Illness Round 3

The last couple of weeks have been rough, especially in the heath realm! :( Yes, that's right, I came down with yet another illness. This time it was a horrible head cold like I had in March. I guess it's better than the stomach flu from which I recently recovered, but it's still not fun by any means. Actually, I am still sniffling and coughing as I write this post, wondering when I will ever stop being sick. As I always say, God is faithful through it all. I say that because it is TRUE! He remains faithful when we are unfaithful, for He cannot deny Himself! Let's hear a little bit about life since the last post...

Sue recently invited our host sister Tali, Tali's best friend Antonella, Cassidy, and me over to her house for a sleepover. You're probably thinking the same thing I was at first: how much fun can three adults have with two seven-year olds? I can now tell you: A LOT! :) We first went to Pueblo, a nice mall in town, to give the girls an opportunity to play in the play area for awhile before dinner. When they were eventually worn out, Sue asked them what they would like to do for dinner: stay at Pueblo and eat from the buffet or go to McDonald's. They, of course, answered McDonald's. I wasn't too disappointed myself, having not had any fast food since January! Each of us ordered our food and ate, and then we let the girls get some additional play time in at the very popular McDonald's playhouse. While they played, Cassidy and I went to the store next door and bought some food for that night and the next day. It was difficult to round the girls up, but once we did, we returned to Sue's house. We prepared some wonderful chocolate chip cookie dough (eating some in the process) and placed it in the oven to bake. Of course, Tali and Antonella had to do their share of mixing and eating. Once the cookies were finished, we watched Surf's Up, an adorable kids' movie that I had never seen. I think I only drifted off once or twice, so that's not bad. Antonella even had the all-appropriate penguin pjs to complement the movie. Haha! Everyone got to bed around midnight, and Cassidy and I decided that we wanted to sleep in the next morning. Tali and Antonella, however, had other plans. They were up and had drug the toys out with them by 8:00. All I could hear was banging and laughing through the bedroom door, and I wanted to tell them so badly to be quiet. They eventually decided that we needed to wake up for good, so they threw stuffed animals and small balls at us in bed. That was sure fun. We enjoyed cereal for breakfast, something Cassidy and I hadn't eaten for four months because our host family dislikes it. To wrap up the sleepover, we dug out Go Fish and some other fun animal games for kids. Antonella's mom (the 1st grade teacher with whom I work daily at school) came to pick up her hyper daughter, and Cassidy, Tali, and I returned to our house as well.
Oh, did I mention that the girls dressed up as princesses and posed for pictures? They're a little young for modeling, don't you think?! :)

Princesses Antonella and Tali

best friends :)

our chocolate chip cookie dough

Antonella ready for bed - look at that grin!

Alex, Cassidy, and I were feeling adventurous last weekend, so we took the colectivo (local bus system) to downtown Asunción. Alex leaves us in a few weeks, so we are trying to do as much as possible with him. The rain held off for us the entire morning, minus a few sprinkles. We first decided to walk through a cemetery, which was very similar to the one Sue took Cassidy and me to last week, except it was in much nicer condition! There were many more gravestones built into the wall than at the other cemetery, but there was still a multitude of mausoleums. The difference was that these mausoleums weren't falling apart so much that you could practically see the casket itself through the door. We also saw the cremation area, which creeped me out a bit, having never experienced that before! After the cemetery, we walked around some markets and stores for the remainder of the morning. We wound up at McDonald's for lunch, so I had fast food (specifically McDonald's) twice in one week...the first two times since I have been in Paraguay. Funny.

a gravestone at an Asunción cemetery

In each of my previous posts, I have said something along the lines of, "Well...every time we think the weather is going to cool off, it gets hot again." I can no longer say that! Not only is it cooler outside, it is MUCH cooler inside! Because there is no heat or carpet anywhere in the house, it gets super, super cold, especially at night when trying to get a good night's rest. I absolutely hate being cold when I sleep, so that is a problem for me. When it rains, it feels even colder, such as yesterday. The high was only 53 and with the rain it felt like the md-40's. This means that the house felt like the 30's. It was just miserable. This is what my sleeping attire has consisted of this week: a short-sleeved t-shirt, a long-sleeved t-shirt, and a sweatshirt on top; yoga pants and pj pants on the bottom; and a pair of athletic socks plus fuzzy socks on my feet. That is in addition to my sheets and two blankets. Surprisingly, I occasionally still get a chill or two. That's how cold our bedroom is with tile floors and walls that are made to keep OUT heat since the majority of the year it is 70 degrees or above, topping out at 100+ many days throughout the summer! Basically, in the winter the outdoor temp and the indoor temp are the same, minus a few additional degrees indoors. I am wondering if I brought enough warm clothes to use from now until August or so. . But...GOD IS FAITHFUL! It's gotta still be better than sub-zero temps and snow in Ohio during the winter, right?!

