Vamos Paraguay!

Today is the day!

Today is the opening day for the World Cup! This is almost like what the Olympics would be to people in the states. People are going totally crazy. My kids can think of NOTHING else!

Last night there was a Kick Off Concert and today, in just minutes...they are starting the opening ceremony.

Guess what, President Lugo says you can watch it in school! What a way to skip classes! Yes, we will project it on a huge screen for the whole school. If we wouldn't do it, the kids would skip school. Gaby was already figuring out ways to stay home and watch the first game South Africa vs. Mexico. Paraguay plays its first game on Monday, and once again, Lugo "gave orders" for the game to be watched at work, at school, on the street, or where ever.

So, Go Paraguay!

Vamos Albirrojo!

With Gaby's permission...

Today's Parade

Our school was invited to the

Lambare City Parade celebrating their 48th anniversary. It started out as a very wet and rainy day, but we ended the parade semi-dry. There were like 40 schools represented and we were no. 38! The kids get social studies grades for doing this. It was kind of fun!

Can you recognize the cute drummer-boy in the front?

Stuck in the Sand

We were visiting our relatives in San Pedro. We had to get back to the city (50 km away) by 7pm. Oscar's brother told us to go a different route back to the main highway. He said it was a smoother dirt road than the one we usually use. Five minutes later, we were jam-packed in sandy dirt. Can you see how the car is lifted up? We tried everything...parts of logs, pushing, etc. we just kept getting deeper.

It was almost dark. We were so far in the country that our cellphones didn't work. I stayed in the car with Edson (to pray) while Oscar went out walking (and praying) to find help. We were both remembering a time about 10 years ago when we were stuck in the middle of the pitch-black countryside with no lights and no help so late at night with two little kids for hours...

In just minutes...a pick up showed up from no where and this rancher-guy pulled us out. Then, just as quick as he appeared, he disappeared.

God's Angles at work!

News and Stuff

This morning we woke up to 47ºF! It's winter in Paraguay! It's supposed to be up to 65º this afternoon, but Saturday and Sunday, back down in the low 40º’s. I guess we'll be making more vorí-vorí.
My kids are can't feel the cold! They are excited about marching in a Parade on Friday. Brandon is in the drum section and there has been practice twice a day. One student's dad is from the military and sent a military trainer to our school to practice with the kids this week. June 12th is Chaco Armistice. Almost all of the schools/towns have a parade either May 14th for Independence Day or June 12th for "Paz de Chaco" Day. Our town, (Lambaré) usually has the parade on June 5th commemorating Lambaré’s (48th) anniversary. So, our parade is June 4th. There will be about 50 schools represented.
I’m just thinking…it’ll be cold and rainy that day!
Brandon just got back from an evangelistic trip to San Pedro. A group of about 20 went to do different activities (visiting, inviting, kid’s bible hours, setting up the sound system, etc.) this past weekend. Brandon adapts so well to different cultural experiences and enjoys every minute of the adventure.
Gaby is still lead singer and guitar player at school (and sometimes at church) and is dreaming of being a soccer player for Tacuari. He was supposed to go last Thursday, but when the riots broke out in town, we decided to wait.
Oscar’s doing fine, but battling a dry cough. For some strange reason I have been so nostalgic lately…it’s probably the cool weather…I have been missing everyone and everything. I just blame it all on the thyroids!
So, that’s the news and stuff for today.

I thought I'd stick a flower in to brighten up this cold day. I found this flower growing out of an old stump in San Pedro on our last visit and loved it.

Edson...

It's been awhile...here are some pictures of Edson!

Still...very passionate about books.

Public Transportation Strike

There's been some riots all around Asunción area since Wednesday because of the bus strike. More than 43 bus lines joined the strike...4000 bus drivers and 2000 buses are not running. You can see a short video from ABC to see how they are attacking buses that ARE running their routes. Several teachers didn't make it to school yesterday because there were no buses...and if there were, it was too dangerous to get on them. A lot of students were absent, also. One from Brandon's grade got to school in a trailer-cart on the back of a car. Many people are out making money with their trailers, carts and pick-ups...taking people here and there like a taxi service.
This morning I haven't heard of any more terrible violence on the streets/buses, but yesterday, the news says that there were 50 buses attacked because they were "working" instead of joining the strike. On the ABC link if you scroll down about 2 inches you will be able to see a series of photos from yesterday's riots and todays pictures of the strike.
Very Sad!