Party Hardy.

First, I would like to apologize for my lack of recent updates. I see it as a good thing. That means I'm getting more acclimated and not missing you guys as much, right?? Kidding. Of course I miss you! Sometimes I just don't know what you want to read. I don't know if it gets boring reading about how I drove in Paraguay (!!!!) or that I had meat for lunch and dinner (again) or about how I had a dream that Hilary Duff and I became best friends. If there's something you want to want to hear, let me know! I'd like to try to save myself from embarrassment by not just writing what comes to my head, pretending that no one reads this. Because you do. And that means so much. That you would care enough about me to take a few minutes out of your day to read my messy and jumbled update and pray for me. I want these updates to be for you. Or if I'm completely wrong, tell me. "Nicole, you're being silly. Write about whatever you want. Include the random anecdotes. I promise not to make fun of you about it later. Pinky promise." 

All that being said, I have like a week and a half to update you on! 

Paraguayans love to celebrate. And so do I. Perfect. 

Last weekend was Dia de Juventud and the first day of Spring! Dia de Juvented is like Youth Day... You know how when you were younger you always wondered why mom got Mother's Day and dad got Father's Day. There's even Teacher Appreciation Day, Grandparent's Day, and Administrative Professionals' Day. But what about the kids?? If you were a child in Paraguay, this thought would have never crossed your mind. I think it's brilliant that Dia de Juventud and the celebration of the first day of Spring are on the same day. That means we get to play outside! On Friday, we celebrated with the school by taking them to a water park, complete with wave pool and slides, and a soccer field, of course. On Saturday, we went to a park with the youth group from church. It was such a beautiful day. Volleyball, ultimate frisbee, soccer, hot dogs, the works. 

This past weekend was also a weekend of celebration. Thursday was Charlotte's birthday! I took the bus to Tobati (about two hours away) to have dinner and dessert and a sleepover! Charlotte directed Kendra and I on how to make her special birthday Guatemalan tacos. They were seriously so yummy. I made brownies to go with the one kilo of ice cream that we bought. It was so fun! 

Charlotte, Luis, and Kendra with the Guatemalan tacos!

Birthday girl with her birthday brownies!

On Saturday, I got to experience the traditions and beauty of a Paraguay wedding. I met the groom, Esteban, many years ago, and he is good friends with my mom and Scott. In many aspects, the wedding looked a lot like what I know a wedding to be - bridal party, exchange of rings, dinner reception. I guess the biggest difference would be that it "started" at 8:30pm. However, in accordance with Paraguayan custom, the ceremony didn't actually begin until a little after 9. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception. 

The beautiful bride and groom

Sunday was also a very special day. It was the quinceñera of the younger sister of one of the girls in my small group. Lisette was celebrated very well. About 10 of her close girl friends shared a Bible verse and an encouraging word. Her aunts and cousins also shared how much Lisette means to them. We ate, watched a slide show of pictures from her life, and listened to One Direction. It was fun for me to participate in something so cultural and special. 

Lisette's friends sharing how much she means to them with her father and mother standing by. 

This past week and a half has been fun and I can definitely tell that I am settling in more. People aren't staring at me as much, as if I've come from another planet (either that, or they are hiding it well). I'm really starting to enjoy being here. I mean, not many people can say they spend a year and a half in a foreign country! Thanks for investing in my life and hanging in there with me while I'm trying to figure things out.

I miss you all. Pinky promise. 

Three Weeks, They Told Me

It took me 19 days. That's pretty close, right?

19 days to have my first breakdown of missing home. Being here is like being on a roller coaster (which I've never really enjoyed in the first place). Some days are great, and I know and am fully satisfied in being here. Other days, like today, I just want to go home.

It probably doesn't help that I stayed home sick today from school. I just want a bowl of chicken 'n stars and to watch funny videos online with my brother.

As I'm in bed praying, journaling, and listening to a sermon by Pastor Ray on the Abrahamic Blessing, the Lord is so quick to comfort me. One of the things that Pastor Ray said was that the call of being a disciple of Jesus is not always easy. It's worth it, but not easy. I couldn't agree with that more.

It is such a blessing to be a child of the Most High. If you also share this blessing, but sometimes find yourself struggling, I want to encourage you. God will be with you always. Rick Riehman shared Psalm 40 with me, and I want to pass it on to you. Here's the first couple verses: 

"I waited patiently for the Lord; 

He turned to me and heard my cry. 

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, 

out of the mud and mire;

He set my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand. 

