Well, we are connected with lots of people, yes, school people. We hear about their pets, their families, their vacations, etc. etc. We hear about puppies, rabbits, hamsters, and...do you want one?, kind of stuff. Oscar grew up around hundreds of animals and I grew up around pesky, little dogs that we made my dad and my brother take care of. So, the idea of "do you want a puppy?" started on Wednesday. Nicole's mom wanted to sell us Bull Terrier. I said, "NO", "Sorry", "No way", "We have Edson", "I will NOT take care of an animal when I have THREE kids to take care of". The questions, answers and discussions were "ping-pong-ing" back and forth. The kids and Oscar with their "PLEASE" and me with my "NO".
Well, sad to say, I LOST! What can I do? I have a family full of boys and boys like dogs.
We have a young Bull Terrier named Sasha, and I can't believe I am letting this happen again!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
A "cut and paste" from Wikipedia
Just so you know who we saw (and met) at dinner last night...
José Luis Félix Chilavert González (born July 27, 1965 in Luque, Departamento Central) is a Paraguayan former football goalkeeper and free kick specialist. He was voted "World's Best Goalkeeper" in 1995, 1997, and 1998.
Besides being one of the best goalkeepers of his time, Chilavert was also known for his skills as a free kick specialist, and often took penalties. His pioneering of this expertise in his position made him the all-time leading scorer among professional keepers until Brazilian Rogério Ceni passed him in 2006. He scored 62 goals in his professional career, many of them crucial, including eight in international matches. Four of his international goals were scored during Paraguay's qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Chilavert was also known for his eccentricity and at times fiery temper, which brought him his fair share of controversies; most notorious among which was being sent off for brawling with ex-Newcastle player 'Tino' Asprilla.
See his picture at: http://www.123football.com/players/c/jose-luis-chilavert/index.htm
José Luis Félix Chilavert González (born July 27, 1965 in Luque, Departamento Central) is a Paraguayan former football goalkeeper and free kick specialist. He was voted "World's Best Goalkeeper" in 1995, 1997, and 1998.
Besides being one of the best goalkeepers of his time, Chilavert was also known for his skills as a free kick specialist, and often took penalties. His pioneering of this expertise in his position made him the all-time leading scorer among professional keepers until Brazilian Rogério Ceni passed him in 2006. He scored 62 goals in his professional career, many of them crucial, including eight in international matches. Four of his international goals were scored during Paraguay's qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Chilavert was also known for his eccentricity and at times fiery temper, which brought him his fair share of controversies; most notorious among which was being sent off for brawling with ex-Newcastle player 'Tino' Asprilla.
See his picture at: http://www.123football.com/players/c/jose-luis-chilavert/index.htm
A different setting
Pastor Dario, Marlene and family Yesterday was Pastor's Day (a celebration for our Pastors in the Christian community of Paraguay). We had special numbers in Chapel (at school) and a different program for Pastor Baldo. The principal asked the students to bring non-perishable foods for a gift. Wow! Each kid brought a bag or two of something from the grocery story and there was at least a cartful or two of neat groceries. The kids were so excited to see their decorated gift boxes full of goodies. It was a VERY useful gift! We are thankful for the spiritual work that Pastor Baldo is doing with the teachers, students and parents.
Our church offered Pastors Pedro, Oscar and Dario (and their wives) a night out with a dinner at a Brazilian Churrasquería. We went early (at 7:45 pm) and were the 1st in the restaurant. The restaurant started filling up two hours later when we were about to leave. People eat VERY LATE in Paraguay.
A Brazilian Churrasquería has a salad/pasta buffet and the waiters come around many times to each table offering different cuts of barbequed beef, chicken, pork or sausages. They keep coming until you are extremely stuffed and politely ask them not to come back. Then, there is a dessert buffet with a very wide variety of sweets to choose from.
Once again we met up with the famous! Hahaha! Pastor Dario's wife, Marlene, looked up and said, "There's Chilavert, I went to school with him!" Chilavert is Paraguay's famous goalie in soccer. He is very popular in South America and maybe some of you soccer fans have heard of him also. Anyway, (this is something my mom would do...) Marlene went to tell him "hi" and he came over to our table, shook our hands, gave an autograph to Marlene for her kids and invited them over for an "asado" (barbeque). That was kind of fun...to meet a sports celebrity.
It was an enjoyable night out...no kids, good fellowship and bonding, especially important for keeping the unity in the different responsabilities we all have at church.
Our church offered Pastors Pedro, Oscar and Dario (and their wives) a night out with a dinner at a Brazilian Churrasquería. We went early (at 7:45 pm) and were the 1st in the restaurant. The restaurant started filling up two hours later when we were about to leave. People eat VERY LATE in Paraguay.
A Brazilian Churrasquería has a salad/pasta buffet and the waiters come around many times to each table offering different cuts of barbequed beef, chicken, pork or sausages. They keep coming until you are extremely stuffed and politely ask them not to come back. Then, there is a dessert buffet with a very wide variety of sweets to choose from.
Once again we met up with the famous! Hahaha! Pastor Dario's wife, Marlene, looked up and said, "There's Chilavert, I went to school with him!" Chilavert is Paraguay's famous goalie in soccer. He is very popular in South America and maybe some of you soccer fans have heard of him also. Anyway, (this is something my mom would do...) Marlene went to tell him "hi" and he came over to our table, shook our hands, gave an autograph to Marlene for her kids and invited them over for an "asado" (barbeque). That was kind of fun...to meet a sports celebrity.
It was an enjoyable night out...no kids, good fellowship and bonding, especially important for keeping the unity in the different responsabilities we all have at church.
Pastor Pedro, Mary and family
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Only in this country...
