Project Paraguay  Summer 2006

Emboscada

In August 2005 when considering the need for a Diocesan Centre to serve the Anglican Church in Asunción, Bishop John Ellison wrote: “As we reflect on how the ministry in our local congregations is changing, we are discovering that weekends away (or consecutive days during the week) provide a key to growing fellowship and discipleship. Our objective is to develop a Centre that can be used by all our congregations and institutions (schools, faculty) on a regular basis at minimum cost in terms of transport and ease of access.” By spring 2006, through the generosity of one of the churches involved in Project Paraguay, approximately 5 hectares of land had been purchased at Emboscada which is 40km north east of the centre of Asunción. Emboscada is a developing area with much land currently being sold for future building and consequently an ideal area for the church to develop a significant presence. The site is pleasant, well elevated and easily accessible by a regular bus service from Asunción. A phased development of facilities over 3 or 4 years is planned as funding will allow.

When the group from St Marks, Portadown arrived in early July, the tinglado (roof supported on a lightweight steel lattice framework) for the main building, 25m x 15m in floor area, had been erected and water and electrical services had been installed to the site. Working alongside Adelio Cristaldo, the builder and his helpers, the group assisted with foundation, floor and wall construction. An access road across the site was levelled and a large football field prepared following the clearance of scrub and a number of really well-rooted palm trees. I must add that JCB’s and other machines were not available! The group from Burscough and Aldridge were scheduled to continue the work during August but, following the airline problems referred to above, Adelio and helpers worked alone. Despite this, the first phase comprising kitchen toilets/showers and bedroom area for the caretaker, together with essential secure storage were virtually complete in time for the service of dedication on 1st October which was well attended by congregations from Zeballos Cue, Luque and Roque Alonso.

As those who worked on this project will recall, the water supply was really only a trickle which often ceased completely for hours on end. However, recent high winds damaged the main storage tank for the whole area, the authorities installed a replacement and the water supply is now much improved.

Adelio, who is now the resident caretaker of the site, and his wife Isabel have now moved into their accommodation and regular working parties organised by Teodosio Rivas, Diocesan Administrator in conjunction with Pastor Cefe Romero are continuing to clear the site. The completion of this main building to provide a dining / main meeting area is scheduled as part of Phase 2 in 2007 and for the time being those using the site will be camping beneath the main tinglado.

Please pray that God will guide Bishop John and his team as they plan the next phase of the work at Emboscada.>/p>

Concepción

Claire Holmes, a missionary from Ireland who works tirelessly with children in Concepción and the surrounding area, started a children’s group in the Imaculada area of the city some 4 or 5 years ago. The group met in the home of one of the local families. For a number of reasons this arrangement ceased and Claire together with Auxiliary Bishop Andrés Rodríguez agreed that permanent premises were required. Consequently, using funds donated specifically for Claire’s work, land was purchased, perimeter fencing erected and a tinglado built to provide shelter for the children during wet weather. Bishop Andrés also realised that the land was of sufficient size to enable a much needed albergue (a hostel) to be built.

This is where Project Paraguay were able to assist and using money generously donated and fundraised in both Ireland and England this year we were able to complete two projects at Concepción.

The first building was an albergue specifically for the use of the indigenous Indian people when they need to visit Concepción usually as a result of illness in the family. When a relative is in hospital, the family are required to feed and look after them. Previously there were very limited facilities for visiting indigenous people and many were abused and unjustly accused of misdemeanours. Therefore a priority was to provide them with accommodation where they felt safe with facilities to prepare meals for sick relatives in hospital.

The land was of sufficient size to enable the second building, a family sized caretaker’s house to be built. Saul and Norma Rodríguez are now in residence. Saul is the key link person with the indigenous visitors and Norma, his wife works closely with Claire Holmes amongst the children of the area. When Phil Grainger enquired how the wages for the caretaker would be found, Claire told him that a specific donation had been received to cover the greater part of this cost. Clearly this will make a big difference to the lives of children in this very poor area and is just one example of generous sacrificial giving to assist the work in Paraguay. Since the group left we received the good news that the number of children attending has doubled.

Please pray for Claire Holmes and her team and for their work amongst the children of Concepción and that she may find sufficient time for rest and relaxation. Pray also for the ministry of Bishop Andrés.

