The Spradlin Summary

Mission Report - January 2012

2012-02-01T19:12:00.000-06:00

Mission Report - JAN 2012

Nuestro Nuevo Hermano (Our New Brother)!!

2012-01-16T10:56:00.006-06:00

Congratulations to Pablo Roschol, our new brother in Christ!!!

Pablo came to us one day just walking into the building from off the street. He was curious about the free Bible studies we were offering. He had many questions and was seeking to know the truth. Over the course of the last year, we have had many studies and discussed many spiritual topics.

Ultimately, he came to realize that his previous baptism was not according to what the Bible teaches, so on Sunday 15th, he was baptized FOR the remission of his sins.
We are rejoicing!!!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-29T18:51:00.008-06:00

What a wonderful year it has been! We pray that you have been blessed in 2011 and that 2012 holds many more blessings to come. For your review, we are delighted to bring you our report for
DECEMBER 2011.

Here, also, is a collection of all our mission reports for this past year, 2011. It is so exciting to look back and see all that the Lord has done in Paraguay. Praise His name!
Enjoy!

MISSION REPORTS 2011

Paraguayan Adventure 2011

2011-11-29T10:44:00.005-06:00

Here is a video of our recent South American vacation. We decided we wanted to get to know more of Paraguay, so we took off on a big adventure. We traveled to Concepción, Pedro Juan Caballero, Cerro Corá National Park, Iguazu Falls (Argentina), Villarrica, Caazapá, and Vapor Cue National Park ... to name a few. Overall, we travelled 2400 kilómetros, passed through 11 departamentos of Paraguay, and more than 52 towns and cities! It was a wonderful blessing that we won't soon forget! Hope you enjoy the video!

Team Retreat and an Adventure

2011-11-06T19:17:00.003-06:00

Every year the mission team takes time to meet and discuss where they are in the mission goals and where they need to improve. After a few days of meetings, the team then takes a little time off to relax and just hang out together. This year they decided to take a road trip to see the old Jesuit Ruins near Encarnación, Paraguay. The ruins were fascinating both to see and to learn of their history. (Here is a link to a good story about them: Jesuits ) It was a great trip!

You CAN Understand the Bible!

2011-11-06T19:12:00.005-06:00

This is a copy of the flyer that we have been passing out in the neighborhoods around Asuncion, Paraguay. The main headline says "Despite what anyone tells you, you can understand the Bible!"

This is a copy of the flyer that we have been passing out in the neighborhoods around Asuncion, Paraguay. The main headline says "Despite what anyone tells you, you can understand the Bible!"

Missionary Care and Renewal 2011

2011-10-11T12:46:00.002-05:00

What blessings the Lord provides! A team of preachers, counselors, missionaries, and church leaders came to Atibaia, Brazil to help and serve missionaries who are currently working in South America. "Continent Care Connection 2011" is a missionary conference for men designed to encourage and strengthen foreign missionaries by providing various classes, counseling, and fellowship with other missionaries. It was a great week of rest, renewal, and reconnection with God. I was pretty skeptical about the whole thing before going there, but I am now very thankful to the men who organized and executed an extremely valuable and needed service for missionaries. Thank you, CCC!

Worship Workshop

2011-09-28T12:38:00.000-05:00

There is always something happening with the work in Paraguay! It is wonderful to see growth and spiritual development taking place within the members. One such event took place recently where we were able to see this, a "worship workshop." During a recent Paraguayan holiday, several of the men gathered to learn how to lead various acts of worship or to improve their abilities. It was encouraging to see them so eagerly wanting to participate!

Paraguay Profile Newsletter

2011-08-17T21:53:00.002-05:00

Hello dear loved ones!

Here is a link to the latest copy of the Paraguay Profile newsletter. Hope you enjoy it!

PARAGUAY PROFILE

Margaret Street church of Christ comes to visit Paraguay!

2011-08-11T19:51:00.002-05:00

A mission group from Margaret Street church of Christ came to Paraguay to work with the church and assist the missionaries. It was a great week with lots of activity! This is a video summary of some of the activities. Enjoy!

Panama Mission Trip 2011

2011-08-11T19:48:00.000-05:00

Here is a video summary of our recent trip to Panama.

PBLCOC Mission Campaign 2011

2011-06-24T15:27:00.001-05:00

Here is a short video clip of the week’s activities from our recent mission campaign with Palm Beach Lakes church of Christ. Seven brethren came to Paraguay to help the church here. Phil Porter, Maria Hackshaw, Giselle Smith, Dan Fuller, Lisa Holladay, Brad Shelt, and Adam Seal distributed almost 5000 flyers in 8 different neighborhoods, which produced more than 60 new hits on the website and gained a dozen-plus contacts. We also had three visitors on Wednesday and we encouraged many of our brethren with homes visits and devotional times! It's was a GREAT week!

Furlough Reporting

2011-05-29T20:41:00.005-05:00

It is hard to believe that we have already been in the mission field for 15 months and even harder to believe that we are now at the end of our first furlough trip back to the USA! But, we are and we have come to realize just how wonderfully blessed we truly are. We have some wonderful supporters! We feel very loved and we are now re-energized and ready to return to the work in Paraguay. THANK YOU to everyone who took us out to eat, visited with us, allowed us to stay in your homes, and who took time to encourage us. Each of you mean the world to us!

