February 26, 2005

Good Morning! We finally got rain yesterday and last evening with finally a break in the hot, scorching weather that had been with us for several weeks. It has been hard for the children and staff to focus in the heat and to make matters worse the other day, in the extreme heat of the early afternoon, there was a power outage, which meant NO fans. It was so hot indoors, everyone was melting but outside was even worse in the intense afternoon sun.

Even with this intense heat we have been busy on a number of projects but one has been to take pictures of the children for their sponsors. For many of the afternoon children, I finally had to take many of their pictures as is. When it is hot the kids (and your truly also), put water on our heads and neck to help cool off. However, the children often get their shirts totally soaked also. So some of the photos look like the kids just had a water fight. Water fights are not a traditional activity here like in the US but one I would like to institute...if only I had my "MEGA SUPER SOAKER" that I used to use with my nieces and nephews. Too bad squirt guns are "guns"!

We are finally getting our class list finalized. As in any school, the first week or two means children coming and going. We had several children who registered but who did not appear and many others begging to enter. We have been trying to track down the missing children and have learned their families have moved to other communities mostly due to economic problems. We think by Monday or Wednesday we will have all the children in place. For the past two weeks the teachers have been getting to know the children, doing reviews and assessing the children's current levels. Monday, they actually begin the new materials. The children are all anxious to begin in their new workbooks.

By the way in Paraguay, the children do not normally have textbooks like in the states and do not receive a ton of photocopied worksheets. They use workbooks and often complete their answers in pencil so the workbooks can be used from year to year by their siblings. At our school, we use the Abeka Book Curriculum (often used by home-schoolers in the US, but the adapted Spanish version). We also supplement with other workbooks that comply with ministerial regulations. Plus we use some books that cover Paraguay's history, geography and culture. This year some of our students are donating their old workbooks to give to other schools in the interior like the Susana Wesley School and the Indian schools we are helping.

I want to thank everyone who is praying for us. This year has been one struggle or challenge after another for our staff and I ask that you please keep us in your prayers. What are the struggles? You name it! Besides problems with the car (again acting up, but soon to be resolved); paperwork glitches in different ministerial departments; to some children with problems and some administrative changes...most of the problems have not been too serious just time consuming and mentally draining. Yesterday, our school staff had a time of fasting then we prayed God would give us strength and wisdom to handle each and every challenge or trial. By early afternoon some of the situations were being resolved. Please pray for us as we daily try to walk by faith and not be sight (or what appears to be happening). We know God has great plans for our children and their families and we know Satan will try anything to stop those plans. So we thank God for these challenges that is helping to strengthen our trust in Him.

Please pray for this evening as the church and school are presenting a Marriage Encounter Seminar and dinner. There are approximately 55 couples (as of last evening) that will be attending...but in Paraguay many don't make reservations, they just show up so there could be another 20 couples or so. In just a bit we are going to go to prepare everything for this evening's program. Many of the couples are not married but just living together so for me, this is quite encouraging to have so many couples interested in attending this seminar as we are really trying to teach God's family values. Praise God!

Thank you for your continued prayers for all we are doing and for our precious children. Please pray God will provide sponsors for all the children; that we can find funds for the different projects we are targeting for 2005; that Mark, Jo, Mable, and Ed will arrive safely; for my Mom's health and her upcoming Dr. visit on Tuesday; and for several special birthdays: Tom, Joshua, Sue M., and my nephew Robert.

May your walk with God this week be extra special.

Love,
Sue

Mailing address:
Sue Givens
C.C. No. 24078
Lambaré, Paraguay, 2420

Check out our web page that is on the web. Every few weeks, we will be posting to new pictures of the school progress and of our various programs and activities. http://paraguaynewhorizons.lam.org/

We are partnering and assisting the local Paraguayan churches in all we are doing in Paraguay. Friends and churches that are praying for God to work through us are making this Paraguay Outreach possible. All of our programs are made possible by donations that we use to cover different expenses.

Tax-deductible donations can be made to help cover my living expenses, my auto which is used for the church and the school, newsletters, and for helping with other mission expenses such as buying food, medicine, clothing, or helping in other ways can be sent to either and need to be specifically earmarked:

Latin America Mission
Earmarked on an attached piece of paper for:
The Paraguayan Outreach/Sue Givens
P.O. Box 52-7900
Miami Florida 33152-7900

High Mill Church of the Resurrection
Earmarked for: The Paraguayan Outreach
1920 Schneider St. NE
North Canton, Ohio 44721

If you would like to help our school or sponsor a child for 2005, please contact Mable Love Brown 865-984-4111 or Email address: mclovebrown@charter.net
It costs $30.00 a month or to make donations to our school new multipurpose building construction fund, please contact:

Samaritan Hands Paraguay School
% Fairview United Methodist Church
2508 Old Niles Ferry Rd.
Maryville, TN 37803