Cheese

Its cheese season, I guess! Cows have plenty of green pasture and produce more milk during summer time…that’s what I’m told. I have little or no knowledge of farming. I just remember wonderful days at our cousins’ house, running in the fields, riding on the tractors with Arthur, hayrides, “helping” Jill or Julie in the milk house, staring unbelievably at the gallons and gallons of creamy milk, and even peeking (choking and vomiting) out back where the manure was collected.
Oscar’s niece’s farm in San Pedro is no where near Arthur’s, and Arthur’s milk farm was not even that updated. So, you can imagine how Maria milks her cows…by hand, yes, all nine cows by hand! She gets about 10 gallons of milk per day. That’s 4 kilos. (around 8,8 lbs.) of cheese each day. They live deep in the farming area of San Pedro. There is just a 30 km dirt road to get there and she doesn’t have a vehicle…just a horse and buggy. Houses are scarce and there is public transportation once a day…coming from or going to San Pedro.
It’s hard to get the milk or cheese to the market. So, Maria decided to make homemade Farmer’s Cheese since they couldn’t drink or sell all the milk produced each day. The next problem was that people in San Pedro would only buy the cheese for 6000 Gs. a kilo ($0.65 a lb.) while here in Asuncion, Farmer’s Cheese sells for 20,000 Gs. a kilo ($2.17 a lb.). (Farmer’s cheese tastes like sour milk cheese. There are no chemicals added to it, but it must be very high in calories because it has all the cream in it.)
So, now we are in the Cheese business. We are selling Maria’s cheese for 15,000 Gs. a kilo ($1.63 a lb.) and she is making double what she could sell it for up in San Pedro. Once a week she sends us a huge Rubbermaid bin full of Farmer’s cheese (60-80 lbs). She always says, “Oscar, tell Karen to keep 5 lbs.” What do I do with 5 lbs of cheese a week?...Tortilla (Paraguayan style...fried batter with cheese), Chipa Guazu, Chipa, Sopa Paraguaya, Guisos, Soups, Pizza, and give it away…

Adopt-a Student...an update from Adonai

Our missionaries, Jason and Ben, are in charge of the Bursary/Scholarship program this year. The other day Ben showed me the list. There were just so many needs to be filled. Needy people filled out forms, sent in a picture, were visited by Ben, Jason and a Pastor Dario to verify their needs. Some asked daily if there was any news of a donation. Others prayed in prayer meetings for this urgent need for their family. As time was running out, Jason and I talked it over with saddened hearts. There was nothing we could do. There just wasn’t enough donated for everyone…not even half!
We thought of things we could do or encouraging things to say to each applicant. We prayed hard for them…and for more donations. We prayed for miracles. Two weeks ago there were only about 5 people who promised to pay some student’s tuition. We prayed that God would see our people’s needs.
Last Sunday, I got a call from the ACCMBC (Apostolic Christian Church Mission Board of Canada). Gary mentioned that there was $17,000 raised for the Bursary/Scholarship program. Tears came to my eyes when he told me and the only thing I could answer was…Wow! That’s a miracle! Thirty four kids will be able to have their schooling paid with that donation. Wow! What a miracle! I spent the next 20 minutes just crying and thanking God for being so faithful and for proving to me in this way that He is behind this ministry 100%.
I called Jason…He just laughed this unbelievable laugh and said, “Wow, that is sooo neat!” He passed the phone on to Ben and his reaction was about the same…
Wow! What a miracle! “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” Romans 11:33-36
Praise God with us today. He has answered our prayers through many of you! Thanks to all of you who sponsered a student, and special thanks to all the Canadians who donated to this program!

What should I do???

Another moment of rest…Edson is asleep. The house is clean. The clothes are folded. The food is cooked. Now what should I do???
1. I could catch up on my blogging. 2. I could catch up on my…Through the Bible in a Year reading program. 3. I could cook for company next week. 4. I could try to beat Ellen in the Travelers IQ game she got me into on Facebook. 5. I could go swimming…we just changed the water. 6. I could write a letter. 7. I could pray. 8. I could drink Tereré. 9. I could sleep a siesta myself. 10. I could enjoy the beautiful outdoors…it’s not hot or humid today.
I rarely have a moment when I can CHOOSE what I want to do. I think I will prioritize this list right now. Sorry, blogging is not the No. 1 priority…See you later!

