Esperanza Update

6th April 2011
News, Paraguay

Dear Friends

I thought it was about time I kept you up to date with events in the Esperanza Foster Home in Asuncion. Firstly, a big thank you to all those who purchased the “Present Aid” Christmas cards that we made with Paraguayan lace snowflakes. We were really encouraged at how much we raised (over £1000 ) and are planning to do the same again next Christmas so do bear us in mind as you approach the end of the year!

The funds are certainly necessary as Esperanza is back up to its full quota of 5 children following the adoption of Alexis at the end of last year. In fact, for a brief time there were 6 children in the home as a local Judge insisted that a 3 month old girl be cared for in Esperanza while she found her a foster family. Thankfully this has now been achieved which is unusual for Paraguay where it is very difficult to find foster families as there is no funding available. The child who has replaced Alexis for a longer stay is a 2 month old boy called Santiago (James). He is doing extremely well and has grown considerably in the short time he’s been there, but a child of that age is very demanding for Juana and Mariela, her niece, who now works full time in the home. Actually, I know that Juana adores babies so she is probably delighted despite the extra work.

When I last wrote to you I mentioned that little Jose Antonio had missed out on the chance to have surgery on his cleft palate. Teresa wrote a few days ago saying “Operation Smile” were in Asuncion again and she was hopeful that Jose could now be included. The State has now declared him officially “adoptable” but she is worried that no prospective parents will come forward due to his special needs.

The legal situation of the remaining children, Barbara, Victor and Sebastian has not improved since I last wrote, in fact Teresa tells me that in one case Social Services have decided to begin the entire assessment process again.

If the birth parents are in prison or struggling with addictions or in psychiatric institutions it is very difficult for decisions to be made about the children’s future, hence the need for the loving care that Esperanza offers. If you pray, we would very much appreciate your prayers for resolution of the cases of these 3 children.

Every now and again it is possible to see how valuable time spent in Esperanza can be, as some adoptive parents are keen to keep a connection with the home. Teresa wrote last month of being invited to lunch with a family who adopted 2 brothers from Esperanza. She was thrilled and moved to see them doing so well in their new family.

Murray is still hoping to go to Asuncion in July. There are plans for him to get together with short term volunteers from “Mission Paraguay” (run by the Anglican church) to do some redecorating in the home.

As always, it is a challenge to raise sufficient funds to keep the home open on an ongoing basis. If you know of anybody who might consider starting a standing order or doing a fundraising event for us, I have lots of copies of our leaflet that I could send you.

Wishing you every blessing

Penny & Murray Metcalfe

Disciples

2nd April 2011
News

Disciples

They threw down their nets

and they followed Him.

There was no time to

calculate profit or loss.

There was no time to

call home for a second opinion.

It seemed like absolute madness.

It seemed like death.

But it was a wise madness,

a necessary death.

The old faith dropped

and sank beneath waves.

The new faith walked on water,

beckoning on to Jerusalem

and the dry hills around.

Steve Turner

Broken yet Open

1st April 2011
News

Broken yet Open

God of broken people & broken places
we confess to you our love of comfort,
of the known & predictable,
of the safe & secure.
We recognise that you call us into places that are ‘beyond the norm’.
To leave at times what we know & venture into places of discomfort.
We want to follow you, but it’s hard to leave the familiar,
help us to trust you, & journey in faith.

Far we have come, far we must go

God of broken people & broken places
We thank you for all the connections we have with South America.
We thank you for the space to listen, to grow, to be disappointed & to be challenged.
We recognise that you are calling us on,
to leave what we know & venture with you into new things, into engagement & participation, into creativity & risk, into new structures & opportunities.
We want to follow you, but it’s hard to leave what we know & we’re not sure where we’re going
Help us to trust you, & to continue on the journey of faith.

Far we have come, far we must go

God of rebuilt people & rebuilt places, you have plans for people like us, & plans for our brothers & sisters in South America.

God of transformation we commit our lives to your save keeping & with hope we continue on the journey of faith.

Far we have come, far we must go

Beryl Baker in Paraguay

15th March 2011
Paraguay, PRAY

From Asuncion on 6th March 2011

Dear Praying Friends,

Thank you for praying for rain.  Praise the Lord for his wonderful answer.  The Chaco is like the real Chaco again – green and beautiful and teeming with life.

There are first times for everything and everyone.  For many Indians, like 59 year Dionicio from La Palmera, leaving their communities  and going to a town is quite a shock.  Within a day Dionicio saw the two Mennonite towns of Loma Plata and Filadelfia and later the same afternoon, Asunción.  Going over the Remaso bridge and seeing the huge River Paraguay below; sleeping on a bed with a mattress was sheer luxury for him and finding kind people that spoke to him in Guaraní was a pleasant surprise.  All these firsts enabled him to have a scan and cataract surgery. He can now see properly and his next first was the bus terminal where I took him for the return journey to the Chaco.  I prayed for someone to travel with him to ensure that he disembarked at his destination.  Immediately Miguel Wiens, a health promoter who I had worked with many years ago, appeared. Dionicio cannot read so even finding the number of his reserved seat he could not do without help.

The truck needs a new “T Belt”, whatever that is and is grounded in town until it can be fixed.  I have to sell the truck and according to how the Lord leads purchase a newer smaller vehicle or rely in other people for transport.

A new edict from the Ministry of Health states that Indian health promoters will not receive medicines apart from paracetamol and parasite treatments.  They say a cell phone contact with bring a doctor to their aid if a patient needs antibiotics or other medicines.  It is a ridiculous way to think and absolutely impractical especially now that most of the roads are under water.

Norma, the Health Promoter at Sombrero Piri has been suspended from her job with no prior notice. The M.O.H. owe her for January and February and it was only at the beginning of January that she was asked to renew her contract.  All Health Promoters are having great difficulties without medicines and my supplies and funds have dwindled to such an extent that I am not in a position to supply whole communities with medicines as previously.

Blind Liberato’s health certificate reads, “terminal glaucoma and irreversible blindness”. He will hopefully receive a pension with this certificate but in the meantime he has nothing and like others at Sombrero Piri all the crops were scorched by the sun before the rain came.

Old Anita Severo at Makthlawaiya passed away last Saturday.  We estimate that she was 102 years of age.  Fermina Zavala also from Mak” is to receive her last session of Chemotherapy next Tuesday.

It’s been a long haul for her but at last her prognosis is more favourable and her hair is growing again

Elderly, Elodia Villable from 2 Palmas , El Estribo will have cataract surgery at Yalva Sanga on 22nd March providing I can pass through the flooded roads.

Daily Bible studies with Jeremiah are very worthwhile.  His sister, Brenda is to be a live in student at the Adventist school at Rio Verde. The future of the ranch is unknown and there may have to be changes for everyone living there

In Asuncion,5 year old Brian, Aminda’s grandson has just started pre-school and her 16 year old daughter, Ana, is doing her final three years of secondary education but finding their maths and physics very hard going.

The Paraguayan senators are back after their 3 month holiday and hopefully the bill to make all deforestation illegal will soon be passed.  The heavy rain has put a stop to a lot of destruction these past few weeks.

My health is a lot better.  Praise the Lord.!!

The theme of this morning’s service at St. Andrew’s was prayer so I will end with these encouraging words from God,

1;Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

Love and prayers,

Beryl

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