The Widow's Oil

Tonight, I used the last of my shaving gel.  I know, it's not news worthy.  But it got me to thinking about 2 Kings, chapter 4; the story of Elisha and "the" widow.  The children's version goes something like this: Elisha wanted to help a poor widow. He asked what she had in her house. She said "Nothing, except a little oil." Elisha told her to borrow as many jars as she could and to fill each one with oil. She did as he said. When all the jars were full the oil stopped flowing. She went back to Elisha who said, "Sell the oil and pay what you owe. Then you and your sons can live on the money left over."

The bottom line is that God provided for their family, exactly enough for what they needed.  God used what they had and stretched it to make it work.

God has done just that for us here in Paraguay.

You see, there are a few things that we stock-pile from Target and bring with us to Paraguay, all for a variety of reasons.  Some thing (like taco seasoning and index cards) just can't be found here.  Others (like contact solution and makeup) are a lot more expensive.  Still others (like deodorant and face wash) are a matter of preference.

And a few weeks back, we started pulling out the last bottles from our supply box.

God has been faithful to stretch our resources and has made things last much longer than usual.  Case in point: my contact solution.  Back in California, I'm certain that I bought a new bottle monthly and it made it - barely - through those 30/31 days.  Here, I wear my contacts just as often, but the bottles have lasted much longer, upwards of six weeks each.

As we pack up and get ready to come back for Christmas, I am overwhelmed with God's faithfulness in the simple things. Thank you, Lord, for your provision.  Thank you for your care.

A Day in the Park

First things, first: Bailey's dropped her morning nap!  Last Thursday (Mommy's first day off work) we dropped it cold-turkey and she seems to be adjusting well.  There were, of course, fits of whining those first few mornings, but we saved up errands that needed to be ran, added a morning snack, and just kept her moving! 

Now that she's going five hours between wake-up and nap time, I know it's unreasonable to expect her to be content to just stay around the house all morning.  We'd both go crazy trying to stay entertained for that long.  So today, we packed up and headed to Parque de la Salud, a "local" park (2.5 miles away) to spend our morning there.

One great thing about the walk to the park is that it takes us right past Daddy's school.  And, since Daddy's in the middle of finals (and elective teachers don't give finals during finals week), we were able to stop by, say hi, refill our water bottles and get a dose of AC before finishing the walk to the park.

Once at the park, it was snack time!  Peach slices, raisins and a few crackers later, Bailey was ready to play.

Oddly enough, she was anti-slide at the park today.  I'm not quite sure what that was all about, but after I coaxed her up the steps and down the slide once, she stated "no" firmly each time I asked her about going down the slide again.

Before making the walk home, we stopped by school again for lunch with Daddy and more water!  By this time, it was nearly 1:00 - her new nap time - and she started dozing off about halfway back to the house.  Before falling asleep though, she starting pointing and saying "shoe, shoe."  I wasn't quite sure what that was all about, but I answered "yes, Bailey, you have your shoes." "SHOE! SHOE!" she yelled louder, pointing and waving her arm, squirming in her stroller.  I glanced down at her feel and realized that one of them was missing! (And for Bailey, the loss of a shoe would be tragic, especially one of her crocs).  Thankfully it was on the sidewalk half a block back down the road; Bailey began giggling as soon as she located it on the ground.  Once the shoe was securely back on her foot, she relaxed enough to fall asleep despite the uneven sidewalks and cobble-stone streets.

By the way, anyone else wonder why a trip to the park that started at 9 and ended at 1 only got Bailey  45 minutes of actual play time at the park?!  Oh well, it's the journey, not the destination, right?!

2 for 1

Today the school board hosted a end-of-the-semester/merry Christmas brunch for the teachers AND the teachers threw a baby shower for Sindy (our school secretary, due in February) and me!  

First, the brunch.  The board prepared a wonderful American-style breakfast for us, complete with pancakes, SYRUP!!!, eggs, lil' smokies, fruit, juice and coffee.  It was absolutely delicious and it was a nice ending to the semester.  My room was all clean, grades were submitted, check-out sheet complete . . . *sigh* . . . time to relax.  

