The Miracles on Caballero Street

We experienced a miracle (actually several) last Thursday that we need to share. We had many people praying both here in Paraguay and in the States about a situation we ran into with Donald’s residency application.

A couple of weeks ago we went to Immigrations to check on the status of our temporary residency cards. We were told that the cards for me (Carol) and Cora would be ready in another week or so. However, there was a question about Donald’s application. We were directed to another office where we could get it straightened out. When we got to that office, we were advised that Donald’s file could not be found and that they could not help us until it was located. Needless to say, they were in no hurry to look for it and said it was our problem and not theirs. Talking to them was like hitting our heads against a brick wall; a very frustrating experience. We did eventually get the cell phone number of one of the office staff, so that we did not have to personally go downtown every day just to see if they found the document.

Well, we started sharing our situation with friends and family, and the prayers started going out. In addition, I started calling the man’s cell phone every day asking about my husband’s “lost” file. (It does not hurt to be a squeaky wheel once in awhile.) Finally, the man asked us to come back to the office and said he would personally look for the file while we were there. I bet he was secretly wishing he had never given those “gringos” his number.

We had some of the school staff pray with us before heading back to Immigrations. The main prayer that was lifted up was for favor in the eyes of man and that somebody there would want to help us. That’s when the miracle began! As soon as we got up to the office, the same man I had been bugging all week greeted us and kept telling us that he really wanted to help us. (Miracle #1) We sat down at his desk and spoke to him for awhile, and then he began looking around the office. It is important to note that there was absolutely nothing on top of his desk at that time.

After looking in his office, he had us wait in the waiting area while he looked in a couple of other offices, including that of the director. He came out frustrated and empty-handed, and asked us back into his office again. As we walked in, we noticed a folder sitting on his desk. He picked it up, and lo and behold, it was Donald’s. He asked the other 3 people who were there, but nobody seemed to know how it got there (remember there was nothing on his desk before! Miracle #2)

Now, with the folder in hand, we were able to explain the document that they had questions about to begin with. He listened to us and seemed to understand everything. (Miracle #3) However, he informed us that he was just a researcher and could not make a decision. We needed to talk to the lawyer.

Fortunately the lawyer was sitting at a desk in the same room and we had the first number to meet with him. When our friend (he was definitely a friend by now) told him about us, the lawyer just waved him away and said that he was too busy and that we needed to come back the next day. Then, in all of his business he proceeded to call the people who had the second number.

Our friend found that to be unacceptable and approached the lawyer again about meeting with us first. His persistence paid off as the lawyer reluctantly grabbed Donald’s folder from him and began to read the document. (Miracle #4) We explained it to him, but we were not sure if he understood us. He then got up and asked us to wait in the waiting area while he talked to the director.

As we waited in the crowded room I felt a sudden urge to pray again. I grabbed Donald’s hand and we prayed out loud in English, heads bowed and eyes closed. As soon as we said amen, the lawyer came walking out of the director’s office with a smile on his face. (Miracle #5) He said that after our explanation they now understood the document and would pass Donald’s file back into the residency process. We watched him put his signature on it!

Oh yeah, we asked our friend how long he had been working in that office. He told us he had been there just a little over a month.

How great is our God and how marvelous are His works!

March and April Update

The following is the update that we just emailed out today. If you would like to be on our email list, let us know.

Automobile and Residency

We have 2 awesome praise reports that we need to share. First, shortly after writing our last update in March, we were able to get all our paperwork turned in for our residency. As missionaries we have been approved for temporary residency, which is 1 year. In a year we will then apply for permanent residency which will be good for 10 years. Of course, we will have to get some documents updated. The good news, however, is there will be less paperwork to complete the second time around.
Second, we will be getting our new car tomorrow! All the funds came in for us to purchase a 2005 Suzuki Vitara. We got it for a great price and will be saving money in gas and repair costs.

Thank you for all the prayers and financial gifts.

Donald Update

Donald continues to spend time with the silversmiths on a weekly basis. Right now he is observing their work and helping out while conversing with them. The conversations often lead to spiritual matters. He is finding that there are a lot of varied needs ranging from drug addiction to religious legalism. One of his goals is to eventually start an Alpha course for them. Donald will also soon have the opportunity to learn how to do filigree, a traditional Paraguayan art of intricate silver wire designs.

Donald continues to be involved with Alpha and helps with a course once a week. He has also begun visiting the men’s prison once a month with a group of missionaries and pastors in order to encourage and pray with the inmates.

