Dia de Los Reyes Magos

Just when we expect the Christmas rush to have passed, the market place in Paraguay becomes a child's paradise as there are toys for sale everywhere. They literally spill onto the streets.

Día De Los Reyes (Three Kings Day) may seem to fall outside of the December Holiday celebration; however, it’s part of the religious symbolism of Christmas, and it is celebrated in Paraguay. The children look forward to this as the most important day of the year. Christmas itself here is low key, with very little by way of presents.

Día de los Reyes is celebrated on January 6th., 12 days after Christmas. It is often viewed as the last day of the Christmas season, or the end of the 12 Days of Christmas. Dia de los Reyes Magos commemorates the arrival in Bethlehem of the three Wise Men: Melchior, Gaspar,and Balthazar who followed the Star of Bethlehem bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the baby Jesus. Most towns and villages and many churches celebrate with a parade featuring the Three Kings. Some Kings throw sweets to the children along the street.

Children anxiously await waking up on January 6th to find toys, and gifts left by the Reyes Magos (The Three Wise Men). In some areas, it is customary to leave out shoes in which treasures may be deposited by the visiting Wise Men. Some children leave out a box of hay or food for the camels.

For children in the Chacarita there is little to look forward to as parents cannot afford presents. A trip to the local market to gaze at toys is their treat. However, many parents try to get a small gift from the local market and other families get together to have a small meal in the evening.

There was little festivity in the house nextdoor to me (a squat). When I popped round with a card game from the Kings, for the children to play together. You would have thought that I had brought gold. They were so happy.

The young lad on the left sells newspapers. His dream was realised when somebody gave him a bicycle to help him with his work.

Here all the commercialisation of Christmas is really put into perspective amidst the poverty.

The Bicentenary year begins

Unfortunately I was unable to get into town last night for what will be the first of many Bicentenary celebrations of the Independence of Paraguay from Spain.

In the square next to the congress building there was a wonderful show during which national history and culture was displayed.

A ten minute projection onto the front of the old congress building showed famous Paraguayan characters, poets, writers, musicians and artists and also, the history of Paraguay through major events such as the Triple Alliance war, the Chaco wars, Stroessner's dictatorship and (since I arrived here) the First of March rebellion. A children's chorus sang "I'm from the Chacarita " and a huge orchestra of harps was conducted by one of the most famous harpists in Paraguay. There was national dancing and the Maka indians also performed an act, showing their culture. There were of course many fireworks (Paraguayans adore fireworks and big bangs.) Thousands of people turned out for the extravaganza. The show ended with the modern group, Kchiporros ( with an ex-student of San Andres leading them). There was a string of speeches, one of which emphasized the importance of good education if Paraguay is to move forward with the rest of the World. There was also the usual cry for solidarity and unity.

Challenges for the government in the year ahead are finding enough electricity (settling problems with Brazil over the Itaipu dam), cement and fuel, as petrol prices escalate, which pushes all prices up..

Happy New Year 2011!

Hello and Happy New Year. It is around 2 o'clock in the morning as I write this. I have insomnia!

It has been a lovely New Year's Eve for me, if a little unusual.

It started with a trip to the supermarket for food shopping early this morning. A friend took me by car. After that I spent a quiet afternoon in my flat as the rain pounded down on the roof. It has rained all day.

Later this afternoon I was visited by Tim Curtis, a fellow missionary. He is preparing presentations for deputation in UK and he needed a bit of technical help. It was good to see him and hear news of the Chaco. He had spent Christmas with Fermina and her family in Maxawaya.

The news on water in the Chaco is not generally good. There is some water in the water tanks but the reservoirs are dry. There has been rain but it has sunk into the parched earth. There needs to be considerably more rainfall before the water holes start to fill or crops can grow. Many crops have already been burnt and killed by the sun.

This evening I joined Sharon, across the road, for a "different" New year celebration. Sharon was supposed to be entertaining her recovering drug addict lads. However, they never showed up due to the rain. Instead Sharon invited the girls from La Puerta (her refuge). Three turned up with their house mother. Also a young lad, Antonio ,came.