This is sometimes also my indoor attire!

my little "sister" and I after school

School is about the same: I love the little pre-school and kindergarten students and am frustrated with the first graders. Good news is that this past week I had the best day of first grade I have had to date! It was so amazing that I couldn't believe my eyes. The morning class students were in their seats (mostly!), quiet, and working hard nearly the entire period. I hardly had to raise my voice, which was good since I have been sick and can't do that anyway. See, this is evidence that they really can behave...now for that feisty afternoon class...
There is always something fun occurring at school! I recently served hot chocolate and cookies to mothers and watched my little ones dance/sing at at the Mother's Day assembly. My first graders even did a waltz with their mothers, and it was so adorable that I tried not to cry. The teachers do such a good job choreographing dances and creating skits for the monthly assemblies.I love the ways our students involve themselves in activities such as baking, theater, song, and dance. I recently attended the school play (fantastic!) and sampled some chipa (a traditional bread) made by my little pre-school students and some of their mothers.

This past Saturday, Sue, Cassidy, and I attended the annual women's conference that takes place in San Lorenzo (a city about 35 min away) each year. This year's theme was The Power and Impact of a Woman Who Prays. The two main speakers were Fern Nichols and Michelle Kvandal, and we talked through the four steps of prayer: praise, confession, thanksgiving, and intercession. I needed to be reminded of these steps so that I can restore my prayer life to the state it used to be. Overall, the worship was great, the speaking sessions were great, and the fellowship was great. All I can say is that I am so glad I decided to attend because prayer is always what I struggle with most in my walk with God.

I think that's all I have to say for now. Until the next post, take care! Blessings to all!

Ways you can be praying...
1) my health
2) my students and their families
3) my classes
4) those who don't know Christ - the great spiritual darkness in Paraguay
5) my host family and my roommate Cassidy
6) the young people of Paraguay
7) my ministry

Igniting a Passion

 So much has occurred since I last wrote that I don't know where to begin! All I can say is that God rocks! :) Since that time, I have (among other things) traveled to another country, attended a quinceanera celebration, suffered through the stomach flu, finally met the director of New Horizon, and toured some new sections of Lambaré!

Alex, Cassidy, and I had another American night where we attempted to make mozzarella sticks.  They turned out very strange, and we ended up throwing most of them away.  We did, however, enjoy a movie, despite our cooking failure! :)  I really enjoy spending time with these two friends, and I am going to miss Alex so incredibly much when he leaves in about four weeks! :(  He has become like a little brother to Cassidy and me...but more so an excellent friend in Christ.  I am excited to see what God has in store for him when he returns to the States and begins college in August.

Alex, Cassidy, and I attempting to make mozzerella sticks

Sue Givens, the director of New Horizon, returned to Paraguay at the end of April.  She was in the States for about six months in order to care for her ill mother.  Her return has been a blessing to all of us!  I have enjoyed getting to know this wonderful, knowledgeable woman who has such a passion for God and His people.  She has already taken Alex, Cassidy, and I out for ice cream and pizza, and yesterday she drove Cassidy and me around Lambaré to see some areas we hadn’t seen in the four months we’ve been here. I experienced firsthand the spiritual darkness that exists in this nation. We drove through a poor neighborhood with shacks (most having nothing but dirt floors) and also had a chance to see some of the public schools.  I realized how blessed I am to teach at New Horizon, a small Christian school.  The most eye-opening part of the trip was passing through the Red Light District and seeing the motels used for prostitution, as well as visiting Cerro Lambaré, a large hill/lookout area over the city of Asunción.  This hill is pictured below.  

Cerro Lambaré

Cerro Lambaré

The above statue may look ordinary to you, but there is an awful lot of history behind it. Each side contains two figures, each representing different types of bondage that the country is under, whether that be spiritually, agriculturally, sexually, etc.  There is a statue of a man beneath the larger monument.  The Paraguayans seem to believe that the statue is of Chief Lambaré, but in reality he doesn't have many of the features of a Paraguayan Indian.  If you look closely at his loin cloth, you can see that the symbols are Satanic.  The monument itself is also shaped in a star, representing Satanism.  Rumor has it that there is a Satanic temple beneath the monument.  It is true that there used to be animal and human sacrifices at the site, but thankfully that activity has faded out.  It is sad that the average Paraguayan doesn't know the meaning behind this lookout point. He believes it is just another location, when in reality there is so much spiritual warfare going on!  My call from God to either stay here or return for awhile in the future was really reinforced after this experience.  Please be in prayer for the nation of Paraguay and its people, as the Devil is really at work. Also pray for us as we serve in such a spiritually dark country. I am thankful I know who wins the final battle, but we must constantly be on the watch, as the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8).

