A Year

One year ago today, we left our home in Paraguay.  I cried for hours.  Actually, I think I had already been crying for days.   

I cried halfway to the capital city.  I cried while we sat at the tire shop getting a flat tire fixed and the men stared at me. 

I cried unashamedly as we fueled the van up and the boy from our church averted his eyes from my pain. 

Despite appearances, I was leaving well.  I had said my goodbyes, did special things one last time with friends, I’d eaten local foods, prayed blessings over precious heads, even left time for impromptu goodbyes.   

I did all the right things, all the things they suggest, but regardless, the act of leaving still threatened to drain the life right out of me.  (Incidentally, I think that’s one of the biggest lies missionaries fall for.  We think that if we UNDERSTAND something, we shouldn’t have to experience the emotions of that thing, be it culture shock, transition stress, etc.). 

In some ways our departure from Paraguay was more painful than others we had experienced because we had worked so hard to put down roots and make it home.  And it had truly became that, against all odds, in under two years.

I still miss it, but I haven’t cried for it again since that day.  I know myself (and His grace).  The leaving is hell, but I’m always ok when I get where I’m going. 

In a strange way, it’s actually a blessing to have gone through so many transitions because now I know myself and how I instinctively handle them, which allows me to adjust my thinking and behavior to be able cope with them healthily.     

And now here I am, three hundred and sixty five days later…in Washington state, a totally different life.  Another change coming, this time a precious little girl joining our family.  This is a transition I haven’t done before (well, at least not in PINK!).  And it will be a goodbye of sorts too, I suppose but I have every confidence that God will guide me not only through it, but also through the emotions of another change, albeit a joyful, desired one.      

There truly is a season for everything…and this year has been proof of God’s loving work, using all things to shape me into His image…sowing in tears, reaping in joy…it’s all His grace. 

Our Peaceful Place

Welcome to our home!  I am so glad you came!  :)  We are blessed to be renting this house from another missionary family who will not need it for the next five plus years.  It’s incomprehensible, in the most wonderful way, to think about not having to move for that long!  

When you walk through the front door (which is to the right of my purse), you enter the dining room.  The table remains my favorite piece of furniture!   

Still to do: The curtains are going to get a little lengthening treatment so I can get away from the high water look (and also hopefully raise the curtain rods a bit so that the ring clips are not competing with the window trim).  Stay tuned!

The dining room and living room are actually one long, skinny room.  This is the furniture I had to work with for this small living space but I was not happy with the lack of color, pattern, varied wood tones or scale (the sofa is much too bulky)!  Alas, that is life when you buy furniture for one rental and have to find a way for it to work in the next.  :)

 

So first, my super talented friend (and now sewing teacher) Brenda made the chair slipcovers and I used a painters drop cloth to cover the coffee table. 

 

Even though it didn’t feel right, it stayed this way until the weather got cold and we moved the couch right in front of the fireplace for staying warm! 

Then it dawned on me: putting the arrangement on the diagonal took away the improper balance of weight in the room!  It felt so much better!  Eventually, I hope to get 2 side chairs (with my Christmas money??) so that we aren’t sitting on hard dining room chairs for visiting with our friends!  :)  But for now, it works and all it cost was less than $15 for the chair slips. 

Still to do: Sew some little pillows to put on the chairs for color and verve .  It’s all a bit predictable right now!  :)  Also, hang some family pictures!  It’s driving me crazy that we only have one picture of family hanging on the walls! 

Across from living room on the left is the entrance to the TV room.  We’ll skip the toy mess and move on.  :)

Next you come to the main bathroom on the right.  The brown shower curtain was one I had on hand.  It was ok, but it just felt like it went a little too well with the 70’s tile, so I used some of my birthday money (thanks Dad and Mom) to buy this fabric.  After a couple of sewing lessons, I completed my first big project!  I’m happy with it. 

Because the ceiling is low, I wanted the shower curtain to go to the ceiling to make the room look bigger, as well as hide the shower head, etc.  Unfortunately, it needs to be a few inches off the floor because of the water drainage. 

