Karen Returns Tomorrow!

It's been a while since I've updated the blog. Ministry got a little overwhelming and with Karen being away it just became all the more difficult. But tomorrow at 11:04 we pick her up from the airport (Gracias a Dios!).

Thank the Lord for Skype. Karen and I were able to stay connected with little cost. From what she has told me, it seems everything went well in the States. We are so fortunate to have the home church that we do as they are a constant source of encouragement and support. Karen and Jasmine stayed with a wonderful couple (Chuck and Betty) and she was taken care of by everyone at the church. She was able to attend the Southeastern District's annual prayer conference. She also had opportunities to speak a few time while in the States. Thank you to everyone for taking such good care of my girls.

My time has been a bit stressful. But the Lord gave me moments in between the stress to encourage me. Those times came when I discipled several people this week and was able to see their personal and spiritual growth (Carlos Lombardo is turning out to be a major source of praise. The rate at which he is growing spiritually is incredible... Praise the Lord.)

"Pastor, I've realized that I have not done anything to deserve what God is giving me. I haven't done anything to receive what He is giving me. I read in Corinthians that even my faith is something He has given me. - Carlos Lombardo (new believer)

As well, Carlitos and Jorge are showing enthusiasm for the Lord in their lives and this is filling me with joy. Below is a video of Jorge singing in "English." Enjoy.

Thank you for your support. We are TEAM!

Latchkey Entry #4

Sorry for not updating in several days (Karen). Something came up and I had more responsibilities this past weekend than I had originally thought I would have. But, through it all we fared well. We did eat McDonalds and Burgerking and Shwarmas (Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively).

Jeffrey was back in school today. As always I asked the teacher how he behaved. She replied by giving me that "Bien, bien." although you really know that there is more to it. She then said after my prompting that sometimes he reacts to the other children, but then calms down quickly. Right as she said that Jeffrey's schoolmate, Jesús, picked up the page that Jeffrey had colored today... WHACK! Jeffrey smacked him up side his head. The teacher then said, "Como así," or "Like this." I talked to Jeffrey, made him apologize to Jesús and give him a hug (I had to threaten him with a nap to get him to give a hug). But other than that, Jeffrey was really well behaved today.

Today for lunch we had stewed chicken with noodles. Lily did a good job of getting Jeffrey to eat. Jeffrey then watched a movie about farm animals and afterwards told me he did not want to watch it again because it was too strong (he was telling me that about several movies in the DVD store last night... I have yet to understand what that means). While Jeffrey was watching the movie, I went out and ran at Seminario (I know, I know. Miracles never cease). When I got back we both went out and bought Jeffrey's tent. José showed me a place that sold them for more than half the price I was going to spend. I'm hoping I have enough birthday money left over for a helicopter ride as well.

Concerning the helicopter ride: The colonel of the army has introduced me to the colonel of the air force and tomorrow we are going to talk about getting Jeffrey and I up in a helicopter. Who knows? Maybe, we won't have to pay for it.

Jeffrey went to bed without problems this evening at 8 p.m. He was actually begging to go to bed in his tent.

Hope you are having a good time at the Southeastern District Prayer Conference. Represent!

Thanks for you support. We are TEAM!

Paraguayan Culture in Music

The following is a video of a popular song in Paraguay that describes the multiplicity of languages experienced here. I've provided the lyrics and the best possible translation that I could make. If you would like to advise me on my translation so that it can improve, please don't hesitate to give me your suggestions via the comment section at the end.

The boldfaced typeset are words in Guaraní. If you are a Spanish speaker you may wonder about words such as, hablás or entendés. These are not type-os, rather they are a form of Spanish known as voseo.

Typical Paraguayan music is more like Polka, whereas this is an example of how the next generation of Paraguayans is changing its musical tastes. I can hear a mixture of influences in this song; such as, Caribbean, Rock, European Rock (reminds me of Falco from the '80s).

Culture continuously changes: "Cultural change is often accompanied by a change in idiom, in language or in ideas about language" (Language and Cultural Change). The following video is an example of how the Paraguayan culture is being influenced by the outside and how (at least from this group's perspective) that change can be a source of national pride.

Soy Paraguayo y Que

Tengo un amigo pobrecito
Que me dijo no te entiendo
Porque hablás como pollito
Y yo lo pregunté, ¿Por qué? ¿Pió? Pió, Pió, Pió, Pió, Pió...

I have an unfortunate little friend
Who told me "I don't understand you"
Because you speak like a little chicken
And I asked him, Why? Peep? Peep, Peep, Peep, Peep, Peep

¿No sé si me entendés?
Aquí en mi país además del Guarañol.
Hablamos el Inglés AINEGUI into you la ichampion Nike
Y un poco de Frances Por ejemplo Somnier se dice CHE KOCHO
Tiene Miedo OCHUCHU Se queja: O LA LÁ
Y en Arabe también Por ejemplo llovizna se dice HAIVIVEVE

I don't know if you understand me?
Here in my country we speak more than just a mixture of Spanish and Guarani,
We also speak English: AINEGUI (there is a bad smell) in your sneakers of NIKE. And a little French: For example in Guarani "Somnier" (which is a mattress company that sounds French) is CHE KOCHO.
You are afriad in Guarani is OCHUCHU.
One complains in Guarani is O LA LÁ.
And in Arabic as well: For example rainstorm in Guarani is HAIVIVEVE

¿No sé si me entendés?
¿No sé si me entendés?

I don't know if you understand me?
I don't know if you understand me?

NAMBRÉ! NAMBRÉ!
NAMBRÉ! luego ANGA NINGO PIKO KATU RAÉ
¿Qué pio lo que tanto?
Soy Paraguay my friend

It doesn't bother me! It doesn't bother me!
It doesn't bother me BECAUSE... (this is a string of Guaraní verb modifiers that really make no real sense, other than to say, "ANGA=Unfortunately, NINGO=Definite Action, PIKO=Questionable, KATU=Seriouisly, RAÉ=Surprisingly) it doesn't bother me because:
How important could it be?
I am Paraguay my friend
(REAPEATS)

In la zona del mercado Se escucha un Koreano:
AJUMA, AJUMA JA MOKO
Y al presidente en Rusia le dicen PUTÍN
Chinito CHINCHILIN
Y OJOKO KO LOKO es arquero en Japonés

In the area of the market you hear Korean:
I've come, I've come, we will drink.
And they say the Russian President (is) "Gay"
In Chinese: "Gay"
And this crazy that is trapping the ball good is the goalkeeper in Japenese.

¿No sé si me entendés?
¿No sé si me entendés?

I don't know if you understand me?
I don't know if you understand me?

Y en Ciudad del Este ja fala portugueis
Y en el sur también le ponen "che"
Y en Villarrica lo bailan del revés
Te van a dar vuelta de la cabeza a los pies

And in Ciudad del Este they speak Portugues
And in the south as well they use "Che" (a distint manner of pronouncing Spanish that is common to Argentina).
And in Villarrica they speak everything backwards (a common stereo-type is that the people of this region do everything "backwards")
They are going to turn it around from head to foot

NAMBRÉ! NAMBRÉ!
NAMBRÉ! luego ANGA NINGO PIKO KATU RAÉ
¿Qué pio lo que tanto?
Soy Paraguay my friend

It doesn't bother me! It doesn't bother me!
It doesn't bother me BECAUSE... (this is a string of Guaraní verb modifiers that really make no real sense, other than to say, "ANGA=Unfortunately, NINGO=Definite Action, PIKO=Questionable, KATU=Seriouisly, RAÉ=Surprisingly) it doesn't bother me because:
How important could it be?
I am Paraguay my friend
(REPEATS)

¿Y cómo se dice "chupar" en barrio obrero?
Ciclón, clón, clón clon clon
Ciclón, clón, clón clon clon
Ciclón, clón, clón clon clon
Ciclón, clón, clón clon clon (imitando el sonido de tragar un líquido)

And how do they say drink (as in alcohol) in the blue-collar neighborhoods?
Cyclone, clone, clone, clone, clone
Cyclnoe, clone, clone, clone, clone
Cyclone, clone, clone, clone, clone
Cyclone, clone, clone, clone, clone
(this is meant to imitate the sound of drining, as in "glug, glug, glug).

¿Cómo se dice quiero más en para uno?
Otra copa, otra copa
¡Dame otra copa!
¡Quiero otra copa!
¡Dame otra copa!
¡Quiero otra copa!

How do they say "I want more in "Para uno"? (I think this is a reference to the language)
Another cup, another cup
Give me another cup!
I want another cup
Give me another cup!
I want another cup!

NAMBRÉ! NAMBRÉ!
NAMBRÉ! luego ANGA NINGO PIKO KATU RAÉ
¿Qué pio lo que tanto?
Soy ALBIRROJO ¿y que?

It doesn't bother me! It doesn't bother me!
It doesn't bother me BECAUSE... (this is a string of Guaraní verb modifiers that really make no real sense, other than to say, "ANGA=Unfortunately, NINGO=Definite Action, PIKO=Questionable, KATU=Seriouisly, RAÉ=Surprisingly) it doesn't bother me because:
How important could it be?
I am of the Red & White
(a reference to the colors of the national soccer/fútbol team)
And what of it?
(REAPEATS)

Tengo un amigo pobrecito
Que me dijo no te entiendo
Porque hablás como pollito
Y yo lo pregunté, ¿Por qué? ¿Pió? Pió, Pió, Pió, Pió, Pió...

I have an unfortunate little friend
Who told me "I don't understand you"
Because you speak like a little chicken
And I asked him, Why? Peep? Peep, Peep, Peep, Peep, Peep

Thank you for your support. We are TEAM!

Latchkey Entry #3

Today is Labor Day in Paraguay. The supermarkets were open until noon, but after that everything was closed.

Jeffrey and I had plans to go fishing but today turned out to be the coldest and wettest day of the year so far. A friend warned me about the banks of the river possibly being slippery (thanks Bob), so we didn't chance it. I would not have enjoyed the time had I been worried about Jeffrey being swept away.

Jeffrey and I opted to have a Bugs Bunny marathon. We ate French Toast, sandwiches and Spaghetti.

Again Jeffrey behaved himself... dare I say, I think he is getting easier.

Jeffrey hasn't had a bath in over 24 hours... but it is very cold. I promise tomorrow I'll hose him down in the morning.

A friend of mine sent out the following video to his Facebook friend list. It really is a cute video. Hope that you enjoy.

Thanks for you support. We are TEAM!