Preaching in Valdosta, GA at Central Avenue church of Christ

Reporting at the "Golden Agers" class at Margaret St church of Christ

Andrea reporting for the Ladies Class at Margaret St church of Christ

Preaching at Margaret St church of Christ in Milton, FL

Reporting at Palm Beach Lakes church of Christ in West Palm Beach, FL

Reporting at Poolville church of Christ in Poolville, TX

Preaching at Dripping Springs church of Christ in Dripping Springs, TX

A Blessing from Tennessee

2011-03-22T08:31:00.003-05:00

What a blessing the church in Asunción received when a group of college students from Freed-Hardeman University decided to spend their spring break in Paraguay! They handed out almost 5000 flyers around the city, held devotionals in many of our member's homes, assisted the congregation in their church retreat, and brought lots of encouragement to everyone with whom they came in contact. Their efforts will have a lasting impact on the many souls who were privileged to meet them!
Pictured left to right are: Perry Hardin (our mission team mate), Maury Yegros, Brian Davis, Michael Flesher, Kayla Rotz, (me), Chris Wright, Hannah Phillips, Becky Gardner, Josh Barber, Jim Gardner, Helena Yegros, and Spencer Clark.

The flyer campaign generated 12 new contacts, several phone calls to the church office, more than 250 hits to our website, and a great deal of community awareness regarding the church in Asunción. God was indeed glorified through this mission group's efforts.

A Growing Church

2011-03-03T09:54:00.003-06:00

One of the great blessings about being in Asunción, Paraguay is not only getting to spread the Gospel around the city, but also getting to work with some wonderful brethren who are growing spiritually everyday. It is always a challenge, yet so rewarding to see them flourishing in their Christian walk. These past few weeks they have been preparing for their upcoming congregational retreat and for a mission group coming from the USA.

Mission Report - February 2011

2011-03-02T09:19:00.001-06:00

Here is our latest report from Paraguay. It has been a really busy month with lots of Bible studies!

MISSION REPORT - FEB 2011

God bless!
- Troy and Andrea

Andrea's First Spanish Devotional

2011-02-26T09:09:00.000-06:00

It has been fun watching Andrea grow spiritually and culturally this past year! When we arrived in Paraguay a little over a year ago, she couldn't hardly communicate in Spanish. But, now, she has led a women's devotional all by herself! She hosted a "Ladies Tea" in our home and prepared much of the food for the occasion. She also prepared a short devotional lesson about friendship. She used Jane McWhorter's book, "Friendship: Handle With Care" for the basis of her lesson and was also inspired by another one of McWhorter's books, "Special Delivery" to add on a special activity at the end to encourage friendship among the ladies. It was a LOT of fun for the ladies and a great milestone for Andrea!

Mission Report - January 2011

2011-02-01T19:10:00.001-06:00

In case some of you are not on our mailing list or email list, here is a link to our monthly report from the mission field. Click on the link to read it online or download a copy.

MISSION REPORT JAN 2011

"Dog Days of Summer" ...... in December?

2010-12-30T16:33:00.003-06:00

Boy, it's hot! The "dog days of summer" are upon us. You know, the type of day when the heat just drags you down, like it does every ...... December? These kind of days are usually encountered in August, not in December! But, in South America where the seasons are the opposite of the USA, we're now getting into some hot weather. So hot, that the ice cream trucks, er .. I mean peddlers, are roaming the neighborhoods. They blow this little whistle, which is really more like a cheap, out-of-tune, plastic version of Zamfir's pan flute. I kept hearing someone blowing a whistle and thought it was some kid playing with it when I noticed it getting closer. When I looked out the window, I saw the Paraguayan equivalent to our North American "snow cone" man (ice cream, whatever your choice)!

Finally Found Our Way to the FALLS

2010-12-18T20:42:00.003-06:00

We have lived in Paraguay for almost a year now, I had visited twice before, but, in all that time I never had the chance to visit Iguazu Falls. I always wanted to, but it just never worked out.
This past week, it finally did!!
Iguazu Falls! (also Yguasu, or Iguassu) Whether you say it in Spanish, Portuguese, or Guarani, it all means the same thing BIG WATER! That is exactly what we found at the world's second largest waterfall. There are some 275 distinct falls within the water system that is almost two miles wide and some 270 feet high, within many levels. It is AMAZING!
Legend has it that a god planned to marry a beautiful aborigine named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In rage, the god sliced the river creating the waterfalls, condemning the lovers to an eternal fall. The first Europeans to find the falls were the Spanish conquistadors in 1541.
If you ever get a chance to visit, don't miss it!

Landscape of Elections

2010-11-07T13:43:00.004-06:00

Election Day in Paraguay is very fascinating! All of the candidates have some very interesting ways of campaigning: from the junky pickup truck draped with political banners and blaring traditional Spanish tunes throughout the barrios to the simple "pasa calles" (banners) hanging on every street corner. They plaster 150+ posters on one wall or simply paint the whole wall with the candidate's name on it. Some even spent money on street light banners. And all of this was only for the local mayors offices!! Can't wait to see what presidential elections will be like!

This was also interesting. Because it was election day. The law prohibited the sale of alcohol from 4:00 pm Saturday until after the polls close at 7:00 pm on Sunday, Election Day. Apparently they don't want any confusion at the polls .....

Do You Remember When ..... ?

2010-10-28T16:47:00.001-05:00

How many of you remember the days when there were attendants at the all the gas stations? I do ... but, it seems that they are very scarce to find these days. Almost all of our gas stations are self serve now.
Not so in Paraguay! I have yet to see a gas station here that does not have attendants. All the attendants that I have encountered have been very kind and helpful, will gladly check the air in your tires, and will happily write a sales receipt when asked to do so. Now the price of gas is a completely different subject ....

