Dear Friends and Family,

We are thrilled to be able to report that we made it back to Paraguay with very little difficulty! We spent a few days in Orlando having a great time as a family before heading to the airport to begin our 20-hour transit home. We were blessed to get all our baggage checked and made it through security and to our gate with plenty of time. Then the Gate Agent offered to check all our large carry-on’s through to Paraguay free of charge! If you fly often, you know what a huge blessing this was.

We made it to Asuncion just before midnight with all our baggage and then through Customs with no trouble. Our van was waiting for us in the parking lot, and we were on our way! Asuncion is under a midnight to five A.M. curfew, but we arrived at our home without police trouble and settled in for some much-needed sleep. Kari had arranged to have a technician come to our home that morning and administer our COVID-19 tests. Four hours later we had our negative results and were on our way to our first Wednesday evening service back in our church, Iglesia Bautista Biblica La Fortaleza of Villa Elisa, Paraguay. Our tears of sadness at leaving our home church were turned to tears of joy at our reunion with the sweet church family here. Some of the church families threw us a “welcome back” Paraguayan asado (cookout) our first weekend back.

We are excited to have returned to the work that God has called us to here in Paraguay. We have been able to reconnect with our church family here, as well as begin anew in two Bible studies. Kari has restarted her Tuesday afternoon ladies study and is thrilled to have had a couple of new ladies join. Our heart’s desire is to see people saved and discipled and growing in the Lord. We will continue here at Iglesia La Fortaleza as we seek the Lord for where to plant a New Testament Baptist church within the capital region.

Please continue to pray for our children as well.  Matthew and Sophia retained much of their Spanish, but Amelia did not.  She is thankful that there is a young lady at church her age (14) who has befriended her.  They use a translation app to help with communication.  Matthew is finishing his senior year of high school and plans on returning to Florida in May to work and learn a trade. Sophia is eagerly awaiting her 11th birthday later this month.

We are thankful for each one who hold the ropes through prayers and sacrificial giving so that we can go to the uttermost.  We would not be here without you.

Your Missionaries to Paraguay,

Jim and Kari Showers