PARAGUAY MISSION - MONTHLY REPORT SUMMARY

Missionaries: Troy and Andrea Spradlin

Mission Field: Asunción, Paraguay
Date/No. of Report: December, 2010 / Vol. 2 No.12

CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INVOLVEMENT

Name of congregation: Avenida Sacramento Iglesia de Cristo
Address: Avenida Sacramento 650, c/ Espaňa - Asunción, Paraguay
Year established: September 2004
Present number of members: 36 Family Units (67 Baptized)

Average Bible classes attendance:

• Sunday – 55
• Midweek - 15
• Other - 7

Worship attendance:
• Sunday – 49 (5th); 75 (12th); 75 (19th); 73 (26th)

Recent Bible classes:

• We finished a congregational study of 2 Corinthians and have
begun a study of Matthew.
• Perry Hardin is currently teaching a practical application class on
“How To Study Your Bible.”

Recent congregational developments:

• On December 8, we had a “Retirito,” (little retreat). The focus of the Valeria Suarez
meeting was to confirm our goals for 2011 and decide what action
items were necessary in order to move closer to realizing those goals. It was wonderful to see the men
making such decisions! The ladies also planned out several activities for the year for fellowship and
spiritual growth. What a successful day!
• The church recently gathered several food and clothing items to donate to: (a) our own members in
need and (b) to some of the local charity organizations.

Recent conversions/identifications/restorations:
• Baptized - Valeria Suarez. She is the daughter of Eulalia Suarez,
who has been a member for a few years. We rejoice in the decision
this young lady has made and pray she continues to grow spiritually.
• Restored – Arminda Gonzalez. A sad story with a happy twist.
Arminda has been a member for many years, but sadly, she slipped
into apathy and the church eventually had to withdraw from her.
About two months ago, her daughter, Luz Marie, died suddenly due
to a medical complication. The church respectfully, but with restraint,
reached out to her and her family, Shortly afterward, her son, Carlos
was baptized. Thanks be to the Lord, she recognized the need to
return, has now repented, and has been restored to the fold!
Arminda Gonzalez with her son,
• Identified – Maria Badega was a member at Central congregation
Carlos Rivera
and has decided to place her membership at Sacramento.
Contacts made and resulting studies:
• I am continuing to study with Viviana Castro, who recently indicated she
wanted to be baptized. She is still trying to work through the decision but
is getting closer with each study. Please keep her in your prayers!
• Please continue to pray for other ESL students: Dr. Pablo Avalos, Ramon
“Sixto” Vega, Elin Caceras, and Dafne Hassan.
• Benitez Family – This sweet family is continuing to visit and learn more
about the church. Chris has been studying with them in their home and I
will begin leading the weekly study in January. We pray they will soon
understand the necessity of baptism to added to the Lord's church.
• Paolo Fleitas – our “gestor” who helped us get our residency papers
wants to study English with us using the Bible! He has brought his children The Benitez Family
to a VBS in the past and we are praying that between God's word and the
example he sees in the church here, he may put on Christ as a result.
• “Pablo” – he is a former member of a pentecostal group here in Asuncion. He noticed our banner
offering free Bible studies and decided to come investigate.

Meeting/efforts with fellow missionaries:

• Christmas dinner together and English devotionals.
• Several of the missionaries took a little “mini-vacation” to
see Iguazu Falls in Brazil. We went for two days and had a
wonderful experience seeing the incredible beauty and
power of God's marvelous creation.

Evangelistic efforts:
• Currently planning campaigns for 2011 mission groups.
• Developing and writing a “Teacher's Manual” for our Learn
English Using the Bible program.
• Weekly Bible studies with our ESL students. “End of Year” Dinner

Special activities of the month:

• End of the Year Dinner – each family brought food for a potluck dinner to celebrate the passing of
another year full of many blessings, a few tragedies, and several precious souls added to or restored
to the Lord's Kingdom.
• Ladies Christmas “Tea” – the ladies got together for a Christmas gift exchange and fellowship on
December 18th .
• Andrea hosted her first “Ladies Merienda” in our
home with some of the Paraguayan members.

Mission plans for the near future:

• New roles of mission team members will be
assumed in January.
• Currently assessing the team budget from 2010
and deciding the budget for 2011.
• Developing our Biblical/spiritual education
program for 2011.
• Still trying to develop a “Mentoring” program for
gauging and fostering the spiritual development
of our members.
• Organizing several campaign groups for 2011.
• Planning a VBS for Jaunuary.

Missionary mini-vacation to Iguazu Falls, Brazil

 PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INVOLVEMENT

Personal HIGHLIGHT(s) of the Month: Iguazu Falls and Care Packages! We have been wanting to go
to the Falls for quite some time now and have never been able to manage it. This past month, we
finally got to visit this incredible part of the world and already can't wait to go back. We also received
a few Care Packages from our supporting congregations back home! Margaret Street COC,
Buda/Kyle COC, and Dripping Springs COC all sent us some much appreciated items that helps
make life feel a little more like back home. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

Personal study:
• Expository study of Matthew.
• Comprehensive study and comparison between the
Greek Manuscripts and the NIV, along with other
modern translations.

Culture and language study:

• Reading ”Folklore del Paraguay” by Dionisio Torres
• Continuing to study “More Paraguayan than Mandioca”
by Anibal Sanabria which is a local book regarding the
allegedly “true” culture and aspects of Paraguay.
• Spanish studies will continue until the end of Feb. 2011 Christmas dinner with the mission team!

Family activities:
• Christmas with the Blackmers. We got to open gifts with the kids and watch their excitement!
• Christmas Dinner with the mission team. The entire team was here for the holidays so we had a
evening together with a nice meal and a gift exchange.
• We set new goals together for 2011.

Government requirements:
• Finally!! We have the title transfer to our name for our
car in process. We should have all the legal paperwork
in less than a month and just in time to renew the
municipality registration.

Plans for the near future:

• I am currently writing a teacher's manual and an entry
level course for our ESL program. We pray that it will be
a useful tool to help facilitate more interest in Bible study.
• Continue our language studies and learning the culture.
• Begin leading Bible studies in Spanish with several of our Andrea and Troy at Iguazu Falls, Brazil
contacts.

Notes:
• Andrea recently had surgery to remove a suspicious lump in one of her breasts. She spent one day in
the hospital and they gave her a private room. The surgery went well and the doctor wasn't too worried
about what he removed. When the results came back, it said “negative.” Thanks be to the Lord!