Redevelopment

We were up early for our last day of the school year. En route to school we called into the Annexe School. Work has now started in a "Beat the clock" fashion to redevelop the first floor where the library was. Thanks to a special project, funding has been raised to build a new computer room. This will mean real progress for the school.
Your prayers are needed for completion of the project by February, ready for the new year to start, also, for all the equipment that will be needed.

Up on the roof.

Down it comes.

Work begins.

Her last Sunday

After a week laid up with a rotten chest infection, I felt much better today and went to the English chapel. It was Babs Owens' last Sunday with us before she returns to the UK on Friday. It was a sad, but happy occasion, (if you know what I mean).

Mags led the service. Babs was allowed to light the Advent candles this week and she also preached a great sermon on The Gift. Babs is always so "Down to Earth" with her preaching.



















At the end she was presented with a beautiful book with a DVD all about Paraguay.

The Virgin of Caacupe

Earlier this week the annual pilgrimage to honour the Virgin of Caacupe began. Thousands of Catholics have begun the long walk to the city of Caacupe where they participate in masses held outside the cathedral.

Many take prayer requests to the Virgin and then return the following year to fulfil promises that they make in return for their prayers being answered.
The main fiesta will be tomorrow, when the country has a public holiday.

I wrote the story attached to this celebration on my blog last year in December. If you wish to find out more about it you can look it up. (December 2010 - National Holiday).

The pilgrimage has begun.







Even the police are on their way. (Are they trying for the Guiness records?)

The first aid stations are being kept busy.

For some it is just too much.

Meanwhile the city is preparing for the influx of pilgrims.

The chiperias are cashing in and providing sustinence, (Chipa - cheese flavoured cornbread biscuits)

and street vendors abound.

This year the Bishop has spoken out very strongly against a proposed new law to make divorce easier. He has spoken about how important it is to maintain family life in Paraguay. I hope the politicians take heed.

Baby on the way

On Friday we held a Baby Shower for "Auntie" Carol. We had great fun giving her advice (some amusing), playing guess her size (using loo paper measurements) and sharing home baked goodies. It was a fun afternoon together and Carol was showered with gifts.

Final service

On Friday morning we held the Primary department final service in the Cathedral for the children and their parents.
Babs Owen led us for her last time. At Easter she had used Profe Diego as a  "prop" and she had cut up his tie. Once again she invited him up onto the platform, ready to deliver a visual message. The children waited expectantly for something funny to happen. Instead she gave Profe Diego a gift. The problem was that he had to unwrap it and take off the layers to reach the gift (a cake).
Babs then talked about unwrapping the true meaning of Christmas from all the trappings. She also talked about giving Christmas away and giving to the less fortunate. Pastor Ronnie gave a talk where he unwrapped the meaning of Christmas for us.

The sixth grade then graduated, ready to move into the secondary department next year. They received their reports and certificates from the heads and the Bishop.

This was a sad occasion for the school because it was time to say "Farewell" to two much-loved teachers. Babs Owen feels the Lord calling her back to UK. She is not yet sure what He is calling her to, but she is trusting that he has something new for her. Diego has been studying to be a pastor and now he feels called to mission. In February he will move to South Africa (an unexpected calling), to Pretoria, where he will be studying and working with OM. He is very excited but a bit worried about his English. He understands English but does not choose to speak it.
Please pray for them both, that they will find perfect peace as they move forward with the Lord.

The Primary Show

Each year the Primary English department is expected to produce a show at some point in the year, no matter how few teachers we have. In the past we have done mega productions of Joseph, The Lion King, Charlie and the Chocolate factory and so on. This year a staff of three English teachers put on a show with only about six hours of rehearsals. The children worked so hard, even though they were tired. They were still doing exams and swatting at every opportunity, under pressure from their parents.

The show was a great success. It was written by Laura Ashmore, our South African teacher. She is so talented at writing scripts, with  Christian values. The story was about some Paraguayan children who were fed up with Paraguay. The script took them around the World looking at problems in other countries (enter song and dance acts and video clips). Finally they realised that Paraguay is not such a bad place to be and that they and our children are the key to a better Paraguay in the future, with the Lord's help and guidance. They realised how blessed they are to be in Paraguay.

The show was colourful and the parents heard and welcomed the message. The children did two performances, one in the morning and one in the evening. They deserved the thunderous applause at the end.

Happy Birthday!

There was a bit of light relief amidst all the mayhem in the staffroom as we celebrated the birthdays of Laura and Rocio. We all enjoyed a cake made by Kim.