A Busy Start! (PHOTOS!)

Hello again!

I've been in Paraguay now for almost two months! It seems like every year time just flies by faster and faster and this year is no different. In fact, this year really does seem to be the fastest and busiest ever! I have done so much in just a few weeks and I'm way overdue for an update! Here's a look and what I've been up to since my arrival. :)

The first weekend I was back in Paraguay, the Methodist church had their National Assembly. I attended as a "naranjita" and spent the two days serving alongside other volunteer youth from various churches. It was a great time of fellowship with new friends and old. 

Taking a tereré break with the girls

Afterwards, Bishop Pedro and his wife, Carla, took us out for a snack, fruit salad at Paraguari, to thank us for our hard work!

Every year at the national assembly, the bishop appoints each pastor to the church they will be working with for the year. This can mean staying at the same church or moving to a new one. This year there were quite a few changes in the Central district where I live, along with some others. 

Ordination service for two new Methodist pastors

Fuente de Vida receives their new head pastor, Alcides,
and children's and women's ministry director, Carla

This year was the first ever spiritual retreat for the faculty and staff of the four educational institutions under the Methodist church. These include: New Horizon School in Lambaré, Susana Wesley School in Yrybucuá, the Vocational Center in Yrybucuá, and the Mary Jo Phillips Daycare in Asunción. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and spiritual enrichment before we began our busy school schedules. 

Last year, Sue, Natalie, and I hosted a few sleepovers for Sue's two "god daughters," Antonella and Tali. This year's first sleepover was on Valentine's Day. Due to some rain we weren't able to camp outside, but we still made "camp food," and the girls got a special surprise! Autograph books from Disney World filled with signatures from all their favorite Disney Characters! The girls spent the evening coloring pictures of the characters to fill their book while we watched Mr. Popper's Penguins. 

February 16th we started the 2015 school year. These year's theme verse is Luke 1:37 "Nothing is impossible for God!" As always, the teachers had a big assembly to introduce the students to the year's theme and this year we did a skit about social networks and how they can be used to glorify God! The students enjoyed it and we had a lot of fun pretending to be technology-addicted teens while we took selfies onstage! 

The last weekend in February was the annual National Methodist Young Adult Camp (17+). This year's theme was Attention! Nehemiah 4:17 - one hand at work for the kingdom, with the other hand armed with our weapon, the Word of God! This year over 120 young adults participated, a new record! Many of this year's participants were invited by a friend or students who haven't been attending church in a long time. It was great to see the youth hungry for God and actively seeking Him and His presence at camp. The testimonies heard afterwards were amazing. God really spoke to many and we all left excited to bring our passion and energy to the local churches. 

Leadership team with Pastora Joyce, our guest preacher from Brazil

This year marks 25 years of marriage for my host parents. Just a few days after their anniversary they renewed their vows in a special ceremony. As one of their "daughters," I was invited to participate in part of the court. It was a great night of memories and love and I felt honored to be recognized as a part of the family. I am so thankful for my host family and so glad I have such a great family to share life with here. :)

Here's a few more pictures from the past few weeks! 

On Valentine's Day I started a five week Spiritual Warfare class at the seminary

Last weekend I participated in a two day training for a new children's
program we will be starting in the local churches this year - JUAD!

Cielo (PreK), Evelyn, Celeste, and Claudia. (3rd graders)

Shaiel learning "Good  Night" in Preschool!

As you can see, it sure has been busy around here! The school year is off to a great start and God has been teaching me so much through many different experiences. This year is going to be full of challenges, but I'm up for the fight! Please keep me in your prayers! :)

Ñandejara tapenderovasa! - God bless you all!

Hit the Ground Running

Year Two.

I can't believe it! Can you?

     Two years ago I was starting my student teaching and dreaming of moving to Paraguay. Now here I am enjoying a relaxing Sunday evening before my busy school schedule begins. 

     People have asked me what I'm most looking forward to this year and I think it's the fact that I'm coming back with experience this time. 

     Last year everything was new and I spent every day learning. Whether it was a new cultural custom, a school routine, a bus route, a family tradition, every day was a learning experience and by the end of the year I finally felt like I was really getting the hang of life in Paraguay. About halfway through the year I really started getting into a groove and really feeling like Paraguay was "home." I started traveling a lot in September, and the last few months of the year were packed with end of the year school activities and almost every weekend was spent traveling or attending conferences and camps. The relationships I started building with acquaintances since January grew into deeper friendships by the time I left in December. 