Real Politikin' .... Paraguayan Style

2010-10-21T16:20:00.003-05:00

There is much talk about American politics right now in the media surrounding the upcoming elections. Just so you know, there is no shortage of "politikin'" in Paraguay, either! There are two major parties (just like in America), there are lots of promises being made, and a gazillion accusations being slung around. (sound familiar?) One of the parties even gathered a bunch of supporters and made an impromptu parade around the city today. They just happened to drive by our street with horns and music blaring and their red flags a-waving! I quickly grabbed my camera (after Andrea reminded me to) and just caught the tail end of it here .....

Historic Moment for the Church in Paraguay

2010-09-25T16:19:00.002-05:00

After several years of hard work, intense preparation, and much prayer, the church in Paraguay now owns its first property. On September 2nd, we carried the remaining funds to the "Escribania" office to complete the purchase of the property. Ike Yegros and Perry Hardin signed the papers for the deed. We are now submitting plans for the remodeling project and hope to have a special ground breaking day sometime in late November. God has answered our prayers! Now let's pray that the facility will be a useful tool for leading many to Christ and teh Truth of His Word!

ESL Classes

2010-08-30T17:44:00.003-05:00

"Learn English Using the Bible!"
This was the approach we used to offer free English classes to the general public. We placed an ad in Facebook and quickly had 25 interested students. The campaign was for the entire month of August and we had about 15 students that went through the entire course. We studied words and passages from the book of John. Several of the students have decided to keep studying with their current teachers after the course had completed. We pray that each of them will not only learn more English, but more importantly, gain a better understanding of the Bible. Perhaps their study will encourage them to follow Christ.

Dia del Niños

2010-08-22T19:17:00.002-05:00

It was an absolutely beautiful day and we had more than 70 in attendance on Sunday. The weekend also marked "Dia del Niños." In the USA we have Father's Day and Mother's Day. In Paraguay they have those days AND a day for children. So, after services we had a little "Midway Carnival" where we had several games set up for the children to play. If they won and collected enough tickets they could use them to get a toy. Everyone had a great time and their were lots of smiling faces!

“An open door just a few doors down”

2010-08-05T13:02:00.002-05:00

Heidi, Maria, Faviola, and Raul after Maria was baptized

It took a considerable amount of time, effort, and money to get from Paraguay to Panama in order to meet up with my team mates for a short term mission trip. We had all traveled to the Darien jungle to evangelize the surrounding area, as well as, encourage the church there and teach some classes. We were excited about the possibilities! We stayed at the Hotel Felicidad in Metiti and traveled down the road to the church building everyday. A young woman, Maria, was a guest at the same hotel in which we were staying. She told us she was from Nicaragua and was traveling with her husband. He worked all day in the jungle while she and her daughter, Faviola, sat around the hotel. Since the ladies of the local church were preparing lunch for us, we decided to invite Maria and Faviola to join us. They really enjoyed themselves. Then, Maria started asking some questions and wanted to know more about this “church” that she was seeing. We shared the Gospel with her and she decided the next day to be baptized. It is interesting that we had all traveled from different parts of the world, but through a chance meeting in a mutual location, another soul was added to the Book of Life.

Panama Mission Trip

2010-07-25T20:40:00.003-05:00

I was recently blessed to be able to go on a short term mission trip to Panama with a group from our sponsoring congregation, Margaret Street church of Christ. We went to Metiti and Santa Fe in the middle of the Darien Provence. It was a great opportunity to participate in another work, as well as, getting to fellowship with my brethren from the USA.

The campaign results were: 3 baptisms, 3 restorations, 25+ Bible studies, 10 Family and Marriage classes taught, 20 Evangelism and Teaching classes taught, children's classes, evening devotionals, lots of fellowship (including 1 birthday and a 15 yr anniversary) .... and a workday at a local school. God was indeed glorified in Panama!

"Prettiest" Sight in Paraguay?

2010-07-09T19:44:00.006-05:00

It's Christmas in July at the Spradlin household in South America! To quote Andrea,

"I never thought this would be the most beautiful sight to see in Paraguay....but here it is....FINALLY!!!!!!"

Yes, we finally received our container with all our household belongings. The men unloaded everything in the pouring rain and we are happy to report that everything made it here just fine (including Andrea's dark chocolate Reeses cups). There wasn't any damage, so we have been blessed with a good, safe move.
Many of you may remember that we packed everything to go to Paraguay as I was getting ready to graduate from SWSBS. That was a year ago. Graduation for this year's students is this weekend. How's that for timing?
This is Christian Flors with Andrea. He is one of the helpers that unloaded the truck in the rain. (BTW, he is very strong).

World Cup Craziness!

2010-06-29T16:32:00.003-05:00

World Cup enthusiasm is at a fever pitch in Asunción, Paraguay! The national team, "Albirroja" won their game against Japan which propelled them into the quarter finals. It is a historical moment for Paraguay because they have never gone that far in the World Cup. As soon as the game was over, there was an explosion of excitement in Asunción. EVERYONE was honking a horn, waiving a flag, singing, jumping up and down, and/or screaming! We went out front of the church building to wave at all the happy people driving by! The downtown area was also immediately packed with thousands of people - all celebrating! WOW! What a neat experience!

Siesta o Sin Hogar?

2010-06-27T16:29:00.004-05:00

Kodak Moments

2010-06-15T19:14:00.003-05:00

Asunción is a rather picturesque city (that of course, is subject to opinion - mine being that it is). There are many fascinating things to see which present various "photo opportunities." While Johnny Davis was visiting, he got the idea to take this picture as we were walking up to the old train station. Fun!

