Weeks Ending July 10- July 23, 2005

Hi! I mentioned in my last letter that many did not receive that I was having computer problems…well after what seemed like an eternity for both me and for poor fellow missionaries Linda, Ed, and especially Rochelle who has been battling to find the problem. Rochelle has resolved temporarily my software problem. My software package appears to be defective as I have gotten error reports from day one. Please pray that new software package which will be arriving with a work team this next week will resolve the problems and conflicts.

We have had a very busy “two week vacation”…first the work team from Snellville arrived a day later due to mechanical problems with the plane. We then set off for Yrybucuá on Monday and arrived shortly before dark. The evening was cold but after dinner we set out over the back roads to one hill we stood and gazed at the stars. We we able to God’s awesome handiwork as there were million of stars visible. The Milky Way filled a large proportion of the sky and we showed the team where the Southern Cross was. Unfortunately, I do not know the southern constellation very well and living in Lambaré there are too many city lights that interfere with seeing the night sky clearly.

The next day Ivana and I followed the work team. First stop was to Susana Wesley School. Ed and Linda were able to secure donations from several churches in Georgia and it was awesome to see the new construction. Currently the school has two small classrooms and and a small office area. In the future that area will be converted to the school office, a library and a small cantina or storage area. Under construction is six classrooms and bathroom areas. What a blessings for them…the school once built to teach local children whose families were Christians. The children often suffered abuse and ridicule in the public school. However, when the public school closed, other families wanting their children educated requested permission for entrance. The school now serves approximately 110 children…what a great way to share the gospel with children.

Afterwards we went to visit the construction site of the Agrimissions project. The church has purchased land and many members are working the fields planting crops. When the classrooms are finished it, the program will work the Paraguayan Agricultural Department and serve similar to a “County Extension” Office helping farmers select, raise and sell their crops and hopefully teach them also how to preserve fruits and vegetables for the off-seasons while also sharing the gospel. Please join us in pray to find an agricultural missionary who can serve in that region.

Later in the week Ivanna and I went the pastor’s family and several other people to Villa Florida to supposedly relax and fish. Well the fish were not biting but Ivanna, the pastor, several others and myself were forced to relaxed when we did very ungraceful falls as we tried to cross the slippery muddy river banks. Thankfully all of landings were quite soft but our backsides were well coated with mud and of course misery loves company so we were quite thrilled and had many laughs as others fell into our muddy ranks.

Saturday and Sunday were filled with activities at the church and visiting with the Wheatland Salem team from the Chicago area. Saturday night we hosted a video party for the children at the school as they enjoyed watching “Soccer Dog”...my sister and some others helped buy several new DVDs for the library. Usually on video nights either the youth or the ladies sponsor a cantina and with the refreshment sales we do various projects. Right now the youth are trying to earn money to help a young couple get married.

Most of this past week I have been working off and on at the school, running errands or visiting with teams. We had first the Wheatland Salem team, then the Snellville teams tour the school and meet the various children sponsored from their churches or by individual members. For our children they are so thrilled to have the opportunity to meet their sponsors. Megan Grimaldi, who is now volunteering to help us with the sponsorship program, contacted all the sponsors back in late May early June and asked if people wanted to send gifts. Then her team also donated gift bags of goodies for the children who did not have gifts. I was planning to do a Christmas in July next week when the children returned. But upon talking to the staff we have decided we are going to wait and give the children the gifts on Dia del Niños…Children’s Day in mid-August.

The children will be thrilled and we are so thankful for all the sponsors, the team and Megan for undertaking this project. I have mentioned in the past how much the children like their sponsors pictures. Let me just share two examples…When Jimmy was talking with his child she knew everyone’s names including the two pet dogs. Another child upon seeing all the pictures a sponsor was giving him, asked where was the cat’s picture. The children and their families love meeting their sponsors or at least having pictures. Many of the children pray regularly for their sponsors.

Another project we worked on this week was when I took Mario (our Librarian) and several others on a book buying adventure. We visited many bookstores looking for books to add to our library. I am happy to report with the funds I raised while home from selling typical handicraft items from Paraguay we were able to buy close to 150 books plus I purchased or had given to me approximately another 40 to 50 videos and books. What a blessings for our library.

On a sadder note. Last Saturday morning the mother of my godchild, Aaron, came to ask for prayer. Her mother who was very sick was dying. She had just come home from the hospital to pick up a few items. I took her back to the hospital and spent time praying with her and the family. On Tuesday morning, Eva went home to be with the Lord. Please pray for her daughters, Lourdes and Patricia, and for the others in her family (her one daughter, her many siblings and her elderly mother) who do not believe we have victory over death in Jesus. The funeral was very difficult since many of the non-believers cried, wailed and often fainted throughout the funeral and in the cemetery.

As I close, I have several prayer requests. First, please pray for the different teams coming and going throughout the next few weeks that Lord will bless them as they are such a blessing to the many different projects and church throughout Paraguay. Also, please pray for the children, their families and the school staff as we begin classes again on Monday. Also, please pray for the evangelistic programs that we will be hosting this weekend and in the weeks to come as we try to reach the children and the families in different barrios or neighborhoods.

Also, since I have has tons of computer problems…my email and data system has reverted to one almost a year old. Please advise any friends of Paraguay if they haven’t heard from me by email since mid-June or did not receive in late May or early June my “snail mail” newsletter (in computer terms the name of mail sent through the post office); please contact me with your email and/or mailing address so I can revise everything. I will be sending to Christy all my recent letters so she can update the website.

Thank you so much for your prayers. Blessings to you.

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