National Holiday Made for a Short Week

This was our hotel we stayed in called Hotel Florida in the town of Filadelfia. Most people speak German and Spanish here. There is a big Mennonite cooperative called Fernheim that owns everything including the hotel and the supermarket. They also sponsor a organization that helps the indigenous people with healthcare and job training.

This is the meeting that Ken and Elder McClure were able to attend and make so many connections. Yes, Ken was schmoozing! The meeting was about the highway they are building from ocean to ocean (Atlantic to Pacific) that cuts right across Paraguay's Chaco. 

Chris stayed at the hotel with a stomach bug, yuck. Upside, we did find a new Powerade flavor down here. Manzana (apple). We like it. 

One sign we weren't quick enough to get pictures on the way north was the jaguar crossing sign. Glad we were safe in the car. 

Below are some beautiful yellow and red wild flowers. Honey is a big business here because of all the beautiful flowers. At different times of the year the honey tastes different because of the different flowers in bloom.

One of the connections we made in Filadelfia was with the head of the Paraguay's electric company. We had a meeting scheduled for 15:00 the day we drove home. On our way home, we found out there was a national workers strike and the president of the electric company wanted to know if we still wanted to come to the meeting. Just in case there was trouble in the streets, we decided the men would go and the women would stay home and unpack and get dinner ready. 

There were so many little "coincidences." The new president of the electric company was the one who had started to get electricity out to the community of Mistolar several years ago but the work was halted by the last president of the country. In May, Paraguay elected a new president and the president of the electric company has the go ahead to finish bringing electricity to Mistolar. Oh how that will change and sustain life in that beautiful community!

Thursday began with meetings about water in Mistolar, goodbye ice cream cakes with our trainers, two of our projects finally being approved (mammography digitalization and equipment for the national burn center) and finished off with a trip to Mr Lomitos. We discovered Mister Lomitos about a month ago and have been meaning to share the food pictures so here goes.

Chris's burger smothered in cheese and Ken's arabian

Mandioca is a root plant that is used like a potato and served a lot at meals, usually boiled but this is fried. Mandioca to the left and Papas con cheddar to the right.

These pictures are from about a month ago. We took our trainers here last time they were in Paraguay and they liked it so Thursday night we came again but we forgot to get a picture with them. Maybe because we were exhausted.

Friday was a national holiday in Paraguay. the Virgin of Caacupé Day in Paraguay.

“It is a day that celebrates the belief that Mary, mother of Jesus, was preserved from original sin all of her life.

For Roman Catholics, it is observed as a day of obligation with required church attendance.

The Immaculate Conception is a day whose meaning is often confused. By the sounds of it, one would think we would celebrate the day Jesus was conceived*. On the contrary, it is the day that the Blessed Mother Mary was conceived.” https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/paraguay/immaculate-conception-day 

That morning we woke up and left for Camp Moroni out in the county for our ward activity. Before leaving the city we came upon a motorcycle accident with the dead man's body in the street covered by a tarp. It was a somber moment as we considered how short life on earth is and what his family might be going through. We don't know when we will be called home to our Heavenly Father. Always be kind and loving so there are no regrets.
Below are some pictures of Camp Moroni on the outskirts of Itaugua and Aregua and across from Lago (Lake) Ypacarai. The park is beautifully taken care of by service missionaries. The ward rented a bus so everyone could get there. We took a fleet car because we had to leave early to bring our trainers to the airport. It is an hour drive there and when we got to the camp pavillion before the asado was ready for lunch they had sandwiches. In Paraguay having a ham and cheese sandwich for breakfast is not unusual and remember, their breads are amazing.

After breakfast some of us went on the path around the camp. The camp itself is about 30 acres. 

Another cool lizard

Some mangos Ken picked directly from the tree.

We really love it when when people here share and explain their customs and traditions. As we went on our walk around the camp property we learned they have a coconut tree in Paraguay that produces small walnut size coconuts. Cows chew on the outer fleshy part of this type of coconut. Humans dry them and within the flesh part is a the nut that is very sweet. Above is a picture of the tree and where you see yellow is the coconut flower. A tradition at Christmas is to place an unopened coconut flower under your Christmas tree and have it open. Coconut flower is the smell of Christmas in Paraguay. A coconut flower is also placed by the manager as a gift to the baby Jesus along with melons of all kinds that are in season. 

We also learned that in Cuidad del Este there is a large Japanese population along with a smaller Chinese population. Around the city of Incarnación there is a Russian,  a Slovakian and a Ukrainian community as well.

While waiting for the asado, we taught some people how to play UNO. That is one game that is easy to play and explain in another language because it is colors and numbers. We had a lot of laughs. 

We had to leave right before lunch at 13:00 so they piled up food for us to take, much more than two people could eat so we were able to share some with the McClures so they didn't need to buy airport food. Along with the meat and sausage, was a yummy rice, vegetable and mayo salad and bread.

Below some lost soul in Asunción has a University of Utah and New York Yankees sticker on their car.

One thing about being in a foreign country is that even if it says it's the same thing it may taste different. We are trying to find a brand of peanut butter that meets our expectations. The first one we tried was too runny (but now makes a great butter container). The one on the right was so sweet Chris made peanut butter cookies without using sugar and they are still sweet.

An attempt at a form of Chex mix but they don't have any cereal without a sugar coating on it. Well, at least it will last longer.

 Our spiritual thought for the week comes from Alma 19:6. King Lamoni has fallen to the ground seemingly lifeless for a few days and the queen comes in because some of the people think he is dead and want to lay him in the sepulchre and the queen says her famous line, "some say that he is dead, but others say he stinketh and that he ought to be placed in the sepulchre; but as for myself, to me he doth not stink." As funny as verse 5 sounds, verse 6 is a testimony of what we celebrate at Christmas in the Light of the World, Jesus Christ:
" King Lamoni was under the power of God; . . . the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul,"
In this busy season and always, let us consider and look for His light of goodness in each other, ourselves and our circumstances because He is there ready to heal, strengthen, comfort, redeem and gather us home if we have eyes to see Him and his blessings. Abide in and with Him as He abides in you.
We have felt your prayers and love across the miles and continue to see the Lord's hand in our work here in Paraguay. Thanks for all your love and support and examples. We have never been more sure that we are supposed to be here at this time. Have a great week!