Sorry the update took longer than I thought! We've been pretty busy with the CPC KM Medical Missions team, which I'll update about next week :)
So just to share more about the 2 week trip with the PYT (Paraguay Team):
Just a note about the weather- it was SO COLD! You'll notice that we're wearing jackets, pants, and scarves. Although it's summertime back at home, Paraguay is nearing its winter.
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| rain rain, go away! |
Like I shared before, we shared these invitations for Horas Felices with students at local schools and in the neighborhoods. Apparently, the teachers of the public schools were on strike for a whole month...so crazy. Anyways, it was awesome to see some teachers who still came to work to teach the students. Most of them were Christians and were so welcoming when we asked to share invitations. I was really blessed to see women who still decided to come to work for the sake of the kids and to glorify God in their work.
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| The bottom portion was for raffle prizes, but it was secretly a way to attain the children's contact info! very intentional! |
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| Cristian Jara shared with tons of students about HF. |
As we handed out invitations in the neighborhoods, we got a chance to share the gospel with the Paraguayans! & we rode collectives (buses) on the way to various neighborhoods, so God gave us opportunities to share the gospel with them as well! The team members memorized versiculos (en espanol) from the 4 Spiritual Laws and recited them as Cristian shared the gospel. Cristian said they're forced to listen unless they want to get off and pay for another bus HAHA but it was very encouraging to see some people reading the gospel tracts we handed out and actually praying with Cristian at the end!
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We supported the ministries of la Iglesia Marangatu and Iglesia Ebenezer by helping out with their Horas Felices by helping with preparations, setting up decorations, and performing skits or body worship. Over the span of 2 weeks, we attended 5 Horas Felices! There were payasos (clowns), music, performances, globos locos (bounce houses), and a short sermon. Horas Felices is seriously like a HUGE FIESTA! But what we loved most is how the church is well-equipped with leaders and can, quite honestly, do everything without us. We were so blessed by God's faithfulness to His people here in Paraguay.
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| here's the team painting the banner. |
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| we made some more flags |
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| we blew up so many balloons! but we got to play the movie game :) |
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| we made about 2,000 gospel bracelets as regalos (gifts) for the kids negro- pecado de hombre rojo- la sangre de Jesucristo blanco- un corazon limpio verde- crecimiento en la fe amarillo- cielo con Dios |
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| we helped transform this.... |
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| into THIS! @ la Iglesia Marangatu in Ytororo |
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| remember the flags? @ la Iglesia Marangatu in Villa Elisa |
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| always love the payasos! |
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| the altar call. I pray that these children truly accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. |
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| globos locos! |
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| face painting |
& our performances:
The missionaries overlook 2 private schools- CPC and Marangatu. CPC is on the mission site and Marangatu is located at the Marangatu church. During the 2 weeks, we got to teach in Joe and Yoej's classrooms! I loved the chance to be in my element! But to be completely honest, some days were ROUGH. It's difficult enough to be in a new class, but having to teach in another language is...TOUGH. Still, I'm looking forward to getting to know the students better :)
The schools also have cultos (worship services) every week. I realized how fortunate these students are to have the chance to hear the gospel at school, especially when it's not allowed in America (in the public schools at least).
After service on our first Sunday, we were invited for lunch at the Segovia family's house! This family is awesome. They're so nice and apparently host the team every year! I think we were all nervous that the time spent together would be kinda awkward, but it seriously turned out to be SO much fun! Some of played Uno, watched sports on ESPN, and I got to talk to Jessica (the lady in red- she loves red. Can you tell?) and we bonded over the Kardashians!! Seriously, God can use the most random and weirdest things to bring people together! I'm hoping that we can meet up and watch the show together and hopefully form a friendship :)
There was a holiday during our stay! The new president was being inaugurated. Apparently, everyone gets the day off! So we got to go the capitol, Asuncion, to sight-see and buy souvenirs! Cristian, Arah, and Michelle took us to some museums and we got to learn more about the history of Paraguay.
We also got to celebrate Pastor David Lugo's birthday! David attends la Iglesia Marangatu and is the pastor at Ytororo. I'm so excited for the chance to work more with this couple. They are seriously amazing. and so so sweet!
Another night, we went to a concert that played traditional Paraguayan music.
Some of the DELICIOUS food we ate:
The trip with the PYT has taught me so much. I was definitely challenged so much- physically, emotionally, spiritually. The two weeks were physically draining, but the team and I have learned how to find rest in Him alone. Every day was such a blessing- as we debriefed each night, we all shared how we were so encouraged by the Paraguayans. They are so loving and welcoming and have such humble hearts that are so willing to serve and love others. We always said that we think that we're receiving so much more from the Paraguayans than we feel like we're giving. I think we were all really challenged to live like that, to live more like Jesus did.
Please continue to pray for the PYT- that they would remember what they have seen here in Paraguay and would continue to pray for the country and the people! Ask them about the trip!
