June Celebration

Saturday was a beautiful day to celebrate Father's Day and birthdays for Joel and Kristen. The party lasted all afternoon and into the evening. We got out the pool for the little kids and also put up the slip and slide. What a great time we had.

April 4

Yesterday we went to see a Mandioca factory. The farmers grow this root and deliver it to the plant where it is turned into a very fine flour. The plant has received support from MEDA. It was interesting to watch the farmers bring in their mandioca on trucks and on ox carts.
Then we went to a milk factory where they process all the milk from Sommerfeld colony. The young people from the colony do the work. It is an amazing place - they make milk, cheese, yogurt, cream, long shelf life milk(without refrigeration). One of the largest milk processors in the country.
In the afternoon we visited with some of the missionaries. I have come to appreciate the heart of the missionaries. They desire to serve God and they love Him and the people. Their task is not easy. We had a good visit and a time of prayer with them.
For supper we had a Brazillian BBQ. You help yourself to salads and potatoes and they come to your table with meat on a skewer and serve you there. We ate a lot of meat.
Here is a different picture. Hopefully it will make you happier.

April 2, 2009

Yesterday was an amazing day! We started out at Iguazu Falls in Brazil. A rather good salesman persuaded us to take a boat ride up the river to the falls. That was an amazing experience and we got totally soaked because the driver took us right under some falls. Then we went on a walk along the river towards the falls and they are beautiful.
After the falls, we went to a bird park and saw an amazing variety of birds. I even got to hold a parrot and also a snake (sorry Carla).
A wonderful day and we continue to enjoy the trip. I am learning a lot about missions and about our missionaries.

March 31

Today we went to see the hospital in Lucero where Anton Schmidt is a doctor. We also stopped at the house and saw Faith, Emily and their baby. Later we went to see the work at Santa Teresa where EMC is cooperating with the Tres Palmas church in a work with a work among the Indians. There is a clinic, school and a growing church. We met the pastor and the nurse and learned about how things are going there.
Then we began our trip to Brazil. On the way we stopped at the home of a radio listener. It was interesting sitting outside with the chickens, ducks and pigs running around. There was a banana tree there with green bananas on it.
Now we are in Foz, Brazil and tomorrow we will go see Iguazu falls, which I am looking forward to.
We are enjoying the trip, but looking forward to being home in one week.

March 30

Yesterday was a good day. It was great to be at church in Tres Palmas and to fellowship there. In the evening, we went to Caaguazu and had the celebration of the 50th year of EMC Mission in Paraguay. Frank told a bit of the history and Chris translated. Then I had a bit of a devotional and Wendy translated into Spanish for me. It was enjoyable to meet all the missionaries and to hear their heart for mission. An encouraging day!

March 28

Yesterday was the first of 3 celebrations of the 10th anniversary of Radio Mensajero. There were quite a few people there. Just before it started there was a thunder shower, but throughout the program the weather was clear. The program was interesting and there was music and speakers. Frank had a speech about the history of the station. Tonight there is another celebration in another community and then the third one is in a third community on Monday.
On Sunday morning I will be speaking at the church in Tres Palmas. I will not attempt to speak in German, but will need to be translated. Then in the evening we will go to Caaguazu for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of EMC mission in Paraguay.
It is a party weekend and all our church members who are in Paraguay are here.

March 26

The last few days have been interesting. We have been on the road from Chaco to Caaguazu. Yesterday we were just out of Concepcion when we came across a road block. The farmers are protesting the price of sesame seed and they have blocked the road in many places in the country. We had to wait about three hours and then we were let through. Today we got up ready to carry on and found another road block so we went back to Rio Verde where we had stayed for night. Frank and Benny had a conversation with a group that wants to start a radio station there. By noon we heard that the block was opened and we continued on. When we were about an hour from Caaguazu we came across another one and had to wait. We parked on the wrong side of the road beside a big truck(for shade) and waited another 2 hours. Now we have arrived.