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May/June/July/August 2005
Volume 6 Issue 2

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

In the book "A Purpose Driven Life" the author talks about how we need to become "World Class Christians" eager to receive a personal assignment (mission) and excited about the privilege of being used by God". Our school, Nuevo Horizonte, has been blessed to have many such persons sharing their joys, skills, and enthusiasm to help us search sponsors for the children and for additional funds for our different projects. I can not even begin to name all who are blessing our children and their families in Paraguay but God has all their names written on His heart. I would like to extend a special thanks to all our sponsors, the churches and groups helping, and the many that are now helping us search for new sponsors each year. ..Mark and Johanna Waltz; Mable Love Brown and her husband, Tom Brown; Russ and Nancy Clinton; Ray and Shirley Woodcock; Megan Grimaldi; Louis and Sandy Murray; Christy Heid; Sue and Larry Smith; Jim and Christy Mc Nutt and many many, more.

Paraguay had a national campaign to vaccinate everyone in the country for Rubella. The government sent health professionals to all the schools, shopping centers, businesses, public buildings and even on the buses. It was a well-organized effort to reach everyone. The one area that concerned me about the vaccine program was that many received several vaccinations because if they did not have the card verifying they had been vaccinated they had to receive another one. Please pray that this will not cause long term problems especially for some children who received several injections.

Over the past three years, for the required Ministerial of Education Director's Project the school staff and I have focused on expanding our library. The library has grown from around 75 books to over 2000 books plus videos, maps, and other educational materials for all ages. The classes have a library time each week and the children, their siblings, and parents love to borrow books to take home. Our library is the only library in the area and is open to the entire community. We have been so blessed and when we receive duplicate books we are passing those blessings on to other schools and churches. We are so thankful for the visiting work teams who have donated books and for all who have purchased or helped sell the Paraguayan handicrafts. The funds raised have helped us purchase additional books for our library. Muchas Gracias!!!

For the children's special outings and activities such as visiting a farm, a park or for an overnight camp we have encouraged the families to help raise part of the funds needed. This year the staff and parents planned a folklore festival and we had a sold-out event. They sold all the food at every stand and gave away all the prizes at the game booths. The event was free so we can only guess how many were in attendance but we calculate over 1000 people came as the children danced, sang and shared their many talents. It was an awesome evening and the children were so adorable in their Paraguayan outfits.

Each year the children plan special events and make special gifts for their mothers and fathers. We emphasize the children respect, honor and obey their parents. We encourage families to seek counseling with Pastor Felicia when there are problems. I spoke with one our Mom's with a four year old…after just one session for her and her daughter things have changed dramatically in their home. Also, at one of our Parent Meetings, I spoke with one set of parents who has had a child in our school three years. They were both smiling and shared how much their child has changed since entering the school. Our fundamental scripture and prayer for our children in the school is Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Honoring ones parents and receiving discipline from them are a reflection of God's love for us and ours for Him.

When I returned from visiting the US in late June, I received two big surprises. First, the entire school welcomed Ivanna, a short term missionary, and I as we arrived at the school after a very long 55-hour trip caused by missed flights, weather delays, and mechanical problems. A week later the children and staff hosted birthday parties for my "Quince" birthday. I tease people when they ask my age, that I am "Quince, más or menos" (15, more or less). Why "Quince"? In Paraguay and in many Latin America countries, it is a grand celebration and signifies adulthood. The children are now asking me how many "Quinces" have I had?

We are praying and planning to build a multi-purpose sports and assembly which is projected to cost around $250,000 to $300,000. Above is a prayer banner we placed on the property. We currently have over $40,000 in our account and the school owns the six lots on which to construct the project, but we lack sufficient funds to build. Several months ago, we began a campaign to sell "Special Life time Tickets" to the arena and have raised almost another $4500. In faith, we know God will provide as He did in constructing our school and our Early Childhood Center which currently houses about 300 children plus others. Our school will eventually serve over 700 children and youth. So what's the catch of life time reserved tickets for an arena in a poor neighborhood in Paraguay? Yes, these are seats you may never use! Sounds illogical? Like buying swampland in Florida or an elevator pass for a one-story building? Perhaps not in God's eyes! You see your investment is not just for the here and now. It is for all eternity. The seat you will be helping to buy will help fund the cost of building. You could be investing in a ticket that could provide a seat where a poor Paraguayan worker, a small child, a teenager, or a desperate mother, may sit and have the opportunity to hear about Jesus Christ. This is not just a one-time ticket purchase, but it is a gift that will keep on giving as the building will be used regularly for sports events, special assemblies, seminars, meetings, special events, concerts, church services, dramas, and so much more with the focus always on our Lord Jesus Christ.

The cost per ticket is only $105 each for general admission.

Center Court Seats are $500
Front Row Seats are $300
Press Box Seats are $1000
"Standing Room Only" $25

To purchase a ticket for you, your entire family or as a special gift for a friend send a note with your name, address, and the desired seating along with $2.00 for shipping and handling to:
Mable Love Brown Samaritan Hands Paraguay School
% Fairview United Methodist Church
2508 Old Niles Ferry Rd.
Maryville, TN 37803

Completing Five Years of Education

At the end of this school year, our school will have completed its fifth year of operation. It is hard to believe how quickly the time has flown by but we thank God for His faithfulness each and every day.

The construction on the smaller school designed for our pre-school and kindergarten program began in September of 2000 and we opened our doors in February of 2001 to our first children. Our main school for first through twelfth grade began construction in August of 2001 and we moved into part of the building in February of 2003 and then finished the building in December of 2003.

I stand in awe of all God is doing. Our youngest ones are learning to listen to stories, to cut, be creative, read and think while our older students are writing poems, planning science projects, solving math problems, studying three languages and absorbing the Word of God.