"Volante" Evangelism

2010-06-03T15:51:00.002-05:00

Andrea and I are still learning the language here in Paraguay. We can speak pretty well, but it is still difficult to communicate effectively (especially about religious matters). But, we were wanting to do SOMETHING that would benefit the church - even if we weren't capable just yet to speak the language. So, we decided to start handing out flyers in the parks, street corners, and bus stops to invite people to church. In Paraguay, they are called "Volantes" and almost everyone will take one if you offer it to them. Thanks be to the Lord, we have already had several respond!! Please pray that these flyers will reach those souls who are searching to know the Truth!

Our First "Care Package" from Home!

2010-05-23T19:21:00.002-05:00

Is there anything more encouraging to a foreign missionary than a care package from home??! I find it hard to imagine that there could be anything else. We just received our first from our sponsoring congregation in Milton, Florida. It was just a small box, with some trivial things inside, but it was one of the greatest gifts I believe we have ever received. I knew that every item in that box was purchased and placed there with us in mind. Our brethren went out of their way to provide a few little things that we had requested. To me, each item represented a great deal of love, a whole lot of encouragement, and a large portion of thoughtfulness. That little box gave me a lot more understanding to what Paul wrote in Philippians 2:4.

Sightseeing in Asuncion

2010-04-26T13:46:00.002-05:00

Everyday we learn more and more about the culture and language of Paraguay. It is exciting, yet, also overwhelming at times. One of the things Andrea and I enjoy doing is just getting out and sightseeing in order to learn more about Asuncion at a little slower pace. Recently, we have been learning a great deal about the history of the country. In fact, one of the members of the congregation here has a great-great grandparent that was involved in the signing of the declaration letter for independence from Spain. This is a picture of the house where the letter was signed on May 15, 1811. It is known as "La Casa de Independencia" and is located in the midst of the bustling, modern city of Asunción.

"Retiro" (Church Retreat)

2010-04-19T15:50:00.002-05:00

This past weekend we had a congregational retreat. We rented a little campground about 45 minutes outside the city that is maintained by a Korean denominational group. We spent two days singing, studying, worshiping, and fellow-shipping. This was the first experience Andrea and I have had with a church campground setting in a foreign country. It was wonderful! The entire weekend, I couldn’t help but think how thrilling it is to see God’s word working in the lives of the Paraguayans in the exact same way I am accustomed to seeing in the States. In reality, it doesn’t matter on what continent one may stand, God’s word touches hearts in any culture. The best part – going to the camp retreat “rejuvinated our spiritual batteries” even if it was in a different language!

More Street Talk

2010-04-12T13:50:00.005-05:00

Chipa! Chipa! Periodicos! Regalos!
These are things you hear on the street as you roll up to a red light. Most of the busy intersections have street vendors trying to sell a product or service. There are many who want to clean your windshield, others want to sell you lottery tickets, while some just want your spare change.

In the afternoon, on the way home from work, there are lots of vendors selling "chipa." It is a traditional Paraguayan bread. Sometimes it is shaped in a big circle. It tastes sort of like cornbread. I have grown to love chipa (if it is made right) and it is, indeed, a perfect snack for the ride home.

Here is another picture of the street kids we saw the other day ... playing around between cars lining up.

Street Kids

2010-04-09T13:15:00.002-05:00

It breaks your heart! If there is anything that tugs at your heartstrings more, it is seeing so many children working in the streets. Many of them are begging for coins, food, or work (like cleaning your windshield while you wait at the light). They are usually barefoot, dirty, breathing diesel smoke all day, and standing in dangerous places. Sometimes parents carry their babys up and down the lines of cars asking for money.
It is, indeed, difficult for many to make a living here in Paraguay. But, it is most sad when children are not allowed to be just children and are thrust into such harsh circumstances.

A Little Holiday Get-A-Way

2010-04-05T13:30:00.007-05:00

The week before Easter is a national holiday in Paraguay. Most of the stores shut down and many people leave the city for a little get-a-way. We were blessed to be invited to visit the home of one of our brethren who is from Pilar, a city about 5 hours south of Asunción. It was a wonderful few days of rest and relaxation. We visited with friends, went sightseeing around the old city, ate lots of traditional Paraguayan foods, and even had a chance to ride horses.

Pilar is an old city of Paraguay that has a very rich history. The basic layout and design was constructed by a group of Italians around the early 1900's. Until just 15 years ago, there were no automobiles in Pilar. Everyone rode motorcycles and bicycles.

Weekly Blurb:

2010-03-31T16:20:00.000-05:00

4th Week of March – We're finally getting settled into South American way of life. We are enjoying being in our new place (even though it's bare). We now have air conditioning, a security system, appliances to cook meals, and to do laundry. Now, all we need is a couch to make it complete! Our shipping container is scheduled to leave around April 14th. This weekend we are going to Pilar to spend some time with our church brethren. It is a small town about 5 hours south of Asunción. Should be fun!

Precious Cargo

2010-03-27T11:58:00.004-05:00

This is a very common sight in Paraguay. Motorcyles are used for all kinds of transportation and there are hundreds of them zig zagging through traffic all the time. Sometimes, they drive on the sidewalk! In this case, it is this family's means of transportation. Notice the little girl sitting on the gas tank. She wasn't the least bit frightened and I think Andrea and I were more afraid for her than she was.

Team Workshop

2010-03-12T10:45:00.004-06:00

This is a picture of the current mission team in Asuncion, Paraguay. Also in the picture with us are Jerry and Gail Heidrich from Brazil. They came over to help the team learn how to deal with new transitions and to develop into a stronger unit. The workshop covered about four days and was a wonderful help for the team. We are thankful that God has provided such talented workers as the Heidrichs to help missionaries in the field. The team feels much stronger and closer now.

