First, I cannot believe I did not talk about Su Refugio in the blog. Su Refugio was a place we visited on that Friday in between our last Magdalena movie showing (which went very well), and our departure on Saturday. Su Refugio is literally translated as "His Refuge," and this place is truly a place of refuge. It is nestled in one of the most beautiful places of Paraguay and is a place where the word of God is told every day.
When we visited, it was still under a lot of construction. Nobody had moved in yet. It now serves as an orphanage, and has a beautiful church, as well as housing for a missionary family that are like parents to these orphans. They were still building the place up: including finishing construction, planting, digging their own well, laying bricks, etc etc. There is an amphitheater there, and they are hoping to build a sports center and even a seminary in the future.
Since we have visited, the children have moved in! They have slowly but steadily been completing project after project, and it is truly a beautiful and vibrant place full of love. Please check out this site on facebook, it is Su Refugio's site, and there are many photo, text, and video updates. It is a blessing to be able to see God building up something so wonderful for his Kingdom!
Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Su-Refugio/227885753650?ref=ts
One of the most amazing things that was created at Su Refugio is a large semi-circular mural. I think translated from spanish it is called the "mural of hope." It is exactly that, as from beginning to end, it is a visual portrayal of the Bible. Everything points to Jesus, whether pointing to Him from the Old Testament, or pointing back to Him and anticipating His return in the New Testament. It is a beautiful and accurate portrayal of this. Nobody can walk into Su Refugio and leave with the ability to say they have not seen or heard the Gospel. It is a beautiful thing. Watch one of the latest videos on their wall, it appears as if there will be a documentary on the wall coming out in the near future!
Since we have left, God has obviously not stopped working in the lives of the people down in Paraguay, as well as the lives of the team and our church.
We recently received an e-mail with some updates of what is going on in San Lorenzo.
Dr. Miguel, Pastor Alcidez, and a missionary/church planting team coordinator Scott Kvandal recently went and visited the men working in an industrial factory. They shared the Gospel, and showed them the hope they too could have if they trusted their lives with Jesus. Some of the men prayed to receive Christ and Dr. Miguel is now starting a Bible study with the men in the factory. I hope this is as encouraging to you as it is to me. As I have written many times over these past blogs, GOD IS GOOD!!!
From occasional updates from Maximo and some of the friends we have made in Paraguay, it sounds like God is working in many other ways too. There are people from various neighborhoods that have started attending church regularly and who truly are devoting their lives to Jesus, who before were living hopeless lives and mostly by a works-based salvation. To see God work in the hearts of these people and to see Him turn lives around for good is so encouraging.
Another small blessing is just that many of us continue to keep in touch with friends we have made. Although we lives absolute miles apart, it is wonderful that we are all so connected by Jesus and how He has touched each of our lives personally.
There are many things that have happened to each of us personally as well. A lot has happened in the past 6 months, but through blessings, struggles, praises, and hardships we all know that it is for the Glory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This is why we went down in the first place. To spread to Gospel that is so worth spreading. Before Jesus, we were hopeless sinners who did not have a single chance of saving ourselves by any power of our own. Jesus, who lived a sinless life, died in our place, and rose again restored that hope, and it has touched each of our lives in a real and powerful way.
Ephesians 2: 1-10
2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
This was one of the most meaningful passages we shared with the people, and one of the greatest truths you will ever hear.
Thanks for reading this, look for possible blog updates on what God is doing in Paraguay in the future!
IN Christ,
Victoria
