May 2009

Praise the Lord for successful teaching practices in state schools for our third year students. The teachers in the schools were pleased with the work of our students and the children enjoyed the new and exciting activities. (See top photo)

In April the play scheme team took the toys to a large number of schools and over 150 children from disadvantaged backgrounds got the opportunity to play freely for a time. Give thanks for this valuable ministry. (See middle photo)

Give thanks for the successful training session with the team from the Quyquyho children’s home. They were inspired by the strategies we showed them to encourage children’s learning through play. The first week of May, they will set up their own, permanent, play space in the home, so please pray for the training to bear fruit and the girls who live there to really enjoy the time to play. (See bottom photo)

On 22nd and 23rd May, the annual Paraguay conference of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) will take place. FEISA has been asked to run two workshops for early years teachers. Gloria de Alvarez will do one on behavioural problems in early years and Ana Demestri will do another on how to plan projects to fit in with the Ministry of Education’s new early years curriculum. Please pray for the smooth running of these workshops, for time and wisdom for Gloria and Ana in the preparation, and for all the teachers who attend to be blessed, encouraged and challenged to become better teachers.

Last year’s third year students, who were following the pilot curriculum from the Ministry of Education, have now completed their studies. They will graduate at the end of this year along with the current third years. Please pray for their transition from student to full-time teachers; for all that they have learnt during their time at FEISA to bear fruit in the loving and dedicated way they carry out their vocation. Pray for the lives of the children they teach to be transformed by the love of Christ.

There has been very little rain in Paraguay these past months. The months from February to April are when the water tanks and ponds in the Chaco usually fill to provide water for the drier winter months. However, the lack of rain means there is not even enough water right now for 5 different regions of the country. The government has declared a state of emergency in those five regions, covering most of the Chaco, the northeastern region of Concepción and the southwestern region of Ñeembucú, and is providing assistance. Please pray urgently for abundant rain.

Please pray also for political stability in Paraguay. The past few weeks have seen revelations about President Lugo’s past that include fathering at least one child while he was a Bishop. And this week, on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, bombs were found near government buildings and defused by the police. The Opposition parties are clamouring for resignations and there is a general atmosphere of instability and uncertainty.