Welcome to another session of "Ethan & Ashley Perfecting Dance Dance Revolution"

I am very blessed with being a part of a hilarious mission team!

Theres never a dull moment!

Why didn't we do a lot more of this a lot sooner????

:)!

Missionaries Doing What They Do Best

A candid moment, we often dont think 'Dance Dance Revolution' when we think "Missionaires", dont be fooled these are the most treasured moments! At least for those of us who enjoy a good laugh!
We are all here to celebrate their little Ellas birthday party. Thanks for the cake!

Heres a clip of Ethan and Ashley mastering the art of DDR

Here are Perry and Ashley entertaining all of us and teaching us a lesson or two on perfecting DDR dance moves!

Thanks you guys for allowing us to laugh WITH you!

;)

Enjoy!

Oh and heres little Ella, shes crazy excited about the cake and presents!

Chau Chau ;)

My friends ROCK!

A couple of weeks or so ago I recieved a wonderful package from my friends in College Station.

In my package I recieved:
-Reeses Peanut Butter mini cups (which are my favorite and all gone by now)
-A book titled: "What it feels like to......"
*this a book full of interesting stories like 'What it feels like to be struck by lightning' or ' What it feels like to give birth', ' What it feels like to win the Lottery', 'What it feels like to stutter' ect.
- An awesome blues harmonica (which I love to fiddle around with)
-Sparkly Red nail polish (which I happen to be wearing right now)
- Nail Polish Remover (which Im sure I will sure in a few days)
- Taco seasoning!!!!! (like 50 packets of it! Yessssssssssssssss)
- Macaroni and Cheese (in its box, not cooked)
- A refridgerator magnet of tortillas (oh if only they were real)
- 2 letters from my best friends Carol and Teresa. (which made me laugh and cry and cry from laughing and laugh from crying)
- Carols support letter. In which I would like to announce I am promising to donate $1000 Gs.
- Last but not least my favorite, a story photo entitled "Rocio Day." Carol and Teresa went around College Station and took pictures of things that reminded them of me. Theres a picture of a globe, a journal, books and messages from other special friends.


I couldnt ask for better friends!
Thanks for your continual support!

Los extraño y quiero mucho!

A Year of Goodbyes

This year Asuncion will say its fair share of "Chau" and "Hasta luego"

In March the Asuncion bid farewell to Josh & Vanessa. Vanessa served on this team for 5 years. She married Josh after her third year on the team. They served together until March 8th of this year.
May 18, Micah said "Chaucito" to Asuncion after 4 and half months as an intern. She will be missed.

May 20, Carla and Mercedes head back home after their memorable 2 week visit.

May 28, Mauri Yegros will head to Tennesse to study at Freed Hardeman.

June 15, Helena Yegros will also be heading to Tennesse to study at Freed Hardeman as well.
As yall know the Yegros have been a big part of my internship here in Asuncion. It will sad to see them go.
June 30, Ashley, Ella and Ava Hardin will be returning to Tennessee after their 5 years on the team.
July 11, Ethan Hardin will joing his family in Tennessee. (that date is approximate)

As for me, I was scheduled to leave August 11th but after much prayer and diliberation I have decided to extend my time here in Asuncion. Most likely it will be sometime in December.
Its not official until I change the date on the ticket, which I havent yet, which I should probably do soon.

Heres Micah checking her bags

Chau Micah! Hasta Pronto!

Goodbye Lunch for Carla and Mercedes

Carla, Alba, Eu

Mercedes being her normal wacky hilarious self ;)

Soon it will be the season of "Hola." Its summer time in the states and so throughout the months of June July and August, summer interns and church groups will visit the church here at Sacramento. Our sorrows of departure will be quick to turn to joy!

Prayer Request: I have been under the weather for a few days. It stinks! Please pray for my quick recovery and a stronger immune system. Thanks!!

Hasta la Proxima!

Emulation and Implementation

Carla was recomended to us by Mercedes. Mercedes is a Paraguayan. She currently lives in Colorado with her husband, Will Smith. She and Carla met in Ft. Worth, Tx where they both worked in the Latin and womens ministry.

Those are the 2 words that I have tied to the experience of Carlas and Merecedes visit.
Carla spoke to 70 women at the Seminar, 30 of which were visiters. Not to long after the seminar had ended a women came to Carla wishing to be study and be baptized.

Carla has touched me personally, as she has to countless other women, and has encouraged me directly in the words she has shared with me and indirectly through the work shes done in these past two weeks. There are not very many times where one can be touched so deeply by the force and sencerity by which God sends His messengers.
I derive much wisdom and strength by watching strong Christian Latin women in the church and on the mission field. I only hope to be able to emulate the many things I've witnessed as I try to be a Strong Christian Latin Women myself.

Carla is very sweet and extremely encouraging with her words. She is able to make you feel so awesome about yourself by telling and showing you how much God truely loves you.
Throughout life and especially on the mission field, for me anyways, we find outselves praying out of fear instead of gratitude, hoping we are fullfiling Gods will. We all know fear is the opposite of love. Without love we do not have God.
My mother often recites this particular verse to me, when Im not sure or doubt is looking like its creeping its way up.
II Timothy 1:7
"For God did not give us a spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and of sound mind"

There is so much more to write but so little time. I am currenly sitting in Carlas and Mercedes hotel room. They love to pamper people. They let Brittnea and I spend a night with them at the Sheraton Hotel, which is like theeeeee hotel. I love hotels. They are all eating breakfast at the moment. I decided to wait here until they return, since im a little under the weather and just thought to rest a little bit longer. Im glad tho, it has given me time to update my blog to share and spread all the wonderfullness I have experienced lately!

