December 18, 2005

Hi! Tomorrow I am leaving for a two weeks, so this will be my last prayer letter for 2005! I want to thank you so much for your prayers because that is what has sustained me during this blessed but very turbulent year. There have been so many challenges, frustrations, and difficulties but through them all God has been there and He is seeing each one through to His honor, glory and for our good who love and trust Him.

As I count my blessings for this past year, they are too numerous to mention but just a few include the healing of my Mom’s tumor; our school children and their families; the financial gift to purchase a reliable vehicle; the sponsors and donors that make our ministries possible; the teams that came and helped in so many different ministries throughout Paraguay; the Graham Crusade; the Wilkerson Conference; the LAM retreat; my visit home with time spent with friends and family; the growth and depth of faith of the people in our church and school; the six months ministering with Ivana; the teamwork involved to receive the container; and God’s sustaining faithfulness.

I apologize for not writing in these last “quince días” (an _expression here in Paraguay…15 days or representing two weeks.) In the school we worked on all the closing government reports, held enrollment sessions for all the returning and new students in our four year old classes. On the 6th of December, we held a meeting for all the parents wanting children to enter in areas where we had vacancies in our pre-escolar (for five year olds) through fourth classes. We had over a hundred people attend inquiring about just a handful of vacancies. For all new prospective children, they had to take a test similar to our students in the areas of language development and math. This helped in the selection of the students plus we looked at other factors such as where they lived; economic need; and if the had siblings in the school.

Our school has gained a reputation for the instruction; discipline and Christian values so that many come from surrounding barrios want to enroll their children which we have permitted when there is space. However, now many are coming and some have been quite demanding. This year I wanted to physically throw one lady out of the school. First, parents are not allowed in the testing area and because I was not there she insisted in being right there. Then when I returned to the school, she offered me a bribe to accept her child…I did not want to make a scene in front of the 100 some parents waiting so I walked past to check on the testing. Then after her child left the testing area she entered and wanted the results “ya”…now. She works as a “notary” and she functions as a “paralegal” profession. Even though she is a Christian, she has the attitude of so many in Paraguay; a few guaranies (money) or “her help to facilitate paperwork” should get her anything she wants. It is this attitude that makes Paraguay second in the world in corruption and makes living in Paraguay so difficult. I am so thankful; my staff is trying to operate under Christian ethics and that they are standing firm on principles.

Saturday night wedding bells were chiming as four couples from our church tied the knot of holy matrimony in an official church ceremony. As I have mentioned before we are trying to help people put their lives and families in order according to Godly principles. None of us was sure how four coupes would get married at one time, but Pastor Andres had a wonderful ceremony planned and only made one mistake as he told one bride Teresa, to look into another groom’s eyes…everyone roared with laughter as he quickly corrected himself. Due to space problems it was a crowded standing room only ceremony before everyone retreated to the school playground area where we had set up rented chairs and tables to host the reception for almost four hundred people. God was merciful because in the afternoon it was predicted to rain, but as the possible storm blew over, it just helped to cool things down from the stifling heat.

The members of our church worked hard for months trying to earned sufficient funds for the evening. Special hats off to all for a beautiful evening! The evening was topped off by my catching one of the bridal bouquets. Congratulations to each of the couples…Celsa and Nestor (Felicia’s sister and parents in the school); Ariel and Ester (parents in the school); Teresa and Rolo (a couple I have been disciplining and a father and step mother in the school); and Vincent and Estella (was the driver for the clinic and uncle of many of the children in the school). Please pray for each of them.

The big news of the week besides finishing the 2005 school year was the arrival of the container which had left the Houston area right before Katrina hit. I want to thank Ed and Linda Baker for donating space in their container for the school. Also, I want to thank all the people who helped make the container a reality. Thanks to Pastor Noel Dennison, Bill Marshall and all at Chaplewood UMC church for their willingness to receive the shipments from across the US and to delivery to the container area and for all the uniforms that they donated. Thanks to Janet Baechle, Christy Heid, Lavern Schlabach, Pastor Don, Richard Filsky, Norene, my brother Wes, sister-in-law Jill, my Mom, friends from Eastgate, and so many others who helped or donated items some as long as four years ago. Even in the midst of all the confusion, frustrations, and several hurricanes, God made a way to get the container shipped to Paraguay.

Last evening our Sunday School programs hosted their annual Christmas program. We awoke to rain showers that were to last for two days but thankfully by late afternoon the sun began to shine and the program was able to be held. We had several hundred children in attendance but unfortunately only about 20 or 30 some parents. It reminded me of our first Sunday School play, when I got after the children about their conduct during play practice. I told them they wanted to be prepared so their parents would be proud…then only the pastor and his wife came representing the parents. Lord, I am so thankful for the many children who families have accepted you but my heart aches for the many parents and families who still do not know you.

Also, a special thanks to all who donated to our Shirt and Food Basket project, we plan to give out the shirts on the “Día de Reyes”…Kings Day in early January when supposedly the Kings presented their gifts to Jesus. We anticipate needing around two hundred and fifty shirts for the Sunday School program. Thank you so much for your generousity.

My prayer requests as I close out 2005 are:

• All may know our Lord and savior and rejoice in His birth during this holiday season.
• As the school team regenerates their batteries over this summer break that the Lord may instill in us a fresh desire to serve him and to work in unity.
• This next school year, I plan to work more with the staff on leadership preparation, may the Lord guide my steps.
• May the Lord bless each of our school children, their families, their sponsors and all who are helping to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to those less fortunate.
• For Mable Love Brown as she approaches hip replacement surgery...originally planned for mid-to late January but now maybe before Christmas.
• For my family and loved ones whom I miss especially during this time of year.
• For many with birthdays: my Sister Kathy, Aaron, Chocha, Sylvia, Don, Ada, Myrna, Lori, Cindy, Vickie, and Fred and for the anniversary of Keith and Stacy.

May the Grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all and may we all say, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love,
Sue

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

Earmarked on an attached piece of paper for:

Latin America Mission
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

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13.