We had some Bible teaching from Sharon. Then we were all asked to write down things from this year, ranging from hurts to bad habits, to leave at the foot of the cross for Jesus to deal with. The pain was tossed backwards with the intention of getting it into a basket. (a very small basket).

We were then asked to ask for a vision for the coming year and to write that down. That was tossed across the cross towards the basket, symbolizing the cross as a bridge to the future. Everybody responded except me as I could not write with my left hand!

Afterwards the girls played darts while Sharon and I played Rummikub.

My broken arm is improving slowly and I have a bit more movement in it. I saw the surgeon yesterday and he was pleased with my progress. An x-ray showed that I have a metal plate holding my wrist together, with three pins through the bones in my forearm. I was fascinated as the doc explained it all to me. He said that it will take around six weeks to mend properly. I have a range of exercises to do now and I have to go back to see him on 25th January.

My main problem is a very painful hip. I cannot walk very far at the moment, so please pray for that to improve.

Aside from that I am in good spirits at the start of 2011. I hope that you are too.

A different Christmas

It is Christmas Day in the evening. I have just arrived back from church. It was a lovely service. The youth group ran it. Donald, 2nd from right, back row, preached very well on how Christmas and the coming of Christ changed everything and how Christ can change us. He is a pastor in training.

Afterwards we shared cake and tortilla chips. There did not seem to be much on the table but we all had plenty to eat and people hung around longer than usual chatting. Somebody collected me from my house by car and took me home afterwards.

I have had a quiet but lovely day with my friend Sharon who was expecting a friend for Christmas. I had invited them both to my place for lunch.
I went over to Sharon's at around 11.30 a.m, we opened presents there and waited for her friend to appear. She never did. (It is "cultural" to accept invitations and not show up.) I had set my table for the possibility of four of us. In the end we were two.

Yesterday, late afternoon, a friend turned up to take me to buy drinking water and food. The supermarket was packed and all the cooked food had gone. People were queuing for chickens coming off the spit. Rocio barged to the front, yelled "There is a lady here who has a broken arm who wants a chicken" The next one was mine! I then found a prepared salad.... wait for it......just chopped cabbage and 3 slices of tomato. I was not complaining. It was all the most expensive food I have ever bought, but I was determined to have a Christmas lunch.

Anyway, Sharon came over. I found 2 carrots to grate and more tomato and Sharon had some sweetcorn, which we cooked. I had cooked some small new potatoes earlier. I made a lovely dressing and we had a super lunch with enough left for me tomorrow. (Sharon has chopped up my chicken for me.) We toasted each other, our families, friends and church supporters in USA and UK with fizzy grape juice. (It was good). As Sharon can't eat Xmas pudd I saved that for when Mags and Gwen return in February.

(By the way it is Sharon's house you can see through the window in the photograph. Note the bars on the windows here!)

We washed up and immediately crashed out on my sofas. We had been asleep an hour when my doorbell rang. It was my young friend, Rocio to wish me a Happy Christmas. As she came in we woke up Sharon. Then my phone rang, a friend from UK on Skype, Judith, who was here in October. We were on ages and Rocio had to go to visit an old lady, who is almost blind, so I did not get to talk to Rocio much. Then somebody else phoned. After that I took the phone off the hook and Sharon and I resumed our naps, after which it was time for church.

Last Thursday the surgeon took the stitches out of my arm. It has left a neat scar. I complained about the weight of the splint and the heat making my arm sweaty and smelly. He then tested me for movement and declared that as long as I put no pressure on anything that I could leave off the splint and use a sling after only twelve days! My arm was very painful and the joint very stiff, but I agreed.

My arm/wrist was much better today. I am exercising it at every opportunity. I have to be very careful not to use it and just to exercise it. I have quite a high pain threshold so I get tempted to do things but I know I must not do anything too soon to put pressure on it. I am not taking any painkillers which could mask pain and cause me to do too much.