I’m hoping to find a pretty burnt orange rug to warm up the space a bit and eventually I think it would look much better to have burnt orange/rust/umber walls too.  The current paint color works well in the rest of the house, but for some reason (lighting?) it doesn’t look that great in here. 

I’d also like to replace the tan towels with burnt orange (if I don’t end up painting) because that would really help the paint color to look less “off” as well (I always have so many plans for my Christmas money!!).  For now, it’s fine!

If you continue straight down the hall, you get to my kids’ room but I didn’t take photos of that either.  Hardly anything is done in there.  I still have beds to paint, hang their names, etc.  The do have their Pottery Barn Inspired Transportation Art hanging though.  :)

Then to the left at the end of the hallway is the master bedroom.  You can see I did a little rearranging since this and this.  I wasn’t happy with the headboard so this is what I came up with for now. Often in the past, I have used a window for the “headboard” but I could not get that to work for me this time because of where the windows are located!  Oh well!  Eventually, we’ll figure out a headboard, maybe even by filling in the other one with some bead board or something. 

The desk was formerly my hall table but it was a lot prettier than my other desk and fit the space better too so it got a coat of white.  I absolutely love it! 

     

The location of the bed is totally impractical for opening the windows, but I’m more “form” than a “function” so for now it stays! 

Still to do: Some sort of art or pictures! 

I’m sure you are wondering about the kitchen…I’ve got a project brewing there (hint: it has to do with the Sermon on the Mount) and I want to finish it first!  But I do have plenty of cabinet and counter space which is such a blessing! 

So, now that we have the house tour out of the way, we can sit down for a good latte and visit a bit!  You KNOW you are always welcome here!   

One Year in Paraguay!

Today we celebrate one year of ministry in Paraguay!  I am so thankful to the Lord for how much this country and her precious people have worked their way into my heart already!  I can honestly say I love it here!

Three moves, learning a new culture and ministry, one major health crisis and 4 extra kiddos made this a busy and challenging year to say the least, and yet I wouldn’t trade what CHRIST has done in me through it all.  I pray that He will continue to increase in my heart and somehow use me to make Him known here in Paraguay.   

Thank you so much for your love, prayers and support over the past year!  I am so thankful for every single one of you who read my blog!   

Also, I hope to get back to blogging regularly again soon.  I have really missed it!  Thanks for your patience while I finish getting settled in house number three and also host some family visiting from Colombia and the United States.  I’ll be back soon with pictures of our new home! 

What’s Different: We Don’t Knock, We Clap

When you arrive to someone’s house here in Paraguay, you don’t walk right up to the front door and knock.  Instead you stand at the edge of their porch and clap.  If they don’t come to the door, you can try to clap again louder and say hello to see if they just didn’t hear you the first time. 

 
Several times there has been someone at my house and I didn’t realize it until I just happened to walk out into my kitchen and see them.  I am not quite used to listening for the clapping, so I think that is the main reason I miss it, though we do almost always have a fan too on which drowns out a lot of noise!

How do you announce your arrival to someone’s home in the country where you live?  I’d love to hear! 

photo credit

Pillars of Love

Walking, wandering they catch my eye.

Aged by time, colored beautiful by the elements.

They aren’t just borders, boundaries, no. 

Rather pillars of some pilgrims love for his land. 

They whisper that which my soul has already begun to know,

this is a land worth loving.   

It is, and I do. 

These are my pillars now too.

What’s Different – The Seven

I learned a small but important difference recently when I ordered copies for my Bible study.  This is what I ordered:

What do you read there?  I thought I was writing page twenty seven to forty three, seven copies.  Instead, I found out I wrote page twenty one through forty three, one copy.  Hmmm…

Turns out, the seven here has a dash through it.   Good to know!  Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to get my other six copies!  :)

The Plagues of 2010

Every time it rains here in the Chaco, we get a new wave of bugs.  So far the worst was the plague of beetles that decided to make our porch (and air conditioner) their graveyard, leaving the stench of death everywhere! 

Yesterday these funky grasshoppers meandered onto our porch.  They are certainly the most interesting bug to visit us after a rain.  They move really slowly and stay together in groups.  I took this picture after I saw them from my kitchen window all circled around like they were having a big powwow. 

