FUTBOL/SOCCER!

March 12, 2016: This is Ryan’s first year to play in a soccer club.  It has been quite the learning experience for us. 

First of all, there is no age limits of the players. If you are good enough to keep up (be you 13 or 30 years), you can play.  I suspect Ryan is one of the youngest at 15 years to be on the team.  There are a bunch with look 18-25.  Ryan plays right forward.  He was relieved to discover that he is an asset to the team.  He’s fast, smart and can shoot. 

Today Ryan had his first scrimmage.  It was scheduled for 3.  We were the first to arrive in Cero Yvy (a 15 minute drive) just before 3. We were, however, the first ones there.  At 3:30 the team began to arrive on motorcycles.  They were all dressed up.  They had ridden 10 miles on dirt roads in 95 degree weather in jeans and button down shirts.  Ryan, wearing athletic shorts and a t-shirt was underdressed.  Even though the team had arrived, there seemed no rush to start.  At 4 the payers began stripping down to their skivvies, replacing jeans with the athletic shorts in their backpack and dress shirts with the jerseys the coach handed out.  Ryan was thankful he didn’t have to do that.  4:30 the game began.  Unfortunately Ryan’s team lost 0-1.  Ryan played well against aggressive opposition.  About half way through the first half Ryan began elbowing and pushing in true Paraguayan playing style earning him cheers from the Jataity crowd.

 March 20, 2016: today was the district kick-off for the soccer clubs.  There were probably 500 people at the event in 3 de Mayo.  It was a HUGE deal.  Drums and trumpets played as teams paraded onto the field with jerseys on, banners and balloons in team colors flying, and beauty queens waving to the cheering crowd.  Presentations of the clubs, coaches and club presidents were made.  Tons of speeches were given including one by the district’s mayor.  Then the priest splashed holy water o all the teams and prayed.  Those poor boys stood in the 100 degree weather 1 ½ hours.  I am surprised that no one fell over from heat stroke!

CLAIRE at 14 months

February 29, 2016

Loves to be outside

Can get off beds which has put a damper on naptime

Sleeps at night with Ginny.  Unfortunately she isn’t yet sleeping through the night.

Very expressive with her babbling.  Sounds bossy. 

Says terere, mama dada, Lady (our dog), bye, hi

Loves to scream just for the fun of it.  It is deafening.  She has lungs.

Loves terere

3-3-16: Has taken a few unaided steps

FEBRUARY is FILLED with FIRSTS

February 19, 2016

We just finished our FIRST month back in Jataity.

Saturday we had our FIRST Bible in neighboring town of San Isidro.

 Monday was jeff's FIRST day of clinic.

Tuesday was our FIRST look for housing options for future team mates coming in April.

Thursday Ginny was given our FIRST acquired pet since being back (a cat). 

Friday we welcomed our FIRST overnight guests, our newest team mates.

Friday also was the FIRST Bible study at our house.

 2-21-16: I had the FIRST birthday since being back. We went to church, had lunch with team mates, and ate cake and hand-cranked ice cream.  That afternoon we had sweet fellowship with Paraguayan friends who came to visit.

2-25-16: 15 guys participated in the FIRST Timothy Training since we've been back. The heard, memorized and discussed 6 6 Bible studies that they will hopefully take back to their towns and teach others,

LIFE in RURAL PARAGUAY

1:25:16 - Jeff is finally better.  This is the first time since arriving in Paraguay that someone hasn’t been sick.

2:3:16 – Claire sat in an anthill and got probably 100 bites.  They swelled up, then she got hives.

2:8:16 – Just as the ant bites were healing a mosquito attacked Claire all night long and she awoke with bites all over her body.  She looks miserable with red welts all over her body. We have gone through several bottles of OFF, ant poison, and spider spray.  After taking care of the mosquito problem we noticed she was still being bitten by something.  It took us a few days to realize it was fleas from our neighbor’s little dog. We promptly gave him a flea dip.

2:11:16 – Our hard drive on our main computer crashed. 

Cows keep getting into our yard at night, dumping over and eating the dog and chicken food and leaving tons of cow pies. A local gang of 10 various sized pigs has also been helping themselves to the spilled food.  What a mess each morning!

 Every day, all day long there are kids in our yard playing soccer.

 This is our front yard looking at our house.  Jeff’s mobile clinic is to the left.

A big adjustment to life in rural Paraguay is figuring what and how to cook with limited supplies.  It’s always nice when someone in town kills a pig and asks if we want some meat.

 Fridays at our house are pizza days. We hadn't made pizza while in the states and the kids were excited to get back to our yummy weekly tradition of pizza and coke.

The kids are loving catching up with their fellow MKs (missionary kids).  Ryan’s friends who live 1 ½ hours away came for the day.

 Then Ryan went to their home to watch the Super Bowl.