Most people go on holiday this week. I should have been going too, Boo, Hoo! Instead I am holidaying here. My colleague and friend Rocio (an angel) is coming on Tuesday and we are going out to lunch. On Thursday another colleague, Marta, (angel number two) is going to take me to the hospital for a checkup, so I will try to get her to come early and take her to lunch too.
The Lord is forever faithful and good to me.

He shall overcome

What a week! The past week has been full of problems as I have tried to cope with looking after myself with my broken arm. My lifeline to friends and encouragement is my computer. I have rediscovered Skype and I had enjoyed talking to a dear friend and to my family in South Africa. I decided to add more money via my debit card. That started a problem as my password was not accepted. God is good! It took three days but the card was sorted. The Problem is Skype. They want me to use Pay Pal. The last time I used that hackers got into my account and I had real hassle sorting that and getting a new card out here. At least I can still use the card, so the bank says, but I have not yet tried it.

The temperatures have been so hot this week, with violent torrential thunderstorms in between. My blood pressure has been haywire. It has taken a few days of monitoring, help and advice from nurse Beryl Baker, who came in to check it, but it is better now, I think, (Have you ever tried taking your blood pressure with one hand for a two handed machine?). Beryl has now returned to the Chaco so I am hoping that it is still down.

As if all that isn't enough my electricity failed for four hours one very hot afternoon. That left me with no air-conditioning and 40+C degrees. God is good! He sent a sudden wind and a thunderstorm to cool things slightly. I survived.

God's faithfulness has been so amazing this week. I can do hardly anything for myself. I do not want to call on people at this busy time, but sometimes I have been desperate. It is difficult for me to walk as I damaged my hip and there are so many things that I cannot do with one sore hand. However, I am learning ways round and God is sending in "angels" at other times.
I am also making a few mistakes and having a laugh.I can now make a simple sandwich with cream cheese that is easy to spread. I decided to try cutting a tomato with my egg-slicer. Definitely not a good idea! I ended up with tomato on my t-shirt, face, floor, work surface and wall. Unfortunately I did not have my camera ready.

A friend took me into town to a lovely German bakery so I could buy some tasty bread. From there I went to the hairdresser. My girl had left so I tried another. Disaster!All my nails needed cutting so I decided to have a manicure and pedicure for the first time in my life. Oh what bliss! I will definitely try that again.

The other evening two colleagues from school arrived unexpectedly with a meal for me. They were so kind. They lead busy lives and have a family. I was so touched that they had found time for me. Nelson even prayed for me. It was special.

Today another colleague is hopefully taking me to the hospital for my check on my arm. I am all aches and pains when I move around so this kindness is much appreciated.

I am not sure what I will be doing on Christmas Day. There are not many people around. Many are off on holiday straight after Christmas. My friend Rocio has said that she will call in. I have one meal in my freezer which I have been saving for Christmas Day as I cannot cook unaided and you cannot buy ready meals out here.... I think that it will be appropriate..... Shepherd's pie! I have a Christmas pudd and a stollen cake but I am dependent on others to cut those, so who knows.

I am learning to lean on my Saviour day by day and to give him my worries.

This is certainly a different kind of holiday.

Update

I went to the hospital today to see the surgeon. He took off the splint and proudly showed me his work. It is amazing!
I told him that the Lord has used him for a miracle. He is a lovely man with a great sense of humour and a few words of English, which he insists on trying. "Very nice sooherry."
On Saturday when I was in pain he showed Sharon the x-rays and said that I must have surgery. She said that she would pray with me first and ask Jesus for a miracle. His reply was that it would take more than prayer. Today he said that the prayers had worked.
I could move all my fingers, my thumb and even flex my wrist a little, with just a small amount of pain. The scar is only about a couple of inches long. He has put the splint back and I have to return in a week. He said that I will need the splint for three weeks and then I will need some physio. He looked at my hip and said that the fall has exacerbated the arthritis that is already there. I have special medication and have to rest as much as I can. I have also pulled tendons on my left wrist. It was some fall! Mind you, if you saw the pavements here you would understand why. There are huge holes everywhere.

