Thank You

“How are you feeling about leaving Paraguay, Alyssa?” I’ve probably been asked this question at least 10 times in the last week. Trying to be self aware, I’ve probably asked myself the same things four times as often. The only response that comes to mind is “Thankful.” Over Christmas I got to host my beloved family in my beloved town of Villarrica. Despite having neither water nor air conditioning much of the time, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Renee described it best by saying that when your favorite people come to this place you’ve come to love, your world is perfect for a short amount of time. I felt that. I felt honored that they’d spend the money to come down. I felt deep respect for them that they had such great attitudes despite being physically uncomfortable. I felt pride when I got to watch them laughing with my Paraguayan friends. I felt so thankful.

As soon as they left, I began packing. I felt thankful that I was able to sell, gift, or pack everything in my apartment. I felt thankful for the memories made in that place. I felt thankful that my apartment had become a refuge of sorts, for various friends. I felt thankful for the growth experienced in my small group which met weekly on the red couch and white armless arm chairs of my living room. I felt thankful for the meaningful times I’ve shared with the Lord out on my balcony. As I closed the door and locked it for the final time, I just felt thankful. As we drove out of Villarrica I wondered when I’d be back. We passed the park where I did the majority of my training for the marathon. I felt thankful.

When we arrived at the hotel, I was reminded of the beauty and tranquility of rural Paraguay. I remembered sitting at the dinner table with my family, last Christmas, and announcing that I thought Paraguayan landscape to be my favorite in the whole world. The different shades of greens from the trees that cover the rolling hills like green down blankets set against the blue sky , the birds singing and flying against the backdrop of fluffy white clouds, and the bright purples, pinks, oranges, yellows, and reds of flowers all make me sad to leave this place. The song of the birds and a gentle breeze which ruffles the leaves of the trees fill my heart with pure peace. And then the sweet, sweet company of Ana, Suely, Liz, Giselle and Laudes all make me echo Goeff Moore and the Distance who sing, “It’s good to be alive!” I felt especially thankful as we sat outside on the porch for dinner, last night, looking at the sunset, feeling the breeze, and listening to my precious 12 year olds tell me stories about themselves as little girls (in English!).

This morning the Lord woke me up before my alarm rang and invited me to spend some time alone, with Him, this last morning in El Interior (non-Asuncion). So here I sit before a huge window looking out over the hills, listening to the birds, and watching the girls sleep. I’m thinking back over these last 2 ½ years, wondering where in the world to begin, and the only words that come to mind are “Thank You.” To write out the specific things for which I am thankful feel shallow, because words cannot begin to describe God’s goodness to me over these last years. Yet I feel compelled to do it anyway, despite my absolute inability to so.

Thank You, Lord, for bringing me 5000 from home in order to draw me to Yourself. Thank You for settling me in Villarrica, against my wishes, where I could discover my love of teaching and share life with these amazing young women. Thank You for placing me on this SIM team with the Stirlings, Givens, Stouts, McKissicks, Floyds, Houghs, Stirlings, Givens, Gilliams, Camerons, Elliots, Dreilings, Terhaars, Fiona, Cherlynn, Gina, and Kait. Thank You for quieting me. Thank You for helping me run the Buenos Aires marathon. Thank You for all who came down to visit me- Hope, my family, Carol, the Breuers, Adam, Mel, and Diane. Thank You for the faithfulness of my supporters and churches. Thank You for giving me the opportunity to write. Thank You for calling me to prepare for grad school and encouraging me to read. Thank You for the written word that allows us to draw life from those who have lived before us. Thank You for Augustine and Thomas Merton. Thank You so much for Fiona, Lord, and the plans You have for her. Thank You for la Iglesia Biblica de Villarrica, and Centro Educativo Internacional. Thank You for providing Internet in my apartment. Thank You for Skype. Thank You for Eric. Thank You so much for Eric. Thank You for fresh fruit juice and fresh fruit, in general. Thank You for the cool breezes and the sweet birds. Thank You for my electric blanket, hair dryer, and electric space heater. Thank You for ice and terere. Thank You for this precious 7th grader who just called to me, “Hi Teacher,” from her top bunk. Thank You for nail polish. Thank You for cameras. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You for loving me and calling me to Yourself. Thank You for Paraguay. And now, thank You for calling me home.

