As we get ready for bed for the second night in Paraguay, I don't know who's more pleased, us or the Christians on this end who are welcoming us so graciously, both missionaries and nationals. Regardless, we are finishing our second day of this adventure, and God is already doing some - I wish I had a better adjective - cool stuff.
It started with the trip itself. Those who know me may know that I am usually scared to fly. I don't mean a little nervous, I mean cling-to-the-arm-rest-jump-at-every-little-turbulence scared! So, when we boarded our first flight from Boston to Panama city on Copa Air, I expected it to be no different. But I was relaxed. Like, completely, relaxed. It felt like I was a kid arriving at school and realizing that the class bully was absent. It felt so good to have that horrible anxiety just not present. Part of me wondered where my bully was, and I expected him to show up, but he never did. That flight and next the flight to Asuncion were just plain fun! I know a lot of prayer was behind this "peace that passes all understanding" and I want to thank profusely those who prayed specifically for my anxiety.
We did our first show here today. It was at a small, private school near our host church's building. Working with a translator came back to us immediately, and the kids loved the show. We ended by giving everyone present, including staff, bracelets that were made by our friends at the White Rock Baptist Church specifically for this trip. They contained colored beads that represented various parts of the Gospel story: red is for Jesus blood shed on the cross, etc. You may know this concept as 'the Wordless Book'. Everyone, adults included, were very pleased with this small gift.
The talk of the day was the weather. It is winter here, but yet the high of 56 F had everyone discussing how bitterly cold it is. The wind and rain didn't help, and many people couldn't believe we live in a place that gets 'even colder'. If the chilly air was the talk of the day, the highlight of the day came as a result of something as mundane as dropping by another school unannounced to ask if we could change the start up time of our shows there next week. When we walked in the office, the principal was on the phone having a very emotionally charged conversation. After she hung up, she was crying and approached John, our missionary host, and hugged him and wept. Their conversation was in Spanish, so I didn't really understand anything until after the fact, but here's the jist of it:
She told John about her unpleasant conversation - I don't know nor need to know the specifics - and couldn't believe God sent her a pastor into her office right when she needed one. She said she was stunned to see that God would care about her that much. John asked if we could pray for her, and she quickly hustled other people out of her office, and we prayed. Our visit to the school was totally unexpected, and the principal only met John once - when he booked the shows initially - all of which is to say, this was a divine appointment in the truest sense. God really did bring her someone to pray with when she needed it most.
And now, as we turn out the lights for the second time in Asuncion, Paraguay, we can sleep in the rest of knowing God is in control here south of the equator, too, knowing that even our dreams are but a shadow of what God will do tomorrow.