I am in good spirits. The Lord is sending in his angels. Lorenzo came and cleared my front parking area this evening. It was in such a mess since the storm last weekend. It is cultural to keep the front of the house clean and tidy. Lorenzo is going to come back and trim back all my plants. That had been my plan for this week until this happened. I love my bit of garden. Lorenzo adores plants and the Lord's creation so he is happy to come and help. He is such a blessing.

Tomorrow nurse Beryl Baker is probably coming round and I plan to go for pizza with her. (She can cut mine up for me!).
Mags and Gwen fly off to Barcelona tomorrow for a break before deputation. Please pray for their safety and for some real rest for them. They are working flat out until the last minute.

I am 'armless!

It could only happen in Paraguay!

Last Saturday, I awoke feeling so relieved. It was the first day of the holidays. I spent the morning on internet and paid for holiday insurance and then sorted out a night in Salta and a nice hotel in Tucuman for after Christmas. I was looking forward to getting into the mountains and away from the intense heat of December/January.

Suddenly my tooth started aching so I set off to the chemist. I was halfway there when disaster struck. It was baking hot and siesta had started. It was very quiet. Suddenly I tripped and fell. I collapsed onto my right hand and arm and heard a crack. I rolled onto my back and the burning heat of the pavement pierced my t-shirt. I will never know how but I managed to get up and stagger to the police station about 25 metres away.

I entered and through a haze of tears I saw two policemen and a policewoman sitting drinking terere. I asked for some help and they just stared at me holding my broken arm. I then ordered them to call a taxi as I needed to get to the hospital quickly. Finally, after twenty minutes, they bundled me, half conscious, into their pick-up truck with 3 policemen and we set off. Then they asked me for directions. I gave them the address and then passed out. I kept coming to and then passing out. Suddenly I woke and asked where we were. By then we should have been at the hospital. We were almost at the bus terminal way way past the hospital.

I made them turn round only to find roadworks blocking our path. We turned right but they had no sense of direction. I was mad with the pain and yelled at them in anger. (Thankfully I cannot swear in Spanish, or I may have sounded angrier.) I managed to steer them back onto the right road and eventually we arrived at A and E.

I was x-rayed and a traumatologist was called from his home. He took one look and said that I needed surgery to pin the bones together. I cannot begin to tell you the cost. Praise the Lord for insurance! The problem was that I could not sign anything and needed Mags and Gwen (directors).

While I was at the police station they asked me for a relative's number. I explained that I live alone (unheard of in Paraguayan culture). Mags and Gwen were out so I gave them Sharon's number. I explained that she would be asleep but told them to yell into her answer phone and wake her up. Apparently they did this and she hot-footed it in a taxi to support me. Eventually we got hold of Mags and Gwen and they came and sorted the insurance so I could be admitted. I had a lovely private room and was put out of pain.

I was in surgery for over two hours on Sunday morning and took all day to come round but I was not sick, thank goodness. They finally allowed me to eat at 8.00p.m. The food was absolutely dreadful but I was ready for anything.

On Monday the doc gave me the news that it would be a two month job to mend and that I could not travel as I may not use the arm at all for a few weeks. Oh what disappointment! At least I was allowed to go back to my flat.

I know that Jesus sees the "big plan" so maybe I have been saved from a worse event somewhere in Argentina. Always look on the bright side of life.

Oh dear, what bright side? Mags and Gwen are off to UK on Friday for two months, leaving me alone in my flat.

I set a prayer chain in action in my link churches. I am now praising the Lord as bit by bit He is helping me to piece together some support. I have just received my Christmas bonus so I am going to eat out this month and hope that some kind soul will cut up my food so I can eat with my left hand. That is an effort in itself. Also getting dressed and undressed left-handed is something of a challenge, but I am doing OK.

I return to the doc tomorrow for a check. I forgot to add that I have since been back for hip x-rays as I had problems walking when painkillers wore off. Thankfully my pelvis is in tact, but I still have problems so I will get the doc to investigate tomorrow.

Suddenly I feel my age.

My school sent me some beautiful red roses and they keep reminding me of Jesus' love for me through others. Also many of you have emailed with encouragement. Thanks for that. It means so much to me.

I will write again when I have some more news.