Okay, another CRAZY thing that happened in our country, and probably ONLY Paraguay. The other day, Christian (who works for the government) called Oscar and asked him if our Praise and Worship team could sing at a Prayer Meeting organized in the Congress building for the whole Congress, Representatives, President, etc. Several other pastors and people singing solos were going to be there, but he wanted us to lead the music. Oscar thought it was CRAZY. I thought it was an OPPORTUNITY. Ben had SECOND THOUGHTS. David said SURE. So anyway,…we said yes!We were given the program and practiced on Sunday. We had five songs to lead. Wow! This was getting exciting. Our practice sounded beautiful! We all imagined praising God in front of the whole law-making body of Paraguay…President Lugo included!
We dressed in our Sunday best (on Monday), and at 7.20 we left Adonai to get to the Congress building by 8.00 am to set up. The meeting was to start at 9 am.
At 9:15 am people were still running around here and there and only about 30 had occupied the beautiful, maroon-colored swivel chairs behind the sophisticated desks each with microphones, gadgets, and internet and telephone connections. Our schedule showed that we were to start singing How Great Thou Art at 9:00. I guess we were running on Paraguay time…LATE! I was saddened by the disorganization, but kept my eye on the door expecting President Lugo to come walking in any minute.
Three people finally tried to organize us or give us different instructions. We weren’t sure exactly WHO to follow. Oscar discreetly came over to tell us one thing, Pastor John told us something else, and then the lady-speaker announced something completely different. Okay, we’ll do it Paraguay way after all!
When it finally started, there were only about 5 of the “important” (Congress) people there. There were about 50 others who came to pray for the nation, but no President Lugo. (He was off to Chile to work out things with other Leftists involved in the civil disturbances of Bolivia.) Well, we prayed for him anyway. We prayed for the government leaders, the decisions they make, the people, the economy, the future, etc.
We felt important. We were sent there by God…to praise Him and lift up his name in the same place where our authorities sit making laws and decisions that affect the whole Republic of Paraguay. Things were a little disorganized, people who were invited didn’t show up…but God did...and that’s why we were there…to praise the Highest Authority of all! Amen!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Prison Ministry 4
Last chapter of prison ministry for a while...
Christian is working for the government and worked on getting our Apostolic Christian Church the resolution to work at Emboscada in a spiritual/rehabilitation-type way. The guards were not happy about that, but we somehow got through the iron gates to the Christian’s pavilion several times a week. There was still a lot of tension, but we were praying for a miracle. Crazy things were still happening and one of the worst was when our Christian friend, “Juan”, died. (I wrote about this a couple of weeks ago.) He knew and told “too much” and was a threat to the General Director and guards.
About three months after he died, in September of 2006, 16 prisoners escaped from Emboscada. The general director was fired and the jail was closed down to be rebuilt and refurbished. Everyone was relocated to other prisons. I think that was our miracle!
Since then, Oscar started going to Tacumbu, a prison in Asuncion. The ministry activities in Tacumbu are organized by a pastor named Abel. Oscar and Pastor Dario go several times a month. Since Lugo became president, Oscar says that things have been “cleaned up” and it is so much safer. Praise God! (If you haven’t been there, I could not even begin to explain to you about all the unhealthy, primitive conditions they live in and the lack of safety for inmates and visitors. Once, for example, at an alter call, Oscar brought home 2 bags full of very sharp, homemade knives and weapons. The inmates went forward in repentance and left them at the pulpit! WOW!)
At Tacumbu, some days they have prayer meetings, some days they will show a movie, and some days just a sermon and worship. If the weather is nice they have “church” outside and 500 prisoners show up. If they have church inside the chapel, about 250 fit. Not all of them are Christians. There are also other organizations, denominations and people working towards rehabilitation in Tacumbu.
Thanks, once again for your prayers!
Christian is working for the government and worked on getting our Apostolic Christian Church the resolution to work at Emboscada in a spiritual/rehabilitation-type way. The guards were not happy about that, but we somehow got through the iron gates to the Christian’s pavilion several times a week. There was still a lot of tension, but we were praying for a miracle. Crazy things were still happening and one of the worst was when our Christian friend, “Juan”, died. (I wrote about this a couple of weeks ago.) He knew and told “too much” and was a threat to the General Director and guards.
About three months after he died, in September of 2006, 16 prisoners escaped from Emboscada. The general director was fired and the jail was closed down to be rebuilt and refurbished. Everyone was relocated to other prisons. I think that was our miracle!
Since then, Oscar started going to Tacumbu, a prison in Asuncion. The ministry activities in Tacumbu are organized by a pastor named Abel. Oscar and Pastor Dario go several times a month. Since Lugo became president, Oscar says that things have been “cleaned up” and it is so much safer. Praise God! (If you haven’t been there, I could not even begin to explain to you about all the unhealthy, primitive conditions they live in and the lack of safety for inmates and visitors. Once, for example, at an alter call, Oscar brought home 2 bags full of very sharp, homemade knives and weapons. The inmates went forward in repentance and left them at the pulpit! WOW!)
At Tacumbu, some days they have prayer meetings, some days they will show a movie, and some days just a sermon and worship. If the weather is nice they have “church” outside and 500 prisoners show up. If they have church inside the chapel, about 250 fit. Not all of them are Christians. There are also other organizations, denominations and people working towards rehabilitation in Tacumbu.
Thanks, once again for your prayers!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Brandon's Baptism
Today was Brandon's baptism day. In Paraguay it was also a SPRING celebration.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Cor 5.17
Thanks for your prayers! It was a beautiful day!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Slideshow
I got my slideshow to work...I don't know how! These are pictures that have been posted on my blog already. Check it out on the side.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)