Ana and Cesar

Hi friends, This is the Present Story of Cesar

We are seeing God work in a special way.  Here is the story.  There is a new family who our church is connected with.  The wife came to the church after she felt like something told her that she needed a Pastor to pray for her and her family.  We went to see them in their home.  When I went to see them it was a devastating first impression.  The family wasn’t just asking for something normal.  The husband is dying with cancer.  Our new friends are Ana and Cesar.

Cesar’s condition is critical. The doctors sent him home from the hospital to die.  They say that they can no longer do anything for him.  He is dealing with extreme pain and takes morphine every 2 hours.  Even with these drugs there are times that he is screaming in agonizing pain.  This amounts to about $100 per week for this medicine.  (The normal wage here would be less then $500 a month) Cesar can only drink fluids now. So he has blended peaches or milk to drink.  I have gone various times to his home and the best time was when my daughter Elia came with me.  We shared that in the midst of hard times God is good.  We spoke truth after truth, after truth after truth over Cesar about God.  That God promises to be with us, that He loves us, that He does not leave us, and that we are in deep need of forgiveness of our sins.

This family has 8 children. They are a family who is very poor. We are asking God to have mercy on this family.  That God would restore Cesar and Ana’s relationship with God and then that God would restore his body. All of you can partner with us in asking God to rescue this man from eternal condemnation.  We are asking God to open their eternal eyes.  We are also asking for a physical miracle for his body.

The last time we were with them we reminded them that they have to be calling out to God, asking for forgiveness. He has to realize that he is in need of a Savior, and that this Salvation is only found in Jesus Christ.

For those who live locally if you would like to bring a meal to Ana and Cesar please let us know. If God is leading you to help this family in another way and you would like more information please let us know.

Luke 18:13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner." 

Living The Gospel

Greetings from Paraguay! As many of you have been enjoying snow this winter we have been having months of 100 degree days. As you can imagine we are thankful that in this season (the opposite of yours) it is finally starting to cool down a bit.  Today we are projected to be in the 90’s.

A huge Thank You to those of you who have helped us purchase a vehicle for our family! You have given us a huge blessing and have put tools in our hands to minister with! We are so grateful!

The Paraguay field is walking through change. One of our current teammates is going on home assignment. This puts Carlos in the position as lead pastor at the church plant Mi Esperanza (My Hope). He assumes this new responsibility May 1^st.  We have been ministering there along with two other families since we moved to Paraguay. Now it will be us and one other family. Please pray as we walk into this new area of responsibility, we want to love these people well, proclaim the gospel here, and disciple believers.

Please lift our family in prayer.

We are asking God’s protection from the enemy.

We have dealt with a lot of sickness here, please pray for our families health.

Pray that God would lead us and the church Mi Esperanza.

We praise God for answered prayers for a vehicle!

We praise God for a great outreach that happened last Saturday, we had around 200 people!

If you would like to give please go to http://www.cmalliance.org/ and click on the "Give" tab in the top right-hand of the website. You can donate securely through this link. You can support us personally by simply typing "Saavedra" in the International Worker box to give to any of our ministry needs. Our current need is for our “work”.

Love,

Carlos & Lily 

Greetings from Paraguay!

            We are in currently in winter but it sure feels like summer here as we hit the 90’s everyday.  We are gearing up for a family outreach on children’s day, the 15^th of this month.  Please pray that many families come and that they would be attracted to Jesus.

Join with us in praising God that we moved to Paraguay 1 year ago!  This year has been like no other.  It has been a lot harder than we thought to move to another country!  This is not for the faint of heart.  As a family we have been calling to mind all of the ways God has helped us this year and all of the answers to prayers we have seen.  These things are good for us to remember as our kids start a new school year and as we go into our 2^nd year here. We are thankful for you and your partnership throughout the previous year!  We are thankful that together we are making the Gospel message accessible to the people of Paraguay.

We are asking God for another answer to our prayers.  We have been here for one year without being able to purchase a vehicle. Please join us in prayer as we ask God to provide for a used vehicle suitable for our family.  We have been searching for a used vehicle and have found one that we would like to purchase.  At this point we have about half of our needed funds to purchase a vehicle.  The total price is $18,000.  If you feel God could be leading you to give.

