News from the Spradlins in South America

NOVEMBER 2013 / Vol. 5 No. 11

From the hot, summer season that is now upon us here South of the equator in Paraguay, we want to wish all of you back in the USA a very happy holiday season! We pray this time of year finds you filled with peace and joy while enjoying time with friends and family. God bless! DEVELOPMENTS AT AVENIDA SACRAMENTO This month a lot of time was dedicated to goal planning for the upcoming year. We started with our annual mens planning meeting and that has been extended to a weekly meeting due to the desire to restructure our ministry programs. The meetings have included members from emby and Avenida Sacramento. It is very encouraging to see the Paraguayans working so diligently in making plans for the future of the church in their country. Once all the decisions are made. We will share them with you here in our following reports! The ladies also held their annual Mujeres de Fe conference on Saturday, November 9th. Two of our sisters, Raquel Franco and Leti Alfonso, extended the lessons on the theme of Quiero Ver (I Want to See) taken from Mark 10:51. There was a great turn out of ladies from all the congregations, as well as, visitors.

Members of the church of Christ in emby, along with several visitors from the area, including other congregations and our brother Joe King from the USA (in back in yellow).

EMBY CONGREGATION DEVELOPMENTS The good bretheren at emby hosted a dinner on the grounds on November 10 in their new facility for some fellowship time and to welcome brother Joe King to Paraguay. Several visitors came which afforded the opportunity to evangelize. Baptized! Graciela Espinoza! She came to the church as a new contact made from an evangelistic campain back in July with the Palm Beach Lakes congregation from the USA. She has been studying regularly with Eliezer and attending services. She has a very humble heart and we joyfully welcome her to the family of God! Baptized! Gabriel Balbuena! He is a friend and co-worker of our sister in Christ, Raquel Franco. She taught him the gospel over the course of several months and he finally came to the decision that he needed to be baptized. We rejoice with the angels in heaven!

Eliezer Perez and Joe King with our new sister in Christ, Graciela Espinoza

ASUNCION BIBLE ACADEMY UPDATE The students have finished their third quarter of studies and wrapped it up with a successful evangelistic door-knocking campaign in emby. This time, they went to the neighborhoods around the new church building. This area was even more receptive than previous ones, with several really good contacts having been made. The next quarter will feature a class on Church Planting with a special guest teacher, Enoch Rinks, as well as, some practical application workshops.

Gabriel Balbuena confessing Christ just before being immersed in baptism.

Evangelistic Contacts / Bible Studies / Special Activities: We have some exciting news in regards to our study with Sandra Durarte! When she first came to study with us, she said that her husband is very Catholic and didnt want her in a Bible study. After a few weeks she said he finally approved of her coming. This past month, she informed us that he has lots of Bible questions and would like to come study with us! We thank God for the opportunity! We ask that you please pray for our students in our Learn English Using the Bible program: Jos, Max, Martn, Aaron, Felix, Adriana, and Oscar. The studies are moving slowly, due to weather or schedule complications, but they are continuing forward. Please pray for the several new contacts that have been made in emby: Gustavo, Issa, Salvadora, and Ruthy. This month we also had the pleasure of having brother Joe King, an elder from our sponsoring congregation Maragaret Street church of Christ, come to visit us in Paraguay and survey the work here. While he was here, we had several great Bible studies and special meetings with the brethren. He also sat in on one of our English Bible studies, encouraged our two elder candidates, gave some great advice on planning meetings and leadership classes, and really encouraged Andrea and myself. Brother Eliezer Perez finished up his first term as missionary here in Paraguay and headed back to Panama on the 25th to be with his family for the holidays. He will be returning to Paraguay on January 5th to resume the work. He is such a hard worker! He was so concerned about all the contacts that had been made recently, that he assigned several people to call them and maintain communication! Our Leadership Training by Extension classes continue to go very well. We have been studying through a book on Hermeneutics and the brethren have shown great interest in what they have been learning. We pray it will provide a strong foundation for their future study of Gods Word. Worship and Bible class attendance (Ave Sacramento): Sun am 43 (3rd), 53 (10th), 51 (17th), 50 (24th) Sunday Bible study average 39 Midweek study average - 21 Current members: 76 Baptized (42 Family Units) Worship and Bible class attendance (emby): Sun pm 27 (3rd), 28 (10th), 29 (17th), 21 (24th) Midweek study average - 9 Current members: 12 Baptized (8 Family Units) Other news and upcoming activities: Were looking forward to our annual End of Year Dinner Andrea will be hosting this months Ladies Tea in our home. Karen Bennet will be coming to Paraguay to visit us again in January and lead the Ladies Retreat. Enoch and Laura Rinks will be coming to visit their family and brethren in Paraguay.

