PARAGUAY MISSION - MONTHLY REPORT SUMMARY

Missionaries: Troy and Andrea Spradlin

Mission Field: Asunción, Paraguay
Date/No. of Report: October, 2010 / Vol. 2 No.10

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 31 Family Units (58 Baptized)

Average Bible classes attendance:

• Sunday – 32
• Midweek - 11
• Other - 6

Worship attendance:
• Sunday – 44 (3rd); 42 (10th); 47 (17th);
46 (24th); 60 (31st)
Jackson Arzamendia Adolfo Torrales
Recent Bible classes:
• In our study this month we completed 1 Corinthians. Pedro Vera, Ike Yegros, Pedro Martinez, and
Diego Vera led Bible study classes for October. Our study next month will be 2 Corinthians.

Recent preaching engagements:

• I have prepared a sermon, in Spanish, to be extended in November. I pray that after that I can start
preaching in regular rotation with the rest of the men who are preaching.

Recent congregational developments:

• Paraguayan brethren preaching and teaching!! This was such an exciting month for us! Two of our
brethren stepped into teaching roles: Jackson Arzamendia led two classes for our “Couples” study
group and Adolfo Torrales delivered a sermon before the congregation during Sunday worship. This is
an exciting development as we rejoice in their spiritual growth (both pictured above).
• Men's Business Meetings – The men have been making decisions
regarding the presentation of plans to the municipality to begin the
reconstruction project on the meeting facility. A traffic study was
completed as required.
• Our study class on “Elders in the Church” will resume in November.

Recent conversions/identifications/restorations:
• A former member of the Capiata congregation, Adolfo Rojas, has
returned to the church. He works with Pedro Vera, who has been
encouraging him to return and make corrections in his life. Although he
has not come forward to ask to be restored with the Lord, he is clearly
making advances in that direction. Please pray for this young man! Brittnae Dye and Ale Yegros
were married Oct 9, 2010
She will be rejoining the team.
Contacts made and resulting studies:
• We are still developing our new method of using “Searching for
Truth” as an English (ESL) Study Course. All of our students are
advancing through the chapters quite well and getting much better
with their English. Several have commented on how they like this
study better than any they had done in the past. Almost all of the
studies have progressed into complete Bible studies. Although we
are using English to discuss the chapters, every class is loaded
with Bible questions, which results in looking up verses for the
answer.
• Our ESL students are: Dr. Pablo Avalos, Ramon “Sixto” Vega, Elin
Caceras, Viviana Castro, and Dafne Hassan – some of these are Our ESL student, Dr. Pablo Avalos
about to enter the final chapter of the material which deals with the
subject of baptism. Please pray that perhaps they may result in
conversions.
• Ramon Paredes - a contact with whom Perry Hardin is studying.
• Luz Saniomiego – a contact with whom Chris Fry is studying.

Visitation:
• Mirta Vera Family – Mirta is our mission team/church secretary. She
has worked for ASIDC now for more than 6 years and does a wonderful
job. We recently invited her and her two adopted children, Leticia and
Fernando, to come to our home for dinner. She is a faithful woman who
is certainly a great example to many here in Paraguay.
• Rene and Carolina Vazquez Family – We also invited the Vazquez
family to our home. Carolina has been a member of the church for
Mirta Vera, Fernando and Leticia
about 6 years and Rene is a new Christian. Even though Carolina is
quite young, she struggles with severe arthritis pain in her legs which
inhibits her ability to run her business. She asks for prayers to have a strong marriage, a healthy family,
and for her own health.
• Several other visits fell through this month due to members getting sick, inclement weather, or other
issues that arose for the members.

Meeting/efforts with fellow missionaries:

• Worked “solo” for the first time with Josh. I know that's not really considered “solo” since I wasn't by
myself. However, it IS if you consider that it was Josh's and my first time to handle all the missionary
responsibilities and church activities “solo” - that is, without the help of any of the earlier, more
experienced missionaries! They were all out of town, so
Josh and I had to “maintain the ship” while they were gone.
We are happy to report that there were no explosions and
no calls to 911.
• We hosted a team “English Devo” in our home this month.

Evangelistic efforts:
• Weekly Bible studies with our several ESL students.

Special activities of the month:

• Brittnae Dye and Ale Yegros were married in the USA and
have now returned to Paraguay. Brittnae was a former
team mate and will be rejoining the mission team here in Our ESL student, Dafne Hassen, learning the Bible
Asuncion, Paraguay. and English with “Searching for Truth” materials

Mission plans for the near future:

• Planning several evangelistic campaigns for 2011: a group from FHU, and other US mission groups
• To submit plans for the new facility/re-construction to the municipality for approval.
 PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INVOLVEMENT

Personal HIGHLIGHT of the Month: Our vacation to Buenos Aires, Argentina to celebrate our 15th Wedding
Anniversary! First of all, neither of us can believe that it has already been 15 years since that day, but we
certainly recognize how blessed we have been. We enjoyed three days of sightseeing, “gastronomico” as they
say in Spanish (which means “gourmet”), and just spending time together. The city is known as the little “Paris”
of South America and it is a facinating city. It was very relaxing and a wonderful get-a-way for the two of us. If
you ever get a chance to go to Buenos Aires, we highly recommend it!

Personal study:
• More expository study of I Corinthians
• Reading “Commentary on II Corinthians” by Bill Jackson.

Culture and language study:

• I now participate regularly in our Spanish worship services.
• Our Spanish studies remain at 3 hours per day, 5 days a
week. We are now learning a lot of advanced Spanish
grammar (like Subjunctive, etc). Yes, it hurts the old brain.
• Guarani language classes, twice a week.
• Recently learned a considerable amount regarding the
Paraguayan government and the upcoming local elections.

Family activities:
Andrea with Alba Hardin and Carolina
• We are continuing to invite guests over to our house for dinner Arzamendia on a “Girls Night Out” to a
and fellowship. This has been really helpful for us in building local fashion show.
stronger relationships with our church members.
• Vacation in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Recent Developments:
• The men of the congregation have given me approval to start editing the weekly church bulletin.

Community Involvement:
• Andrea has been quite involved in several upcoming community projects. Those of you who know her
well know how much she must be enjoying herself!
• I am still planning to join the local Lion's Club, but I would like to be a little better with my Spanish
before I do. Possibly after March 1st of next year.

Government requirements:
• In November we are to meet with our “gestor” to complete
the last (and final) phase for acquiring our Paraguayan ID /
residency papers. Praying all goes well.
• Should have the title transfer to our name completed for our
car in November (finally).

Plans for the near future:

• Continue teaching Bible classes in ESL program
• Preaching my first Spanish sermon at ASIDC.
• Continue language studies and learning the culture

Notes: Nope, that isn't the Washington Monument in

• Andrea had a mamogram this month and must have a the background, it is the Obelisco of Buenos
small lump removed. The doctor is almost certain that it Aires, Argentina. We snapped this picture during
is only a fibroid, but until the surgery is complete, we will our 15 year wedding anniversary vacation.
keep praying that it is nothing more serious.