Thanksgiving

What were you thankful for, this Thanksgiving? I was very thankful for my life! After 2 super fun days with the McKissicks and Floyds, I was coming back to Villarrica with the Stirlings, when Renee got a text message from the Terhaars warning us to be careful because there was a plank missing in the next bridge, and that they had put big tree branches in front of the hole so that we could see it! The McKissicks and Floyds live almost one hour from the paved road, so to get out to their houses, you have to travel on red dirt roads and over several scary wooden bridges. When it rains, you can't go out there because your car will get stuck in the mud! Buses are canceled and everything! So we came to the place the Terhaars had marked for us and all got out of the Landrover. Sure enough, there was a board missing and it was a really big one! So Renee and us stood on the bridge to mark for Greg the location of the 2 boards that ran lengthwise, under all of the planks, so that Greg could line up the Landrover's tires and make it over. All of the sudden, he started revving his engine, and Renee and I realized that once he actually made it over the hole, he was going to be going really fast! So we started screaming and turned around and started running away from Greg. But we had forgotten that there are lots of smaller holes and smaller planks missing or not lined up right all over the bridge so we were trying to jump over the holes and get away from Greg at the same time! It was pretty scary. Greg didn't make it over his first 2 tries, but he made it on the 3rd. We sure were thankful to be alive, this Thanksgiving!

The pig slaughtering and Thanksgiving, itself, was really cool, too. I learned more about anatomy and cuts of meat in that one day than in all of my science classes put together! One of Tony and Jean's Paraguayan friends came over with his son to teach them how to butcher the pig. That took all morning, and then we ate the pig for lunch! Imagine- it was running around free at 8 am and on our plates by 2 pm! While the men worked on the pig, us ladies snapped and canned beans. Do any of you have a garden and grow beans every summer? Taking the ends off of beans is a fun thing when there are several people to help, but it takes a really long time and is kind of boring if you have to do it, alone. That's one thing that I've learned since coming to Paraguay- the joy of teamwork. Usually, we like to get our own way. If we are playing a game with our friends and they do things that we don't like, it's really easy to want to quit and not play at all. But it's so much more fun to do things together, even if we don't get to do things exactly the way we would do them if we were by ourselves. Lately I've been in several situations where one person has a problem or is working on something, and the entire family stops what they are doing to help that person. It's really cool and something that I need to learn to do better! Anyway, we snapped beans and washed dishes almost the entire day! But we were all together so it didn't feel like work, at all. After finishing dishes, we ate homemade ice cream and then went over to the McKissicks' for dinner.

I decided not to post pictures of the actual pig butchering, just because I promised that this blog would be kid friendly and I'm not sure that all of you want to see it. But i have posted them, with descriptions, on my Picasa site, so if you want to see them, please go and check them out (http://picasaweb.google.com/alyssa.lugbill). Hope you all had a great day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey guys! Just wanted to say happy Thanksgiving and tell you that I'll be leaving, in the morning, to go down to the McKissicks' and Floyds' for a few days. They live out in the companya, the country/ rural part of Paraguay, so we always celebrate American Thanksgiving, out there. I'm going out, tomorrow, so that I get to see them slaughter the animals. I know we're killing a pig in the morning and then having pork for lunch. They'll probably do a few chickens and a turkey, too. Anyway, I'll be sure to take lots of pictures for you :) Oh, and then on Friday, Jeff (the doctor) is going to dissect the heart and eyeballs with the kids for a science project! Cool, huh? Don't you wish YOU were a homeschooler in Paraguay? I've recently heard a disturbing report that my excitement is causing a particular man in my life to question my femininity. I personally think that butchering, defeathering, dressing, and cooking a chicken all in one day is the epitome of being lady-like. It could almost be added to the end of Proverbs 31, in fact! Whatever. Just teasing! I'll be sure to tell you about it when I come home. Happy Thanksgiving!

All American Missy

 
 
 
 

Whew! I'm officially done with school! On Tuesday I turned in final grades and last night was Noche Internacional, our end-of-the-year school program. My students have worked so, so hard, this year, and it has paid off. They have done a GREAT job! Almost all of them learned a LOT and did SUPER on their final exams. I was SOOOOOOO happy! Then, last night, we had a really fun program where each grade learned a dance and a song from a different country! They all wore beautiful costumes, and several of the girls wore ribbons in their hair! Some of the boys wore sombreros, really big hats that South American men use to keep the sun out of their faces when they're working in the fields. Also, each class decorated a booth and made special food from their country. It was so neat.

