LAST HALF OF JULY

WELCOME BACK, Daniel!

July 14-Aug 11

Daniel Kohl was the first intern to come back. He just finished his first year of med school and marriage and was excited to show off Paraguay to his wife. It was a great 3 weeks of medicine, ministry and mentoring. Kayla Kohl, a speech pathologist, worked daily with Julia which was a huge blessing and answer to prayer. All too quickly their time in Paraguay was over and we found ourselves driving to Asuncion and saying good-bye.

CANADA, EH?

7-17-17: This week's high points: Hosting a group of 14 from Canada, talking with Ryan on his first phone, crowding 36 people into my tiny kitchen/living room/dining room to celebrate a friend's son's birthday (it was way too cold to be outside), spending time with our intern couple who will be with us three weeks

Low points: a broken washing machine, a car that won’t start, the lowest temperatures we've seen in Paraguay (it got down to 29 degrees), and a baby who refuses to sleep through the night

 I had some cultural activities planned for the group

 It's hard to tell, but there are a lot more than 15 passengers in this 15-passenger van

 My house is a great place for a big get together if the weather is nice and everyone can be outside.  When the weather is rainy and freezing and everyone’s forced inside, my small house gets very crowded rather quickly.  However, that’s never stopped us from hosting.  

7-22-17: Ryan McKissick had a great first week in Texas. He got his first phone and bank account, went shopping for clothes and shoes, talked to the soccer coach and his advisor. He hung out with gparents from both sides and friends. He is now in Colorado at a re-entry seminar. He just texted that he is enjoying it. There are 52 MKs (missionary kids) from all over the world going through the same transition. And just because God can, Ryan gets to be at the seminar with his best MK buds who are also transitioning off the field.

7-24-17: This week's high points: beautiful 80 degree weather (this is our winter), 4 missionary terere/lunch/overnight visits, great mentoring sessions with our interns, Makayla's milestones: crawling and sitting up from a lying position, Julia’s speech improvement after working with our intern, knowing Ryan is in his element at re-entry seminar, a yard full of kids playing soccer each night and staying past dark to visit, MKs staying multiple nights, Paraguayan kids singing worship songs in my van on the way home from youth group.

This week's low points: a still broken washing machine, a still non-running van, a nasty week-long eye infection, a fussy baby that only wants her mama

A note about Ryan: He is now in Colorado at a re-entry seminar. He just texted that he is enjoying it. There are 52 MKs (missionary kids) from all over the world going through the same transition. And just because God can, Ryan gets to be at the seminar with his best MK buds who are also transitioning off the field.

HAIRCUT

I didn’t think to get a “before” picture because it was only supposed to be a trim.  But poor Ginny couldn’t get it even and so it got shorter and shorter and shorter.  She took off about a foot.  Julia was in shock.  We all assured her that it would grow back.  The next morning she said, “You all lied to me.  My hair isn’t any longer than it was when I went to bed.”  I think the style is very cute on her.

The JONES' VISIT

7-28-17

The Jones’ came out for the weekend to see their new town and house (they’ll move out here in 2 weeks).

Going on visits.  we drank terere at one house and were serenaded at another. 

 Dia del Amnistad…. Friendship Day

7-30-17

For friendship day, the youth stayed Saturday night at the church.  They played games, hear a talk, watched a movie and apparently played pranks on each other all night long.

We had 23 in our van heading to church.

The San Francisco church invited other believers from nearby towns to come to Sunday morning.  There were about 75 people. 

 There was a lunch after the service.  Paraguayan know how to do a big lunch well.