Paraguay, Day 9 (Sunday)

Sweethearts Banquet

Ok, that's not what they called it. I believe it was a dinner for married couples. It was at the church on Saturday night, and it started at 8:00 PM. That's a pretty typical time for dinner in Paraguay. Anyway, the church underwent a major transformation. When we left at noon, we had swept the floor and put all the extra lumber in the office we had just constructed. By evening time, the place had been cleaned, there were flowers and decorations up, and the office had been converted into a temporary kitchen. There were round tables with 2 tablecloths each, and it had become a dining room for a couple's dinner. Quite lovely, actually. We were impressed.

The program consisted of Jorge Cabral entertaining the crowd with four songs, accompanying himself on classical guitar. A lady joined him for two of the songs. Pastor Roberto (Bob) Boston gave a "short" devotional on Ten Ways to Create a Juvenile Delinquent. (I didn't understand it, but he had told me ahead of time what it would be.) Then a dance troop from a local dance school performed Paraguayan dances, including the dances where the girls balance bottles on their heads. The star ended up with eight bottles stacked up. They received loud applause.

After dinner, a gentleman sang 2 songs and spoke a bit. One of his songs appeared to this non-Spanish-speaker to be a love song that could also be sung to God. It was beautiful. I closed out the evening with a message on marriage from Ephesians 5, Proverbs 31, and 1 Peter 3. A number of people indicated either a desire to accept Christ or to devote their marriages to Christ. I have to thank Brenda for translating for me. She does an excellent job of not only translating the words, but also the intent of what I say.

Sunday Worship Service
This morning (Sunday) we went to church. After a good time of songs of worship, led by Jorge Cabral, Aaron gave his testimony about his trip to Africa. The people of the church brought us on stage and thanked us for what we had done in their church, presented us with gifts, and then laid hands on us and prayed. After a Paraguayan dance by some young ladies from the church, I preached on the importance of rejoicing in Jesus, from Philippians 4. Several people responded to the invitation to receive Christ, and many asked for the peace of God to guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Tonight, we will repeat the same service.

After church, Bob and Brenda took us to an incredible restaurant. It is an all you can eat buffet with delicious food. After filling our plates at the buffet tables, the waiters started coming around with various kinds of meats on skewers. They carved off pieces onto our plates, unless we said, "no gracias". It was delicious, and I am so full right now, I don't dare lie down or I might not get up for church this evening.

Tonight at 3 AM, we head off for Brazil. We are going to Foz de Iguacu, the waterfalls that apparently put Niagara to shame. In order to make the border crossing easier, I won't be taking the computer, so I won't be blogging until we get back on Tuesday (if I have any energy). Then we leave for the States on Wednesday.

If you have been praying for us, I want to say thank you. This has been a wonderful trip for us all. We have learned so much, and made some sweet friends. Please know that it has been your prayers that have made this such a blessing. I hope you will keep on praying for the mission and ministry in Paraguay. God is at work here, and you and I are privileged to be a part of what he is doing, whether by being here or by praying.

Ciao.