November 2008

photos: 3rd year students' trip to the Chaco

Praise God because all the donations we were promised this year have now come through. Please continue to pray for more people and organisations to become interested in supporting FEISA’s work. Due to the severe fall in the value of the pound and Paraguay’s high rate of inflation over the past year, the same work costs a lot more money to carry out. Our bank reserves, which we rely on each year before the donations come in, have diminished greatly during 2008 and, even if the exchange rate stays as it is, will only see us through to July. However, most of the donations we receive come through in the September of each year, so we need to build up our reserves so that we have the funds we need to get to the end of September. We rely on your prayers!

Give thanks for a successful time of teaching practice for the majority of our students. We were most encouraged to hear positive feedback from teachers at the schools about how well-prepared the students were and how creative their lessons were.

The third years went to the Chaco as part of their teaching practice experience (see photos). They saw a variety of different education projects in indigenous and Mennonite communities. In one indigenous school in El Estribo they painted a mural and organised games and a snack for the children. Praise the Lord for safety on the trip and the positive impact it had on the students.

Praise God for a very successful workshop with indigenous teachers in El Estribo on how to use FEISA’s Christian education resources in Enxet with children. The project co-ordinator, Sam Parsons said, “It was very exciting to watch the teachers have a go themselves and see them be creative with the resources.”

Please pray for wisdom for Estela and Gloria, the head and academic co-ordinator of FEISA, as they make modifications to the teacher training curriculum in order to make it even more effective and cost-efficient.

Pray for the 1st and 2nd year students and teachers this month as lessons finish and exams start. Pray for wisdom for the teachers in planning the final weeks of teaching and for good time-management for the students so that they can revise well. Exams start on the 17th November and last 3 weeks.

Finally, praise the Lord because the drought in the Chaco this year provoked a quick response from the authorities, who instituted a state of emergency in the area and provided water and other necessities to the indigenous communities there. Give thanks also because of the recent rain which has alleviated the situation significantly.