March 2004 Adventures

We began and ended March in “the interior” where our churches are and where it seems that we spend most of our time.  While Linda stayed at the Yrybucua Residencia (our missions house in the region) to complete some projects, Ed drove to Ara Pyahú to install the submersible pump in the well we finished drilling last month.  It’s always nice to stay at the Residencia.  It is one place we can actually drink the water from the tap and have a good shower (thanks to our well!).  Ed’s trip to Ara Pyahú was only the first attempt to install a working pump.  Something so easy can become very difficult in Paraguay when you are working out in the bush.

One of Ed’s responsibilities this year is to administer communion and baptisms at one of our newer churches.  The first Sunday in March, Ed had the opportunity to administer communion for the first time.  When we told our oldest daughter, Rhian that it was Ed’s first communion, she asked if I got to wear a frilly white dress – she always has a quick wit!  The churches here use the basic Methodist litany, but do not have any responsive reading.  The cost would be prohibitive for each member of the church to have a book with the responsive readings.  The service went well for all.

We spent several days in Asunción this month, renewing our driver’s license and getting both our trucks registered.  This process is really quite easy here, no tests, no lines, just pay!  With paperwork completed, we had a chance to attend the dedication of our Methodist school Nuevo Horizonte in Lambaré.  Two of the primary state-side workers for the school were in Paraguay for the activities.  Mable Love-Brown is the coordinator of the children’s US sponsors, and Jerry Russell is the pastor in Tennessee who coordinates the funds collected for the construction.  The children sang and performed Paraguayan dances, and it was a night to remember.

The day after the dedication, we both drove separate vehicles to Yrybucua with a group from the Community Korean Church of New Jersey.  This is the group that originally constructed the Residencia in Yrybucua, as well as two other Methodist churches.  Part of the week-end we were able to attend the inauguration of a new church in our district.  The church on the Guaraní reservation has joined our ranks, and is now the Methodist Church of Y’Apy.  This photo is a picture of the Korean group, singing a praise song in Guaraní. 

Besides inaugurating and dedicating this month, our church at Tacuapí also had a campaña -  which is what we would call a revival.  We had one night with an evangelist, singer, preacher Ruben Chamorro.  He is one of the favorite evangelists with the churches in Paraguay.  The second night we showed the Jesus film in the Guaraní language.  The people were spell bound and left with a new understanding of the meaning of Easter.

After our time at Tacuapí, Ed returned to Ara Pyahú.  This was to install the pump in the 300’ well for a second time.  But, the pump still did not work!  The guys removed the pump for the second time – no small effort in a 300’ well – and we decided to take it back to the shop in Asunción. 

We left the pump at our local drilling supply shop for repair while we drove a group of Paraguayan college students to Yrybucua.  These students are taking a course in missions, and wanted to visit the Guaraní reservation and participate in their worship services.  This is a photo of the group with Pastor Augustine standing in front.  Also, here is picture of a typical house on the reservation, and a really cute little girl at church.

Those that are reading this report, please start the drum rolls and look toward heaven with a prayer of thanksgiving.  After the third time installing the pump in Ara Pyahú, it finally works!  Praise the Lord!  The construction of the bathroom and water tank tower is continuing, and we are ready to rebuild our mud pump and start our next well! 

Just to keep us in shape, we also drove from Yrybucua to Puerto Indio and back to Santaní in 2 days (about 800 kilometers, 120 of dusty dirt roads).  We can lay some tread on a road!