March 2007 Adventures

As busy as February was, we’ve had a chance for a little breather in March, PTL!  We still have our 3 construction projects going, but supplying materials seems to have died down, so we don’t have to be at all the sites so often.

We were able to drill another well at the new settlement named Nuevo Horizonte.  We drilled between the houses of 2 precious families.  They do not have electricity, so we installed another hand pump.  One of the families is hoping to grow ka’a he’é, which is the local plant that stevia (a 0 calorie natural sweetener) is made from.  This plant needs a lot of water, so they were pleased to have a water source close by.  Below are the humble houses of these 2 neighbors

We always have such strange and funny things happen to us it’s difficult to decide what to share with you.  This month was no exception!  Ed always preaches and administers communion the first Sunday of each month.  On the first Sunday of March, we also had 2 infants dedicated.  Ed finished his sermon, we had communion, and then he asked Pastor Roberto to finish with the dedication of the babies.  Roberto said he had never done a dedication before and didn’t know how to do it.  Ed said he had never done it either, but uses a “preacher guide” book with all the proper words (in Spanish of course).  He asked Roberto if he had such a book; which, yes, he did.  BUT, Roberto said it was Ed’s service so he could continue!  Ed did a great job of dedicating the 2 babies, even on the spur of the moment.

This month we were able to attend The Mission Society’s Latin American regional meeting held about 2½ hours outside of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  We were hoping to be able to actually visit Rio for at least a day before the conference started, but Ed had an abscessed tooth which required immediate attention.  He was able to start the root canal process the day we were to leave for Rio, and was MUCH happier at the conference!  The total root canal only cost $120, but we’ve heard there is a dentist in Asuncion that will give you a root canal for $36 – beware of low priced sushi & root canals!  Besides the Paraguayan contingency, there were missionaries from Peru, Mexico, Nicaragua, plus many Norcross staff.  We also had a special time of communion with a wonderful group of Brazilians who were using the same facility as we were.

At the end of March, youth from our home church, Cannon UMC, will be here in Paraguay ministering to the youth of the North District.  We will give you all the details in our April update!