Ellen in Paraguay

“Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.”

Obviously that pun doesn’t work in Spanish, but it’s true that time really has flown by (osorry for not writing in my blog for so long). I can’t believe Jason and J.C., our two visitors from Virginia have already passed almost half of their stay here, and the four Canadian women are coming on Sunday. I have been having a good time dragging the boys around with me, to classes, to the top of Cerro Lambaré, to the place with the best empanadas, to the Hippie plaza and the place where all the Paraguayan political “heroes” are buried, and of course to my favourite stop, the supermarket. This week I made Jason dress up as a snowman with a real carrot nose, and I made J.C. teach the Barney clean-up song to the kindergarten class. I even made them do a bunch of my grading. In return for forcing them to walk long distances and embarrassing them in front of the students, I have shared a lot of my knowledge about Paraguayan culture and history. One day, just for the experience, I left Jason to drink tereré with some guys and fend on his own. I am really impressed with their language skills, and already thinking what a blessing it will be to have them help translate next week for the Canadians.

I was not disappointed at all in my expectation that they would be shocked at the pandemonic state of my classes. In spite of some frustrations experienced by J.C., during which a fourth grade girl came up to me and said “I think J.C. is getting a little angry” (haha, I can write whatever I want about him, he doesn’t read my blog), the classes this week were pretty fun and I feel like the kids have gotten a lot of exposure to the language. I love when we sing for them, even if it is just “happy birthday” or a Sharon, Lois and Bram song…sometimes my voice is weak from speaking so much, but with all of us together we fill the room and it is so happy. Jason is fairly convinced that his job as a computer programmer is meaningless in comparison and they are figuring out how much money he needs to save up to be able to come and live here. Overall, I think the boys’ greatest victory with the kids here has been goaltending for soccer and handball games.

I know I don’t have a lot of time left here, but if anyone reads this and gets inspired to visit, we’d love to have you! (Karen and Oscar too. I know I have wrote this a million times before, but I just think they are such a great, hospitable family). I admit that before I didn’t have the highest view of short term mission trips, after all, wouldn’t it be more effective to give $1500 instead of buying a plane ticket? But I have already been encouraged by my visitors, and I know that after spending less than a week here, Paraguay has already made its mark on them. I’m trying to do the best I can for all you who aren’t able to come for yourselves to experience Paraguay through my eyes.

# posted by Ellen @ 9:15 PM