L-R are Vickie and Chris Fry, Gail and Jerry Heidrich, Cara and Josh Blackmer, Alba and Perry Hardin, Andrea and Troy Spradlin.

A Chance Encounter

2010-03-08T19:09:00.000-06:00

Andrea and I went to a "garage sale" at the U.S. Embassy, last week, where several embassy employees were trying to sell their belongings before returning to the States. While we were purusing through the tables we happened to meet the U.S. Ambassador to Paraguay, Ms. Liliana Ayalde.
She was very nice and quite informative as to what the office of the Ambassador entails. She is from Maryland and also has a home in Ft. Lauderdale. She regularly speaks with the President of Paraguay, Fernando Lugo, and recently set up a meeting between him and Hillary Clinton. Later that afternoon, I saw a photo of her in the local newspaper and I have seen her on TV several times since then. Kind of neat to have met one of our dignitaries here in Paraguay.

Holiday Sightseeing

2010-03-01T20:45:00.002-06:00

Today is a Paraguayan national holiday. It is "El Dia del Heroes." On this day, 140 years ago, Mariscal Francisco Lopez was killed in battle which marked the end of the extremely bloody War of the Triple Alliance. Lopez was the dictator of Paraguay and is now considered a national hero. He is buried in the Pantheon del Heroes in downtown Asunción alongside several other Paraguayan leaders.

Since we had the day off, we decided to go sightseeing outside Asunción to what is called the "Chacko" (also known as the "interior" by the locals). We went to San Bernadino and Los Altos. These were sights that were founded by German immigrants who wanted to start the "master race." It was 50 years before Hitler began his same attempt, in 1880 by a Dr. Forster. He became an influence for the Nazi ideas and the town eventually became a hiding place for the Nazi fugitives. Dr. Mengle, the "Angel of Death," is rumored to have fled to Los Altos when Germany was defeated.
The beautiful little town is on the edge of Lake Ypacarai. We stopped and had lunch, then took a walk down by the lake. Josh snapped this picture of us on a pathway near the water. It was a fun day!

The Brokedown Blues (Paraguayan Style)

2010-02-25T13:28:00.002-06:00

I seem to have the worst experiences with my vehicles. Andrea and I purchased a Honda CRV from one of the previous missionaries and are quite pleased with it. But, it decided it wanted to make a trip to the mechanics, so it overheated and blew some hose. (In all fairness, it was 110 degrees that day). Then, Josh's battery died in his vehicle. So, we threw in the towel. We pulled out our "equipos" and sipped on terere until the tow truck showed up. We were having so much fun that Josiah decided he wanted to join us!

Sacramento Brethren Present Us With Paraguayan Tradition

2010-02-14T11:02:00.003-06:00

Sipping Yerba Mate is a Paraguayan tradition. Almost everywhere you go, you will see many people carrying around their "equipo" and refreshing themselves with the summer-time version called "Terere." They have been doing it for centuries.
The brethren at the Avenida Sacramento Iglesia de Cristo presented Andrea and me with our very own "equipo" and a bunch of yerba mate. An "equipo" has a "bombilla" (a perforated straw for sipping), a guampa (a cup), and a thermos (for cold or hot water).
After you prepare your guampa with the mate of your choice, you simply pour a little water into the cup, sip it through your bombilla, then repeat.

We are so thankful to be here and to be embraced by our Paraguayan brethren. Chau!

Progress Update: Received Driver's Licenses

2010-02-13T10:53:00.003-06:00

Traffic is crazy and the drivers drive crazy in Asunción:

Andrea and I received our driver's licenses! We are excited because it is quite an accomplishment due to the processes involved.

The way it works in Paraguay is this:
1) Upon arrival at the "DOT" (which is actually legal place for the municipality), you must select a "hestor." He is a person that will assist you through the entire process.
2) Once the hestor takes your name and info, he goes to the registrar(?) and then returns with a price to complete the process. (Our price was double what it normally costs, but, he said he could get everything done in one day - we decided that would be great)
3) He then proceeds with the paperwork which includes:
a. an eye test (from a worker who really doesn't care what you say as long as you answer)
b. pricking your finger to find out your blood type
c. a photo taken
4) then, you just wait until everything is complete and he brings you your license.
5) If all is good, you give him a tip (even though he is already making money off you) and you go away happy.
6) Upon returning to these offices for other documents, it is wise to always use the same hestor.

How's that for bureaucracy?

Team Update

2010-02-07T11:34:00.003-06:00

It has been a busy week!

First of all, I apologize that our website www.paraguaymission.org has been down recently. We are praying to get that fixed real soon.

Otherwise, we have accomplished a lot this week. We registered the car and began the paperwork for transferring ownership. We signed up for language school and for health insurance. We are looking into car insurance, too. Andrea had an allergic reaction, so we made our first doctor visit this week. We had a team meeting on Tuesday and have been out to eat with most of the team members since Monday. We worshiped Wednesday night and today with the congregation. The members presented Andrea and me with Paraguayan mate and teas as a welcoming gift. The team gave us an "equipo" which is used to drink the mate with.

This week we will start our language school and look for a place to rent. We are so happy to be here!

Here is a video of a young man being baptized who had been studying with Enoch. His name is Raul Riveros and he decided to obey the Gospel this past Tuesday.

Hola de Paraguay!

2010-02-03T17:08:00.002-06:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that we are doing great! We hit the ground running and are getting a little bit settled in. We have started the paperwork process to get our car registered and to get driver's licenses. They do things quite differently here. For example, a notary public basically handles all the legal stuff like tags, title, and plates. Even the inspection process was quite an experience. We are also working on getting our cell phones turned on. The next things on our list are getting insurance (car and health), then residency papers, and looking for a place to live.