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| the Everything skit |
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| "Cancion del Desierto" body worship |
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| the outside view of Colegio Presbiteriano Cerritos (CPC) |
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| teaching our mini lesson on the parts of the body |
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| chilling in a classroom before students came in |
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| hanging out with some of the kids! |
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| hi yoej |
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| Emmanuel |
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| I got to meet my Mombarete student- Rocio She's actually in one of the 4th grade classes I'm teaching :) |
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| I noticed she was wearing this bracelet and took a picture of it. the next day, Joe gave it to me! blessed by her love already. Cristo Te Ama= Jesus Loves You |
The schools also have cultos (worship services) every week. I realized how fortunate these students are to have the chance to hear the gospel at school, especially when it's not allowed in America (in the public schools at least).
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| teachers & students praising God |
Sunday worship services at la Iglesia Marangatu! We went to church on the collectivo. It costs 2,000 guarani, which is less than $0.50! Attending service was a little difficult because of the language barrier, but I LOVE worshipping God in Spanish...something about it is just so beautiful.
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| our first ride on the collectivo SO CRAZY. i almost fell on a lady... |
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| the praise band led by Victor. i spy Joseph!
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| Vivian sang "At the Cross/En la Cruz" & Joe played piano for the offering song. |
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| DC sharing with the church. SMN translated- I want to be trilingual like her! |
After service on our first Sunday, we were invited for lunch at the Segovia family's house! This family is awesome. They're so nice and apparently host the team every year! I think we were all nervous that the time spent together would be kinda awkward, but it seriously turned out to be SO much fun! Some of played Uno, watched sports on ESPN, and I got to talk to Jessica (the lady in red- she loves red. Can you tell?) and we bonded over the Kardashians!! Seriously, God can use the most random and weirdest things to bring people together! I'm hoping that we can meet up and watch the show together and hopefully form a friendship :)
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| some of the team with some of the Segovias |
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| Dianna I slept over at her house 2 years ago! |
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| they made us tallarin very similar to spaghetti, but BETTER |
There was a holiday during our stay! The new president was being inaugurated. Apparently, everyone gets the day off! So we got to go the capitol, Asuncion, to sight-see and buy souvenirs! Cristian, Arah, and Michelle took us to some museums and we got to learn more about the history of Paraguay.
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| the old White House |
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| a cathedral. |
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the old Congress room |
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| small shops on the street |
During another holiday (I cannot remember for what, they have holidays for EVERYTHING), we had the day off so we went to relax at a lake! We went fishing, some of us rode horses, and just relaxed with some jovenes!
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| fishing with NO LUCK. apparently you have to pay for the fish if you catch it! |
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| riding Leo |
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| Cristian and Griselda made us hamburguesas! & we also got to hear their awesome love story. |
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| muy rico |
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| Leah & David brought their son, Toby |
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| he is the cutest thing in the world |
We also got to celebrate Pastor David Lugo's birthday! David attends la Iglesia Marangatu and is the pastor at Ytororo. I'm so excited for the chance to work more with this couple. They are seriously amazing. and so so sweet!
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| David y Leah |
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| celebrating David's birthday |
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| eating LOMITO ARABE. SO BOMB. |
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| love it so much. |
One night, we went to the annual National Prayer Marathon. It runs for 24 hours and people from various parts of the country come together to pray! Realizing more and more how important prayer is...
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| Pastor Cho praying at the NPM |
Another night, we went to a concert that played traditional Paraguayan music.
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| with Cristian and his wife, Griselda |
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| guiso |
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| milanesa |
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| lunch food at the cantina! |
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| asado y chorizo |
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| mbeju, chipa, y desserts tipicas |
& to end with some of my favorite group photos:
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| waiting for the bus |
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| this little boy asked us if he could take a picture with us! |
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| PYT with the Cho family |
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| our last hangout with the jovenes |
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| such a beautiful thing to be able to pray with fellow brothers and sisters, even if it is in a foreign language. just shows that Cristo brings us together regardless of different languages or cultures. |
The trip with the PYT has taught me so much. I was definitely challenged so much- physically, emotionally, spiritually. The two weeks were physically draining, but the team and I have learned how to find rest in Him alone. Every day was such a blessing- as we debriefed each night, we all shared how we were so encouraged by the Paraguayans. They are so loving and welcoming and have such humble hearts that are so willing to serve and love others. We always said that we think that we're receiving so much more from the Paraguayans than we feel like we're giving. I think we were all really challenged to live like that, to live more like Jesus did.
Please continue to pray for the PYT- that they would remember what they have seen here in Paraguay and would continue to pray for the country and the people! Ask them about the trip!
Jesica!! She was mi mejor amiga en Paraguay :) Please tell her I say hola y felicidades for baby Segovia! :D Such great pictures - so glad to see the Chos, Joe, Yoej, you, and the team were doing well! Fuerza Teacher!
ReplyDeleteWowowowow loved reading about how both very similar and very different our trips were (last yr and this yr)! God is faithful and is doing amazing things in PY and i can feel it all the way in america with your, joechong, and yoej's updates!
ReplyDeletegreat post! that tallarin looks bomb!! keep up the Good Work!!
ReplyDeletefood looks muyyy rico!
ReplyDelete