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Heat is a Luxury

It's been really cold here the last few days and today we woke up to 0 degree Celsius.  We're giving our new wood burning stove a work out; yesterday we kept it burning all day!  While we are thankful for a cozy home, the sad reality is that most Paraguayans do not have the luxury of a source of heat inside their homes.  Many live in small wood houses that have no insulation.

Our three little neighbors came over yesterday to sit by the fire (while Norbert taught them a few chords on the guitar) to simply stay dry from the damp cold. 

Our blanket campaign from Missionary Ventures' Christmas Catalog is in full force.

This year we are giving out 80 blankets (we gave out 46 last year) to those who most need them (children, single mothers and the elderly)!

It is important for us to support local artisans.  Last year we bought our blankets from San Miguel.  However, this year our blankets come from Carapegua, four hours northwest of us.
They are woven with vibrant scraps of cloth to make a very strong blanket that's like your grandma's old braided rug.  This year, the blanket project was a team effort.  Special thanks to missionary friends the Hagermans in that city for the contact; they and cousins the Martinez' family brought them to us!


Thank you to everyone who contributed to this help keep 80 needy people warm this winter. We pray for each recipient and trust that not only would they sense physical warmth, but the warmth of Jesus' love for them.
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Comments

  1. ChristieJuly 13, 2010 at 7:08 PM

    What a beautiful job y'all are doing there! The pictures you took of the blankets are so pretty and do justice to the hard work the people put into each one. Thank God that the families there will be sleeping warmer tonight because you went to the trouble to get them blankets. :) It was such a joy to be a tiny part of the process. PS--I think I want one of those heaters! BRRR!

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  2. the ChacogirlJuly 14, 2010 at 11:48 AM

    Love your post today! It's cold up here in the Chaco too, but it hasn't been under 8 C yet. Wehave one of those blankets too as a rug in the girls bedroom. I love them. We bought it in San Miguel years ago when my brother-in-law was studying Vet school in San Juan.

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