We are now staying at the Children´s Home Ël Redil in Asuncion, Paraguay. The Captains here are Leonardo and Evangelina Fernandez -- they are a wonderful couple with 3 children -- Javier, Marcos, and Leonardo, who is known as Lelu. We have really enjoyed spending time with them and they are so hospitable to us. Each night we have dinner together and it´s so fun sharing with them. We are definitely in good hands and are being well taken care of!! I wouldn´t be surprised if our team comes back a little heavier than before with all the delicious food we have been served here!
We have learned so much about Paraguay since arriving. The literacy rates here are very low with only about 30% of the population being able to read and write. The educational system isn´t very good and children leave school often before graduation. Others are passed to the next grade even if they fail. No one repeats a grade -- so there are many kids in upper grades who can´t even read. There is a big divide in Paraguay between the rich and poor -- and there really isn´t a middle class. It´s very apparent just how wide the divide is because the children´s home is located in one of the best neighborhoods in Asuncion (there are extremely expensive shopping malls here, expensive restaurants, etc.) while the Outpost Church where we went on Sunday, which is only about 5 minutes away by car, doesn´t even have a complete roof. the children came to church yesterday in sandals despite the cold temperatures and the houses are very, very humble. I´ve done a lot of travelling and I´ve never seen anything quite like what I saw yesterday -- it was heartbreaking. On top of that, we´ve learned that the government in Paraguay is very corrupt -- and instead of investing in the country and the people, most public money is used to make the government officials even richer.
Sunday´s church experience was very humbling -- the people there really are seeking God. So many of them have such difficult lives -- domestic violence and abuse is very common here and we met a woman named Guillermina who almost has no teeth left because her husband has abused her so much. It was very heartbreaking to see -- and yet she was in church yesterday with her youngest son and she refuses to give up hope. Captain Fernandez is so amazing with these people -- he walks thru the neighborhood and seems to know and have a good relationship with everyone . Oftentimes, h e has to confront these spouses who come home drunk and abuse their wives. He says it is a major problem here. Under his leadership the Outpost church has really grown. In Sunday´s service, Lily and Leilani lead worship, Raquel and Leilani gave their testimonies, the whole team did a drama together and Lindsay shared the devotional. The Holy Spìrit was clearly present and we had the amazing experience of praying for these beautiful people.
Today we began our work in the children´s home. We are sanding the outer walls to prepare them for painting. We are also cleaning and power washing an area in the back which we will then paint so that the kids have an area to play volleyball, soccer and other sports. This afternoon we will have our first day of Vacation Bible School in the Outpost -- we are expecting between 50 and 60 kids!!! It should be quite an adventure!
the kids at the Home are beautiful and full of energy! The Captain has told us some of their stories and it truly is sad. Many of them have been completely abandoned by their parents or other family members. Before coming to the home, some of them were living on the streets. The children eat 3 times a day here and also have a snack. However, the Captain told us that many of the children, especially the new ones, will ask repeatedly --Äre we going to eat tomorrow? Captain continues reassuring them that yes they will eat -- but in their families and where they come from they aren´t used to this so they would be afraid another meal wouldn´t be provided. Also, m any of the children are used to eating yucca (a type of potato) in their families -- it´s something that makes you feel very full so poor families often eat it -- so the kids would fill up on that and then they wouldn´t eat the good, nutritious food that is cooked for them here. For awhile they had to stop serving the yucca at meals so that the kids would get used to eating other foods.
Another problem here is hygiene. The children don´t grow up learning how to bathe and take care of themselves, their clothes, etc. Many of the little girls have lice because they don´t wash their hair. It´s a constant battle for the Captains adn the staff to get the children to practice good hygiene. IN another story we were told, one group of 3 brothers and sisters here had never used underwear. The Captains bought them some and explained how it s hould be worn. But a few weeks later Captain Evangelina noticed they still weren´t wearing it -- when the Captains asked where their underwear was the children took them to their little closets and showed them a neat pile of underwear neatly stacked up. It was too nice for everyday use they had decided and so they were keeping it in a safe place for special occasions. These stories are just a few of many that exist here. It´s hard to imagine children who have lived and experienced what these children have -- yet they are all so beautiful and loving and bring each of us so much joy. For the next 2 weeks we will get to take them to school, eat lunch with them, help get them ready for school and play games with them. Next week we will do VBS with them as well.
The team is doing very well! I am very proud of each member! I know God is doing great things in each life here, and it´s such a joy because we are having so much fun at the same time! We have shared many great moments of laughter and fun! We are also thankful that the Holy Spirit has been with us and has been blessing our ministry! Please continue to pray for us ! Pray for our ministry and also our health and safety. It´s actually winter here in Paraguay so it´s been a bit cold. Today was the first day of sunshine we had so I´m hoping the temperatures are going to get warmer. but in general we have stayed bundled up. some people have begun coughing adn sniffling --and much of what we do is outside, so please pray that God would give us health and not allow these little symptoms to develop into anything that prevents us from accomplishing all that God has for each of us here! To the family members of these great girls -- thanks for sharing them with us this summer!
They are truly a blessing to us!
In Him,
Lindsay and Estith
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