Rock Shelters and Rickety Bridges

You know that feeling when you are suspended over a decently large stream by a bridge that resembles some sort of backyard construction project you tried to build without dad’s help? Me either, until this last weekend when our group accompanied the young adults from the local church on a trip to a country town a few hours away called Eusebio Ayala. Besides trying out our luck on how many people the bridge would hold until it collapsed, we also took several stops along the way to eat, explore the countryside including some intruding shallow, cave-like rock formations, and play soccer and volleyball.

This seems to be a heavy focus right now; getting to know the country, the people, and the churches were we will be spending the next 9 months. We have weekly trips to significant places around Asuncion inlcuding La Casa de Independcia, a monumental hill that has a specific title that I have forgotten and many of the surrounding churches were we will be working. Besides this we have also been getting to know the people we will be living and working with, so much so I find it very difficult to remember more than half their names. At least twice a week we are invited over to peoples´ houses where we will have a meal, drink terere, or just hang out. Since the location we are staying at right now is going to be the same location where I will be staying the rest of the year, I’m able to start building relationships with the church and neighborhood. For the most part I’m highly involved with the young adults group in the church where my host father preaches. I’m invited to just about every event that they happen to be doing and feel a continually warm welcome from all of them.

While familiarizing ourselves with Paraguay, we’ve also been involved in an interesting dichotomy of learning Spanish and learning how to teach English. Besides the mere immersion of learning of the language we have also been having 3 or 4 Spanish lessons a week taught by the oldest daughter Laura in the house we were are staying. Learning how to teach English has come at the expense of taking taxing bus rides to a Seminary downtown where we have been learning under two college language professors on teaching techniques and have each had at least 2 practice sessions with local Paraguayans. Both of these have proved to be amazingly helpful.

In the midst of all these happenings, I’ve managed to get sick twice; once during the first week and once more in the second week. I’m not exactly sure what caused the sickness but Krista thinks it could be related to my unconscious habit of touching every public object including hand rails, light posts and anything else within my reach. Whatever the cause, each sickness took me out of routine for at least a day. However, Maria, my host mother, who is a nurse and quiet possibly could have helped written a book on natural remedies, has nursed me back to 100% both times.

If you’ve read this far on the blog you’re a real trooper and I thank for you for you’re interest in me and my journey! I would encourage you to write a comment to let me know who is reading this and what you think of it and also because they are amazingly uplifting! Thanks!!!