Finally united!
Sue, Cassidy, Alex, and I

Cassidy, Sue, and I

 I finally met her! :)

an above-the-ground grave...really different!

I had seen an above-the-ground cemetery in Cuba before, but for some reason the one that Sue took us through here in Lambaré felt different to me... and a bit creepier!  It feels almost as if the cemetery is its own neighborhood because as you walk down the street, there are graves surrounding you on both sides. Nearly all of the caskets are inside small buildings, like the one above. The buildings contain the family name to make the bodies easier to locate. However, there is no rhyme or reason to the placement of the buildings, making it difficult to maneuver your way through the grounds. Some of the wooden caskets are visible through the windows if there are only metal bars at the entrance.  Sue told us that a few caskets have small openings over the head area...creepy to think that you can stare directly at the box where the body is lying! :/

Teaching the letter "E" by singing "Elmo the Elephant"

I love these children!

elks and elephant

what cuties!

This never gets old!

Teaching the letter "A" by singing "Apple Annie"

my little alligators

Teaching pre-school and kindergarten with Colleen continues to be one of my favorite things about living in Paraguay.  We use alligator puppets and astronaut helmets to aid in our teaching of the letter "A."  The song is called "Apple Annie," and the kids love it!  We also sing "Elmo the Elephant" to teach the letter "E", and we use elephant and elk puppets.  The kids absolutely love coming to the front of the classroom to wear the head pieces and sing in front of their peers.  It's hard to get them to sit down after being up front. Teaching these little ones definitely requires a lot of energy, but it's sure worth it! :)  Every time I see their faces, I can't help but smile knowing that I am doing exactly what God has called me to do here in Paraguay...and that is minister to these students.

First grade continues to be my problem area, but the situation has improved by leaps and bounds since I first arrived.  I still have a few girls who like to cause problems n the morning class and a group of boys who push my buttons in the afternoon class, but I think overall they are getting used to having me around as their English teacher for the school year.  They know that if they act up, they will end up with the principal.  Sue brought Peeps marshmallows back with her to distribute to my classes, and they absolutely loved them!  It has been nice to have so many days off school lately for holidays, but at the same time it is difficult to make my lessons flow with so many breaks in between class sessions.  I feel like I'm behind schedule because I haven't seen my students much lately.  I continue to pray for these kids and their families, as well as strength for me to make it through each class, knowing that I can't do much on my own strength but everything with the Lord.

the capital city of Asunción

The Paraguay River

I truly enjoy watching what God is doing in and through me in Paraguay! After seeing everything He has accomplished in just four months, I get excited thinking about the potential for the final seven months!. There is still plenty of time left to leave an impact...but more importantly, to be impacted!  I am here to, not only make a difference in the lives of others, but also to be changed by the local people.  I am excited to share in my next post what more God is doing in my life and in the lives of others!

Until next time, God bless! :)

Ways you can be praying...
1) my health
2) my host family and roommate
3) my students and their families
4) my walk with God
5) the young people of Paraguay
6) the spiritual darkness in Paraguay

The Stomach Bug

What an exciting conclusion to April and start to May - the stomach flu! :( Last Monday afternoon I began to develop a stomachache. I didn't think anything of it at first. To be safe, I only ate one of the two hot dogs Mamá had prepared for me for dinner that evening. Good thing, because the one that I did eat came back up around 10:00. The stomach pain continued to worsen, and it was so bad on Tuesday that I didn't wake up to teach my morning pre-school and kindergarten classes with Colleen. Thinking that I felt rested enough to teach my afternoon classes, I went to school. That was a bad idea because I definitely over-did it. I began feeling better on Wednesday, but Cassidy developed a stomachache and stayed home from school all day. Thursday and Friday were different stories, as the sharp and constant pain returned. I finally went to the dr. Friday morning with Sue (the school's director who just returned to Paraguay after time in the States with her mother), which turned into an ALL day event! After some tests, I discovered that I had the most common type of virus, which is good. There were no parasites present in my body. My diet consisted of crackers, yogurt, Sprite, juice, and rice most of the week. I was finally able to eat "normal" food Sunday, and it felt amazing! Thankfully we had Thursday and Friday off school, but Alex, Cassidy, and I were supposed to be at Iguazu Falls on the Brazil/Argentina border during our short vacation. Oh well - hopefully we can go for a weekend sometime in the near future. I am just glad that I am now completely healed and have the energy to do my daily activities once again :)

