June 25, 2005

Good Morning! I am back to Paraguay along with a recent high school graduate, Ivana Dubose. Three years ago when I spoke at her church, the Lord touched her heart about coming to Paraguay. We often talk about spiritual battles that a person will encounter when they become a missionary. The enemy, Satan, will do everything to foil our plans but it is our prayers that see us through. Ivana and I had first hand experience with this in our journey to Paraguay.

First, Ivana's Visa and passport did not arrive until about a half hour before she was to leave. My brother helped us go to the airport but before we left, we knew some of our bags were over the new international weight limit of 50 pounds. We reshuffled our luggage in the street in front of Ivana's house, so that we would only have to pay a penalty on one bag. When we arrived at Cleveland, we learned the rules had been changed again and that the new weight limit is back to 70 pounds on international flights. So again, we shuffle items in our bags. (For anyone coming to Paraguay, I would call the airport to confirm this.) It will be a real blessing especially for missionaries and Peace Corp workers if it is 70 pounds because we often carry many necessary supplies to help our programs.

Our first flight from Cleveland to Miami was super with a stand-up comic as a stewardess. After waiting five hours in the Miami airport, we learned our plane had mechanical problems and we would not leave until early the next morning. We arrived at our hotel room after midnight and then had to rise at 4:30 AM to return for our flight. After sitting shortly at our gate, we were informed our gate had been changed to the far other side of the airport. "No problema!" Our carry-on luggage was heavy, I was having problems with two sore elbows, and every time I had to pass through airport security I had to get out my laptop then I would set off the alarms with my artificial knee. Sometimes, it took me 10 to 15 minutes to pass through. We rushed as fast as we could to the other gate, only to find we were again delayed. By the time we got into the air, we were pretty certain we would not make one of the last plans from San Pablo to Asuncion and we didn't.

Arrival in San Pablo proved to be another challenge as the airlines staff tried to figure out where they were going to put all of us Paraguay bound passengers from the flight and how they were going to handle the fact that the majority of Americans did not have Brazilian Visas. After much confusion and time, we were finally off to another hotel. Again, early the next morning we were back to the airport. Talk about long lines, we were there several hours before the flight and we used the majority of the time waiting for our ticket changes, passing through customs and then going through the airport security system. At last we were at the gate and ready...but the plane did not load. We were informed that the next plane from Miami was two hours delayed because of terrible storms and that we needed to wait. So we did. Finally, we were off to Paraguay only to hear about 45 minutes into the flight, "We're sorry but we have a problem with the plane's hydraulic system" (it was loosing fluid and this system located on the winds was necessary for braking at the time of landing). We returned to San Paulo. It took several hours for them to make the decision to change planes, then to move several hundred passengers, all their luggage, meals and so forth to the other plane while the ground crews made flight preparations. But praise God we made it safely. After getting our luggage and clearing customs, we finally met Pastor Andres and Felicia. They shared many had been at the airport earlier to welcome us, but they had to leave due to the lateness. They took us to the school first, where all the children and staff greeted us at the front entrance. Each class had prepared banners and I received several bouquets of flowers. What a nice way to end a 55-hour journey. It was good to be back in Paraguay. During our flight ordeal, we had the opportunity to meet many wonderful passengers in the same "boat" as us all journeying to Paraguay for different reasons. Several of these passengers may visit our school while visiting in Paraguay.

I had a wonderful trip to the US and met with many dear friends and fellow believers. I cannot even begin to name everyone from past co-workers, members of my church and other churches, friends, family and others. Thanks to each of you for making my visit home fun and for helping me share what God is doing in Paraguay.

Just a side note, while in the states, we worked on my computer and I am going to revise my email format, I hope this will eliminate the SPAM messages some are receiving. Please let me know if you receive your email with a SPAM response. It may be a problem with my South American server.

May our Lord God, who is so awesome, be with you in whatever trials you face today and throughout the upcoming weeks.

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