Here is a little "Hola de Paraguay" video clip of the team reunited and ready to go to work:

This Is It

2010-01-29T20:13:00.003-06:00

This is it! We have been working toward this day for three and half years. It has finally arrived. By this time tomorrow night, Lord willing, we will be reporting from the mission field of Paraguay. I hope to post some video or pictures real soon.

Thank you to everyone who has lifted us up in prayer for safe travels. Thank you for all the encouragement and support.

It is all in the Lord's hands now. May He be glorified.

2010-01-26T08:00:00.002-06:00

Today is Andrea's birthday! Lots of emotions are tumbling around inside as we are dealing with the anticipation of leaving Friday, sadness from all the farewells and well-wishes, to the stress of finishing up a few final details for our departure. A very unique birthday, indeed!

We want to offer a big "THANK YOU" to our sponsoring congregation, Margaret Street church of Christ, for the kind words and the send off festivities they provided for us on our last Sunday with them Jan 17th. We also want to say the same to Palm Beach Lakes for this past Sunday. We love all of you very much, we will miss you very much, and we are so thankful to have you as our supporters.

I have been invited to write on a brotherhood blogsite to describe the emotions and events that a new missionary feels going into the field. I call the daily post "Culture Shock Chronicles" and it can be found at The Fellowship Room. Hope you will join us there. Enjoy!

Winter Wonderland in N.C.

2010-01-10T08:14:00.001-06:00

History of the church in Paraguay

2010-01-02T22:26:00.004-06:00

This is a video that the team in Asunción produced which tells a little about the history of the congregation that meets at Avenida Sacramento. Brother Ike Yegros, one of the members in Paraguay, tells the story.

A Little Help Packing Our Bags

2009-12-16T09:38:00.003-06:00

Andrea and I received a little help, well actually, a WHOLE LOT of help "packing our bags" from our sponsoring congregation, Margaret Street church of Christ. Martha Todd put together this very unique display in the foyer of the building, to bring about awareness of a few items that we are in need of to take with us to Paraguay. They are items that we will not be able to purchase in Asunción. So, our brethren have graciously taken it upon themselves to gather up several of the products for us. Thank you, so very much!

An Introduction to the Life and Culture of Paraguay

2009-11-09T18:46:00.002-06:00

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season ...

2009-10-23T09:37:00.003-05:00

Andrea and I have stayed really busy since arriving at Margaret Street church of Christ in Milton, FL. We have been blessed with several opportunities to be able to serve. We both volunteer for the Food Pantry distribution every Thursday. We are also involved in young adult Bible studies, youth gatherings, and the "Golden Agers" Bible studies.
I have been teaching a class on Wednesday nights, titled "They Were Fishermen and Farmers" which is a comprehensive study of the Great Commission. I have also assisted in other Bible classes and special studies. We have been able to go on several visits and be involved with the Monday Night for the Master program. It is wonderful to be able to serve in His kingdom!
Above is a picture from our Family Retreat. I extended a short devotional in the evening and the next morning.

Polishing the Pulpit

2009-09-03T21:27:00.003-05:00

One of my dear friends asked me, "What is Polishing the Pulpit? Is that some kind of hazing ritual for a newbie preacher like you?" I laughed, and even though I am a "newbie" preacher, Polishing the Pulpit was one of the finest events I have ever attended.
It is a seminar/lectureship that offers a wide variety of classes and workshop settings on various subjects pertaining to matters of the church. Each of the classes, or lectures, are taught by some of the prominent men within the brotherhood. Wayne Jackson, a well known preacher and writer, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for the many years of service he has given to the Lord's kingdom. Other speakers included Alan Highers, B.J. Clarke, Glen Colley, Dan Winkler, Kyle Butt, Eric Lyons, George Bailey, David Pharr, and many others including one of the most eloquent speakers, Tom Holland (pictured below).

It was wonderful weekend and a great opportunity to be able to spend time with so many like minded Christians (1,400 to be exact) and see so many good friends and brethren. I was blessed to be able to go with my friends, and fellow servants, Preston Silcox and Jason Lasure (pictured). If you ever get a chance to attend this fine event, I highly recommend that you do.

Grateful to Be Starting Our Work

2009-08-15T08:56:00.005-05:00

Andrea and I have been working toward a single goal for several years now - to be full time servants in the Lord's kingdom. We are so thankful that the day has finally arrived!

We arrived safely in Milton, FL on August 8th. We have since been settling into our new "temporary quarters" (until we leave for Paraguay) and also finalizing the last few details regarding the shipment of our belongings to South America. This involved driving to Nashville, TN to offload everything with Healing Hand International who will be handling the shipping container and customs documents for both the Blackmers and our household items. This past week, I spent a day planning out mission strategy and budgeting with Ed Temple, missions deacon, and also updating various documents. While here I will be teaching an evangelism/missions class on Wednesday evenings and also working alongside the ministers of Margaret Street church of Christ. I must say, it really feels exciting and good to be starting, on what I pray will be a very long career, of serving our Lord. I feel like Isaiah when he said, "Here am I, Lord. Send me!" - Isaiah 6:8

This picture is from when Andrea and I had dinner with our good friends and fellow servants, Al and Rhonda Washington, before we departed from SWSBS. Al preaches for the University Hills church of Christ in Austin, TX and we have known them for many years. They were members at Palm Beach Lakes where Andrea and I were also members for a long time.