Pictures to come soon!

YAAAAY!!!

Im so excited about the Women's Conference this weekend!
Carla Borja Lowe is our guest speaker for the conference. The theme is going to be "Las Buenas Nuevas" or the Good News. The conference will take place this Saturday and Sunday. I ,like usual, am in charge of the food for Sundays lunch menu.

The reason I'm out of my head excited is because Carla is MEXICAN!!!!!! She was born in Campeche, Mexico. She lived and studied in Mexico City. She was a missionary in Mexico for a number of years and spent 4 1/2 years in Italy. Shes a lot of fun!
There is finally someone around that speaks my language, that is Mexican spanish. Although spanish is spanish is spanish, certain vocabulary, certain idioms, certain tonations of certain words make all the difference in the message and emotion you want to convey.
I have a certain emotional tie with words. For example "Mande", this world is strickly Mexican. This word is used in different ways in different situations but no matter what the circumstance it always means respect. The word itself comes from the verb "mandar" which is send or command. So when some one calls your name your (or my) initial response is to say "mande?" which translates to "command me" or "at your services." So since they dont say that here in Paraguay, its not natural and at times it confuses people. So I have stopped saying that and in turn makes me feel like Ive become just a little less respectful and a presented with hint of identity loss. Which comes with the territory of living abroad. Every now and then it slips out.
SO, yesterday when Carla got here I called her name and she didnt hear me she said "Mande?" I jumped for joy! I told her that I am so happy that I can say "mande"!! Words and expressions like "guapo" "Que Padre!" "platicar" "hablando al widdy widdy." Mexicans pretty much speak in idioms and expressions. It hilarious and I love it! And she said shes going to cook Méxican food! Using things from the states! Which is a lot closer to what I can get using paraguayan ingredients when I cook Mexican food!
I usually do translating from english to spanish and at times vice versa. Im glad I will get to be Carlas translater for Mexican to Paraguayan spanish and vice versa. I will still have to keep my day job since she won't really need me to survive or anything but it certainly brings a comfort from home.
I also get the priveledge of picking and choosing at times the Ethnicity I want to be. Sometimes I'm Mexican sometimes I'm American and at times im both....or im always both.....and never one or the other.....dont know but its fun!!

Update to come: Womens Seminar!!

Adios!

Snapshots

Here are a couple of things that have been happening recenlty.

Us girls usually get together to do something. This night we chose to go to the movies!! My FAVORITE passtime!! We watched "27 Dresses" I absolutely love the actor James Marsden! It was a real cute and funny chick click. A couple of the guys also got together and watched "Rambo." I have to say that sounds pretty typical, on both guys and girls side. Nevertheless, it was a blast!

Top row: Sarita, Romina, Helena, Alba, Moi, Vickie
Bottom Row: Gina, Brittnea, Ashley and Micah

May 1st is Labor Day in Paraguay. Everyone gets a day off. So we thought to take the youth group out to Ca'acupe, which is about an hour and half from Asuncion. BUT it rainned!!!! It rainned the entire day! So instead a few of us just spent time together. We played games, put a huge puzzle together and then I,like scheduled, cooked for everyone! I made Picadillo, which is just ground meat with potatoes, and mexican rice! So we all watched "Finding Nemo" had some good Mexican food and then had brownies for dessert. Yummo!

Heres Mauri, Ale and Kanchi putting together a pretty big RompeCabezas

VBS time! Micah put together a VBS for kids at an orphanage that is near the church building. The theme was "Jonah and the Big Fish." There were puppet skits, people skits, snack time, crafts, games and a memory verse! I was in charge of snack time. I find joy in preparing food for others! The kids were pretty well behaved.

Chris playing "Simon Dice' or Simon Says with the kids

Enjoying a word find and snacks!

Quince!! We were invited to a "15" birthday party. We got to help decorate some and it was great to spend time in a festive environment with some of our church family.

Moi and little Luana blowing up some balloons

Fun times! Thanks for reading! Its been fun writing!!
Chaucito ;)

Piano Time!!

The Yegros are such a great family and they have been kind enough to let Micah live with them and let me come over when ever I want. Which I do......often.

Helena and Mauri the youngest of 5 Yegro children and are the piano savy kids of the bunch. When I saw their digital paino placed along the wall in the living room, I instantly had to turn it on. I did play the piano when I was little, along with the trumpet and the viola, in elementry and middle school. Mauri and Helena have been nice and patient enough to begin teaching me how to play the piano.Im learning to read notes and can play only a couple of Coldplay songs. I promised myself that during my internship I would learn to do something. Whether a language, how to sew, read minds, learn an instrument and or anything thats an acquired skill. And so here it is. I am learning to play the piano! It brings an immense joy into into my life!

Luckily I can plug headphones into the piano so everyone doesn't have to hear me painfully hit the wrong keys as I learn to play it correctly. But VOILA! When the headphones are unplugged, I sound like a concert Pianist!!!!

I might be exaggerating but I wanted to share how I spend my moments when I'm not at the church building or at an event :)

Hasta Luego!