On August 1, 2004 a tragic fire swept through the supermarket, Ycuá Bolaños. Approximately 400 people lost their lives and hundreds suffered burns or smoke damage. Thankfully, many donated funds came from around the world to help the victims and their families rebuild their lives. With the funds we received we purchased sheets, medical supplies, food, helped with funeral expenses, purchased a special piece of equipment for a therapy department serving burn victims plus we have helped two young men with educational expenses.

Let me introduce Fernando. He was a cook and had stepped into the walk-in cooler when the explosion ripped through the kitchen and then throughout the store. He was the only survivor from his department. He was taken immediately to a small hospital and like most of the burn victims; he developed "hospital infections". However, he was the only burn victim to leave his particular hospital alive. This past year, Dr. Vaneida White, Pastor Andres, and I met Fernando and his doctor and we are helping him begin a new career. He can no longer cook because he can not get his hands and arms wet nor can he be exposed to heat for extended periods of time. With the donation we received, we are helping him get a degree in computer science and technology. We are so thankful for all who have lent a helping hand and so thankful Fernando was given two extra chances. He now has Jesus as his personal savior and friend. Praise God!!!

Throughout the year numerous sponsors donated funds for the "Special Days Funds". This year we were able to have a super "Children's Day". We had clowns and skits provided by members of our local church in Lambaré, plus balloons, lots of goodies and gifts. Some of the goodies and gifts the school purchased with the donated funds and other gifts, cards, and photos came from the sponsors. We want to thank Megan Grimaldi for contacting all the sponsors and for arranging transport of all the gifts. She and the members of her short-term mission team from Wheatland Salem delivered over a hundred some personal gifts for the children plus they gave us gift bags with various items for the other children. We then purchased other gifts to add to those bags.

Throughout the school year, we try to do various activities or give the children small items or treats on behalf of their sponsors. Thank you everyone for all you do to help these children receive a wonderful education and to help us share the love of Jesus with them. Bless you.

Jesus said, "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth or in the Paraguayans minds - Yrybucuá. Or as others say, "Where Satan lost his poncho". First, Yrybucuá (or buzzard's cave in the Guarani language) is in a remote area of Paraguay but with improved transportation and roads, the area is now more assessable, can receive cell phone calls, and some even have satellite dishes.

I love the rural area where the folks are friendly, always willing to help and share what little they have with others, the children are inquisitive, and life is simple. The people work long hard hours but still have time for each other because they are not distracted by the outside world. The roads are long, dusty, and often deserted.

When someone says they live close by or "cercita", it could be a five to 10 mile hike. Ox carts are the main mode of transportation after walking. Horses and donkeys are used by those more fortunate and now motorcycles are becoming popular. With the new highway close to Yrybucuá, there are now more options for transporting crops to the market.

In the US, we warn people not throw stones if they live in glass houses…here that is not a problem. Most of the homes are thatched; electricity is a luxury and very few people think of keeping up with the Jones or the Gonzalez's.

With the well drilling ministry (Living Waters) of Ed and Linda Baker, many in this area will not have to laundry their clothes in the small, very muddy, polluted streams.

The Susana Wesley School is undergoing a major construction project. First built to house approximately 20 children, the school's enrollments has increased five-fold after the Ministerial of Education closed the public school. Thanks to donations from many in the Georgia area, Susan Wesley is expanding and will have six large classrooms and restroom facilities. The current classrooms will be converted into office, library and kitchen areas.

Also, there is an Agricultural training facility being built to teach the farms how to farm and what crops are best to plant. We are praying for missionaries to serve in the Yrubuca region to help with educational, agricultural, and evangelistic programs. Many have lived superstitious lives but are now more open to hearing the gospel.

Our main goal for 2005 has been to share Jesus with the thousands and thousands of children in Paraguay in which approximately 70% or more of the population is 21 years of age or younger. We began with numerous campaigns in Caaguazú and in different parks in Lambaré. Then for the Franklin Graham Crusade we took over three hundred children to the Festival for the children. That was besides the 10 busloads of people we took to the three evening programs for families. Many gave their lives to the Lord.

In August, we had a mission team visit from Pennsylvania and they worked cooperatively with our youth and adults in our Lambaré church. We shared programs with over 2000 children in three different public schools plus twice to children in our barrio. There is no greater joy than to share Christ!!!

In Luke 6:18-19, Jesus shared His mission on earth to set the captives free and to heal the sick. He said his believers would be able to do greater things than He. Prayer is our most powerful tool in sharing God's love with our families, neighbors, co-workers, and throughout the world. As Rick Warren says, "People may refuse our love or reject our message that Jesus is the only way to eternal life, but they are defenseless against our prayers. Like an intercontinental missile, you can aim a prayer at a person's heart whether you are ten feet or 10, 000 miles away."

Currently, I am teaching two classes in the church on Intercessory Prayer and Inner Healing. God has provided all of us many on-hands experiences to pray for people sick, depressed, struggling with addictions, and so much more including demon possession. We have seen first hand it is not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord. As believers we all need to pray for opportunities share Jesus; we need the courage to share; guidance of the Holy Spirit as to what to say; for hearts to be open to receive; and for more workers to help spread the Gospel. As we look at world events, we know our Lord is returning soon. Oh, Lord, help us to be prepared and help us to bring others to you because you desire no one should perish but all would have eternal life.

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

or

High Mill Church of the Resurrection
Earmarked for: The Paraguayan Outreach
1920 Schneider St. NE
North Canton, Ohio 44721

Latin America Mission
P.O. Box 52-7900
Miami, Florida 33152

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

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