A Night of Firsts!

1. First time going to an Emergency Room in a third world country

2. First time getting an X-ray (in any country)

3. First time being rolled around in a wheel chair and needing it

4. First time having to find and use crutches (I did find a pair that was just big enough)

Initiating Event: On Sunday, I was playing volleyball and after jumping up for a block I came down on a friend’s foot. I heard “pop”, almost blacked out a few times, and still have a nicely swollen, black and blue ankle. Thankfully nothing is broken, and today I had an appointment with a traumatologo who thinks I just damaged my ligaments badly. Therefore I have and will continue to be off of my foot for several days as I wait for it to heal.

This event has certainly put a check on my dependence on God, as Elementary Camp (which I am the director of) and my next master’s class start on Monday. Furthermore, I was going to run my first 5K this Sunday and have been training for it. Yet, that obviously does not appear to be plausible. Still praise the Lord for His protection in keeping this a more minor injury.

Prayer Requests:
- For patience and healing in my ankle and the strength to do my best at camp and during my master’s class.
- For safety for all of our students and teachers during camp next week!
- For wisdom in action and what is said during camp to work to best shine God’s light to these students!


Other Firsts:

5. First time ordering a pizza with ham on only half of the pizza and ending up with a doggy bag of ham for my pet duck?!?! The funny thing is the Spanish speakers with me have no idea how our waiter came to this assumption and reassured me that I had said everything right. Of course I still believe that my confidence in my Spanish was a little bruised with this humorous event. Unfortunately I cannot have a pet duck as it is against school policy for the apartments :( , but I do have a rubber ducky, unfortunately he doesn't eat meat.

6. First time helping to nurse a little baby bird back to life! Little MoMo (short for Moses (since it was drawn up from the floor of the front of our apartment building) is now being raised by several caring new mothers. In some small way I feel a special connection as we recuperate together.

GUESS WHO HAS A CÉDULA?

I OFFICIALLY HAVE A PARAGUAYAN CÉDULA! After only one year and 3 months, all of my paperwork, clearances, translations of the paperwork, certification of the paperwork, conformation of the paperwork, and many other papers that I am still struggling to understand. Yet what a blessing it is to now have permanent residence in Paraguay. This allows me to come and go from Paraguay whenever I would like. I no longer have to depend on my 90 day visa that requires me to leave the pop in and out every 90 days. This cédula lasts for 10 years! It also helps with traveling around Paraguay and identification requirements. While I do not know how long I will be staying in Paraguay (that is up to the big guy upstairs), this is certainly wonderful.



Prayer Requests:


1. Please pray for the upcoming elementary CAMP!!!!! It will be October 24th - 27th.
2. Please pray for my upcoming master's class... it is Oct. 2th - Nov. 4th. The professor is being very gracious and letting me miss the first three days due to camp. But needless to say it will certainly be really busy and crazy for those two weeks!

Firsts:

-        First time getting a permanent residence card from a country other than the United States! I am so excited to finally have my cédula, if you couldn’t tell.

Fútbol de la Interalianza

Thursday was el Dia de Boquerón and a national holiday! And so I joined some of the girls at my church to compete in a soccer tournament among the CMA churches. What an experience! It was an all day tournament, with 6 teams competing, and I have to admit our team was not prepared for the intensity of this tournament. Our small team was comprised of both pastors wives (one has a 5 month old), three girls that went work during the day and go to the school at night, two sisters, two young girls that are from the neighborhood around our church and more or less pop around between places to stay, a new inter at the church and myself. We were certainly an interesting group, wearing our matching bright yellow shirts Oansa t-shirts (Spanish Awana). We had informally practiced twice for less than 2.5 hours combined on a small cancha in a little park that was tiled.

The intimidation factor was definitely high! Upon arriving it did not take long to notice that all of the other teams had made official jerseys with their names and numbers on them. Some of the teams even had matching shorts, socks and balloon and signs! While we only played the girl teams, the boys’ teams were even more impressive, with several of the players having been pro! Some teams had rented out grass canchas for two months to practice and prepare. This was no Sunday barbeque with a casual soccer tournament.


Even though the intimidation was high, I was so blessed by this experience! It was a wonderful opportunity to get to know some of the girls on my team better. As well as a great chance to continue to minister and show love to the girls that basically live off the street or between houses. One of the girls has been encouraged by her mother to go and be a prostitute to help bring money into the family. These girls are starved for true love and it has been great seeing them grow at the church. The church has really been able to bless them both spiritually and physically in many ways!


Furthermore it didn’t hurt that our girls’ team got 2nd place! We were all very proud and impressed! We really came together and used our unique skills to encourage each and play as a team. I even scored a goal and got a header. : )


What a wonderful way to spend my holiday!

Prayer Requests:

1. Please pray for the new teachers coming in, and the teachers switching out
2. Please pray for our overnight elementary camp that will be Oct. 24th – 27th
3. Please pray for our classes and students as they go through transitions and what comes next.

Firsts:
- First time competing in a soccer tournament! Also the first time getting second place, scoring a official goal since played when I was 5, and first time getting a header in a game!

- Of course on top of my majorly leaking roof in three spots, two of my balconies would start flooding into my apartment at the exact same time that I was home alone making cookies and pancakes on my temperamental oven! The best part was when I put my oven mitts on to run out in the rain and furiously squeegee my balcony!