Good afternoon on this scorching, humid day from Lambare, Paraguay. The format of this letter is a little different because I am having computer problems again. My new computer is in the hospital and we are having trouble with our computers at school so this is beginning sent via an internet cafe that just opened this week in my barrio about 5 blocks from my home.

Today many in the church are busy getting the school ready to host our first wedding - the couple has been married before and both their spouses had past away. Last Saturday we had a shower for Dedicacion and today the church members are all chipping in with food and a cake so they can have a reception.

Besides the wedding tonight we have a double graduation to attend afterwards. Yes, Felicia and another young gal in the church passed their last exams last night and will receive their diplomas tonight. This has been quite a challenge for Felicia especially with all her other responsibilities in the church, school and with her family. With this diploma tonight and in lieu of the fact she graduated first from seminary, she will now be officially certified to teach Christian Education in our school. Felicidades, Felicia!!!!!! (Congratulations.)

Just the office staff worked this past week and we were hoping to have shorter hours but actually worked longer hours than usual and we still need to work this Monday. I have been quite busy playing Santa Claus delivering Christmas gifts and messages for the children in the school. We conducted interviews and have hired 10 new people for the 2004 school year three will be replacing a few non-returning staff and only three will be fulltime this year.

We have decided to give out the Christmas shirts this Sunday for the Sunday School members so I have been busy working with one of our school Mom's to get them all ready. She will also be preparing again the shirts to distribute to all our children in the school, they will receive their shirts in February. This year for the food baskets, we have changed our focus to give everyone fresh corn, eggs, cheese, and oil so they can make the traditional festival dish of Paraguay: sopa paraguaya or chippea wasu. I spent this morning looking for the best buys and placing orders so everything would be ready for 6 AM Wednesday morning. Then bright and early Pastor Andres and a few others will help me distribute the food to the different homes.

Also, this Friday we will be purchasing all the food for the church camp for next weekend. We are expecting about 120 families from the church to attend. The camp for two days costs about $6-7 each, which for most of families is impossible, especially if they have several children. We are going to use some of the food monies to purchase the food for the families. This is such a blessing for them as it will be the only vacation most families will get all year. I want to thank everyone who has helped with our Shirt and Food Basket program. Bless each of you.

Also, many in the church are preparing for the Annual Christmas program, which we will host in the school on Tuesdays evening. We are expecting a large turn out as many in the community are interested in attending. After the church camp, I plan to take Vaneida and Alicia, our new missionaries, to the southern part of Paraguay to learn more about the country's history and culture. After the first of the year, I am going to take Pastor Andre, Felicia and their family to Concepcion to meet with their ex-pastor who started a Christian school in that region.

My next three weeks of "vacation" are packed so I would ask for your prayers as we share the love of Christ with many and we continue to learn more about this country and its culture. I want to wish you and your families a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year as we celebrate the birth of Lord and Savior and await His second coming.

Love,
Sue

Just a few side notes, if I have not responded to an email, it is because my computer is down. Secondly, this probably will be my last note for 2003, please pray for one of our little boys, Estiven who is recovering from a hernia surgery. Finally please join me in wishing my sister, Kathy, a happy birthday on Monday.