     When I left to go to my other home for six weeks, I was actually a little sad to leave. Although I was coming back soon, I knew I was going to miss my friends, Paraguayan family, and my routines. And sure enough, I did. I missed sharing tereré with friends, greeting people with two kisses or a handshake, and a lot of other little cultural things that I didn't realize I loved so much until they were missing from my every day. I ended up having a wonderful time in the States visiting with so many friends and family, and really enjoyed being at my home church again sharing about my experiences last year and teaching both the children and adults about Paraguayan culture. Though when the day came to board a big plane back south, I sure was excited!

     During the six weeks I was in the States I experienced so much jet lag from being in a different time zone almost every week, I had such a hard time falling into a regular sleeping pattern. The first two days in Paraguay I mostly spent sleeping between attempts to unpack and re-organize my room. Which by the way, this is the first time in my life I've had my very OWN room! It can be kind of strange and lonely sometimes after having someone to share with for 23 years, but I'm definitely enjoying the peace of being by myself to think as I get settled in again. 

     My first weekend back I served as a "naranjita" at the Methodist National Assembly, which meant a lot time on my feet for two days and sharing a twin bed with a friend, which I spent most of the night paranoid I was going to kick her head, so I didn't sleep much. After an exhausting start to my year I began waking up early for work at the school, which has meant sneaking in afternoon naps and attempting (and mostly failing) at going to bed early. The summer heat makes everyone want to relax all day because it's too hot to do anything, so I haven't been quite as productive as I've wanted to. I'm trying to enjoy my last few days of relaxation before the busyness really starts. 

     Next Monday classes start at New Horizon and I begin my thirty-classes-a-week schedule of English teaching. I'll be teaching pre-school through fifth grade ESL with an aide for pre-school through second. It'll be a busy few months until Colleen gets back to teach the younger grades in June, but I'm excited. I've decided to focus on the positives of teaching new grade levels and building a good relationship with my aide, Ana, instead of getting overwhelmed with the idea of all I have to do this year. I did get really stressed out last week as I was bombarded with a lot of challenges for the year, but I was quickly reminded that God has it all under control. 

    This year won't be possible if I do it all by my own strength. If you haven't noticed, I'm kind of small and weak. I will honestly fail if I try to do all I have to do on my own, but there's good news! My God is way bigger than all of the mountains ahead and His strength is much more reliable than mine. I can rest in the comfort of these truths as I leave everything in His hands. So for now, I'm going to breath, be excited as I prepare my lesson plans, and enjoy the last few days of extra sleep before I climb those mountains! 

~

Psalm 18:29-30(NIV)

With your help I can advance against a troop;
    with my God I can scale a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect:
    The Lord’s word is flawless;
    he shields all who take refuge in him. 

Psalm 91:11-12 (NIV)

For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)

For we live by faith, not by sight.

Psalm 105:4 (NIV)

Look to the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always.

Home Is...

Home.

One single word that elicits abundant connotations and emotions. 

Home. 

One simple word. One complex idea. 

~

     As 2014 started winding down, I started getting ready to "go home," which meant packing up some winter clothes and flying to the United States. As time passed, my December 16th departure date closer each day, I began to feel a strange mix of emotions when I thought about "going home."

     As you may have noticed, I haven't posted a blog entry since last September and that's because I began acclimating more and more to my new "home," and began traveling more and participating in weekend-long events. I always had an abundance of thoughts and stories to write about after experiencing so many neat, new things, but the Paraguayan culture embraces relationships and community and so the little free time I had was spent sharing time with those around me, rather than with my keyboard. I also faced some technology challenges near the end of the year that threatened the success of sending out monthly newsletters, so trying to attempt blog posts on top of that was just impossible.

     December 16th came and went and with it a nervous breakdown at the airport. You see, all year I had been preparing for a December departure. December to me has always meant wintertime: cold weather, a short break from school, delicious holiday foods and Christmas decorations. But in Paraguay December means hot weather, summer vacation, new holiday traditions and Christmas decorations glowing in the hot summer sun. Even for a Floridian it's a little odd. So when I arrived at the airport just after midnight on the 16th, my mind wasn't prepared for what was about to happen. A busy schedule led to last minute packing and skipping over the "processing" part of preparing to return to the States. It was a time I needed to process my feelings and to prepare my heart and mind for reentry into my "home" country. Lack of sleep and problems at the airport also attributed to the tearful breakdown at 1:30am as I prepared for departure. 

    The fears of returning to my homeland, where the stress of reverse culture shock and potential family drama awaited, put me on edge as I said goodbye to my family and friends for six weeks. After a prayer for peace and God's protection, I was off on my adventure. 

~

Home.

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Home Is Where Your Mom Is

Home Sweet Home

~ 

     Last year I read an article about how once a missionary enters the field, they can never go home again. Their heart is now separated into love for each of their new homes: the people, the places, the routines, etc. and it's hard to not feel a longing for one country when they are in the other. I knew this was going to be true for me, but what awaited me my first week back in the States was much different than I expected. 

