Monthly Archives: April 2018

Women Prison, Paraguay – April 30th

We had a very special evening at the women prison here. This prison was built to house 200 women and now holds over 500, so it is a very difficult situation for the women. I was able to get chairs so they could all sit close and they were so grateful and engaged in everything we did. I sing  a song about a wounded bird that flies again and I share how we are all in a sense, “a bird with a wounded wing” and in our broken state, the Father is by our side and lifts us up so…

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Government Event, Boardwalk, Asuncion – April 29th

It was really cool to have government support for this event and since they put out flyers, and social media advertising, a very large crowd showed up. It was so beautiful, behind us there was a stunning sunset, and in front of us a full harvest moon was rising. A lite breeze came off the river and it was just a beautiful night. The crowd grew so large that many could not fit in to see. We were supposed to be on a stage, which would have allowed a lot more people to watch, but the crew that set up…

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Government event- Plaza de Armas, Asuncion – April 27th

IT was cool to work with the government for this event and the one we are doing on Saturday, because they provided us with a stage, tables and security. This event was in a very poor area where many of the victims of the flood are living in temporary shelters. These people have nothing and the kids really suffer. They were thrilled to get a free show and see all the magic. We had made over 500 sandwiches which we gave out afterward.

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School for children with special needs – April 24th

Today was definitely one of the best days of my life:)! Last week we ran a race that was in benefit of this school and so it was really special to perform for them and spend time with them. Even with all the challenges these kids face, down syndrome, autism, ceribal palsy, they were so precious and engaged.

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College in Central Asuncion – April 23rd

My youngest brother wrote a rap/song that has a message in it about being the bigger person and helping make peace with others. The words “I am sorry” can be so powerful and prevent heart break, sadness and even divorce. “I am sorry”, “its my fault”, “I love you” are words we all need to be quick to say. We act out two people arguing, we comes in and loves them and says he is sorry and helps them make peace. So many of these children come from broken homes and at times hear their parents shouting at each other. Sometimes…

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Juvenile Detention Center, Paraguay – April 20th

We do a cool thing where we ask who of them wants to be a leader and doesn’t care what their friends think. After we get a few volunteers (in this case like 20!), we give them cards to read that have historic quotes written on them such as, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself”, and many inspiring quotes from past famous figures. We then have a competition to see who can read it like a leader with emotion and passion in their voice. These boys really got into and gave it all their heart. So much so…

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Largest Prison in Paraguay – April 18th

Now this one was tough. It is the largest prison in Paraguay and was a very, very bad place. Unlike most prisons we have been to, there were no “patios” or separate sections here. As in, all 5,000 prisoners were all walking around the prison at the same time and in the same area. Basically like a huge city inside a prison and just complete chaos. People shouting, the guards blowing whistles, little fights breaking out between the prisoners, soccer balls flying, guys crowding around an begging us for things, ecs… The conditions were just horrible with the walls covered…

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Running a 10k race to support a school for children with special needs – April 15th

We had been in contact with a school for children with special needs and they asked us to run a 10k race with them that was for their benefit, so we did:) It went through the center of Asuncion and along the river. It was fun to run the event with my family even though I was not in the best shape;) After the event I asked the director if I could say a few words and he gave me the microphone:) I was able to share with the whole crowd, about 7000 runners how even in difficult times and…

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School in poorest area in Paraguay , second presentation – April 13th

My sister does a beautiful ballet dance where she teaches kids to reach for their dreams. She starts all wrapped up in  a black piece of cloth and then slowly unwinds into a ballerina. She explains how we all feel trapped sometimes by our own fear, by others, by circumstance, but if we can reach beyond ourselves, and reach out to our Father, we can find a dream greater than we imagine. A dream to love others and care for those in need. Through the dance she teaches a “blind man” how to play a drum, (my dad acting), she…

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School in poorest area in Paraguay – April 13th

This school was in the poorest area in all of Paraguay. Maybe you saw a while back there was a 60 min episode about a school that built musical instruments out of trash. Well that was here. There is a massive pile of trash where all the people savage through to try to find things they can use or sell. This whole are is one of the poorest saddest places I have seen. There were 600 kids here so we did two presentations, one in the morning and one in the evening. Of course many of the kids never left,…

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Mens Prison – Paraguay April 11th

I talked to an older man here named Juan. He had 19 more years to serve and just broke down talking to me. He explained that someone broke into his house and was attacking his wife. In his rage he ended up killing the intruder and getting a 30 year sentence. Here and in many third world countries, there is no allowance for self defense in the justice system so this man was charged for murder. We shared many things with these men as well as spent time listening to their stories. As the  book of Proverbs says, laughter really…

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School for victims of the flood – Paraguay April 10th

After meeting with the Minister of Education, they opened to us the doors to all the schools and colleges in Paraguay. Three ladies spent their time to drive from school to school organizing events for us at the schools that need it the most. I really appreciated their help and care! At this school, there were 800 kids and we had to do a few groups. This was a new school just built for all the families and children that lost their homes in the flood. When I fist walked in there was a little girl standing there just weeping….

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Barrios of Paraguay – First week in April

This one lady we met while walking through the villages, started a home for the elderly that she tries to keep up in her own home. Her husband helped her start in but he died, and now she struggles to be able to afford to take care of all the elderly folks that come to her. We gave her 35$ which allowed her to be able to get a lot of rice and beans. She broke down crying, just so extremely grateful. She said God sent her angels today to pick her up:) Because of the floods here, many people…

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