Thought you’d like a little peak into my buggy world!  After all, doesn’t every missionary have a bug story?     

What’s Different – They Ride Bicycles

One of the things that makes my new home so charming, is that elderly people (and people of all ages) ride their bicycles around town. 

Every time I see that one of them meandering along, I’m transported to a more wholesome era.  An era when people took time to enjoy enjoy a scenic ride to the grocery store, to wave and call out a greeting to their neighbor.  It’s very Old Europe and I love it!  

And yes, they do have baskets on their bikes.  Is it strange that I love that so much?  :)

Photo: All Posters

What’s Different – The Food’s From Around Here

One of the neat benefits of living here in Paraguay is that we live very close to our food source.  Everything from our milk products, to our peanut butter, to our dried beans, to our bread and even some of our fruits and vegetables come from within a half hour drive of our house.  Our supermarket also sells homemade pasta, home canned pickles and locally made pastries.   

My eggs come from a neighbor down the road and it floors me how H.U.G.E. they are! 

We eat quite healthy when we are living abroad because we don’t eat pre-packaged, processed, preservative laden foods.  Convenience foods are virtually non existent and canned foods are very expensive.  A can of tuna, for instance, can cost you $2.00 (as compared to 33 cents in the US).  A small 8 oz can of black beans costs $1.50 here (as compared to $.49 for a 16 oz can in the US).  So we cook the old fashioned way, which I enjoy and which really tastes amazing, even though it takes a lot more planning ahead!

What's Different - Tea Time (Tereré)

Every day at 9 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon, the people of Paraguay take a collective pause for tea.  This tea is called Tereré (te-re-ray) and is made from yerba maté (Yerba ma-tay) which is a species of holly. 

Everywhere you go, people carry with them a water thermos and their tea supplies.   It's the equivalent of the latte in American culture. 

There is quite a rich culture surrounding this tea, the most important of which is the invitation to and solidification of friendship.  Paraguayans are extremely friendly and accepting.

The tea is served out of a guampa (gwam-pa) and taken through a bombilla (bom-bee-ya) which is a metal straw with a strainer at the end of it. The host fills the guampa with tea, then nestles the bombilla down to the bottom.  Water is poured over the tea and taken through the bombilla.  You should drink until the tea "talks" or makes a little slurp as it is considered uncouth to leave water in the guampa. 

The server (normally the host) takes the first drink because the tea is somewhat bitter in the beginning.  After that, if there is a person of importance present, they would receive the second drink, followed by the next person in clockwise fashion.  If you didn't already catch on, everyone shares the same cup and straw!  

It is considered rude to refuse the tea when it is offered.  Remember, it's not just a tea, it is a sign of friendship.  After two or three rounds, you can finish without giving offense.  A simple "gracias" lets the server know that you are through and he will skip you through the rest of the visit.   

Traditionally, tereré is not mixed with food, though certain sectors of the culture do regularly eat a snack with their tea.  We were advised that it is good to eat a little snack just before you drink Tereré to give a "shelf" for the tea "to rest on" in your stomach.   Tereré should never, ever be mixed with watermelon - though I haven't been able to find out exactly why that is!  :)  

While 9am and 3pm are the "recognized" times, there's never a bad time for a  tea break, especially in this hot climate!  I personally find Tereré refreshing, especially when enjoyed in the company of good friends!   

What's Different - Um Hmm...Do we have to talk about this?

One of the things that is probably the hardest for North American's to get used to is having to throw your TP into the trash can, instead of into the toilet.  For us, the idea is just, well, gross.  But believe me, it is much better than a backed up toilet which is what can happen if you put the TP into the toilet as the plumbing system is not designed to handle TP (small pipes).  Enough said.

Photo: nkzs

What's Different - Greetings

Here in Paraguay greetings are a little different!  The first time you meet someone, you shake hands.   Generally, after that, you would give that person a kiss on each cheek.   

Here are the rules (as I understand them):

     Man to man - shake hands or hug if a close friend

     Woman to man - man waits for women to lean in, then he knows it is ok to give the kiss greeting.  If woman is uncomfortable for whatever reason, she offers her hand instead.  Normally, however, here is no problem with giving the kiss greeting to a man.  

