Passion for Paraguay

Prayer Focus: Praises: Woohoo!  Esther Anahí’s adoption is finalized in Paraguay and we will get her new birth certificate this week! We purchased our tickets for furlough May 15-Aug 3. Yes, the Dollar has gone up! Praise that Isidro came to know the Lord yesterday on a house visit. Prayer Requests: For the students as they arrive on campus in just a few weeks. For Radio Alternativa and the search for a new director. We really need a loaned vehicle while we are on furlough.  Pray for  2 new supporting churches while on furlough.

I thought it was time to get a few new pics up of the kids.... They are bonding so well and really love each other.  Timmy was just pushing Anahi in the swing Norb rigged up in the living room.  Getting ready to go on a home visit...  Trying to beat the heat, it's SOOOO hot right now.  Our princess eating a little snack. Our geothermal continues to slowly progress.  Norberto is working with some young boys from the area to do the hard digging that's required.  Hopefully our home (currently 85 degrees inside) will cool down soon!!

This week we had some missionary friends visiting from near Asuncion.  It's always fun to have friends come over.  We went to the new beach in Bella Vista and had a summer cookout.  We purchased our tickets for our furlough this summer!!  We'll be traveling through and spending time in Florida, Virginia, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and possibly Colorado and a few other stops.  Phew.  Looking so, so, SO forward to being with family and friends.  If we're heading your way and you'd like us to visit, give us a holler! Norberto is attending the annual youth camp in Santa Rita.  There are 250 youth present from Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Please pray for the youth and their passion for God. My mom is here visiting us and we will be privileged that she is staying two months to spend time with the kids and help with several projects. We saw a toucan in our avocado tree twice this week.  Hopef...

Yesterday I spent a good part of the day weeping.  One of our most loved supporters died on Christmas day and we just got the news.  She had been battling cancer for over ten years.   She came to visit us for the first time in 2007 on a CMA trip and we became instant friends after that.  She would write us on a weekly basis with an encouraging word.  She would send us 3-4 care packs a year, she would mail cards on our birthdays.  She would pray for us consistently.  She arranged for us to have a vehicle while we were on our last furlough and drove it from Perry, GA to Orlando, FL to deliver it to us.  Seriously, who does that?  There are very few people like Anita in our lives.  Although we rejoice that she is no longer suffering, we mourn this great loss and wonder, "Who will fill the void that she left?"  She not only was our cheerleader, she sent packages overseas to our soldiers (she served in the U.S. Air Force for 24 ...

Want some good news?  On Dec. 30 we received the news from our lawyer that Esther Anahi is officially OUR baby girl!!  The adoption here in Paraguay is finalized!!!  We now have to wait for the month long legal holiday to finish so we can get her new birth certificate and start the Paraguayan ID process. We can't say THANK YOU enough for your prayers for this very long process.  PRAISE GOD from whom all blessings flow.  She was worth every minute!   Now the giveaway.  Interestingly, this week a blogger pressed the "next blog" button and stumbled upon our blog.  That person named Jane, is an artist in the UK.  She also happens to be an advocate for Reeces' Rainbow , orphan ministry.  The incredible connection is that she is doing a giveaway of an amazing piece of art for Ryan .  He's the little boy that God allowed us to be a very small part of his story.  Jane, is giving away her stunning, original piece of art called, "Be...

  "Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy faithfulness!" Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided— "Great is Thy faithfulness," Lord, unto me! Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. © 1923. Ren. 1951 Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL 60188 www.hopepublishing.com