Mike and Trisha Goddard Mobilizing local churches in Paraguay 
Read below our ministry update for October 2009.
TEACHING SEMINAR
The first week of October, Mike taught a 15-hour course on Narrative/Chronological Bible Teaching at a missionary training center in Southern Paraguay. Your prayers and financial gifts have not only affected our lives, but the lives of the students who are bringing people into a saving knowledge of Christ! 20 Paraguayan students preparing to serve God either in their church, tribal villages, or outside of Paraguay. One young man plans to work among tribal people, but mentioned that first, he must help his church value their role in sending and supporting him. Our children loved the training center, as there was plenty of room to run and play. Michael learned how to play Checkers with the students.
TRAVELS
The 3rd weekend of October, we received a phone call from a missionary team requesting our participation in an effort to connect a Pai church with a local Paraguayan church. A Pastor and his church members from a town an hour away spent 2 days with the missionaries and Pai believers. Later that Sunday night, Mike shared in their church about cross-cultural ministry among animist groups like the Pai Tavytera. This experience helped all of us see just how far we have yet to go before both groups understand one another and what steps can be taken toward that end. During the trip, Michael made a new friend, a Pai tribal boy named Roberto. He showed Michael some of his soccer moves after church.
SCHOOL CAMP
How would you teach about Cain and Abel, Noah’s Ark and Tower of Babel to 131 kids at school camp? Mike used several visuals as well as a skit to keep the kids stand in awe of the awesome God portrayed through those stories. During the camp, Michael Dean enjoyed being independent from his parents for a while and spent his first night in the dorm with all his classmates. The second evening, he wasn’t feeling too well, so he moved back in with Dad and Mom! Lea and Kaleb were a bit overwhelmed by all the big kids in the pool, but they were happy to be able to go to camp with Michael.
FAMILY UPDATE
Mike has had a very full schedule for the past 2 months. This week, Hugo (the young man pictured on the right in the photo above) volunteered to help us in mobilization for a period of time. Currently he is compiling a database on all the churches in Paraguay that will serve to meet our goals.
Trisha looks for creative ways for her and the children to help Mike out in the ministry. Her organizational skills keep Mike from losing important information and keeping appointments. Each month she has taken it upon herself to design and print a 2-4 page bulletin for distribution.
While on the road, Michael and Lea continued their schoolwork. In just 2 weeks, they will complete their 2nd year at the Spanish Christian school.
Tags: camp, children, church, Family, missions, mobilization, pai, paraguay, training, trip
