PARAGUAY MISSION – MONTHLY REPORT SUMMARY

Missionaries: Troy and Andrea Spradlin

Mission Field: Asunción, Paraguay
Date/No. of Report: January, 2011 / Vol. 3 No.1

CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INVOLVEMENT

Name of congregation: Avenida Sacramento Iglesia de Cristo
Address: Avenida Sacramento 650, c/ Espaňa - Asunción, Paraguay
Year established: September 2004
Present number of members: 36 Family Units (67 Baptized)

Average Bible classes attendance:

• Sunday – 51
• Midweek – 17 / Other - 5

Worship attendance:
• Sunday – 57 (2nd); 56 (9th); 64 (16th); 58 (23rd); 62 (30th)

Recent Bible classes:

• We had a Sunday morning series of lessons about “How
to Study Your Bible,” “How We Got the Bible,” and “The
Wonder of the Bible.” We are also continuing our verse
study of Matthew.
• I led my first Wednesday night Bible class this month!
Matthew 11 was our subject.
• I will be teaching in several more Bible class settings
beginning this next month. Vacation Bible School, January 20-22

Recent congregational developments:

• Vacation Bible School! This is such an exciting development for us. Mainly because the Paraguayans
organized it and executed it themselves!! How wonderful it is to see them take on this responsibility.
We had 28 kids Thursday, 36 kids Friday and then 48 kids on Saturday. Many of the children were from
the area orphanages while others were kids off the street. Our member's children were also active in
the VBS. It was awesome! Please keep these precious kids in your prayers!!

Recent conversions/identifications/restorations:
• Restored – Gustavo Agüero Family. Brethren, we
are rejoicing with many praises to our Lord over the
return of our wayward brother Gustavo and his family!
He had stopped coming to services several months
ago and then rejected the many attempts to visit him
or his family when we grew concerned. We continued
to pray and reach out, but nothing changed. Then
one day, he began to talk with one of our members
again which was soon followed by his return and
repentance! He is now studying regularly and growing
stronger daily. God's Word is so wonderfully capable
of guiding us! Please pray for this good family.
The Aguero Family: Alva, Alma, and Gustavo
Contacts made and resulting studies:
• Pablo Rochol – we have had several great studies together.
I asked him one time, “What do you think about the way we
worship?” He indicated he liked it. So, I asked him, “Do you
know why we worship this way?” in which he replied “No.”
Oh what a wonderful opportunity to study! Pablo is a former
member of a pentecostal group here in Asuncion. He noticed
our banner offering free Bible studies and decided to come
investigate. Please pray for him!
• My study with Viviana Castro, who recently indicated
she wanted to be baptized, has been put on hold until Diego Acevedo and Pablo Rochol
February when she returns from vacation. Please keep her in your prayers!
• Please continue to pray for other ESL students: Dr. Pablo Avalos, Ramon “Sixto” Vega, Elin Caceras,
and Dafne Hassan. (Ramon has even been attending some of our youth events lately).
• Britez Family – They have had sickness in their family and have not been able to keep up the studies.
They said they would like to start again in a few weeks.

Visitation:
• We invited Carolina Acucharro to come have dinner with us. She brought her sister and niece with her.
Carolina is very active in the church and did a lot of the organizing for our VBS. But, she struggles
regularly with trying to balance work and having a sick mother.
• We also invited Carlos and Chiara Vazquez to dinner one evening. They are a wonderful couple who
come to our services quite regularly, but, have never really committed to Bible study or becoming a
Christian. We ask that you please pray for both of these families.

Meeting/efforts with fellow missionaries:

• We approved the team budget for 2011.
• All the mission team members each assumed their new roles in the work for the year.
o Andrea is responsible for benevolence activities including orphanage projects and community
service, team maintenance, church events and marketing activities. she will also be maintaining
the evangelistic materials and the contacts tracking system.
o I am responsible for the education curriculum, men's ministry, and one of the midweek group
Bible studies. I will also be responsible for team bookkeeping, technology, and websites.
• We are starting to make a little headway in the development of our “mentoring” program, which is
designed for gauging and fostering the spiritual development of our members.

Evangelistic efforts:
• Making plans for several campaign mission groups coming from the USA.
• Still developing and writing a “Teacher's Manual” for our Learn
English Using the Bible program.
• Weekly Bible studies with various students and visitors.

