Fotos:
1- Lometeria y Hamburgeria San Lucas - where we eat burgers and Fries
2- Papaya for breakfast
3- Cheryl and two of the girls from our branch - Vanesa and Karina
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Winter is still here in northern Paraguay. It has been a cold and
rainy week, and when that happens here in Horqueta most activity slows
or stops. Church attendance yesterday was way down and the missionaries
don’t have as much success contacting. Most
people go into their homes in the late afternoon / early evening, close
up the doors and windows, and don’t show their faces until the next
day. We know of some members who actually retire for the evening
between 7:30 and 8:00 pm. At our house, we turn on the little electric
heater we have and stay dressed with sweaters, sweatshirts, slippers,
socks, etc. I even sleep with wool socks at night to stay warmer!
We received here in the branch the booklet published by the church
called “Teaching in Manner of the Savior”. As missionaries we are
trying to work with the branch leadership to help them and all of the
teachers in the branch to see how we should be teaching the gospel and
why. It is a different approach than the traditional manner to teach -
focusing more on the class members and their needs, and less on giving a
beautiful presentation each week. By helping the class members learn
for themselves, they learn better, remember better, and strengthen their
testimonies of Jesus Christ and his restored gospel. It isn’t easy,
especially here, but we are going to give it our best shot. We plan to
include our youth, who are about 50% of our branch right now. They all are taking turns teaching the youth Sunday School class each week.
This is a huge step for many of them as they have only been members for
1-2 years and have never taught a lesson / class in their lives. But
they are willing to learn!
This week Carlos Colman, an employee of the church who does
building maintenance in the north, was at the Horqueta chapel delivering
cleaning supplies, fixing lights, etc. He brought from the Nivacle
Indians several crafts that they make and sell to help support their
families. We purchased several things that we are very excited
about….you will see them when we get home. 🙆 The Nivacle group was
first contacted by the church in the 1980s by missionaries. When they
were introduced to the Book of Mormon and the stories it contains, they
said “Hey, this is the book of our people, where did you get it?” Many
of the Nivacle joined the church, they have a couple of branches up in
the Chaco, and they have sent several missionaries on full-time
missions.
This week we helped deliver new bedframes and mattresses to some of
the missionaries. Unfortunately not all were delivered as ordered, so
we are trying to find a local supplier. Many of the missionaries,
elders and sisters, sleep on weak, creaky, and old bedframes. The
mattresses are not good at all. One of the missionaries said his
mattress sagged so much that he didn’t know if he was sleeping on a bed
or in a hammock. The mission is working hard to replace as many of the
beds as they can.
I am working on a training packet for the branch financial audits.
We are finding that historically the auditors were afraid of a
confrontation with the branch presidents so many of the questions on the
audit weren’t asked or glossed over. Now we are trying to teach them
why the financial guidelines are so important and how they help protect
the leaders as well as the funds of the church. Also, the materials
should be important when we have changes in leadership in a branch,
Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting at church. Even though
the Horqueta branch is very small, they have the best testimony
meetings. Many of the testimonies are in Yopara, or a combination of
Spanish and guarani, so we can understand at least part of it. Many of
the youth bear their testimonies each month, and it is wonderful to see
and hear their progress as they read their scriptures, pray, and attend
their meetings. We love these people.
We are doing well….relatively healthy and safe.
Thanks to each of you for your love and support.
Love,
Jerry and Cheryl
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