Carol Update

Carol loves being a part of the New Horizons School. Every day she witnesses the positive impacts that God has made on the community through the school. The school has never had a social worker, so one of Carol’s tasks is to help define that role. She has also been given the opportunity to supervise a Paraguayan social work student. Perla, one of the school’s secretaries, is studying social work in the evenings at a local Evangelical Christian university. As part of their studies, the students are required to do field placements with qualified social workers. Since the university is evangelical, public agencies have turned their students away, not wanting their “Christian influence.”

Carol received an official letter from the university requesting that she consider supervising students. Sue Givens, the school director was excited about the opportunity. It adds yet another dynamic to New Horizon’s vision of training and preparing a new generation of Paraguayan leaders who are guided by Biblical principles and the Holy Spirit.

In addition to the school, Carol continues to teach trumpet lessons twice a week. She and Donald have also begun teaching English to our original Alpha group on Saturday mornings and at one of our churches on Saturday evenings as an outreach to the community.

Cora Update

Cora continues to love school. She is learning new skills very quickly and fits in well with her peers. This week all the girls in her class will be doing a traditional dance for the parents. She is very excited about dressing up in her borrowed Paraguayan outfit and is practicing every day at home. Of course, her proud parents will be there with the video camera.

Churches

In our last update we had mentioned the new church start in San Carlos. We have been supporting them more. Donald even preached there (his 1st time ever) a couple of weeks ago in Spanish. The church membership is very small, but they have a desire to reach out to their neighbors. They are currently organizing a children’s program that will be held on Saturdays.

Many of you probably remember when Donald was helping with the construction of the Cristo Viviente church. Well, about a month ago a huge storm passed through the area, ripping up about one third of the new roof. Instead of becoming discouraged, the church members rallied together and began praying, fasting and holding fund raisers. The money was raised, the roof was repaired and even more construction progress is being made. What an awesome testimony of God’s provision!

Praises

• Residency – Our documents were accepted and we were granted temporary residency
• Automobile – All of our funds came in right on time!
• Cristo Viviente – The roof was repaired and construction continues
• God’s Protection – Donald was hit by a bus last week while riding a motorcycle. Miraculously he was unharmed. The same week a little boy in one of our churches fell from the 2nd floor of a building. He had no injuries as well.

Prayer Requests

• Spiritual Protection – we have experienced some amazing blessings over the past couple months. This past week we have also had some significant spiritual attacks. Please pray that we will continue to stand strong against the enemy’s attempts to rob us of our blessings.
• Barrio San Carlos – that spiritual revival will overtake the area
• The Silversmiths – that God will continue to open doors for Donald as he pursues a relationship with them and for wisdom
• Our Witness – that we will be faithful and bold witnesses for Jesus Christ everywhere that we go!


Link to March Pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=19120&id=1332236838&l=9b597161dc

Link to April Pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=22043&id=1332236838&l=5f24103163

Accents

As many of you know, both Donald and I come from military families. Growing up, I moved every 2 years and lived in at least 10 different places. One thing that came natural to me was mimicking the accents of the people where I lived. It was not easy to tell where I was “from” by just listening to me speak. In Paraguay, however, it’s a completely different story. My Spanish accent is definitely North American, and there is no way around it. Sometimes this can be very frustrating, especially as I have been spending more time with Paraguayans that are not used to my special accent. I think most can understand me, but I’ve had my share of people staring at me as if I was from another planet. There are also those few that in some way find my pronunciation amusing. At those times I find myself wishing I could discover the key to talking Paraguayan that would allow me to blend in, that I could somehow become part of them, blue eyes and all.

The other day as I was reading in Matthew, I was shown a new perspective on my accent. Matthew 26:72-74 states:

“And again he denied it and disowned Him with an oath, saying, I do not know the Man! After a little while, the bystanders came up and said to Peter, You certainly are one of them too, for even your accent betrays you. Then Peter began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, I do not even know the Man! And at that moment a rooster crowed.”

Sometimes, those of us who are Christians find ourselves feeling the same way. It is easy to follow Christ and share freely about His love when we are surrounded by others of like mind. However, as we step out our front doors into a world that is increasingly hostile and unreceptive to the ideas and values we hold, we can lose our confidence and find that it is easier to just “blend in.” We try to hide the special “accent” God has put on our lives.

Following Christ is costly, but what is the cost of denying the One who freely sacrificed everything for us? When Peter realized what he had done, “he went outside and wept bitterly.” (v. 75b)

Let us learn from Peter and boldly display our accent without shame. Then we can say as Paul did, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16).