Special activities of the month:

• Our VBS was the highlight of the month!
• The ladies have also gotten really organized and have started
having more meetings and studies together.
• Andrea hosted her first solo merienda with one of our
Paraguayan ladies. This was a BIG step for her and her
Spanish skills.
Chris entertaining the kids during the VBS
Mission plans for the near future:
• Making good progress in developing our Biblical/spiritual education program for 2011+
• We are going to be having a “Team Strengthening Workshop” with the Heiderich's (an experienced
missionary family from Brazil) in February.
 PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INVOLVEMENT
Personal HIGHLIGHT(s) of the Month: Spanish Bible Studies! I have begun leading several personal Bible
studies in Spanish. Most of the Bible studies before now were either in English, or together with someone who
spoke Spanish better than me. I'll admit I was terrified at first, but I have grown much more comfortable and
confident with every study. Andrea likes going on the studies with me and it's a real joy for me to be doing
these together with her. What a great blessing!

Personal study:
• Expository study of Matthew
• Several topical studies: Singing and Worship, Worry,
Authority, The Church
• Mormonism – there are literally hundreds of Mormon
missionaries walking the streets of Paraguay. They have
a temple property here and a couple dozen church
buildings scattered throughout the greater part of the
city. In other words, they have invested a HUGE amount
of money into this little country.
o Why? They believe they can convert Paraguay
into another Mormon stronghold.
o How do I know this? I studied with two of their Strengthening our brother, Gustavo, with
some regular Bible study
young men “elders” (without wives or children).
o I wanted to know what they were “selling” and what methods they used - so I just sat and
listened to their story. Friends, it is quite frightening to see how they have honed their skills and
how they deliver a rather fanciful (albeit incredulous) story. If one doesn't know their Bible well, I
can see how they can create serious confusion.
o Once they get into someone's home they begin showering them with “assistance” like needed
groceries, handy work around the house, dinner on the grounds, and many other things, which
eventually lures people further into their religion.
o It is indeed scary to watch the evil one planting tares among the wheat, brethren!

Culture and language study:

• Studying “La Lengua Que Heredamos” a Spanish grammar and vocabulary strengthening study
• Spanish studies will continue until the end of Feb. 2011

Family activities:
• Reading the Bible: Andrea and I made a goal to read through the entire Bible in one year, together.

Government requirements:
• We have the title transfer in our name for the car now, but we are still waiting for the official registration
card. Now, they are on vacation … Oh how it takes so long to get something done in Paraguay!

Plans for the near future:

• I am still working on a teacher's manual and an entry level course for our ESL program. We pray that it
will be a useful tool to help facilitate more interest in Bible study.
• Continue our language studies and learning the culture.

Notes:
• Andrea's birthday! She did quite a bit of celebrating between a
church hosted merienda, a Girl's Day out, and her husband taking
her out to a fancy-shmancy restaurant.
• Check out the donuts Andrea made from scratch. They were a huge
hit at church. Yes, they were just as delicious as they look!
 PARAGUAY MISSION
Asuncion, Paraguay – South America

Troy and Andrea Spradlin

13092 Shopping del Sol
Asuncion, Paraguay
(595) 0981-630-886

We seek to "equip the saints for the work of service to the

building up of the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:12)

Our Mission Team Goals for 2011:

Evangelism: We plan to make evangelistic efforts as a team through personal Bible studies from contacts
generated by public advertising, targeting specific neighborhoods, hosting special events such as “Teaching
English Using the Bible” campaigns, and Special Interest Seminars. We also want to encourage and develop a
more evangelistic spirit within the congregation utilizing Friends and Family Days, VBS, Prayer Vigils,
Anniversary Service, and Personal Evangelism Training.
Elders (Formal Leadership training). We plan to “mentor” our elder
candidates through personal one-on-one meetings with elders visiting
from the USA, and through Skype calls. We also plan to study with
them on a regular basis, as well as, mentor other promising brothers
for leadership positions such as deacons, or evangelists. We hope to
develop deeper relationships between the missionaries and the
church leaders through regular meals and social gatherings. We will
also be developing a Leadership Manual for Elders in Spanish.
Edifice (Building Construction): We hope to complete all legal
paperwork for construction and secure a loan for the Sacramento
congregation. The Paraguayan brothers will have the responsibility of
repaying the loan over the next 10 years. We will also assist them in
developing detailed plans and construction phases. We also pray to
begin construction on phase 1 this year.
Visit us at our websites:

PARAGUAYMISSION.COM

thespradlins.blogspot.com

OUR SUPPORTERS
Margaret Street church of Christ (Sponsoring Congregation)
6745 Margaret Street Milton, FL 32570

Central Avenue church of Christ – Valdosta, GA

Dripping Springs church of Christ – Dripping Springs, TX
Palm Beach Lakes church of Christ – West Palm Beach, FL
Poolville church of Christ – Poolville, TX

Clay Bond Family Chet Brown Family Virginia Guess Family Randall Hunter Family