“Well, I found out that whenever anybody says anything
to me I don’t know what they’re saying.”
– Elijah, the six year old son of Bryson and Mindy White
(New missionaries to Paraguay)
Monday, April 19, 2010
Things continue to progress in our ministry of further equipping new missionaries for the ministries God has brought them to Paraguay to fulfill.
As of today (and looking back over the last six months) we have three new families, are looking to the arrival of another one the end of April, and then two single ladies the first part of June.
I am currently teaching two families, will begin working with a third the end of April, and then with a veteran missionary family that will return to Paraguay in July and who will be changing ministries and entering back into a time of National Culture/Language study.
A continual challenge has been finding houses or apartments to rent, that are near the designated Host Churches, for the new families. We’d like to help them get out more on their own, as soon as possible, after arrival. So far, though we and the Host Church members have prayed and earnestly looked for housing for weeks before the new families’ arrivals, each family has needed to spend at least a few weeks at our Mission Guest House.
Pray with us as we are looking for a house for the Halls for the end of April, the two single gals for the first of June, and the Smith family for the middle of July.
Thinking of recent arrivals, the White family arrived the middle of March and were received with open arms by members of their host church. Thing are going to be a little bit different with their Host Church in that there are FIVE families that want to help them as Host Families.
The Whites’ plane arrived an hour later than expected with the result that the pastor and his family couldn’t be there to receive them. The pastor had a meeting scheduled for later that night and it takes around an hour to get from the airport to the church.
With all that, we were pleasantly surprised to find that there were four of the wives of the Host Families and some of the kids waiting at the airport to welcome the Whites.
The Whites are still staying at our Guest House as it has been really hard to find a house near the church for them to rent. They have put down some money on a house near their church and church members, but haven’t been able to move in yet as it is taking much longer than expected to repair the damage caused by the last renter. They have been waiting two weeks now to move in. Please pray the realtor will make the house repairs a priority ant that the Whites would be able to move in soon.
The Whites have started a time we refer to as “Warm-up” which lasts for a few weeks and focuses on their initial adjustment to the country, language, and people. They are adjusting well and have been really fitting in well with their Host Church and the church families.
Pray for us as we develop relationships and find Host Churches for these missionaries, and as we plan for their time here.
It really is a privilege laboring together with you.