La Patria

This project comprised the building of a small church of 12m x 8m floor area and approximately 4m high at the small village of Leona in the homeland of La Patria which is 470km from Asunción in the Paraguayan Chaco. The last 120km of the journey to La Patria is along dirt roads which after periods of heavy rain can be virtually impassable. Thankfully during the period of construction it was very dry which made the delivery of materials relatively easy. However, because the weather was dry, it was extremely hot and dusty.

One of the English groups from churches at Skelmersdale, Aldridge and Burscough was scheduled to help with the construction of this building but, as mentioned above, they could not travel and consequently more Paraguayan and indigenous Indian builders were employed to complete the work.

The absence of the group sadly prevented the planned work with children from taking place. Despite this, at the end of the project the final celebration with hot dogs being served for everyone was a real success.

Please pray for communities of La Patria and the ongoing work of Deacons Robert Fernández, Agripino Sanchez, Niño Pepe Aguire and Mario Redalde and their relationship with the wider Paraguayan church.

Work in the Community

Over the past two years volunteer groups have undertaken an increasing number of small home improvements in the local communities within the Asunción area. These communities comprise some of the poorest quality housing in the capital and have few paved roads or sewers. Generally families have constructed their own homes using basic materials.

This year work was completed at both Remansito and Zeballos Cue and comprised the replacement of earth floors with concrete, basic drainage and water installations, building a small house extension and the construction of a simple timber home for a family to replace one with walls and roof of plastic sheets. The members of the group from St Marks, Portadown, whose accommodation was at Roque Alonso, were involved with this work and when they returned home a local carpenter was employed to finish outstanding items. In many cases family members assisted the volunteers and in a number of instances materials were provided to enable families to undertake the work themselves. On one occasion an elderly lady told of praying that God would provide her with a concrete floor because she was finding difficulty kneeling on the earth in her single room home to pray. Within one week volunteers arrived and offered to provide her with a replacement floor. This is just one of the many answers to prayer which we have experienced in Paraguay this year.

For this type of community project a relatively small amount of funding will benefit a substantial number of families and encourage them to help themselves. Volunteers have greatly valued the involvement in this type of work which has given them the opportunity to meet local families.

Medical work

This year the group at Concepción in July included a small team of medical workers. Two volunteers from Cookstown in Northern Ireland not only came out to help with this work but had also raised a substantial amount of money for the medical work. This enabled the purchase of a large quantity of various drugs and medicines some of which was used by the team and the remainder left for use during the summer months. Two nebulisers were purchased which will be of great benefit particularly as many children suffer from asthma and chest infections. The road outside the children’s area in Imaculada resembled an open sewer. Consequently some project monies provided for an underground channel to be constructed thus preventing access by the children and hopefully reducing the likelihood of infection. Our example has already had an effect on neighbours opposite who have built a similar covered channel in front of their home.

Phil Grainger, ably assisted by Osvaldo Recalde, also undertook some medical work in the La Patria community.

Please pray for nurse Beryl Baker and her day-to-day dedication to provide the medical support for thousands of indigenous Indian people in the Chaco. Also pray for Osvaldo Recalde, Teodosio Rivas and Judie Ellison as they organize transport for and hospital visits for indigenous patients in Asunción.

Work with children

Each year we are greatly blessed through having in every group people with a desire to work with children of all ages. Their gifts cut across cultural differences and language barriers and result in a great deal of fun for local children and the many adults who join in. This year assistance was provided across a range of children and youth events organised at Roque Alonso and Remansito by the local Sunday School leaders and at Concepción by Claire Holmes.

Visits were also made to see FEISA’s mobile toy library in operation and to the children’s club organised by Pastor Agustin and Teresa Maidana at San Andrés Church.

Please pray for the continued success of the toy library in and around the Asunción area. Also pray for Pastor Agustin and Teresa and their team’s work with the children from the Chacarita shanty town area.

Relaxation

As in past years, the visit to Paraguay ended with a journey to Brazil to relax in a hotel and experience the spectacular beauty of God’s world with a visit to the Iguaçu falls.

I asked Nicola Mitchell from St Mark’s, Portadown if she would like to share a few thoughts about her experience in Paraguay this year and how she now felt three months after the experience. Nicola writes: