6/19/20

Asunción, Paraguay

Saturday the weather began to change, the wind picked up and the rain started to fall. Things began to cool off quickly.

I spent most of the day working on the above “epistle”. We stayed close to home except for a quick run to the grocery store up by Recoleta. It was nice to take it a bit easier.

In the evening Juan and Beth [Laven] Meza along with their two beautiful girls, Barbie and Carolinna, picked us and we went out to eat. Along the way you could see that the people were really getting ready for Sunday’s Paraguay-Slovakia game. Flags draped over cars, flying from buildings, the trees across from the Recoleta Cathedral were wrapped in red and white lights. It was very festive. We went out for “bife de lomito” sandwiches and lots of catching up.

Beth’s brother was a close friend of my older brother and Beth’s older sister and my older sisters were also friends. Loren, my brother, was in the same class as Beth. As we retold our stories, it became clear how similar we really were, the struggles, the joys…especially with reference to our bicultural-ness [It’s a word, right?], coming and going, relating to and with people both at “home” and away. And how does all that affect our own marriages and families? What residual strengths and weaknesses do we pass on to them? As Barbie and Carolinna played, I wondered at God’s grace. We too were once that age running about barefoot and carefree [relatively speaking], rather innocent of the struggles our parents faced daily. Though we experienced difficult adjustments and some painful times as we grew up, the God of our parents became more and more ours in a fresh and personal way. A common desire grew steadily to seek His direction in our lives, to honor Him.

And we said good-bye again, trusting that it will not take some 32 years to see each other again. Thanks guys, you blessed us. There is strength in fellowship.

A FEW VIDEOS TO GO WITH THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS

JUNE 19TH, 2010

6/19/2010

Asunción, Paraguay

Yesterday, we arrived at Roque Alonso around 10:30 or so. Driving into the village was a bit of a challenge. How in the world does anyone expect a tour bus to get in there? Ruts, waste water draining into the road, mud, garbage and more garbage create a massive turn-off, not to mention health hazard. Finally a Maka man helped us find the best way in and we were able to drive right up to Tsemheyi and Tsiweyenki’s house. They were expecting us. Tsiweyenki was so happy to see us, as were the other women who always seem to be there at her house. As we walked down the walkway there past their store, Tsiweyenki and the ladies were taking yerba out of a large 50-kilo bag and bagging it up in smaller, I think, ¼ kilo bags for resale. They were all apologetic about the yerba dust being all over their hands. I told them I loved the smell.

Quite quickly it was decided that only Tsemheyi would take us out to Quemkuket. After paying at the tollbooth 5,000 guaranies, about $1, you go across Puente Remanso [bridge] over the Paraguayan River [which is somewhere around 1 kilometer wide at this point], after going another mile or so, you turn southwest off the Transchaco Highway and head towards Argentina. These highways are two-way paved roads. Along the way you see the usual brick houses, some finished, some being done in stages, men working along the road and out in the fields cutting weeds with machetes and “foises” or hoeing, small garden plots with “mandioca”, brick kilns, some small factories, even a new women’s prison apparently is going in.

It took us about 15-20 minutes to get to the village. The entrance was a bit rugged, the road “gastado”, worn, but someone had made an effort to fill the ruts in a bit. Along the side of the road the ditches, we had dug for drainage years ago, were full of the dark brown water due to all the winter rains. On the right in the place where we had prepared for gardening, a “sonto” [Paraguayan man] had brought in a tractor and had worked the soil and had planted sweet potato, corn, beans and, I think, some squash too. I understand this is for the Maka’s use. I don’t know how this was arranged, cost etc. It was nice to see something going on there.

We were going to park at Eva’s place [Tsemheyi’s adopted daughter’s], but there was this large truck trying to get in behind us; being that the ditches were impassable at that point, we went ahead and drove down the road and parked off to the side of the now dilapidated clinic. The truck was bringing water to fill two of the cisterns [one towards Aso’s place, a relatively new one, and another back close to the clinic]. Apparently, the water from the well has become too salty. The water is brought in about twice a month. I’m not sure who pays for it.

As soon as we got out of the car, folks gathered around us all, shaking our hands and greeting us in Maka. Hopefully the photos will show their faces, unique, aged by time and the effects of a difficult lifestyle. Koko has lost most of his front teeth and, when he laughs [and he does a lot] or talks, he frequently covers his mouth or tries to keep his mouth closed. What a joker he is! Salinas’ kids are there still. The tall [other] Tsemheyi was not there. I guess he was out working somewhere. Escobar was in teaching school. We didn’t interrupt classes. We will have to greet him later. The man, who has a son in medical school in Cuba, told us his son would be taking a final exam in July. If he passes he has one more year there. Guess he is doing better now, not so homesick. He tells his dad that he is different now. He left a boy and will come back old(er). Wait ‘til he deals with the cultural changes! Hopefully, he will stay close by to help his own people and to give them hope that they too could become a doctor, lawyer, dentist…The other son who was in nursing is now studying education. He is planning on becoming a teacher. Another guy who was at the school said that he had been there now for 14 years as a teacher. He is studying computers, how to fix them and will soon be starting computer programming…Wow! Times have indeed changed! From the “campo” to programming computers, how amazing!

We were given a tour from the last houses toward the back up to Aso’s old place. Aso still has not returned from Ciudad del Este. I think we were told at some point that it has to do with issues between his wife and someone else at the village. I guess Tsemheyi called Ciudad del Este and told them we might be by sometime [when we go see Bjarne]. The old houses were, well, old. One guy in great humor asked if I was going to help him fix his house up. I commented on how horrible his carpenter was [me]. Just for the fun of it, Leanne took a picture of me trying to open one my old sliding wood windows. I think it needed some grease or something, because it didn’t slide too well. Of course, as we walked about there were kids everywhere and folks continued to come out of their houses to greet us. As at the other village, at first they thought we were “turistas” [tourists] until they recognized us or heard who we were.

Then we gathered around under the shade of a tree, Tsemheyi, Leanne and I sitting on chairs, the others just standing or sitting on the ground. And we went into story-telling mode. The story of my first phone call to Tsemheyi was brought up again, but this time he added something new. He said I asked in Spanish if his son-in-law still had a “carro” [car] and if he could come pick us up. Well, I discovered that in his dictionary that means wheelbarrow. [Apparently some Spanish words used commonly by Mexicans do not mean the same to Paraguayans. I mean I did know this, but not specifically in this case.] That got lots of laughs, as you can imagine! Then the hunting stories were brought out, with more gusto than ever. How they love to laugh and tease. Koko was constantly joking. Like saying that he was going to invite himself over for “pollo” [chicken] at our place. [A little history here. Koko used to work a bit for us when we lived here and would eat with us at meal time. Leanne would bake a chicken and put the whole thing on the table. Well, in a Maka’s book, if there is food, you eat it. So Koko always made sure the chicken was completely deboned by the time he had left the table.]

Then there were again the serious conversations. One topic was the changing of the Maka language; how the youth did not speak Maka quite the same anymore. Tsemheyi brought up the issue of the translation of the N.T. and the frustrations of the new language being used. I knew this was a touchy subject. I listened as they retold the stories. I asked them if Aso and Tsemheyi [when they came to the U.S. back in the ‘80’s] had visited the Indians in Yakima. They said they had. Someone then asked if the Indians there still spoke their language. I said very few did. At one point I whispered to Leanne how I wished that Dad was there to hear this. I mentioned at some point how that a person’s language is so important in preserving one’s culture, one’s identity and gave examples of students in my school. How confusion comes from not identifying with any culture, not speaking any language well. But I listened mostly…This was certainly a rehash of a topic long discussed starting back even before the trip Stateside when decisions were made on where to live if the Indians would move from the original island across from Jardin Botanico. Choices have been made which have complicated life for the Maka, to live at a convenient distance from town so as to more easily go sell their “artesanía” [weavings, bows & arrows, etc.] and to have electricity and running water. Town has come closer and closer to the Roque Alonso village. They have Paraguayan neighbors on all sides. Drugs, alcohol, prostitution and other vices are a temptation away. Far too many are being sucked into their grip. How will the leaders guide their people? How will the Gospel give the people hope, courage to go beyond the expectations of past generations and of mainstream society?

The Maka need our prayers. The Ulriches need our prayers as they continue the translation of the N.T. and the Maka church leaders need our prayers as they seek to teach and guide their people in these troubled times.

I’m not sure exactly what time it was but Tsemheyi finally suggested we return to Roque Alonso. There we joined Tsiweyenki in the patio of their place. We showed her and the other ladies and children who joined us there the photo album of our families. Leanne then gave her the album she made of our last trip here. They all really liked the pictures. And we gave her the package and card from Mom and the money we had gathered from donations given towards the church, the sports [soccer] program for the youth and the school. We explained how folks had given towards these programs [when they had “bought” the woven bracelets]. Leanne made sure that how the money was spent was really up to Tsiweyenki as she had done the weaving and could be trusted. Tsiweyenki was very appreciative.

We left there around 5 p.m. We had a dinner engagement with Penny and JuanJo DaSilva [old friends from our time here] at 7:00 p.m. in town.

This would be my first driving experience downtown in many years. I called for directions, but…It was dark and the street signs were, well hidden. And so Leanne and I took the “scenic route” around and around the general area, but lost, feeling all the while that the next set of headlights in the rearview mirror was going to become imbedded in our small car. Well, the proverbial male-asks-for-directions-and-finds-place more quickly worked again. We were only ½ hour late. JuanJo and Penny served a wonderful collection of their great food from their restaurant [Cherry’s] and we got caught up on our families. It was such a blessing to reconnect. Again, we are reminded of the amazing role that people play in our lives and, so often, we are unaware, just enjoying each other’s company. Thanks for the great time Juanjo and Penny! The trip home was uneventful and much “shorter” J

Thanks again for following our footsteps and for praying for us. We REALLY appreciate it!

Jerry and Leanne

For some crazy reason I am having trouble wrapping the text around photos, so I am going to ask that you go to our Facebook where I will put photos. I will try to put some text to correlate the text with the photos. Sorry.

6/17/2010

Asunción, Paraguay

Today we tried to call the village to see if someone could come pick us up. It was my first try at talking Maka to Tsemheyi,

also known as Andres, after two years of being away. Oh man, it felt awkward. I'll mention later who Andres thought it was who was calling. It is kind of funny. Ok, it was really funny, especially when he tells the story, several times, so that all comers hear. Anyway, it didn't look like anyone could come pick us up. I asked about the buses,which go by there. After I hung up, we talked about it, our options...

We really did not want the hassle of the buses, waiting, bouncing, bouncing, ETC [like last time]. So we decided to rent a vehicle. Doing this was a first for us down here. Always wondering, will I survive the traffic? If an accident happens, what then? Do I have full coverage, ETC? With fear and trepidation we pulled out of FAST Auto Rental [Actually today it was kind of slow, but they were very nice.] and headed back to the mission guest house and, after lunch, out to the Roque Alonso Indian village. Along the way I got a refresher on using a stick-shift and how to maneuver in and around traffic here. Leanne was white-knuckled and a bit wide-eyed for a while. We took some pictures along the way.

We went over to the Ulrich’s, which is about 2 maybe 3 blocks from the village. It was good to see them again and to get shown the work they are doing on the translation of the New Testament into Maka. There were three, maybe four, computer screens on, one with different English Bible commentaries available, another with the Greek, another with the Spanish and another with the Maka translation being completed on the book of Luke. A young Maka man was working there side by side with Matt. Apparently, they are getting close to the completion of the N.T. but every time they get close, the Maka translators are pulled away for this or that reason, unexplained illnesses or experiences. It would appear the enemy is hell-bent on stopping this. Pray for their health and protection.

We parked the car at the Ulrich’s to lessen the drama of our arrival. We wanted to just walk in as we did several years ago. The funny thing was we were not expected yet. Apparently they did not understand that we were to arrive in June.

As we walked into the area around the church building, Milaño, Servin, and others, were playing the stick game, almost as if they hadn't moved since we left two years ago. No women were in sight. Tsiweyenki, Tsemheyi’s wife, was out at the airport selling her “artesanía” and would be back later on in the evening. Tsemheyi at first was at his house eating lunch. So Leanne and I joined a group of men off to the side. They were there drinking “terere” [yerba mate] and listening to the Mexico-France game. We passed around our little photo album of the Cole extended family. They chuckled about this person then another. Comments were made about each of us kids and our kids. They wanted to know who our kids were and who was married and if they had kids or not.

Then Tsemheyi joined us. It was good to see him. He seemed in good health, though he said he had been ill several weeks ago. Rosemary told Leanne that she thought he had had several strokes. He told me that he had kind of lost his vision; that everything became blurry. He said now he could see much better.

Now to get back to the phone conversation I had with Tsemheyi…He was having fun playing this up as he told the guys who had gathered under the “galpón” next to where the men play that game with the sticks. Anyway, he chuckled saying that he thought he was talking to some “Chulupi” Indian, because he couldn’t speak Maka very well…He said he couldn’t figure out who the guy was he was talking to. I’m not sure if he put it all together until we showed up there, that I was this “Chulupi” guy. Of course this got everyone laughing! You really have to be here to fully understand the Maka sense of humor.

Continuing on with this theme…Some of the old hunting trip stories just had to be retold too. About Gene and Koko on one trip. I guess Koko’s flatulence drove Gene out of the mosquito net or something. Of course the sound effects are good to throw in too. There was one about me too. I guess they set me up to shoot these “ejie” [not sure how to spell that], a large stork, probably a 5-6’ wing-span. Anyway we were wearing the typical blinds made of bushes tied together over our heads to ambush the birds. Anyway the setting was perfect. Tsemheyi told me to shoot so I did, or actually I tried to, but the shell did not fire. So I guess I got frustrated and took off my camoflage attire and the birds flew away, much to their chagrin. And of course, the story of the sawed off shotgun shell had to resurface too. How he loves to tell this story! He said I asked him for some matches and that I proceeded to place the lighted match on top of the gunpowder. Under normal conditions gunpowder does not blow up. It just burns. Except that I forgot the primer! Well, the thing just blew up in my face. I was leaning over it, like any semi-intelligent kid would do. Oh, the gusto he employed telling how he heard the explosion and rushed to find me quite shaken up, hair burned on my face and head and asking him NOT to tell my Dad and Mom. Honestly, it is not that he would have loved to see me self-destruct. He was very concerned. He felt he had to take care of me…It is just that it was so funny! If you ever wonder why I laugh when culturally I shouldn’t, maybe this is why. Or maybe it is the after-effect of the explosion still. J

We had some serious conversation too…Folks who had died for this or that reason. Lisa, my sister’s father’s passing, several Indians who had died while trying to cross the busy highway not too far from here. And story after story of young men who had or were wasting their lives away under the tragic influence of alcohol. What a waste! Some gifted athletes, others with great leadership skills. The pain was heavy upon Tsemheyi. He spoke of some who have put the blame on him. That it was his fault. He said it was not his fault; that it was each person’s responsibility to make the right choices. How it hurts to see the lack of an apparent hope, a reason to make those right choices. What drives so many of the youth to take the shortcut to relief, a moment of pleasure? Change is needed. A reason, courage…Father, if I get the chance again give the words to say that might turn the light on in their hearts and minds. May I somehow create anew some hope, that in you there is strength to resist the temptations, to choose wisdom over convenience, to strive to create a future for their families and to reach out beyond to bring hope to still others with the message of the Gospel.

Around us were children playing, some with smudged faces, dirty from the last “dulce” or “meal”, others very clean and nicely dressed. Five or six were having a blast with a homemade kite.

One ran ahead pulling it while the others tried to catch the tail as it dipped down.Of course, there were those close by listening and enjoying the pictures and the adult talk. I was struck again with what will their futures be? Without a miracle it seems so dismal. God, please work mightily in these wonderful people to bring hope and a future of strength. May they instead be a model of your grace to all the surrounding Indian groups and local Paraguayans.

Well, got to go for now. We are headed out to the village. We are hoping to take Tsemheyi and Tsiweyenki out to the Quemkuket village across the river. Talk more later. Jerry

6/15/2010

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Good morning all!

We touched down here at 11:00 a.m. Brazil time, flight time 11 ½ hours from Los Angeles. God blessed us with an empty seat between us on this flight. It made stretching out a bit easier. I have to give a short plug for Korean Air. They are wonderful! The people and the plane were so nice. B u t we still didn’t sleep too well. We both tossed and twisted and straightened…There are just so many ways you can position yourself in the span of 11 ½ hours before things start falling asleep. But we are here safe and sound. We have a short wait and we’ll be boarding our plane for Asuncion, Paraguay.

I am struck with how big our world is, such diversity of cultures and languages as I watch and listen to the people around me. Each person is so unique, yet similar too, common struggles, fears, needs, joys. In L.A. a lady dressed in Arab apparel in beautiful English spoke to me as I turned on my laptop and connected to the WiFi to watch Paraguay play Italy. She wanted to know who was playing, the score and who had won the earlier game. A common interest. We connected. So often the differences turn us away and rob us of new interesting experiences and friendships. It is too much work, inconvenient. May God help me to look through his eyes, to see his creation, loved and known intimately by Him. When language and cultural differences seem at an impasse, may his love bridge the gap between us through a smile, a touch, a warm effort to communicate using alternate means, nonverbal.

What fun to have time to think, about something different. May this time revive in us areas of our lives which have become a bit calloused with the routine and pace of life back in Yakima.

More later, Jerry

Oh, yes! Paraguay tied with Italy 1-1. Playing in a downpour, Paraguay went ahead 1-0 in the first half. Italy tied in the 63^rd minute. This result while unfortunate is not really too depressing when considering Italy’s success rate in World Cup competition. Hey! And what about that tie the U.S. got against England! Way to go U.S.! A clumsy goal is still a goal! J

6/15/2010

Asuncion, Paraguay

We arrived safe and sound, well, besides a severe case of TB [not tuberculosis either!]. Ray and Marian picked us up at the airport. Thank you so much for your kindness! So good to see both of you again!

God watched over our suitcases and nothing was lost. They traveled unlocked the whole way, all 6,500 or so miles. A “maletero” helped guide them through the “aduana”. I learned what was expected for the help a little later. Later, we agreed on a little less. I explained I was a bit out of touch with what was expected. I told him I wanted to be fair to him and thanked him for his help. There were many items in our “maletas” which someone would have loved to borrow along the way. Things requested by friends here. So we are most thankful for the blessing!

Somewhere in route to Asuncion it was made public that Brazil was beating N. Korea 2-0. A cheer erupted from the Brazil aficionados on board. Don’t know yet what the final score was.

It was funny how conversations started along the way…As we waited in Sao Paulo a rather distinguished man named Jeff and his adopted Paraguayan son Carlos came by and we started to talk. They were on their way back to Paraguay to introduce 18 year old Carlos to his native country…Jeff told us about his life. He was very educated. Taught speech at a junior college back east. He had lived in Paraguay and in Columbia. He spoke of contacts he had made with missionaries, not all good. He mentioned the movie The Mission, again with reference to the activities of missionaries with the native Guarani folk. I told him of our family’s work with the Maka. The fact that Dad and Mom had taught them to read and write in Spanish and Maka [after developing the alphabet, etc] seemed to impress him. What a coincidence that we would meet and talk to him..Hmmm…

Battery is about dead. “Más mañana.”

Figured out how to recharge. Wanted to be careful with plugging my computer into 220.

As folk were disembarking in Ciudad del Este [We had a brief stop there in route to Asuncion.], a young Caucasian man wearing cowboy boots heard us talking to a Paraguayan lady next to us. He spoke to us in English. Come to find out he knew the Fostervolds [Missionaries who for years have worked with the Ache Indians], that someone he knew had accompanied or traveled with Bjarne’s mother back to the U.S. recently. We told him we were going to be spending some time with Bjarne and his family; that they were friends of ours. All the while the young lady listened. We had a nice talk on the final leg to Asuncion. She seemed amused that these very gringo-looking people were headed down to visit friends, not all belonging to the “alta sociedad”.

The Greens took us to the New Tribes Mission’s guest house. We were warmly welcome there by Laurie. Laurie had also been an MK [missionary’s kid] in Paraguay when I was still here living with my family. It was fun to exchange stories of our subsequent lives, our kids and their whereabouts. It may begin to sound redundant in this story, but I feel such a bond with these fellow MK’s. We have lived such unique lives, crossing cultural barriers both abroad and back in the States. Similar struggles have challenged our belief system. Our parents’ faith has become really ours. The gifts God has molded in us have become clearer and blessed. The messiness of our comings and goings, leaving friends behind and making new ones, feeling a bit a foreigner no matter where we are…really has not been accidental. What a wonder to see how God has been above it all, lovingly guiding the uneven, scary steps. Not taken by surprise by any of it. While it has not been easy, I would not trade any of it. Won’t it be fun to see the completed puzzle some day?

We walked a long 7 blocks on slippery cobble stones and tile sidewalks (each house or shop putting in a different kind of “sidewalk”) to a supermarket. We bought mondioca, milanesa, duche de leche, media lunas, mermelada de guayaba, dulce de batata, co-op white cheese, lomito, polio, chipa…We ate at the café at the supermarket, three different kinds of empanadas, mandioca…and, of course, Jerry had quarana. We made it back to our room carrying four heavy bags before it started raining again. We both worked up a sweat. Jerry is now zonked out on the bed, sleeping off his sleepless-on-the-plane night.

We have a nice 2 room place. Simple and clean. We have our own bathroom with hot water both in the shower and our kitchenet (that’s a big thing for you Americans). We have ceiling fans and screens on the windows and doors. You can tell Americans put this together. We have a washer and dryer available to us just across the patio. Leanne

We have not yet purchased a cell phone. We will get that taken care of tomorrow. We have spent today trying to recoup our energy. We are planning to go out to the Roque Alonso Indian village in the morning. It will be fun to see them again!

Thank you for your prayers!

Jerry and Leanne

Well, I finished school on Friday. When everything was turned in and I was heading for home, I kept thinking they were going to call me back to tell me I needed to do this or that. And I had this horrible feeling I was NOT done yet. Horrible feeling! But I made it home without anyone turning me around.

Saturday was Kristen's graduation from Central Washington University with a bachelors degree in fine arts. And it was an absolutely gorgeous day. We are so proud of Kristen! May God continue to guide your brush Kristen.

Well, we head to Seatac Airport at 7:00a.m. Our flight leaves at 1:00p.m. We should arrive in Asuncion Tomorrow at about 5:00 p.m. Please pray for us to make all our connecting flights and good health. Thanks.

Go Paraguay! Beat Italy today in South Africa!

Map of Paraguay

Greetings! I am trying to figure out how to work a blog and how to input photos, text, etc. I am awfully slow, but it looks like this will be the best way to keep folks up-to-date on our travels, experiences, thoughts.

I have placed a good map here of Paraguay. If you click on the map, you can zoom in. It should help you follow us on our trip. We will try to include photos too.

We would greatly appreciate your prayers as we finalize our activities here. One more day of school for me. I have finished most of my correcting and grading. We will be packing now. I am trying to finish my garden before we leave. We need to make sure all the details for caring for our animals and irrigating is taken care of.

I can't wait to sit down on the plane and take a long, deep breath...O God may we be strong to finish well. And tender to your Spirit as you prepare us for this trip. May you been seen in us.

Amen.