He put a new song in my mouth, 

a hymn of praise to our God. 

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the Lord. "

While you're checking out the rest of the Psalm, listen to "Safe" by Phil Wickham. It's such a great reminder of how big our God is, yet He cares so deeply for His children. Each and every one of us. Individually.

And guess what?! I get to see my cousin, Kendra, tomorrow! She is coming into town with Graciela, one of the girls from Su Refugio, and we get to spend the afternoon together. What a blessing. I can't wait! 

Happy Sunday!!

You guys. I'm living here. Like I'm actually going to be here for a year and a half.

Yay!

For the first couple weeks, it just felt like I was visiting again. But I'm starting to feel more comfortable here, like I belong. God is so faithful to remind me that this is exactly where He wants me for this next little season of my life. I am in the midst of His will. There's no better place to be.

It hits me that I'm going to be here a while in different ways. Today at church, for example, Alcides mentioned different things happening at the church for the next month or so. I'm going to be here for all of those. I talked with Betty about her method of teaching, and I shared the difficulties I'm having with trying to teach a small group of boys English in 3 months who are at very different levels. I'll be here for that. I'll be here when the high school group from Maranatha Chapel comes in April. I'll be here to welcome the teams from e3 Partners and the James 127 Project in the end of June/early July. And when the college students from the Lutheran schools from the US and Concordia come in July and August, I'll be here. 

I'm going to be here for all of it. And right now, I'm so excited. 

Granted, I know that I am not going to always feel like this. But I am so thankful for the times Jesus gently reminds me that I am not alone. He shows me that He is with me always. He will never leave me nor forsake me. He will not slumber on me.

On Sunday, I got to go to Asuncion Fashion Week. I got to spend time with Kendra, my cousin who lives a couple hours away, on Tuesday. I got to talk with my brother on Wednesday, who I miss a whole bunch. I got to FaceTime with another one of my best friends, Tiffany, and it was so good to hear her laugh. Jesus knows how much I love fruit, and it happens to be the season for strawberries! The national tree of Paraguay is in full bloom and they are absolutely beautiful. On Friday, I went to the college age and up youth group, and guess what? We played signs. Just like I had played many times with my friends at Biola. One of my best friends, Chantelle, sent me some music that she has been listening to - like a mixed CD, my favorite.

I have only been here a little over 2 weeks, and the Lord has been so faithful. I know that won't wither away. He's here for the long haul. And He has given me you all. Thank you so much for your prayers. Sometimes it brings me to tears knowing how many people are praying for me and want to know how to be praying for me specifically. I am so humbled by your faithfulness and desire to pray for me.

Since you asked, here are some prayers requests :)
 - I would love prayer for direction and wisdom in how to teach my small group of boys who want to study in the United States. They are all at different levels with their English, we are only working together once a week, and they only have until December. Pray for their focus and dedication in learning. 
- Please pray for mi hermana, Rebeca. She is raising support to study at Palabra de Vida in Argentina in April for a year.
- We're going to get a little personal here. Something I struggle with is saying no. I often worry too much about pleasing others. I don't want to offend them if I don't want to go to another event, or am full, but I feel like I can't turn down food or dessert. Please pray that I would find the balance of respecting those who want to serve me and the things I should be attending, and when it is okay for me to say no, for my own health and sanity. 
- I would also love prayer for myself in that I would be honest with myself and my emotions. I'm not always going to like this place or what I'm doing. Pray that I wouldn't ignore those emotions, but that I would face them on with Jesus by my side.

I would also love to be praying for you. Please feel free to email me your prayer requests.

Love y'all. 

Tu Gracia es Suficiente

It hit me on the drive home tonight out of nowhere. 

God, Your grace is sufficient. 

His grace is sufficient in all things always. These words have been the backdrop at church since before I arrived. "Tu Gracia es Suficiente." Not until tonight did it make so much sense. 

I am learning that one of the things that I love about this culture is that the people are so gracious. They are gracious with me and with each other. With people they know very well and with others they don't know at all. I see their grace with me when I am stumbling over my limited Spanish to try explain myself. Grace is apparent when I'm wandering the school because I don't know exactly where I am supposed to be. Their culture is surrounded by grace. If you're experiencing car troubles, no one honks or yells as you're barely making it down the road. If you can barely get on the bus because there are so many people, no one gets upset or silently rolls their eyes. 

The world needs grace. People need grace. Even though we can show grace to others and ourselves, our God is the best and most important giver of grace. We screw up time and time again, but He is always there.