     My first week in the United States I cried three times. I can't remember exactly why each situation happened, but I do remember I longed for the culture of Paraguay and I felt so out of place in my own country. I longed to belong, yet I felt like I didn't anymore. I felt changed and my attempts to explain to people what I was going through sometimes seemed to fall on deaf ears. Some days I just felt strange and didn't know why. Although I knew reverse culture shock would happen, the way it affected me was unexpected and just made me feel bad. 

     Luckily, not long after I arrived home, I celebrated Christmas with my family and things began to look a little brighter. I met with friends who were eager to learn about Paraguay, and went on new adventures. I met my nephew for the first time and finally felt like I really was an aunt! After six weeks of visiting friends and family, going to Seattle for the first time, returning to my alma mater Olivet, and spending quality time with my closest family members, I finally realized what home really is. 

     You see, home is not a place. Home is a feeling. Anyone who has moved frequently can tell you that it's difficult to hold onto the location of home when it changes so often. Home, however, is where you make it. 

Home is routine.

Home is adventure.

Home is familiar.

Home is new.

Home is friends.

Home is family.

Home is college.

Home is church.

Home is a big hug.

Home is your bestie.

Home is your favorite food.

Home is your cat.

Home is Mom.

Home is fun.

Home is love.

Home is everything you want it to be.

Home is anything you want it to be. 

Home is home.

Wherever and whenever that may be. 

It's not a thing...

I recently was asked by a friend what I liked most about Paraguay.

I always have a hard time answering this question because I just love this country so much, it’s hard to pinpoint a specific answer.

As I started listing one thing after another, not sure which I liked more, I finally came up with the right answer…
 “I honestly don’t know. It’s more of a feeling than a thing. I have peace here.”

You see, the love I have for Paraguay just can’t be put into words.

The love I have for Paraguay reaches deeper than the pretty landscapes, rica comida, and each special friendship I’ve made here. 

It’s a love I feel when I walk down the street everyday to school and think
“Wow, I’m in Paraguay.”

When I’m riding to church in a car packed full of neighbors and think
“Wow, I’m in Paraguay.”

When I stand on the top of a cerro and look out at the beautifully created landscapes and think
“Wow, I’m in Paraguay.”

It’s the love I feel after a week of serving others.
After getting called up to pray for my brothers and sisters at church.
After my students all run up and hug me.

It’s the presence of God in and around me.

A presence unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.

Two weeks ago I spent a week in Yrybucuá, a small town in the interior, to accompany a medical team from the US, and upon returning everyone kept asking how it went.
I literally couldn’t find the words to explain.

“It was fantastic…”
“amazing…”
“wonderful…” I said, but I just couldn’t find all the words to explain why.

It was a week full of my love for Paraguay.
The love that can’t fully be described.

I love Paraguay because it’s where God lives.
It’s where He brought me to fall in love with Him and His beautiful creation.
It’s where I’m needed.
It’s where I feel at home.

Rohayhu Paraguay.

Yisenia and Fatima in Yrybucuá

Reflections.

As the clock nears midnight, closing this 22nd chapter of my life, I can't help but think back on this year with a heart filled with joy. This year has been filled with so many great blessings and accomplishments. 

Twenty-two started off with an ice cream date with a friend from high school who I hadn't seen in years. This short afternoon interaction rekindled a friendship and reminded me of how interesting our lives can be when we follow our dreams and passions. 

I spent a wonderful night with my family, eating fajitas at Chili's and being serenaded in Italian by the balloon man. My dad gave me a letter that said how proud he is of me which made me cry in front of the balloon man. I am so thankful for such precious family memories. 

Twenty-two was filled with fantastic moments and milestones...

I lived with one of my very best friends until December. Those eight months living with Lyz hold such precious memories. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to grow closer before we got so busy with our careers. 

I found community. My Monday nights through January were spent with some of the coolest God-loving people I know. They filled my yearning for Christ-centered friendships and community after leaving the Olivet bubble. 

I learned about love. Real love. God's love and my love for others. A special relationship taught me more than I could have imagined and left a deep impact on my journey. 

I packed up everything I owned and embarked on the most challenging experience of my life, 4,000 miles away from home. 

I started my first year of teaching, which has been filled with laughter, tears, and joy. Many surprises, learning experiences, and lots of growth. I've felt inadequate and defeated, successful and loved. 

This year has been such a neat experience. I've learned so much about myself and have experienced so many new and wonderful things. I've traveled, I've laughed, I've cried, I've LIVED. Oh what a year this has been!

