Good Evening! As I am sitting here trying to decide what to write, I am enjoying a nice cold watermelon and I am thankful that my bedroom is cooler (90 degrees) due to the thunderstorms we are currently receiving. Our different work teams have come prepared mostly based on weather forecasts of the internet but hardly any have come prepared for the extremes they have had to experience from the damp, bone chilling cold to the oven baking temperatures. This year we seem to have lost our spring weather and have moved right into heat of summer with temperatures this past week from 100 to close to 112 degrees.

However, that has not slowed down our Child Sponsor Coordinator, Mabel, from the states. She has tackled what no man dared to do. We recently bought the empty, overgrown lot next to the school and she taken on the task of clearing away years of broken glass, barbwire, and all kinds of trash. Mabel has lots of charisma but she lacks in her "Tom Sawyer" skills to make trash-cleaning look like such fun that folks would want to help. We were able to get a few kids to help just for a few minutes but soccer was so much more inviting. What a blessing she and her whole team has been! Last week they all helped with school construction and a little in the school. This week, the group divided into two with some going with Mark and Jo to help in the clinic and the others staying to work on the school.

Pastor Andres served as the clinic dentist this past week and saw close to 20 patients or more a day. However, in Paraguay there are still usually only two options when you have problems with your teeth: have them pulled out or just let them rot away. Some dentists can fill teeth, but many patients opt to have them pulled because it is less expensive.

Many in the barrio including me have been battling sore throats and losing our voices. Thursday, both the first grade teacher and I couldn't hardly talk so we tagged team.I taught an extended time of English and them she tried to teach.the children were priceless helping to speak for us and since we couldn't speak with any "volume", they kept fairly quiet so they could here. Fortunately, Thursday was the day of the national bus strike so we had none of our thirty some buses an hour flying by.it was "SO PEACEFUL" .for most of the day until the neighbor decided to crank up his stereo to serenade Mabel while she worked. Also, we were able to tear Mabel and Dora away from their jobs to teach physical education for the last forty minutes of the class. Thank you Lord for sending us extra help as neither Rachel nor I could have taught effectively that final hour.

Today in English class, I had promised to introduce a new song.what is simple to learn and can be song very quietly since I was still struggling with my voice? Yes, the old campfire favorite.Kum Ba Yah. The children really seemed to learn the words and actions and I can always tell if they like the music.if I hear them trying to sing it later. After English class I helped sub in the "jardin" class as the assistant was trying to help Felicia with her Physics. During their snack time the kids were humming it.

For the children's snacks, I have shared before how we sometimes run into foods they just won't eat.and I am told many times it is their custom that they just don't eat a certain type of food or they do not eat certain foods together, nor do they eat certain foods when it is cold or when they are sick. Well today at snack, it was announced all the kids had to drink their milk and about half the class of thirty-one children balked.but Denis tried his! His hand shot up in the air as he proclaimed he "now liked milk". With that declaration, other children tried the milk and found that they too like it. Our protestors were reduced to just three. On a personal note, I have always loved milk.but I am afraid I would have been one of the protestors.first, they drink it at room temperature plus the milk always has a type of odor.

As for the striking bus drivers, they decided to return to the bargaining table later on Thursday. However they have announced if there cannot be an agreement, they are prepared to have a 15-day strike. With over 80% of the people depending on public transportation, another strike could really put the country in a tailspin. Also, in the midst of this, the Paraguayan President is talking about maybe resigning from office within the next month or so.

Two of the sponsors in Mabel's group were so touched by several family situations and they wanted to buy food and a few items for the children and for their homes. I thought Amy and Nancy were going into shock as we were shopping with them at Abosto, which is a wholesale, bulk food area. We brought the families staples and fruits and since most are grown in Paraguay, we were really able to stretch the American dollar "grande". Also, Felicia was with us and hopefully they were able to get a glimpse into how far the Paraguayan money does not stretch. . Praise God for Mabel's entire team! Also while praising God, we are so thankful the water well drilling rig of Ed and Linda arrived safely and with just a few days of constant pursuit Ed got his rig out of customs without anything missing including his "arm and leg". They may try to set up the rig this next week to test it while drilling a well for the school.

Well, I hear my bed and my fourth shower of the day calling me and since we are to meet our work team early tomorrow morning at the main church, I am going to close. May God be with you and guide you.

Love,
Sue