Things that remind me of Brandon…

Brandon loves hot peppers. I was making a vinegar, hot pepper, garlic, and oregano salsa. Brandon loves to pour it on EVERYTHING! I think he is even more into this than my Grandma Schley was and my brother is. As I was making it today…I thought of Brandon.
Edson needed a playmate. Brandon loves Edson and Edson loves Brandon. When I am the busiest, Brandon is always there to make his little brother laugh.
Brandon admires his older cousins. We went to their house last night for Oscar’s sister’s birthday and Brandon wasn’t there. Some one very important was missing.
Brandon is pretty active in our Praise and Worship group. He wasn’t there this weekend. I miss him.
I fold clothes each evening and there are only four piles…Oscar, Karen, Gaby and Edson…I miss folding Brandon’s clothes.
Brandon has been gone for a week and a half! We miss him! Gaby has been bored out of his brains…there is no one to fight, argue, or play with. This is Brandon’s first experience…alone...away from Mom and Dad and our X-Ray eyes.
Brandon is half way across the country…not too far since Paraguay is a small country…but it seems so far! He spent the past week in CEC – Centro de Entrenamiento Cristiano. He went through a week of mission training and then they go out to work in different areas of the country. He went with Cristian Pintos, a friend from church. We have been communicating through Cristian’s cell phone. This week they went to Canindeju- North East Paraguay, in an indigenous colony. He says he’s been learning a lot and has many good experiences. His leader, Cesar, a good friend of ours, called the other day and said the kids were doing fine. It’ll be interesting to hear about his experiences in the “Indian” colony.
Some of the kids went to other parts of Paraguay, some in other parts of South America and some went to Africa. It’s a neat program for mission training. I’m glad he went, but we miss his fun personality. It’s just not the same at home without him. In the end, almost everything reminds me of Brandon.

Back to School...an update

We’re back to school…preparations, meetings, and workshops. Yesterday we had the teachers’ presentation and a special church service for our first day back after summer vacation. The teachers received their packs of markers, card board, poster boards, etc. Most of the letters for bulletin boards and pictures are done (painted) by hand. The teachers often spend hours cutting out their borders by hand. But, by February 6th the classrooms will look beautiful. (A special thanks to those who sent supplies, borders, letters, etc.)
People are busy enrolling their kids…there are already close to 90 NEW STUDENTS! The secretaries are experiencing one of the busiest times of the year. Painters are painting, others are cleaning. School supplies are on sale in the supermarkets. Wow! It’s so exciting…we’re BACK TO SCHOOL.
Fernandito shyly met his third grade teacher yesterday. He couldn’t even look her in the face. I was thinking of how different it will be in three months after Fernandito and his teacher have bonded and will be best friends. Miss Gloria will be even WISER than Fernandito’s mother!
Liliana is a member of the church in San Pedro. This year will be her first teaching experience with 2nd graders. She said that after the presentation she had to sit down fast. She was about to cry (of happiness). She has been through a lot, but we are thankful that the Lord brought such a talented person to Colegio Privado Adonai. Lilliana is a very happy person; she has a great voice and just loves people.
Thanks for your prayers and your donations for Colegio Privado Adonai. Once again, we see the powerful hand of God working to keep this great ministry going. Praise Him with us! “I will remember the deeds of the Lord, Yes; I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy, what god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.” Psalm 77:11-14

Mangos

These mangos are from a tree at the back of our house. They are around 1 lb. each...sometimes heavier. They are bigger than a softball. This one is almost ripe. We have to pick it before the birds pick AT it. Its loaded with vitamins, fiber and calories.

Last Days of Vacation…

We are enjoying some hot, relaxing summer days. We have a canvas pool we set up each year. Yesterday it felt like a hot tub. Edson didn’t even feel comfortable in it, it was just too hot. I thought of a good friend who recently told me that she and her husband were out in their hot tub during a snow storm. She loved the warmth of the hot tub, and the snowflakes falling around her head, but the wind was too cold for her face. The other night we were out in the pool battling mosquitoes. The water was perfect, the night was beautiful, but ohhh…the mosquitoes!
Edson is still enjoying his hose. We wake up later than usual, and we stay up later at night. We visit friends or the boys have sleep overs. Every once in a while we have ice cream or icy-cold pop, but...summer is ending!