life, but several years ago, she became a child of God. A few years later, her husband also became a Christian. She helped her daughter-in-law, Blanca, with the school's snack bar and was always ready to serve. Her mom was diabetic and because of complications had her leg amputated. Irene waited on her mother like a nurse, changing her, bathing her, feeding her and doing as much as she could for her mom, and for everyone.

Many years she would plan my Christmas dinner. She'd ask me for the ingredients and prepare amazing meat recipes or side dishes and desserts, just because she loved to cook, loved to serve, and loved us. She always had time for our family and always cooked fabulous lunches...and invited us during a rough day at school.

She didn't have nice platters, a microwave, or a fancy workplace for cooking, but she served out of love and from her heart. She loved to cook. She loved new recipes. She loved to fancy meals. Many times she cooked over hot coals. Many times we ate under the lemon trees because it was too hot in the kitchen. Some times we even had to share plates or glasses so everyone could sit around the table.

My heart is breaking as I reminisce. This year she is not with us. This year she won't plan my Christmas dinner. This year we won't sing Christmas Carols in her mom's bedroom. This year...

We will always be grateful for her love and service. She taught me so much! Every Wednesday I bake double and send a plateful of chipas, cookies, cakes or whatever to her husband, Marcos. He said that I shouldn't bother, but how could I NOT do this after Irene so lovingly served us so many years.

This year, my holiday preparations will be recipes of love, service, and time for others.

Chipa

I am off to bake some cheesy chipa!

I'm not going to bake it in the traditional oven you see in the backround of the first picture. That takes too much work (but it does taste better). Paraguayan ladies will fill the brick oven up with wood and sticks and get a huge, hot fire going. After the fire dies down a bit they brush the coals out of the oven (with fresh, green weeds tied on to a broom stick) and put the chipas in usually on banana leaves. I think I will spray my trays and cook them in the oven. I will sweat enough while doing it the american way.

Some of you (relatives) in the north are enjoying the snow and we are enjoying 32ºC.

Silence

You may be wondering about my silence. Many times I have thought of writing in the past two weeks, but we are carrying a very heavy load. I have spent most of my days and nights taking my burdens to the Lord.
We are going through financial struggles at school. We are trying to rearrange contracts, salaries, etc. in order to make pay cuts, but still be legal. I know you all know about the economic crisis hitting hard everywhere. Most of the teachers have accepted the new policies admitting that Adonai is a very peaceful place to work at and that they haven't found this comfortable-teaching atmosphere in other private schools and NEVER in public schools. So, that has been encouraging, even though there is still a lot of stress on our part. We are depending on the Lord's strengths and riches to pass over this big mountain.
We also have financial cuts at home and felt that we needed to take the kids out of the american school they had been going to for 3 years. It has been stressful for them AND us. They seem relieved. We had been pressuring them, maybe too much. There was very little leisure time or time to just take a nap. We appreciate the cultural, and spiritual experiences that the kids had at ACA, but because of our finances and the distance of this school, we have decided to go a different route next year.
All this is complicating their schooling for next year since Paraguay schools have a different schooling schedule. We are finishing up the paperwork for their transfers. They are also taking final exams in the Paraguayan system to see what level they are in...in Spanish.
Sometimes I want to disappear and cry until it's all over and yet, I have to encourage my kids to keep on going. All the while I have to lend an encouraging word to the principal who is going through a family struggle, to a sister (in Christ) carrying the burden of a broken marriage, to a teacher dealing with an emotional load, to a mother whose child is very sick, etc. etc.
When you see I am silent for a while...say a prayer!

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD...Jeremiah 29:11-14a (NIV)

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