Sad Goodbyes and Happy Beginnings

2009-08-02T23:36:00.005-05:00

One of the unique moments of life that occur often are those where one thing comes to an end while a new beginning takes shape. We had one of those instances tonight when we said "Farewell" to our friends and church family at Dripping Springs church of Christ.
It's hard to believe two years came and went so fast. Everyone at Dripping Springs is very special to us and we will miss each of them greatly. Here are a couple of pictures that our dear friend, Beth Moore, took of the money tree they presented to us along with a fingers foods layout. It was definitely a crying time.

Now we are packing to leave for Milton, FL where we will begin working with the Margaret Street church of Christ before departing for Paraguay in January. We are excited about this new part of our work and look forward to what the future holds!

What do you do with trophies?

2009-07-25T15:23:00.004-05:00

Andrea and I have a couple of prized possessions - our trophies. Not the kind of trophy you win at some athletic or academic event. You know the kind, a little gold man on top of a vase with a nice plaque engraved on the base of it. No, these are a different kind of trophy, the kind that many hang on their wall - an animal mount.
Andrea has a large sailfish she won at a fishing contest and I have a deer mount from the very first buck I ever tagged.

So the question is this, when you are packing to move to South America, what do you do with those? Answer: build your own custom shipping crates from scratch. Just one of the interesting challenges we are facing with the move. Already an adventure!

Graduation from SWSBS

2009-07-15T00:38:00.002-05:00

We did it! We finally completed our studies at Southwest School of Bible Studies! Andrea received her "Certificate of Completion" for the Women's Bible Study Program. I received my diploma for completing the Biblical Studies Program. We are so excited and are thrilled to have the opportunity to enter the mission field. We look forward to being servants in his kingdom.
THANK YOU to everyone who supported us being here! This is a little video with some highlights from the event:

Summer 2009 Newsletter

2009-06-24T22:29:00.004-05:00

Here is our latest newsletter:

Spradlin Summary - Summer 2009

Graduation from SWSBS is July 12th!!

Barn Swallows

2009-06-13T17:17:00.003-05:00

Andrea and I have enjoyed watching nature in action through our newest little neighbors - a Barn Swallow and her hatchlings.

She built her nest under our back porch roof and now has four little ones she is caring for. We can watch her bringing food to the chicks from our kitchen window. They get pretty excited when she shows up at the nest!

They are about ready to leave the nest, so we are going to miss their chirping in the evenings.

Crawfish Boil!

2009-05-11T22:28:00.007-05:00

One of the members at the Buda/Kyle church of Christ, brother Doug Garner, hosts an annual crawfish boil about this time of year each year. This was their 11th year to host it. He cooked over 200 pounds of the little pinchers and, boy oh boy, they were DEEELISH!

We had a great time eating, visiting with our fellow brethren, and just enjoying the wonderful Texas springtime weather. There were lots of people there to enjoy the feast! All the kids had a great time playing together, too.

Check out Our New Missions Website!

2009-04-27T17:27:00.004-05:00

Click on the link to go to our new website!
This site is for information regarding our mission work and our upcoming plans. We will also use it for updates and a place to download information.

Sightseeing In Our Own Backyard

2009-04-26T16:22:00.008-05:00

When one is enrolled in a theological studies school like SWSBS, there is not much time for "extra curricular activities" like just going sightseeing. There is simply too much work to do to keep up with the workload. It is one of the many sacrifices that must be made in order to prepare oneself for entering the work of the Lord as a minister. This is a little sad considering there is so much to see and do in the great city of Austin, TX.
Thankfully, there are a few breaks in the study quarters of school. So this time, Andrea and I spent the weekend together .... sightseeing.
We went to see and tour the Texas State Capitol, the Texas State History Museum, and a few other sights around town.
One of the unique sights is the Austin Bat Tour. Yes, a bat tour. The South Congress bridge in Austin is home to one of America's largest Mexican Freetail bat colonies. (I know, weird right?)
But it was truly fascinating to see about one million bats come pouring out from underneath a bridge at dusk. Quite an interesting experience!

Planting and Watering

2009-04-24T16:33:00.006-05:00

The apostle Paul said,
"I planted and Apollos watered, and God gave the increase"
- 1 Cor 3:6

We are indeed, in the "sowing" business - sowing the word of God in the hearts of a lost world. The mission work that Andrea and I are about to engage in will be the "watering" aspect of sowing. The current team that is in Paraguay (pictured here) planted the church at Sacramento Street 5 years ago. When they formulated a plan to work in the mission field, they committed to five years. At this time, a few of the team members have already returned to the states and others are preparing to do the same. The church is growing and thriving in the city of Asuncion.
But now, they need faithful Christians to come and work with them and "water" the congregation in teaching and instruction. This is what Josh, Cara, Andrea, and myself will be doing in Paraguay.
What an exciting process that God has put in place! But, just as He is the one who gives life to all things, including seed, He is the One who will provide the growth in the hearts of this young congregation. Pray for us, pray for the church!
(In the picture: on left are Chris and Vickie Fry, with Walker and Emma; standing in middle is Perry Hardin; Brittnae Dye, sitting; and on right, Enoch and Laura Rinks)

Wine is a mocker (Proverbs 20:1)

2009-04-20T16:45:00.004-05:00

Here is a clip from an upcoming WVBS release about the dangers of alcohol. I play a small part in a reenactment scene from a story told about drinking and driving.

A Glimpse of the City

2009-03-28T22:35:00.006-05:00

Here are a few pictures from Andrea's trip to Paraguay. These give just a small glimpse into what the city of Asuncion looks like.
(You can click on any of the pictures to see a larger version of it)
A view of a quiet street in Asuncion from an upstairs apartment.

