Do some months just seem really long to you?  That’s how we feel about April – will it ever end?  We think it’s because we’ve been across and down the Americas in just 30 days.  Here are the details.

Okay, just 1 more picture of our new precious grandson.  We had a chance to meet him in California before returning to Paraguay.  It was a blessing to be able to hold him and see the miracle of life that God has given our family.  We look forward to watching him grown into the man that God has in store for him.

We arrived in Paraguay just in time to attend the celebration of the 20^th anniversary of the Methodist church in Paraguay.  This was a grand event, attended by over 1,500 people.  Some of the first missionaries to Paraguay were in attendance as well as the couple who started the Methodist church in Paraguay, Norival & Ruth Trindade.  They are from Brazil and still have a heart for Paraguay.

Norival & Ruth Trindade

Robert Rivero, our pastor from Tacuapi, was consecrated at the Anniversary Celebration

Our trip back to Paraguay wasn’t without its trials.  This is the first time we’ve had lost luggage.  We arrived in Paraguay in the 9^th, but 1 suitcase didn’t make it till the 16^th!  It seems this bag made a side trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina.  We are still living out of our suitcases.  You may remember, we gave up our house in Santani before returning to the states in December.  We are still living in a hotel, but hope to be moving by the 5^th of May.  This “Cinco de Mayo” should be a great party for us!  We’ll let you know in our May Adventures what happens.

Besides waiting for luggage, we had the opportunity to help with a work team from Alpharetta First UMC.  This is the home church of fellow missionaries, Christian & Angelica Dickson.  The team worked at the Agrimissions Center, building the new director’s home.

This group of guys & gals had a great time working until mid afternoon.  After that, Angelica had them working at VBS.  She has a great program she had developed which includes clowning, singing, drama, and crafts.  We had about 175 kids each day participating from the Susannah Wesley School in Quinta Linea.

Team members shoveling “free range dirt” from a cachape

Angelica & her daughter Camilla with their clown ministry

Our pastor/farmers have had a really good year with their sesame crops.  Sesame prices were $1/pound, and an acre can yield about 1,000 lbs.  For those who have never seen sesame growing, it’s very interesting.  It’s a very labor intense process here in Paraguay.  The stalks are harvested, stacked together in the shape of a teepee, allowed to dry, and then the seeds are shaken out onto a canvas cloth.  The seeds are then put into burlap bags, and sold.  This makes working in an office sound pretty good!

Now this is a good way for a gal to cool off after a hard day’s work!  Annabelen Dickson

We hope to be in our new home by the next writing, so please pray for that effort!