     Woman to woman - a kiss on each cheek

     Dignitaries or other important people - shake hands to show respect

It's also important to greet everyone in the room when you enter.  North Americans are notorious for entering a room and just giving a "hey, howdy, hey!" to everyone.  That is considered very rude to a Latin.  Here you enter a room, and go around the room greeting each person.  When you depart from a gathering, you should generally also say goodbye to everyone individually.  The handshake or kiss is repeated at departure.

The population of the Paraguayan Chaco where we live is about one half Mennonites.  I just found out that they greet each other with a handshake or a hug if they are close friends.  Oops!   I had been giving the kiss greeting for about two months!  Obviously being Paraguayans they are familiar with the kiss greeting so as far as I understand it wasn't offensive, just not the way they normally do it. 

As a side note, Honey and I found it difficult when we were home in the US last year to remember NOT to give the kiss on the cheek at greeting.  It's funny how you get so used to one way of doing things, you don't even realize it's become a part of you! 

See you next Wednesday for the next installment of What's Different!  If there is something specific you are interested in, let me know in the comments!  I love comments!  :)

Photo:dailymail.co.uk

What's Different - Mopping

The mop in much of South America is a long handled squeegee and a thin absorbent rag.  The rag is dipped in the mop water, wrapped around the squeegee, then passed over the floor until it needs rinsed.  When you are finished mopping, you wash your mop rag.  I personally really like the idea of starting off with a clean mop rag each time, instead of trying to get a mop head clean after each use like we do in the US!   

Come back next Wednesday for more What's Different and if you haven't read about the Widow Maker, click here!  

What's Different - The Widow Maker

I'd like to introduce you to what locals call The Widow Maker. My husband refers to it as a Self Electrocution Kit.


We don't have a hot water heater so any water we want to warm has to be heated on demand with one of these fancy contraptions. It's a scary thought to have wires in your shower, believe me! And because we have a high mineral content in our water, I was getting shocked every time I tried to adjust the temperature of the water! Yikes!

Then some experienced missionary told us you can just put some hose on the shower handles and then you won't get shocked. Much better!


Thanks for reading the first installment of What's Different! Come back next Wednesday for more!

I Love that Tree

A few weeks ago, while driving into town, I almost hit the ditch. Only it wasn't a cattle truck that threatened to run me off the road. It was a mere thought.

"I love that tree!"

Unbidden, it had entered my mind. And just as quickly as I caught my breath, it sank to my heart.

It was different than the, "how lovely!" of a tourist who passes through. But really, why should the sight of the algarroba dotting the countryside knock the wind out of me so?

Because with that simple thought came the overwhelming realization that I was beginning to feel at home. That there was a rightness in my being here. My heart was lifted in praise to the God who is merciful. The One who knows my weakness, and yet chooses to bless me.

I've since decided the algarroba is my tree, my special reminder that I belong here.

What about you? Have you ever been surprised by the overwhelming sense that you belong right where God has you? I'd love to hear about it!

While we're on the topic of trees, click here for a super interesting post about the Bottle Tree of Paraguay!

Nuestro Refugio en Paraguay

Welcome to My Place of Peace, now broadcasting from our new HOME in Paraguay! So glad you're here!

My vision for our home here was "Farmhouse Revival" and I repurposed lots of beautiful salvage from this barn. So much, in fact, that my husband was overheard muttering, "You don't have to repurpose everything in the barn, dear".

The view from my kitchen window

Beautiful light filters into our bedroom when the shutters are open. Yes, we actually have functioning shutters!

This project cost less than $1 for supplies but delivers major impact

Quite possibly my favorite piece of art ever

The laundry room was really dark because the ceiling is very low so we lightened it up with a few coats of paint.

I have always really enjoyed laundry, but never so much as now! It's wonderful to have a beautiful space, especially I spend a lot of time in the laundry room! :)

These plates have been from the US, to Venezuela, back to the US and now to Paraguay. So pretty.

The kitchen has very little counter space (or storage for that matter), so we changed this freestanding cabinet into an island. Lots of thanks to honey for going forward with the project even though he was skeptical!