A lot of time when you're a missionary, you're not doing things specifically related to God, but more as a representative from North America. A lot of people want to learn English, so since you're from the United States, they ask you to help them. Then others want to learn how to do "American" things, so they ask for your help with that, too. I spent a lot of time, this week, being one of Villarrica's "resident North Americans." On Tuesday and Wednesday, I helped one of my friends write an application to do go the United States as an exchange student! Every year, the United States Embassy chooses a couple Paraguayan teenagers whose parents aren't rich to go to the USA for 2 weeks to live with an American family and go to an American high school! Their whole application has to be in English, so my friend, Bianca, asked for my help. I thought she had it all written and just needed me to check her English, but instead I actually helped her think about the answers to most of the essay questions. In the US, our schools really focus on helping us develop critical thinking and writing skills. The Paraguayan system is different, though. Instead of teaching students to analyze information and be creative, they teach kids to conform and copy what their teachers/ leaders say, so Bianca had a really hard time thinking about the answers to the questions that were on this application created by a program in the United States (Youth Ambassadors, if anyone's interested) I will be SO, SO, SO happy if Bianca gets to spend 2 weeks in Kansas because I helped her with her application!

Speaking of my time at Bianca's house, I have an interesting topic for some of you older kids to talk about with your parents. Bianca's parents like to talk with me a lot about US politics and the economy. This week, her mom told me that democracy only works for rich countries like the United States, Canada, and Europe. She said that poor countries work best under dictatorships. In August, Paraguay elected a new President that is giving a lot more power to the poor people, and isn't punishing crime as harshly as before, and she says that Paraguay won't improve until it gets another dictator. She said that most poor people don't have the education or long term planning to make democracy work. She says that they're too concerned with daily survival, that they'll do whatever it takes to survive, and can't think about the good of society as a whole. What do you and your parents think about that? Sarah Breuer, I'd imagine that you've studied government in school. What do you and your parents think of what Bianca's mom said?

So yesterday I went to the school early in the morning to make nearly 100 servings of nachos and taco dip for the second graders' Mexico table. Last year I made hot fudge sundays for the 6th graders because their country was the USA. This year, I didn't think anybody would ask for my help, because none of the classes were doing the United States, but I was wrong. A few times I've made tacos for my friends when they've come over for parties, so when the second graders didn't know what to make for "Mexico" the teachers all thought to ask me! Hahaha. A lot of the moms said they were going to come and help, but they ended up having other things to do, instead, so one other mom and I were cooking almost all day! The reason it took so long is because we had to make the refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, and tortilla chips all from scratch! When the program started at 7:30, I was very surprised to hear Greg (our principle) begin telling the audience how tonight was a sad night because I was going back to the United States, in January, and wouldn't be teaching, next year! Then he called me up on stage and gave me a very beautiful plaque! After the program, several of my students and parents came up to say good-bye. It was very special, but I almost cried because I'm going to miss them so much! The most meaningful 5 minutes, by far, were those that I spent with Pauline. Today (Friday) she left for a 2 month trip to the US. She'll be living with a family near Chicago and going to school so that she can practice her English and learn about US culture. She was pretty scared, last night, and also sad about me leaving while she's gone. I asked her if I could pray for her. It felt so good for me to put her in God's hands. I'll miss all of the kids, but especially that older group that I've taught the entire time.

Also, yesterday, some students asked me to come over to their house and teach their mom how to bake a chocolate cake! That's going to be fun. So sometimes missionaries lead Bible studies. Sometimes they teach classes. Sometimes they go to church. Sometimes they watch people get baptized. And a lot of times they just help people do "American" things like write essays, speak English, and cook, because we're the only Americans that people know! :)

i'm coming! i'm coming!

