Hello friends!

Yoe Jin here! I seriously thought about the title for like 20 minutes and that was the best I could come up with...

Anyway, can't believe that it's nearing the end of April already. Looking back, it feels like it has been forever since Joe and I arrived. I am learning more and more about myself in ways that I probably wouldn't have been able to learn in America... so I feel incredibly blessed to be here, at this specific moment of my life. I know that despite our doubts and inconsistencies, God is constant and unfailing, Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. We have been living with much hope in that Truth. And although we have come to Paraguay to serve and be blessing onto the people here, I realize that the Paraguayans have been serving and blessing us in ways that we can't even begin to explain.

This past Saturday, Joe and I had the honor of attending our first Paraguayan wedding. The couple (Milagro y Rodrigo) is extremely young, recent high school graduates. We randomly ran into them as they were passing out (all in person) their wedding invitations. Joe has known Rodrigo for a while and so we were both invited HAHA. To be honest, I felt a little awkward attending a wedding where I didn't know the couple being wed.... Right before we entered, Joe looked at me and said, "I feel like we're wedding crashers..." LOL But with the mindset that this could very well be the only Paraguayan wedding I will ever go to, I figured I should just live it up.

Despite my concerns, the families were very welcoming and didn't make us feel out of place at all... The food was amazing, asado of course, and we went home with very happy stomachs.

The bride and groom with their parents.

The ceremony/reception room. Very intimate.

Earlier that day, (Saturday), one of the families at Maranagtu generously invited Joe and me to eat lunch at their beautiful home. Their names are Victor and Betty. Betty cooked some amazing authentic Paraguayan food.... cannot get enough. They have two children, one daughter, one son, and a third on her way in June! A family that loves the Lord, loves their children, and loves music! Victor leads praise at Marangatu and also teaches music at Ytororo on Saturday mornings.

Abi and Josias! CUTEST KIDS EVER! Les quiero!

I have constantly been blessed by different opportunites to share life and share time with the Paraguayans here. We are always being reminded that despite cultural differences, we are all truly a part of one universal Church worshipping the same God.

Reminded of Paul's exhortation in Romans 15:5-7.
"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."

We again want to thank you supporters! The Chos, Joe and I truly appreciate all your prayers. God bless!

<3

Un Nuevo Rumbo

Joe here. Sorry for the lack of updates, we've both been pretty busy with all of our responsibilites. Today was a pretty big day for the country of Paraguay as a new president was elected. Even as I'm typing this entry, I can hear fireworks and car horns going off. The winner of the election was Horacio Cartes from the Colorado Party. You can think of the Colorado party as being like the Republican Party in the United States. It was a fairly close election between him and Efrain Alegre, who is of the Liberal Party.

From left to right: Efrain Alegre and Horacio Cartes

Horacio Cartes' campaign slogan has been "Un Nuevo Rumbo Para El Paraguay," which means "A new course for Paraguay." Let's hope that this new president seeks to serve the people of Paraguay with honesty, integrity and justice. I am reminded, however, that even with the ever-changing leadership of earthly rulers, we as Christians live with hope in the One who sits enthroned above and reigns with all power and authority. Only under Christ's rule do we find true freedom and new life.

The beginning of new things!

Joe here. Today was the very first day of my animation class. I have a total of 13 students (one was out sick today, and the other is a teacher who wanted to take the picture below for me). I am very encouraged by the excitement these students have. They were having so much fun just rotating and moving a simple sphere in the animation program. It’s a varied group, with some only being in the 9^th grade, while others are teachers at the school. The biggest difficulty that I had was trying to explain technical terms and concepts in Spanish, and I must have said, ‘Huh?’ a hundred times when trying to answer the questions of my students. I am very excited about the rest of the year and I hope the students enjoy the process of learning animation even though it can be a royal pain. I think Luis and Jose, the two guys on the far right, are already experiencing the stress of it.

 Something momentous happened two Sundays ago. 6 individuals got baptized at Ytororo Church, which is a church plant of Marangatu Church.

The individuals sitting in the front row in the picture above are the very first to get baptized at this place. The evidences of our Lord's grace are all over this church. There is something beautiful and appropriate about the fact that they have even begun a new garden in front of the church building. Christ is producing an abundant harvest here, and I am confident that He will grow and lead to completion that which He has started. Please keep these individuals in your prayers as they have begun this journey in the faith.