Each table had been decorated in the theme of a different Christmas carol.  As a table, we had to "guess" the carol and lead the rest of the staff in singing through the song.  At the end, our attention was directed to the food table - with letters spelling out "we wish you a merry Christmas" running it's length - and we serenaded each other to bring the brunch to a close.  

As the board scurried off to their board meeting, the male teachers ran for the hills while we quickly changed gears from Christmas party to baby shower.  

One thing that I have loved about being in Paraguay is experiencing a different culture and how similar events are done somewhat differently (and sometimes "better" in my mind).  The shower started off with gifts and while the OCD, I-need-to-write-thank-you-cards-to-each-of-you person inside of me cringed at not having a stenographer keeping track of the gifts and their giver, I enjoyed the Paraguayan twist on the gift giving (and receiving).  Each person who had brought a gift hand-delivered the present to Sindy and me, exchanging kisses on each cheek, blessings, and (from us) thanks.  It just felt more personal, having more proximity to the gift giver (as opposed to the head-nod across a crowded room and a mouthed "thank you" shot off in their general direction).  

And even a Paraguayan baby shower wouldn't be complete without a few games.  Three to be exact.  The first found us examining and smelling diapers that had been "dirtied" by various types of chocolate candy.  Then, a diaper-changing relay that even a few elementary/junior high boys (there with their moms) took part in. 

Finally, a Paraguayan classic (or so I've been told).  While Sindy and I had been unwrapping the gifts, Tia Vero had been untangling the various bows and ribbons, tying them one after the other to make a long "rope" of colorful ribbons.  All of us married women stood in a tight circle, shoulder to shoulder and began to string the ribbon around the circle.  And just like wedding shower ribbon breaking holds a prophecy of children to come, this game divines the future, too.  Whoever the end of the ribbon reaches will be the next in the group to have a baby.  After countless rounds with the ribbon, jokes galore, and women (with high school age children) protesting their presence in the circle, the ribbon strand finally ran out in the hands of Carolina, one of our Spanish teachers.  Time will tell!

Once I made it home with my arms full of loot, Bailey was anxious to go through the gifts and check everything out.  Her favorites?  The handmade blanket from the art teacher, Diane, and a bowl/spoon set; we actually had our first (of many to come) conversations about "you don't grab things from Mommy and scream 'no' at her" when it was time to put the bowl away.

Amongst the variety of clothes, hooded towels, diapers, wipes, teething rings and such, I, too, found a favorite.  These darling shoes that I can't wait to put on Babs (her nickname, not her "real" name . . . we're still working on that one).  

I am so blessed!

Feliz Navidad

This past Tuesday night, ACA put on a Christmas performance featuring all students grades pre-kinder through 6th singing classic Christmas carols/hymns, student musicians, a live nativity scene (complete with a donkey Mary rode!), and Santa!

Santa (one of my 7th grade boys) explained at the start of the night that Christmas was not about him or the presents, but rather about celebrating the birth of our Savior.  He then passed the MC duties along to a high school student who read Luke's version of "the Christmas story", pausing for songs from various grade levels and the entry of Mary and Joseph.

While some of the grade levels sung to pre-recorded music, there were a few that sung while accompanied by a student group of violins, cellos, guitars and a piano.  Some of the group members were in SECOND GRADE.  I was impressed!

Above, the pre-kinder and kindergarten students belted out the opening number of the night.

Some of the eighth grade girls (also in my class) donned traditional Paraguayan dresses and danced along to a carol sung by the other students. 

Bailey was more intrigued with the programs than the music, but was sure to clap at the end of every number; she claps every time she hears someone else doing it - at church, on TV, in a song from a live performance . . . 

The performance ended with all of the students joining together to sing Feliz Navidad to to their parents, friends and teachers gathered on the lawn at school.  

No night would be complete without some food, right?!  Many of the grade levels (and fundraisers for class trips and graduation) hosted snack tables, selling sodas, ice cream, empanadas, Christmas cookies, fruit cocktail, sushi . . . it was quite a smorgasbord. But delicious!