Two Pairs of Socks?

Being shocked by my own materialism and greed is a fairly common feeling for me while serving on the mission field.  Earlier this evening I was meeting with the house parents of the children's home.  We were discussing the needs of each of the children.  School has just begun so we were reviewing things like bookbags and paper.  Eventually we got to the topic of clothing and shoes for the kids.  I was asking about socks.  Mario (the house "tio"- meaning uncle) told me that each child has one pair of socks and that it was very difficult to wash the socks each night and get them dry for the next day.  I asked how many pairs he would like for each child to have.  He responded, "two pairs."  In my mind, I was thinking maybe two or three additional pairs, because children often ruin things like socks.  After his response, I felt ashamed of the dozen pair of socks I brought with me from the states and even more ashamed of the two dozen pairs I left in a bag in the states.  

Throughout conversations with friends we have made and the children in the home, I have felt an overwhelming appreciation for the way that I grew up.  While this lesson may be one I have learned a thousand times already, tonight it is especially affecting me.  I hope that we can each learn to live with appreciation for all that the Lord has given us and to live in such a way to give as much as we can to help those who have less than ourselves.  

Continue to keep the children in the home in your prayers.  I have a few specific prayer requests: 

1. For Miguel Amado- he is missing his parents as he has only been in the children's home a few weeks.  While his home circumstances were awful, that does not keep him from missing the only family he has known.  

2. For Cristina- she is having some problems with coughing and asthma-related illness.  

3. For Najeyli- she has several parasite and skin problems stemming from her life before arriving in the home.  

4. For the beginning of school- pray that each of the children would have a good school year this coming year.

May the Lord bless you and your home with His peace, 

Sara

Our reason.

I would like to introduce you to the kids at the children's home we are working at.  Currently there are ten children in the first home.  Next month the second home will be opening and filling with ten more kids.  There are ten homes total here with a possibility of housing 100 children.  The children  are helpful, polite, and generally precious.  Of course, there is the usual hitting and kicking that comes along with kids being kids, but we have in one week already come to love every one of the 10 children living just a couple doors down.  Abi asks every morning to play with the kids.  Below I am going to introduce the siblings living in the home. 

Above: Amado

Above: Miguel Angel

Above: Carlos, Ever, Cristina, Rocio, and Nilda

Above: Luhan, Najeyli, and Junior

Please keep each of these children in your prayers.  Also living in the home are the house parents, Mario and Suni, and their two boys (Merceles,12 and Rody Ronal, 1).  

Pictures.

Here are a few pictures from the last couple of days.  The palm tree picture is the view from the back of our house at sunset.  The next picture is our new van (Shaun says it is my Valentine's present since it is red).  Finally, Abi is sitting in front of our house with Najeyli, Cristina, and Luhan.  

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

We've not even been in Paraguay a week and Abi is already making new friends (as you can see).  Our trip was smooth, our bags arrived with all their contents, and things have been going well.  Thank you for your prayers.  We have spent the first few days here getting our house in order, setting up cell phones and internet, and car shopping.  We purchased a 1998 Honda Odyssey today and are thrilled to have it (I am especially thrilled because it is an automatic).  The home where we are living is quite big.  It was built to house up to 18 children and house parents.  The location of the home is wonderful as well.  Across the street is a playground and behind us a beautiful view.  We have been shocked at the differences here in the Paraguayan culture.  We knew that South America would be a change from Central America, but the change is drastic.  We have also found the food to be delicious (even for picky me) and cheap.  Abi and I love that there is meat and mashed potatoes in almost every restaraunt.  The gas, however, is not so cheap at about 4 dollars a gallon.  Abi is loving playing in the playground, which she for some reason calls the background.  She has quickly become good friends with the girls in the children's home and begs to play with them every hour of the day.  She is equally enamored with Caroline and Camille, our missionary friends' (the Hagermans) daughters.  We will hopefully be able to post more often now that our internet is up and running and much of our initial errands are completed.  Much love to all!

Sara 

Tomorrow's the Day.

We are working out all the last minute details and paperwork as we prepare to leave tomorrow morning.  We have to leave Cleveland by about 6:45 AM to arrive on time for our flight from Atlanta to Miami.  We have several hours of layover in Miami before taking an overnight, 10-hour flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina.  From Argentina, we take a short flight to Asuncion, Paraguay.  We would ask that you pray for us, especially for the Lord to keep us safe as we travel, for Abi to decide to sleep most of the overnight flight, that our bags would arrive safely, and that the Lord would protect the Hagermans as they travel to the airport to pick us up.  We are so excited about what lies ahead in Paraguay and can not wait to see the country first-hand.  We will miss each of our friends and family.  You have all been so supportive.  We love you!  Thank you for your prayers!