The Asuncion Bible Academy students participated in a door knocking campaign in emby

Margaret Street elder, brother Joe King, addressing the church Sunday morning

Mens anual planning meeting (held at emby)

Vicente Martinez evangelizing his friend that hes known since childhood who came to visit.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ACTIVITIES

Personal Activities: Every year the Las Amigas Club hosts an American style Thanksgiving Dinner as a fundraising event. Andrea has been involved since 2010 and its always a great opportunity for us to get to meet new people. But, lets not forget, to also enjoy a yummy taste of home! Andrea and I went to visit our dear sister in Christ, Estela, who lives in Caacupe, about an hour outside of Asuncion. Her daughter, Graciela, had come to town, so we picked her up and took her to her moms house. It was a great visit and is always a relaxing time in her comfortable home. We enjoyed a nice dinner at a great steakhouse and an evening of fellowship with our mission team mates during our annual Team Banquet. We attended a piano recital for one of Andreas English Andrea with our church secretary Mirta Vera (left) students, Oscar Parodi. He did a great job! and the US Embasadors wife, Marsha Theissen Andrea and I have had to make several trips to the doctor this (in pink)at the Las Amigas Annual Thanksgiving dinner and fundraiser. past month for check-ups, physicals, and a few concerns that we each had with our health. Thanks be to the Lord, all results have come back with good news. We continue to pray for good health while on the mission field. We want to say THANK YOU! to all our brethren at Maragaret Street for the beautiful card and care package that you sent down with Joe King. It made us feel so loved! We really appreciate you all and miss you very much! Personal study: I am currently reading / have read: The Eternal Kingdom by F.W. Mattox The Books of History by James E. Smith I have been preparing for the upcoming quarter to teach I and II Kings, as well as, Church History. Preaching/teaching opportunities: This month, I preached at Avenida Sacramento on the subject of Are We Saints or Sinners? I taught classes on Eccesiastes and Romans in our Bible study hours at Avenida Sacramento. I wrapped up the month with our classes on The Life of Christ IV with the Asuncion Bible Academy. We will be studying a Panorama of the Bible for the next year. Well be giving an introduction and summary for every book in the Bible during Sunday AM class. Cultural or language discovery: On Saturday, October 26, Paraguay shattered the Guinness World Record for the largest harp ensemble, with 420 harpists performing in a single orchestra. The previous record was 201 harpists in Scotland. A large majority of the musicians were Paraguayan youth from 39 different cities, as well as a few from Brazil, England, Japan, and Peru, who came together to perform in Asuncin. The youngest musician was 6-year-old Maura Glober. The ensemble was called #SuenaParaguay (Paraguay Sounds) because even the worlds largest harp ensemble needs a hashtag.
Several brethren got together to host a despidida for brother Eliezer before returning to Panama to be with his family for the holidays.

420 Paraguayan harpists came together to break a Guiness World Record

PARAGUAY MISSIO
Asuncion, Paraguay South America Troy and Andrea Spradlin
Casilla de Correo 13092 Shopping del Sol Asuncion, Paraguay (595) 0981-630-886 We are seeking to "equip the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:12)

Our Mission Team Goals for 2013:

This year, the mission team will be making a major shift in its role here by focusing on aligning its goals with those of the church and submitting itself to the authority of the Paraguayan leadership. In the past, the team had to make many of the principle decisions for the church until sufficient leadership could be properly developed. In 2013, for the first time, the Avenida Sacramento congregation itself will be making all the principle decisions for the church. The team will simply support them by their direction. The church has chosen the following goals for themselves and have asked us to help them accomplish them. Evangelism: (1) Offer various specialized seminars to the public, (2) conduct evangelism campaigns, (3), use the book "Searching for Truth" in various other ways, (4) provide more English courses, (5) plant a church in the city of emby, and (6) have a radio program. In addition, the team will continue to generate new Bible study contacts through advertising, campaigns, personal contacts, and family relationships. We pray to generate at least 65 new contacts. Edification: (1) Develop and begin an intensive, full-time Bible study program (Academy) to train brethren, (2) conduct a new leadership class, (3) have a camp / congregational retreat, (4) have two planning retreats for the men, and (5) start reconstruction of the church building. The mission team will assist and coordinate these activities according to the direction of the congregation. Benevolence: (1) Offer the course "Comfort in Times of Grief" to the public, (2), keep a box of food for those in need, (3) provide a class on the topic of "Benevolence" (4) use donations to help some members, and (5) participate in various activities of benevolence. These are some wonderful goals and we are so excited to see their growth in leadership. Please pray for the successful completion of each of these and the continual development of leadership in Paraguay!

OUR SUPPORTERS
Margaret Street church of Christ (Sponsoring Congregation) 6745 Margaret Street, Milton, FL 32570 Central Avenue church of Christ Valdosta, GA Dripping Springs church of Christ Dripping Springs, TX Palm Beach Lakes church of Christ West Palm Beach, FL Poolville church of Christ Poolville, TX Families of: Clay Bond / Chet Brown / Virginia Guess / Joseph Markham

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