Hey, guys! Sorry I've been so bad at writing, lately. This week I'm going to write at least one blog about a the coolest baptism I've ever seen. It was out in Kapi-I at a WATERFALL!!! But in the meantime, I just read a really, really funny blogpost by my friend Amy McKissick. Breuer girls, do you remember Ginny, Josh, Micah, Tyler, and Ryan? It's their mom. Anyway, she wrote about their school and it's funny. I'm sure you guys already read her blog, but I still thought I'd post it.

http://amyinparaguay.blogspot.com/2008/11/ladys-first-day-of-school.html

Also, I have posted on my other blog, but it's not very kid-friendly, for those adults who are interested:)

OK. I'll write more, later.

english night

Hey guys! Sorry I haven't written anything in a while. Last weekend I went to Argentina and ran in a marathon! It was super fun, but I was REALLY tired when I got home, Tuesday. Then we had our final English program of the school year, tonight, so I've been busy getting my kids ready for that. I was really proud of them, tonight. They have learned so much, this year! The second graders played English Tic-Tac-Toe (in front of their parents), sang "Deep," played Simon Says, and read some things they had written. The third graders played English Guess that Word, sang "Big House," played Simon Says, and shared what they had written. The 6th and 7th graders quoted Romans 8 for memory and played a game called Mafia. They all did a super job. I haven't even thought of tomorrow, yet... it might be the perfect day for Dr. Seuss...

from the mouths of babes

This week all of my students are working on writing projects. In the second grade, we're writing about our favorite vacations. In the third grade we're writing about our families. In the sixth and seventh grades, I put a bunch of random things on a table and had the kids choose items to make comparisons. I invite you to read what some of them wrote:

• Friendship is like a pen drive because it is always going everywhere with you, and through it you can pass fun moments.


• Friendship is like a book, because the book have many emotions, when somebody is sad, happy, angry, and more things. The friendship can be long or short like a book but true friendship is long, is funny, and is happy.


• Friendship is like a lighter. The lighter starts things and we can start a friendship. Some friendships go out like the lighter. Sometimes the lighter can provoke fire and the friendship can become another thing (more than friends) [Alyssa's note- written by a 6th grade girl:)].


• Friendship is like glue because when you have a friend your friend stick to you like the glue to the paper.


• Friendship is like a cellphone because you show off your friendship and you brag about your phone.


• Friendship is like an mp4 because the mp4 memory have very many things and in our minds we have very important stories about our friends. Friendship is like an mp4 because when we're so wasted we have to sleep for recharge for be a better friend [Alyssa's note- "wasted" here is translated from "gastado" I'm sure- meaning when you're really, really tired!!! :)]


• Friendship is like a camera because it captures my beautiful moments. And if you are bad you can lose it.

• Life is like Rocio's cellphone because it has many options. You can press one of the buttons, and the life you can choose what you wanna do. In the life you can do bad things, and with the cellphone, too.


• Life is like the hair scrunchy because the scrunchy has different forms and the life, too. The scrunchy has many colors, could be green could be pink, blue, every color that we want. The life is like that because everyday the life is a different color. One day is green when we are happy, another day is blue when we are angry.


• Life is like a movie because in a movie you can see romance, action, and comedy. And in the life you live the same things.


• Life is like a cellphone charger because the charger have a purpose that is to recharge and we have a purpose too that only God knows. Life is like a charger because a charger is portable and you can put it wherever you want, and your life, too. For example if you like you can put your life in the God's hands.


• Life is like scotch tape because it is long. But one moment it could finish and so it's important to take advantage to use it, to do the things in a good form. And the tape isn't long.


• Life is like a dice because you never know what will happen in your life, and also you never know if you are playing in what number will the dice stop. You don't know if you will die tomorrow, and you don't know if you will lose all your money playing dice in a casino in Las Vegas.
  
  



• Learning is like this hand gel, because we can open our minds to learn more like we open the lid of the hand gel. The hand gel clean our hands and to learn clean our mind.


• Learning is like a yo-yo because when you don't learn you get down and whey you learn you get up.


• Learning is like a sticker because this sticker is boring and learning, too [written by a 7th grade boy! :) ]
  
  



• Time is like a camera because the end of your time will come and the camera's battery have an end, too.


• Time is like "UNO" cards because you don't know how long will the game last and the time is the same thing. You never control the time like you never desire when the game will end (you always want to keep playing once the game is over). The game could last a lot of hours and it can also last a few minutes. You never know.

And for the record, my kids actually speak much better English than that. But the point of this exercise was to have them write as much as they could in 5 minutes, so I was giving classroom bucks to whichever student wrote the most words about each item:) Had they proofread or taken the time to think about grammar, they would have done much better :)

And just for fun, I added the picture of the surprise I found when I cut into my red pepper, today (which cost me nearly $1)! Can you tell what it is? Yum!