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July/August 2003
Volume 4 Issue 4

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

The vision for our school is to raise up young men and women with high moral standards to be future leaders in their homes, churches, communities, the business world and their government. Who knows, maybe one of our students may someday become a future president of Paraguay. In order to achieve our goal, we are working hard as soon as the children enter our school at four or five years old to teach them Christian values, responsibility, respect for others, and self discipline.

So what makes our school different from others and why is it more important in Paraguay? This country is plagued with problems such as: poor educational opportunities, poverty, child abuse, alcoholism, drugs, teen-age pregnancies, and many cultic activities. Paraguay is ranked third in the world in political corruption and its number one industry is the black market and pirating illegal items. It is a constant struggle to try and teach values and ideas that are contrary to what the children see each and everyday. Nevertheless, we are working cooperatively with the parents and we know with prayers and with God's help all things are possible.

Just as God has touched so many hearts to help our school, Nuevo Horizonte, God has touched our children, their parents, and our staff to reach out and assist another school in the interior of Paraguay, Susana Wesley School. In my last newsletter, I shared information about the school and our school's desire to help. On August 16th, our school had a special fundraiser.

I was really blessed by how so many in our community responded (over 500 people) came to our "Noche de Folkloric". Our children and others entertained the group with songs, skits, and dances. The parents and members of the church prepared and sold all kinds of traditional Paraguayan foods, and a host of games. At the end of September, we plan to visit the school again to deliver the donated clothes, school supplies, monies, and to provide special seminars and activities for their parents, children and their families. "Gracias a Dios", thank God, for this opportunity to help.

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!

Praise God for each person who has helped so much in the past two months in so many ways:

• After the robbery of my home, thanks to everyone who has helped me replace everything and with the extra funds, I am able to help other ministry needs.
• Special thanks are extended to the KY. & LAM Team for helping with lesson plans, the radio seminar, the construction team that painted and did electrical work; and those who helped with computer entries and so much more.
• Also, a BIG thank you to the PA. Team for the Puppet shows, puppet seminar, evangelistic programs, which reached over 1100 children; for helping with painting, and the special women's program.
• Muchismo Gracias for both groups for the school materials, the prizes for the children, the clothes, sewing materials, towels, books, the doorknobs, your enthusiasm, love, and so much more.
• Also, thanks to everyone for your prayers and support which makes the ministry in Paraguay possible.

July and August have been the busiest months of the year for us, but God has provided so many wonderful blessings for our community. Praise the Lord !!!!

One of our teacher's in the school has the responsibility to teach the Alphalit program (a youth and adult reading, math, and writing program). We have a number of youth plus several of our school children's parents and even one grandmother participating in the program. In July we sponsored a training program to teach volunteers to help others in their community learn to read. We had twenty-five people attend including three of the adult children of our grandmother. They want to be able to help others as we have helped their mother. We also had a pastor from the interior leave his home at 2 AM in the morning and travel by bus to our school so he could learn how to help the members of his church learn to read. Praise God we are raising up Paraguayan leaders to help others.

Pastor Andres completed his dental training in March and received his diploma in August thanks to funds donated from dentists in Stark County, Ohio and from ministry funds donated to my LAM account. On behalf of Andres and his wife Felicia and the hundreds of content and happy patients like Danny (right), we would like to thank everyone who has helped Pastor Andres in his pursuit to become a dentist. Thanks to our missionary friend, Dr. Santa, and other from GA. for the hands on training, dental supplies, and the special dental funds to help provide supplies on an ongoing basic for people who can't afford the dental medicines and supplies. Thanks to Dr. Doug and our friends in Noblesville, IN. for Andres' dental equipment, practical experience assistance, and uniforms. Also, thanks to Mark and Johanna Waltz and the Mobile Medical Clinic for pain medicines, rubber gloves, other supplies, and their support as Pastor Andres accompanied their team on many outings and will continue to do so. To all of you on behalf of the hundreds of people needing dental care and having little or no money, thank you for helping Pastor Andres achieve his goal. Is Pastor Andres leaving the ministry? No, he is meeting the physical needs of others while sharing the gospel at the same time. Gracias!

One of the most special days each year for Paraguayan children is "Día del Nino" or Children's Day. For many children this is the only day of the year that they may receive a gift or special treat. Yes, some children receive presents for their birthdays, Christmas, or "Day of the Kings" (this is the alternate day some use after Christmas). Traditionally across Paraguay, the schools and communities have special programs, activities, fiestas, and whenever possible the children receive gifts. This year our children at Escuela Nuevo Horizonte (New Horizon School) had an awesome celebration.

Our parents in each class collaborated to supply the children with special goodies including empanadas, sopa Paraguay, sandwiches, and other delicious snacks. Also, each class had a beautifully decorated torta (cake). A committee of parents and I went shopping for gifts with the "Special Activity Fund" provided by our sponsors in the United States. The children were so excited when they received their bags filled with their special gift and other goodies.

One of the highlights of the fiesta was when the visiting PA. Work and Evangelistic Team took the children outside to play with an extra large parachute. The children had never seen or played with anything like that and to put it mildly, they were ecstatic. The group also did a puppet show and songs with the children.

On behalf of the children, Muchismo Gracias for you're your love and support!!!

To support this ministry, checks may be written and sent to:

The Paraguay Outreach / Sue Givens
Latin America Mission
P.O. Box 52-7900
Miami, Florida 33152

Email Sue: sgivens@sce.cnc.una.py

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