I think she turned out beautiful, don't you? The extra counter space is a life saver and honey wired the island with 110 so I can run my kitchen aid too!

Ode to a math teacher (and all his patience as he painted, fixed and hung pictures!). Love you, honey!

I fell in love with this dining room table, but didn't think we would be able to get it. Honey surprised me on our anniversary with the news we could! It seats 10 easily. Come on down for a home cooked meal!

Special thanks to my friend Jen for coming to the rescue with a fabric that would make my brown and yellow swirl tile look good! :)

Bathroom Before. If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. :)

And after. Much better! Guess where the old bicycle basket in the window came from? :)

Thanks so much for coming on a little tour of our new home. Even though it is a one year rental, it's so important to be surrounded by beauty and feel at home! Leave me a comment and let me know what you think! :)

The Legend of Nanduti

Like most beautiful things, Nanduti is said to have been born out of love...

Two young men loved the Cacique's (Chief's) daughter. While he alone determined her destiny, he loved his daughter and desired her happiness. He devised a contest that would be sure to show which young man would be best suited to marry his daughter. Each one must bring a gift. But not just any gift. A unique gift. One that would cause the Cacique to release his daughter to marriage.

One young man was very rich, and there was nothing he could not buy. He gathered every kind of animal and prepared them to be taken to the Cacique.

But the other young man was beyond poor (you knew it would be so, surely). He had nothing, and no way to buy anything for his beloved. As he wandered through the woods, he looked up and saw an elaborate spider web hanging from a branch. He thought to himself, "How perfect! I will take this as my gift!" But as he reached up to grab it, it disolved in his hands. He left the forest weeping, completely defeated.

His mother heard his cries and found him. As he poured out his dilemma, she assured him that all would be well. She found another spider web and sat down to mimic it's pattern and create her own beautiful web. Using the hair from her own head, a stunning salt and pepper, she weaved the first nanduti.

When the poor young man presented his gift, the Cacique gave his daughter to him. Since that day women all over Paraguay have been creating nanduti out of lovely colored thread.

Nanduti means web in Guarani, one of Paraguay's two official languages.

We've Got Wheels

We are so thankful for the Lord's provision of a 95 Mitsubishi Delica 4x4 van. THANK YOU to everyone who gave so generously to this project!

It's hard to believe we have been here for 3 weeks already. Our orientation is going really well and we are enjoying it, though I confess I'm starting to feel VERY anxious to get settled in our home up north. It's always hard to be in limbo, but my longings for a home of our own bring me back to the sufficiency of my REAL HOME.

Historic Asuncion

With Cacique (Chief) Lambare, who is known for opposing the Spanish rule of Paraguay. His monument is at the highest point in Asuncion.

The oldest Cathedral in Asuncion, over 450 years old (though it was demolished and reconstructed in 1842).

Right next to the Cathedral is the Catholic University. The brick work is beautiful on this building. I adore all the columns and arches, don't you?!

This is the President's Office. He actually resides in another location. This lovely estate was built by the first President, Carlos Antonio Lopez, as a private residence for his son, Mariscal Lopez (who suceeded him in the presidency). Later it was turned over to the government.

This week I hope to get out to Mariscal Lopez street to take some pictures for you of the fabulous mansions! Their architecture is so spectacular! And across from the American Embassy there is a house build as a replica of the the house in Gone with the Wind! I'll be sure to get a picture of that one for you! :) Come back soon!

Destination: Paraguay

We made it to Paraguay! Thanks so much for your prayers. We were delayed overnight in Brazil, but that was a total blessing in disguise because we arrived a little more rested (they put us up in a little hostel where we slept for about six hours).

We were met at the airport in Asuncion by Honey's sister and family, our Paraguayan host family along with our host church's pastor and wife, as well as a representative from our mission.

Here are a few pictures from our first week here:

Making Mbeyu, a Paraguayan cheese pancake typically enjoyed during the month of June.

The finished product, which strangely enough tasted like macaroni and cheese to me! :)

Coffee comes with sugar already mixed in here!

The basket of food our host church prepared for us - so sweet and generous!

This brand of paper products has a bit of a superiority complex, wouldn't you say? :)