NTM - New Tribes Mission | Planting Tribal Churches

Rebekah and I eating our Christmas Eve dinner

I know that it is the middle of January but I have to admit…I still have my Christmas tree up. As I sit here gazing at the ornaments and now stale popcorn garland, I cannot keep the smile in my heart from showing on my face. My tree is a reminder…an altar if you will…of what the LORD gave me for Christmas this year. I will always remember this Christmas, my first Christmas in Paraguay. The Lord provided opportunities to participate in new traditions as well as still being a part of the old. The week before Christmas was busy with a mission Christmas party, complete with a white elephant exchange, baking Christmas cookies, and driving around town on Christmas Eve with another missionary family to look at all the lights and decorations. The Paraguayans celebrate on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day. Rebekah and I spent Christmas Eve with our friend Ruth and her family. It is Paraguayan custom to eat right before midnight. I do not believe I have ever eaten that late before. When the clock struck midnight the whole family hugged and wished one another “Feliz Navidad”. Ruth’s family told us that we were a part of their family and greeted us with hugs too. At midnight, fireworks were set off all over the city. It sounded like a “Grand Finale” for about 20 minutes. They were beautiful and LOUD! What a special time being able to share in a Paraguayan Christmas!

Yummy

With hungry stomachs as our companion, Rebekah Ruth, Sonya and I went to an outdoor grill to get something to eat.  Ruth told us that she was getting “la lengua de vaca” and that we should try some.  Being that I understand body parts and animals, I understood completely what she was saying.  La “lengua de vaca” is cow tongue.  That’s right…the tongue of a COW!  And yes…I did eat a piece.  Cut into pieces and cooked on a skewer over hot coals I did not see the resemblance of tongue.  The “meat” was a little fatty but honestly just tasted like beef.  The texture was a little weird but I tried not to think about it.  I was somewhat proud of the fact that I had eaten something unique and a little on the scary side.  Now I have a good answer for the question “What is the weirdest thing that you have ever eaten”!

A couple of days later I was at the supermarket and looked through the glass at the meat counter and low and behold what did my little eyes see…la lengua de vaca.  Let’s just say I will be leaving to the unique and daring eating to someone else!

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11pm...hard at work studying Spanish!

Words cannot express my gratitude for the friends that God has given me here in Paraguay to help me learn Spanish.  Ruth is a single lady from my church who is working and going to college and still makes time to invest in building a friendship with Rebekah and I. Because she works and goes to school, she is only able to come over late at night.  Ruth brings a different type of Chipa (cheesy bread) or some other Paraguayan food with her when she comes.  We eat together and hang out as friends.  She has a heart for the Lord and is patient with me as I stumble through trying to communicate what I want to say with my limited Spanish.  Laughter is always in generous supply when the three of us are together.  I am so thankful that God has provided someone who I feel safe trying new words and phrases with, and who  laughs with me, not at me.

Practicing with Sara

Sara is another blessing that God has placed in my life.  She is a Kindergarten teacher at a local Paraguayan school.  She does not understand or speak any English.  It was difficult to communicate as first but after meeting once a week for 5 weeks, we are now able to talk and understand each other.  We have small conversations about our families, the weather, and what we did that particular day.

Please pray for me as I continue to move forward in learning Spanish.  Please join me in thanking God for Ruth and Sara.  I am truly blessed!

Chipa So'o and Passion Fruit soda

Eating Chipa So'o with Ruth

For the past couple years, during the few weeks before Christmas I have put an Operation Christmas Child box together.  Buying all the little toys, school supplies, and candy and carefully placing them in a wrapped shoe box is a highlight of my Christmas season.  As I close the box and drop it off at church, I always wonder where my box is going to end up and what little child is going to be blessed by the gifts inside.

Here in Paraguay there is a holiday called “Dia de Ninos” (The Day of the Children) which is similar to Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.  Rebekah and I were invited to help with a church in the country that was celebrating by putting on a Children’s program.  After a one and half hour bus ride, we arrived at the church.  Soon after we arrived, I found out that we were going to handout Operation Christmas Child boxes to all the children!  The boxes were packed back in December, arrived by ship, and were now being delivered into the small hands of children.

As I was handing a shoe box to a little Paraguayan girl, I was overwhelmed with joy and awe that God would privilege me with the opportunity to be a blessing.  I love when God tickles my heart!

One of my friends dressed like a clown for the kids

Giving a box to a little Paraguayan girl

Toes

Over the last two weeks I have had the blessing of having three ladies come and spend time teaching me Spanish.  Last week I focused on learning the names of body parts.  They would say the part of the body and I would point to it.  I felt like I was playing “Simon says”.

Sandra, one of the girls that is helping me learn Spanish

The ladies were very patient and gracious as I struggled through certain words and were full of praise when I pointed to the correct body part or said it correctly.  I am so very thankful for the friendships that are being built and for each new word that I learn.  Last Sunday my pastor’s message was about praising God with our mouth and listening with our ears.  I was overjoyed and elated when I could pick out a few words that I understood.  I am eating this elephant!

Isn’t it funny how a smell, a sound or a taste can transport you to another place, whether it is a place from your past or a place dear to your heart?   There is something special about moments in your life when this phenomenon occurs.  When these “tickle my heart” moments happen I cannot help but close my eyes and thank the LORD for His love for me.

I had one of these moments in the supermarket when I rounded the corner and saw the boxed cereal aisle.  You have to understand I love cereal and when I saw the cereal I could not contain my joy.  I know it may sound silly to be so happy about cereal but I know that God cares for me even in the seemingly silly things.  I quickly picked out a box, hugged it for a moment, and placed it in my basket.  As soon as I returned to the mission house I unpacked my cereal bowl and spoon that I had brought from home.   Then, opening the bag of milk, I poured it over my frosted flakes.  With my special cereal spoon in hand I slowly ate my first bowl of cereal in Paraguay.  It wasa special moment.

I am thankful that God can use a box of frosted flake cereal to show me His faithful love and to “Tickle my heart”.

Cereal! Yummy

Yay!

me and my cereal!

Milk, bowl, spoon, and ceral!