What a reminder it is that we cannot live without Him. In our weakness, His power is perfect.

"Be he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

What a week!

It's not even Friday, yet, but I want to share with you about my week! 

I started working at Heaven's Kingdom Christian School on Monday. This week, I am observing Marcelo and Lidia, both English teachers. Lidia teaches preschool through 4th grade and Level 1 of the high school. Marcelo teaches 5th and 6th grade and Levels 2 and 3 of the high school. I think I've met every single student at Heaven's! And I probably remember about 4 names. 

Monday was a little overwhelming. I didn't really know what I was going to be doing. It was only my second day in Paraguay. I still hadn't caught up with sleep. I was trying my hardest to adjust to their Spanish. I felt like I was being told I was going to be doing two different things. It was all a little much, but I praise Jesus for siestas. I have been taking full advantage! 

Tuesday was a little better. I was getting used to being there and I think the students were used to having a stranger in their class. As cute as the kindergarten and preschool kids are, I have learned that teaching them English is not my gifting. Runny noses, yelling, mumbled words, and the attention spans of goldfish, all make it very difficult to teach them. Especially when my experience of teaching English is to 40-year old Korean men who want to study at the seminary. 

During the afternoon on Wednesday, there was culto (chapel) with the older kids. Even though Heaven's is a Christian school, it is not a requirement for the students to be believers. A few students organized the culto. There was a time of worship, a speaker, and one student shared their testimony. It was a nice break from classes!

On Thursdays, I am working with three boys who want to study in the United States, but don't really speak any English. Only one boy showed up today (after the principal called all of them - I think she forgot to tell them!). When I was working in his class on Tuesday, I asked my group to go around and tell me their names, how old they are, and what they like to do. He couldn't even do that. I didn't know how today was going to go. He's been in class since February! However, I think it was so good that he came by himself. I was very impressed with how well he did! I told him that he needs to practice tonight because I am going to ask him tomorrow! Homework on the first day. I'm so mean.

Overall, this week was very eye opening for me. I am so blessed to have received the education that I did - in classrooms big enough for all the students, with more than enough school supplies, attending the whole day, and with the ability to chose which classes I wanted to take. I pray that my experience feeds my desire to teach these students to the best of my ability. They deserve the best. 


Some pictures!!!

 The culto on Wednesday. 

These are a few of the students of Level 1 with Lidia (she's wearing green).

I feel a little something in my throat and I've sneezed a couple of times since my nap, so I might go take some emergen-c. Maybe. 

Nicole :) 

I'm here!

After almost 20 hours of travel time, I have made it to Paraguay. And with such a warm welcoming.

The Lord is so quick to remind me that I am not alone. While my community here in Paraguay is not going to look the same as it has for the past couple of years, these new friendships will point me to the Jesus and remind me that He is always with me.

I am so thankful to the Gonzalez family for opening up their home, for allowing me to live with them for almost a year and a half, for feeding me, for being patient with my Spanish, for guiding me, and for supporting me. I was able to talk with Alcides today about what my time here will look like. While plans are never quite set, in Paraguay, it was nice to get some sort of idea what I’ll be doing. On Mondays – Wednesdays, I’ll be working at Heaven’s Kingdom Christian School in the English classes. On Thursdays and Fridays, I’ll be working with three high school boys who want to do an exchange program in the United States and need to work on their English. On Friday nights will be the small group with the college age girls. He also mentioned working with Charlotte at Su Refugio to start up an English program. Let’s just say, I am going to be taking full advantage of siestas.

At church this morning, I shared why I was in Paraguay and how I felt the Lord calling me to be here. A few of the elders prayed over me. What a blessing it is to have such a prayerful support system in the United States, and here in Paraguay. Prayer is going to be my anchor in an ocean of uncertainty and new experiences. Thank you all for praying for me. Some specific prayer requests:

a)    Pray that I would be bold to try new things, that I wouldn’t shy away from things that are new and uncomfortable (including speaking Spanish!).

b)   Pray for my health. While I am adjusting to a new diet and routine, pray that I would remain healthy.

c)    Pray for the children of Heaven’s, the boys I’m going to be tutoring, and the girls in my small group. Pray for harmony, openness, and the desire to learn.

Your prayers are the best support. They truly mean so much. If you would like to support me financially, please visit surefugio.org or email Scott at sckvandal@aol.com.

Here’s to a year and a half of throwing toilet paper in the trashcan!

Abide in Christ.

Nicole :)