If you would like to give please  Go to http://www.cmalliance.org/ and click on the "Give" tab in the top right-hand of the website. You can donate securely through this link. You can also support us personally in the same way. Simply type "Saavedra" in the International Worker box to give to any of our ministry needs. Our current need is for our Vehicle fund. Thank you for supporting us!

Love,

Carlos and Lily

Carly, Elia, Lucas and Lila

Dear Family and Friends,

         We write to you with full hearts.  We are seeing God at work and we have experienced His love for us in special ways.  First our new baby Lila was born in Paraguay and without complication.  She is so sweet and such a gift to our family.  God has been using her to help us make connections in the community where we live.  I (Lily) was nervous about giving birth to her in Paraguay and we can look back and see the Lord’s loving provision and how He kept us both safe in the fragile days of childbirth.

         Our small group has been growing and reaching out to new people! We see people being open to friendship and the Gospel! This is very exciting! 

         We have been involved with several children’s outreaches that have been special.  The children are played with, loved and taught truth.

         Our spirits are being refreshed!  After a year of being away, we have had the opportunity through a gift to travel to NJ, USA to visit our family.  It has been a delight to be with my parents, the kids Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins!  We miss them so much.  Our family has had the opportunity to meet new baby Lila and this has brought great joy to us all.  This was unexpected and we praise God for giving us this great gift!

Thank you for praying for us! We so desperately need the body of Christ!

Please pray for us to have full hearts. 

Pray for us to trust God once again in saying our goodbyes to loved ones in the USA.  Pray for our small group to grow and to know God’s love.

Pray for the church Mi Esperanza as we are looking for a National pastor.

Please pray for funds to be given to us to be able to purchase a vehicle on our return to Paraguay.

If you would like to give please  Go to http://www.cmalliance.org/ and click on the "Give" tab in the top right-hand of the website. You can donate securely through this link. You can also support us personally in the same way. Simply type "Saavedra" in the International Worker box to give to any of our ministry needs. Our current need is for our "Vehicle" or “Works Special” fund. Thank you for supporting us!

Carlos & Lily Saavedra

Hello Friends!

It has been too long since our last update. We have now been living in Paraguay for 7 months. 

Weekly we are providing leadership to life groups.  Pray that lost people who are coming would want to know Jesus and that believers would grow!

OUTREACH

We had an outreach in a park that is one block from the church this Saturday (March 7^th).  The afternoon focus was on children and families.  We had face painting, a bounce house, carnival booths and a presentation of the Gospel.

In the evening we sponsored a local Christian Rock Concert in attempt to reach youth in this area. Pray that many who attended would be drawn to Jesus and would consider visiting our church.

FAMILY NEWS

Our big family news is that our new baby girl will be born in 9 weeks.  Please pray for safety for Lily and the baby in these last several weeks of pregnancy.  It has been a challenge for Lily during 100 degree days and to find a balance in resting and also still doing ministry.  Pray for us that all goes well with the baby’s delivery in a developing country.

HELP

Last but not least we have been borrowing a vehicle here in Paraguay.  While we are VERY THANKFUL for this we really have gotten to the point where we need to purchase our own vehicle. After we have a new baby we will not have enough seats or seatbelts for our family in this borrowed car.  If you would like to give toward this we would be very thankful.  If you can not give toward this would you join us in prayer that God would provide these funds for us to purchase a decent used vehicle?  We are needing about $15,000, we need a vehicle that can fit our family and endure the high floods of our area and the rough dirt/ rock roads that we often drive on.  We know that God has the right vehicle for our growing family, we are asking Him to give it to us either before our baby comes or soon after.

If you would like to give please  Go to http://www.cmalliance.org/ and click on the "Give" tab in the top right-hand of the website. You can donate securely through this link. You can also support us personally in the same way. Simply type "Saavedra" in the International Worker box to give to any of our ministry needs. Our current need is for our "Vehicle" or “Works Special” fund. Thank you for supporting us!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS! PLEASE KEEP PRAYING FOR US AND THE PEOPLE OF PARAGUAY!

Love, Carlos and Lily Saavedra

(Carly, Elia, Lucas,& new baby)