July 2004 Adventures

We ended our June report telling you about Snellville, GA UMC coming to Paraguay with a work team.  What a great team this was!  They were here for 13 days, and we filled each day to capacity.  The team divided into 2 groups, 1 group assisting with the construction at our Seminary in Ñemby.  The other group took VBS to 4 different churches in the Asunción area.   

During their “free” week-end, we brought the team to our Northern District.  The team had the opportunity to visit 5 of our local churches.  We think the opportunity of getting into the Interior gives a group a better understanding of the poverty in Paraguay.  We did manage some tourist activities.  Their final full day we visited Iguazu Falls in Brazil.  We think the team went back to Snellville with lasting memories of Paraguay.

We left this team at the airport on a Friday, regrouped, and then picked up an Agrimissions team the next day.  This team spent 1 week with us at our church in Quinta Linea.  The team was here to help with construction on the Agricultural Technical Center.  While this team was here, we also had the opportunity to begin the Dorcas Sewing Program in 4 of our churches in the Northern District.  The team also brought materials to make banners for the churches.  This was the first opportunity many of these women had to learn how to use a sewing machine, and to make attractive banners for their churches.

As part of the sewing class, on the 1^st day each lady was able to make a small draw-string bag.  The 2^nd day, we introduced making skirts.  The ladies were very proud of their handy work.  This is a picture of a member from Quinta Linea.  She proudly wore her new skirt to church that night.

We took the first Agrimissions team to the airport on a Saturday, then picked up Ag Team #2 the following Sunday.  The initial plans for this team were to continue construction at the Ag Center in Quinta Linea.  However, rain came to Paraguay, and we were unable to get the team into our Northern District.  The team stayed busy in the Asunción area, helping at the Seminary as well as other projects in and around Asunción.  Ed and 4 of the team members did manage to spend 2 nights and 1 full day at Quinta Linea.  This enabled the team leader to see the on-going work at the Ag Center.

We said “good-by” to this team, and spent a few days with Larry Williams, Agrimissions Director; John Eisenberg, the missionary who will take over responsibility for the agricultural ministry; and Christian Dixon, missionary who will take over the construction of the Ag Center.  We then finally spent the last few days of July in Santaní, in our own home, in our own bed!  We are now regrouping to begin well drilling in August!

We know many of you have e-mailed us about the tragic fire in Asunción on Sunday, August 1^st.  As of the last information we received, over 450 people are dead, over 400 are still in the hospital with extensive burns, and over 120 bodies were burned beyond recognition.  This particular supermarket is only ½ mile from our Asunción church home at Santa Rosa.  Thank the Lord, there were no members of our church in the store at the time of the fire. However, please continue to lift all of Paraguay in prayer as 1,000s of lives have been changed due to this tragedy.