October 2003 Adventures

We have had several blessings this month.  October 1^st, a new missionary arrived here in Paraguay.  She is Alicia Grey, and will be teaching English as a second language at our Methodist school in Lambaré.  We welcome Alicia to our team of missionaries working here with the Methodist church.

Also, we have a new family member!  It’s a 5 ton utility truck.  We are in the process of having the inside of the body custom built to store and transport our drilling equipment.  Now with both trucks and our trailer, we should be able to get to a work site in just 1 trip.  This will make a big difference, as it sometimes takes us up to 3 trips to get all our “stuff” to a drill site.  Getting all the paper work done for the truck was a new experience.  It took us one entire day to get most of the paperwork done.  This did not include the truck tag, which the dealer had done; or the insurance, which we had done earlier.  We still have to return to Asuncion for 1 more sticker.  This size truck needs lots of stickers!

We also hosted the team from Agrimissions for 8 days.  Two of the team members stayed in Asuncion.  One of the team members is a blacksmith and he worked with one of our local pastors, teaching him some blacksmithing techniques, North American style.  The other group members headed with us to Yrybucua.  This group has recently purchased 20 acres to be used as a demonstration and teaching farm.  Ed and the group visited with the pastors in the area and talked about their ideas for the farm and how it could help in their ministries.  Linda and our Women’s Federation President also visited with women from our 6 churches in the region.  It was a very productive time for all of us. 

After the Agrimissions team headed back to the US, we headed back to Alto Parana.  This time we were helping the Mobile Medical Clinic.  We spent 2½ days in Colonia Guaraní, and then set the clinic up in Puerto Indio before heading back to Santani.  As you can see from how our dentist works, these 2 locations offered a challenge for the entire team.  But, where else do you get the opportunity to wash your dishes with the help of a pig and a dog?  

This was the first time the Mobile Medical Clinic had been to Puerto Indio.  They were met with long lines waiting for medical attention. 

The last week in October we were back in Asuncion attending a spiritual healing seminar brought to us by the Healing Academy.  It is always heat warming to be in such a highly spiritually charged atmosphere.

We always like to share some of the interesting sights we encounter in our travels around Paraguay.  Below is a pair of oxen we called Salt & Pepper.  They were such perfect colors, we couldn’t help but take their picture and share with you.