PJ and Edson

We have some friends here from the states. Our house has been a "home" for several young kids through out the years. Vivi, Amy, Emilia, Ben, Jason, and so many more on a shorter term stay...weeks, weekends, days, etc. Well, we have had proposals in our home, love-calls, emails and now even skype for the travellers (in love).

My story revolves around PJ who ended up marrying Amy and they are now visiting Paraguay for Emilia's wedding.

PJ has a wonderful gift of bonding with little kids. He bonded many years ago with Brandon and Gaby when they were little and now he and Edson have a special kind of friendship. Three years ago, Edson (and PJ) were so content to be together. Edson was a sleepy little 2 month old while PJ held him (at another wedding). PJ is so patient and will listen to a Spanish/English slur by a 3 year old in such a comprehensive way. Edson knows he is listening and can trust PJ with his stories. PJ pulls Edson up on his lap and of course, Edson knows that he's won a friend! Yes, we are thankful for PJ!

Well the funny thing is...Edson can't say PJ. He says "Pinche". Pinche means several things in Spanish. When I looked it up in the Larousse dictionary I was amazed at the different meanings. Each country has its own translations of this word and how it's used. Here in Paraguay, it could be a tack, a thistle or a pinch.

So whenever Edson calls for "Pinche" we all kind of laugh a little. But we know they both have a special bond!

Sights of Christmas

Christmas Decorations At the Mariscal Lopez Mall

Edson, Mall, Christmas

Edson is on a merry-go-round. It's really the only thing he likes to do at the play-place in the mall.

I am into videos, now, so here is another one. (GramS, you're gonna have to get onto GrampS's computer to see it.)

We took Gaby to a very elegant, dress-up, 15 yr. old birthday party and the rest of us spent the evening in the mall and then took a tour of Asuncion.

The mall was lit up with Christmas-y lights and decorations, but we were surprised that the city for the most part, wasn't real lit up (yet) this year. We did get some good shots that I will share this week. We enjoyed some Mc Donald's fries and then took a stroll inside and outside the mall. We were stalling for time (Gaby asked us not to pick him up until midnight!) so we ventured out through the Gran Asunción.

It was a fun family night...minus Gaby.

Christmas Program

Edson was a little pastor in our Christmas program this year. While they were getting their outfits on he came running out, crying, because he didn't want to put this stuff on. He wasn't too sure about this pinchy-halo thing. So, he sat with us for a while until it was his time to perform.
While the kids were doing a beautiful choreography, I focused in on Edson in the back...doing his part, I guess.
Watch the movie clip below and ... Enjoy!
Merry Christmas!

Today

Just about every day there is a little bit of rain out there. Sometimes it's just a light rain and sometimes it's a loud thunder storm. It is very humid! Today we are enjoying nice breezes...

that cools things down a lot. The mosquitos are becoming HUGE. They are out at all times of the day. Our trees are loaded with growing fruits...mangos, grapefruits, oranges, guavas, kinotos, lemons, cherimoyas, and the star fruit.

The boys cut the grass today. They washed the car and swept it out. The house is clean, the clothes are dry, folded and put away. There is beef cooking in the slow cooker for empanadas later on.

...Hey, I think we need visitors again!

First Graduation - 2

Our First GraduationYou crown the year with a bountiful harvest... Sal 65.11 (NLT) One of the teachers decorated a beautiful bulletin board this past month with this verse on it. Every time I went to school and saw this huge message on the bulletin board I said a prayer of thanks! The Lord has been so great to us this whole year. He crowned this school-year with a dream of our first graduation at Colegio Privado Adonai. Nine students graduated on December 3, 2009. Seven years after opening the school we were blessed to be part of these students' lives and give them an education, patiently listen to their problems, and share the hope of salvation with them.
One troubled girl came as a seventh grader. She was extremely rebellious and going through some rough family problems. She was angry, spiteful and just very rude to anyone in authority. Several times she was close to being dismissed from our school...forever, but God was slowly working out some issues in her life. Two years ago, her mom went through a life or death health situation and we were, once again, on our knees praying for this student and this family.
On Thurday night, she came up to me and hugged me and thanked me for all our patience with her. Friday night at the graduation dinner, her mother came up to me and said that she checked out IBA (Asuncion Bible Institute) for her college education...her daughter's choice! Just seeing her as a happy, completely changed person is huge, "bountiful harvest" for us this year. What a joy to be able to work with her and see the Lord's hand in her life these past couple of years.
Praise God with us for this special year...our First High School graduation.

First Graduation at CPA

Best students, Nidia and Fabiola


















Nine students in our first graduation

7th, 8th and 9th grade music choir did a special number.




















Some of the teachers did a song in four-part harmony!
The graduates with their diplomas.



















A nice surprise!