Although this year I won't be spending my birthday with my family, I've made a new family this year in Paraguay. Andres and Felicia have been such wonderful host parents, welcoming me into their home as one of their daughters, and continually encouraging and challenging me to be everything God has called me to be. I'm surrounded by amazing missionaries who live out Christ's love through their words and actions and have become my extended family and support system. I am continually blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people.

As one amazing year comes to a close, I'm looking forward to an even better one! 

23 on the 23rd. Let's makes this a good one. :)

The Sunset I Couldn't Instagram

This past weekend I attended a women's conference known as Encuentro con Dios (Encounter with God). It was a wonderful weekend full of powerful preaching and life-changing prayer times.
One special part of this experience was that we were prohibited from having our cell phones or cameras and for part of the weekend we were asked to stay silent to allow God to speak to us without distractions. 
The following is something I wrote while on our evening break on Saturday. I sat silently on a staircase with the little notebook they gave each of us and wrote while marveling at the beautiful creation around me. 

Masterpiece of the Sunset

The perfect blue and white marbled sky slowly
transformed into a rainbow of colors. 
The natural white light changing to orange, to red. 
The sky slowly transitioning into soft swirls of
cotton candy colored wisps seen through the trees. 
Like Christmas lights twinkling or red rubies shining,
the light of the pink cotton candy sky made it's way
through the crevices between each leaf as the wind
swayed each exotic branch. 
Then slowly the sky grew darker, like a blank canvas,
uniform across the sky as blue and pink formed the 
gray-lilac that filled my view. 
The last bits of pure yellow descending into the horizon
for a night's rest. 

I look up. 
Straight up. 
Stark white against periwinkle. 
Just slightly crescent, with a shining, circular aura,
sits the moon. 
Street lights appear. 
The sound of a familiar trumpet beckons us back
for another satisfying banquet. 

I’m not going anywhere.

This year has been crazy. My schedule is so busy with teaching, church events, social activities and various outings that the time has been flying by. I’ve also been hit with a ton of spiritual warfare, leaving me frustrated and discouraged more times than I thought possible. But despite all the opposition I can confidently say I love my life here in Paraguay.

How can I be discouraged, stressed, or upset when every day I go to school I’m greeted with hundreds of happy, smiling faces yelling “Hola Profe!” and “Hello Teacher!”

Getting to know my high school students and being silly with my elementary students has made this such a fun year. I’ve been challenged by a lot, but those challenges have helped me learn and grow so much.

As I’ve been looking ahead to next year I’ve been faced with a lot of decisions. Do I go back home and reenter my old life and familiar routines as I try to find a teaching job and move on in my career, or do I stay here in Paraguay for another year of challenges? As I began to pray about this decision, I began having so many doubts.

How am I going to fundraise for another whole year when I’m not even fully funded for this one?
How am I going to afford a plane ticket to get me home and back?
I’m facing so many challenges here, do I want to stay in this place?
If I go home, will I be happy?
Will I find a job?
Will I stay in Florida or move back to Illinois?

So many questions, decisions, and doubts began surfacing the more I weighed my options.

I kept praying for God to show me what I should do next year and in the meantime the Devil kept creeping in with roadblocks and challenges that screamed “THIS IS HARD, GO BACK HOME.” 

I began doubting God’s provision for my financial support and physical and mental strength I’ll need to continue through these challenges. I began wondering if I could really do this for another year. I was living in fear of the future, instead of in faith that it would all work out.

But then I started realizing how much I like it here and how I can do so much more good if I stay another year and I realized I’m being tempted to go home because the Devil wants me to FAIL. Like Joy told me the other day, the best victory the Enemy can have is tearing a missionary from the field. So I decided I’m going to spit in the Devil’s face as I say “I’M NOT GOING ANYWHERE!”

I’ve decided to stand firm in my decision instead of saying reluctantly “I’m thinking about staying…”  The more I tell people with confidence, “I’m staying another year,” the more the Devil cringes in fear of my faith.

So, here’s the big news… I’m not going anywhere.

I’m staying in Paraguay another year, where Satan likes it or not. :P

I’m standing firm on the promise that if God has called me here, He will provide the money I need and will equip me with all the strength and peace I need to be successful here. Despite all the challenges I’ve faced, I’ve started something here that I can’t abandon. I’ve been told I’m “needed, wanted, and loved” here and that I’m definitely “missionary material.” Everyone I’ve talked to about my decision has told me they are so excited for me to stay.

So with all of that encouragement I can say with a smiling face, that I am trusting in the Lord to provide for everything I need as I continue to serve His people here in Paraguay. :)

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." 

Ephesians 3:20-21

To be a part of my Paraguay Adventure you can donate online at www.uwm.org/donate or go to www.gofundme.com/a4h5ew to help me fund my way home and back at the end of the year. :)

Thank you for all of your prayers, love, and support!
I wouldn't be here without all of you!