The weather has generally cooled down...except for the past few days, that is. Temperatures have been anywhere from 80 to 90 since late last week. I have discovered that you can NEVER predict the weather in Paraguay! Although winter technically begins next month, you wouldn't know it. I wonder if it will ever truly cool off during the daytime hours. We have already experienced some pretty chilly nights, but daylight temperatures haven't dropped drastically. I can handle Paraguayan winter if it never drops below the 40's and 50's! One thing is certain: I will not see snow until I return to Ohio in December! Although there is no snow and temperatures won't ever fall below the upper 30's at most, it feels MUCH cooler than that inside the house because there is no carpet or heat. It's not like the States where you can go inside to warm up on a cold day. That will take some getting used to, especially since the shower water isn't always completely hot either :/

Teaching has had its good days and its bad days lately. Last week I didn't even teach my 1st grade classes because Wednesday was the last day of school before two holidays (the students had assemblies and class parties), and Friday was one of those holidays. Wednesday was a very exciting day, as I had the opportunity to watch many of my students perform in the assembly. Each class then had its own party with hamburgers, cake, and other goodies. Everyone was in a festive mood and ready for a couple days off of school.
I continue to LOVE teaching my little pre-school and kindergarten students with Colleen! 1st grade is going to take some getting used to still, knowing that I need to continue to approach the situation with prayer. Sue has now returned to the country, so I'm hoping she and I can formulate some new ideas that will help to solve the problems with which I am dealing. She has been involved in education for a long time and knows what works best with behavior problems. I would love to get to the point soon where I can enjoy teaching this grade level, instead of dreading going into the classes and also leaving in tears certain days.

Cassidy and I continue to attend the weekly prayer meeting on Tuesday nights (I didn't go this past week because I was sick) and the weekly Bible study at our house on Wednesday nights. This past Friday night we had our monthly church prayer vigil from 8:00 to midnight. I unfortunately couldn't go because I was still recovering from my stomach flu. The following day I was feeling much better and was able to go to youth group at 5:00 and watch some of the ladies of the church bake delicious cakes! My oldest host sister Andy led the youth group discussion by introducing the book that we will be using for the next several months, section by section. We drew a name determining who would lead next Saturday's discussion. After youth group, we ventured to the kitchen to watch the church ladies hard at work making cakes of various sizes after being taught by their wonderful instructor Patty. Everything smelled delicious, but I never got to try any! The first Sunday of each month (directly following the prayer vigil the first Friday of every month) is always a Sunday of fasting until noon. The same people who pray aloud at the vigil service pray on Sunday morning, and we all enjoy an extended time of worship, including many songs and Scripture readings about fasting. After the service (to break the fast) there is usually asado, rice, and yucca, a traditional meal in Paraguay.

some church ladies baking cakes

fun in the kitchen

Our host family, Cassidy, and I recently attended a quinceanera (15th birthday coming-of-age celebration) for a young lady at our church, Torre Fuerte (Strong Tower) in Nemby, a town about 30 minutes from our house. There was a feast, followed by the eating of scrumptious cupcakes decorated by the one and only Andy! Some cupcakes had crema de leche with sprinkles, and others had crema de leche with coconut. The celebration reminded me of a mini-wedding ceremony, as the birthday girl was escorted in by her parents. First, Pastor Andres (Papá to me) gave the people in attendance an opportunity to share encouraging words with Azu. Next, her parents talked about how blessed they are to have such a wonderful daughter who has reached this point in her life, and they prayed over her. Azu and her father danced, and then she danced with several other gentleman in attendance. After the festivities, Cassidy, my host sisters, Perla, Papá, and I took some funny pictures with the big lips and mustaches that were passed out. Overall, it was a fabulous first quinceanera experience for me, and Azu looked absolutely stunning in her turquoise-colored dress, with her makeup and hair nicely done!

roomies enjoying their first quinceanera experience

CUPCAKES!

Cassidy and me with the gorgeous birthday girl

big lips!

God is a mighty God, and He continues to amaze me with the things that He is capable of doing on a daily basis! My prayer is to be able to place my life more firmly in His hands, knowing that my future is secure. I must not have a faltering faith or I will fall into the hands of temptation. I am so thankful for all of my prayer warriors both here and back home! Don't stop praying because your prayers are much more powerful than you realize! Satan will attack every area where He knows I am weak.

Until the next post, God bless! :)

Ways you can be praying...
1) my health
2) my classes
3) my students and their families
4) my roommate and host family
5) to have a closer daily walk with God
6) safety with any traveling that we do
7) to be able to better fight against any temptation that I face