Boni at the hydraulic controls

We also have a new sand cone.  Besides getting the sand out of the drilling mud, it provides lots of fun for the kids

Boys helping us with the PVC casing for the well

New tower and tank

Besides drilling this month, we also had the graduation ceremonies for our Bible Institute.  One of our pastors from the North District graduated this year!  What a blessing for his congregation.  Here is Roberto, his wife Patrocinia (in the blue dress), us, and other students from the Tacuapí church.   

 

Graduate and fellow Tacuapí folks

We also had our typical month of several trips to/from Asuncion.  We enjoy going into the city for a good dinner and the chance to visit friends, but we do get tired of driving all the time.

We are slowing getting a bit cooler nights as we head toward fall.  Fall also means harvest time for our pastors; but this year we’ve had lots of rain.  One of the major crops this year has been sesame seeds, for which the current price is 4,000 Guaraní per kilo.  One of pastors, Felipe, is hoping for 2,000 kilos.  This will be generating 8 million Guaraní, which is about $1,300.  This is will be his annual income, which is equivalent to a good annual salary in US dollars.  However, we have had lots of violence, with thieves killing farmers in order to steal their harvest.  If you have never seen sesame growing, then prepared for harvest, it is very interesting.  Above is a photo of the sesame drying.  After the stalks have dried, they will shake the seeds out of the tops of the stalks onto a tarp.  Very time consuming, but labor costs here are very low.

As we get closer to Easter, several of our churches have requested we show the Jesus video.  We have the video in Guaraní, and have full video equipment including a great sound system.  We hang a king size white sheet on the side of the church – “Video Night”.  The people have loved the chance to see videos.  Beside the Jesus film, we have also collected several children’s videos.  This has been a fun chance to share the gospel with the folks in our district who have never even seen television, much less movies!

During Easter week, we already have 5 churches scheduled for movies.  We are looking forward to a fun April!

P.S. – We forgot to mention.  When we are working in our district, we stay at a place we refer to as “The Residencia”.  This month, we found 2 tarantulas in the residencia, 1 walking into our bedroom, and the other INSIDE our bedroom!  We killed them both.

P.P.S. – We were always taught to face what was heading our way!