April 2, 2005

Hi! I need to make an "egg-itoral correction", in my last weekly letter; I said we made about 495 eggs. I must have "cracked up"....it was only 395 eggs and I must say the eggs were quite a smash with everyone Easter Sunday morning so much so I gave my egg to the Pastor as they were all gone. Oh well, so much for my silly yokes!!! Johanna spent hours boiling all of them........thanks Jo and to all who helped decorate them!!!

For the Saturday night's showing of "The Passion" , we had about 80 some people attend. There was a slight mix-up about our Sunrise Service; I thought it was to be outside so we left the chairs set-up from the movie. We offered to move them but the Pastor said we could have the service outside since it was such a beautiful morning. The first half an hour was okay but as the sun rose, it was directly in everyone eyes so no one could see...we were like those blinded at the tomb by the brilliant light. Even with that problem, we had a lovely morning of praise and thanksgiving.

For Sunday lunch all the missionaries got together at a Chinese restaurant. Joy, the Clinic nurse, was celebrating her birthday Sunday and she was so surprised to see all of us when she entered. But we were just a prelude to her BIG surprise. As she was getting food from the buffet bar, her oldest daughter whom she has only seen a few times in the last seven years entered. She covered her Mom's eyes from behind and Joy just thought it was another missionary's daughter...was she ever SHOCKED to find out it was Julie. Julie is serving in the US military's Special Forces and she has been assigned to help in Paraguay for a few months. We all had a wonderful afternoon together.

This past week was such a humid, hot week it made doing anything really difficult. Thursday we lost power in the school which meant no fans or lights.... everyone was soaking wet from sweat and by late afternoon I thought I was going to collapse not only from the heat but from a sore throat and allergy problems. We notified the Electric Company and had to cancel our evening classes. Friday morning upon arrival at the school, the power was still out which meant our water tank would soon be depleted but thankfully the repairmen who put in our special school transformer came and it was fixed in no time. However, it was only a short time before the transformer blew again. From what I understand the control lever or circuit key is set to go off if the regular power company has surges in power. The surge was so strong it blew the circuit but thank the Lord the surge did not blow everything in the school (our phone lines, computers, air conditioners, etc). The repairmen repaired the "circuit key" and our classes were able to continue.

Mark, Pastor Andres, and I have been vehicle shopping. I was praying the Lord would just bring one to the school so imagine my surprise one afternoon as I was walking a few blocks from the school and I saw a truck with a 4X4 all-terrain vehicle trailer heading to the front of the school. Was it too good to be true? I had never seen a hauling trailer in the barrio before...maybe? I cut through the back of the school and raced to the office............................. but it wasn't there....it was wishful thinking. Oh well!!!

However, we have gone out a number of times now and have seen hundreds of cars at maybe 20 to 30 car lots. We have learned a lot about asking if a car: has a green card (or is legal titled); has had a rebuilt motor; and if it is a "KiKi". A what? A Kiki! That is Guarani for a car that has had its steering wheel changed from one side to another. Japan is importing thousands of cars that have the steering on the right to Chile because Chile has the lowest import tax. Then these cars are being shipped all over South America where then they are being converted to left-hand driving but conversion work is often poor quality so there is often steering, electrical, air-conditioning and shifting problems. By eliminating these vehicles; we have cut our possible options by a grand percentage. We do have several possible leads so please pray God will guide to the vehicle He desires for this ministry.

Wednesday evening I felt like my home had a revolving door as different ones came to visit and ask for prayer. First were Perla and her brother Cesar. His wife was due any moment and the doctors were advising a Cesarean delivery. I lent him the funds needed and we prayed God would ease all their fears. By the way what do you think it cost for a Cesarean in Paraguay? I was shocked to learn it was only a $100...an insurmountable amount to a poor Paraguayan but less then than the cost of an office visit to a specialist in the US. (A side note, Johanna and Cesar's baby girl was born early Friday morning and all are doing fine.)

Next, the Aunt of a young boy with Down syndrome that we have been helping for over four years now came and asked for prayer. Her husband is an alcoholic and is very verbally abusive to the family and steals whatever money or things of values in the home to buy alcohol. We talked for a long time and we prayed for her to accept Jesus into her heart. Please pray that she will return so we can talk more...currently it is impossible to talk at her home.

Finally, one of my classroom assistants, Natalie, and her boyfriend, Nathaniel (who leads our music ministry in the church and is like a nephew to me) came to tell me they plan to get married in September. They are around 20 years old and both are studying. Nathaniel is finishing his high school this year plus he is working on a Business Administration degree and she is studying to be a teacher. Please keep them in your prayers...although young of age both are mature. Please pray that they will make Jesus the center of their home and marriage and that before they begin their family they can complete their studies.

Also, please pray for the Mobile Medical Clinic. They are scheduled to leave early tomorrow morning for Colonial Guaranies approximately eight hours from Asuncion with the last part of the journey over rough back interior roads. The area is very primate so they need to take camping gear and cook stoves. Please pray for their safety over roads that are slippery after today's much needed rain and that their small team will be able to attend to all of the patients needs both physically and spiritually.

Yesterday at our monthly pastors and missionary meeting I received greetings from our friends in Caaguazú. Please continue to pray for that area and for their new pastor. I am hoping to be able to visit that church again maybe in July with one of our visiting work teams.

Speaking of work teams, we have a number of groups that will be coming over the next few months. Please pray for all of their plans, their missions they plan to fulfill and for their safety. These teams from the US are such a blessing to the struggling churches in Paraguay.

As I close, I would also ask that you begin praying for my return visit to the US from May 26th through June 22nd. I would ask for prayer that I can spend some time with my family, friends and for rest. Also, please pray that I will have the opportunity to share what the Lord is doing and will be doing in Paraguay. I am open to speak to schools, churches, and youth groups, vacation Bible schools or wherever during the time I am home. Also, please pray that God will provide us with 35 more sponsors for this school year and that we can begin moving on our multipurpose assembly and sports building. We have been meeting this past week with architects for this project.

May the Lord be ever with you.

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