The residential roads are made from these "pavement" of rocks pictured here. Pretty to look at, but rough on the ride!

This last picture was taken at a new park created in the city. It's a "health" park for jogging and biking. The city officials are making attempts to attract more tourist to Paraguay. One way is by cleaning up the city with places like these. (Reminds me of some of the parks in Florida)

Check back often. More photos coming soon!

Picturesque Paraguay

2009-03-08T15:35:00.004-05:00

OK. Maybe not everyone thinks Paraguay is picturesque. But, just as some think a desert is "pretty" while others abhor the thought, or others who prefer flat land over mountainous regions because of their unique inherit beauty, so shall one find something picturesque within his own eyes.

That very thing happened to Andrea on her recent visit to our "soon to be" resident destination.
On her first visit to the country, she was more overwhelmed with the aspect of being in a foreign country for the first time, and the difficulties of communicating in a foreign language, than taking time absorbing the flora, fauna, and cityscape around her.
This time she saw it. Some of those unique little features of a unique little country.
In the next few days, I will post several of her photographs along with a few of my own to try and illustrate a little of what is to be seen in Paraguay.

Exciting Day in Paraguay!

2009-03-01T08:43:00.004-06:00

Today is an exciting day in Asuncion, Paraguay!

The Capiata Iglesio de Cristo (pictured on top) and the Sacremento Street Igesia de Cristo (bottom picture) are merging into one congregation today.

Although it doesn't sound promising when we lose a congregation within His kingdom, this may be one of those rare times when much good comes from it. Capiata is a smaller congregation on the outskirts of Asuncion made up of about 30 members. Many of them have been mature, faithful Christian for many years. In fact many of them drive out to Capiata to worship there. Sacramento is made up of about 60-70 members, many of whom are converted within the last five years. This merger will provide an opportunity for some of the older, more mature Christians to teach, guide, and influence several young, growing Christians. What a wonderful opportunity! Also, the two congregations will now be able to pool their resources, which will allow them to concentrate their evangelistic efforts.

It is our prayer and hope that elders will soon be appointed within the congregation and that evangelistic training will flourish within this growing church. Please pray for our brethren in Asuncion and these efforts.

In addition, Andrea and Cara are there on a survey trip and will get to witness this historic event in the history of the church in Paraguay. It is indeed an exciting day in Paraguay.

Blackmer/Spradlin Paraguay Presentation

2009-02-14T20:16:00.003-06:00

Josh and I are currently traveling around to various congregations in the Texas area presenting the work in Paraguay to the brethren. We have been a part of the Shenandoah Lectureship in San Antonio, presented at University Hills and Dripping Springs, and will be at Buda/Kyle on Wed. Sunday we will travel to Marshall, TX.

This is a video presentation regarding the work in Paraguay:
PART ONE

PART TWO

This is the PowerPoint that goes along with the presentation:

Spradlin Summary Newsletter for Feb 09

2009-02-09T19:07:00.004-06:00

Below is a link to download our latest newsletter:

San Antonio Sightseeing

2009-01-27T10:23:00.004-06:00

Andrea and I went to San Antonio for her birthday to check out the sights. One thing we absolutely love to do together is explore new places ... so, San Antonio it was. It's only an hour or so down the road, but we finally made it down there. The Riverwalk is really beautiful, the Alamo is inspiring, and the market place is very cultural. It was a great day!

Mission Sunday 2009

2009-01-13T15:06:00.002-06:00

Here is a personal message to all our friends and family at Palm Beach Lakes church of Christ for the upcoming Mission Sunday. God Bless!

(Look at that face I'm making. Video always captures the silliest screen shots.......)

A Girl's Gotta' Shop!

2009-01-10T23:55:00.004-06:00

Have you ever known a girl that DIDN'T like to shop? .... didn't think so.

Well now, let me tell you, Andrea is a power shopper, make that an international power shopper. Here she is in Paraguay, South America.

Pictures tell a 1000 words ... so, just look at the smile on the girl's face and then let me translate the sign: "Jewelry Center."
Need I say more?

Threads of the Messiah

2008-12-09T21:26:00.003-06:00

The Bible is bound together by threads of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He can be found on every page. There are different perspectives of our Savior which can be identified throughout the Scriptures. This is a sermon on the different messages, or threads, of the Messiah.

Delivered at Buda/Kyle church of Christ, November 30, 2008.

Click on "Play" button to stream MP3 audio:

Who Is MY Neighbor?

2008-12-09T20:30:00.001-06:00

Sermon on the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37
Delivered at Buda/Kyle church of Christ, November 30, 2008
(Preceded by Scripture reading of Matt. 22:37-39)

Click on "Play" button below to stream MP3 audio:

Still keeping on keeping on

2008-12-04T10:19:00.003-06:00

It has been a while since I have updated this blog. I apologize for the delay, but I am happy to report that we have been so busy that there hasn't been time because of many great things that have been happening.

Obviously, the biggest thing has been the work load at school, (which has been much heavier this quarter). But, we have also been traveling a bunch, working on Paraguay plans and making further preparations. I have had many opportunities to preach lately and Andrea has been very involved with projects at WVBS and Dripping Springs. We are continuing to work with the youth at "Drippin' " and have several plans in the works.

This picture was taken while we were in Paraguay.

We appreciate all the prayers and well wishes! We hope you all have a great holiday season!

SWSBS 2008-2009

2008-10-18T19:28:00.001-05:00

Here is our latest picture of the students and faculty at SWSBS

What is Truth?

2008-09-17T10:28:00.001-05:00

Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" (John 18:38) Have you ever asked this same question?
Below is a short devotional I presented on the subject at Southwest church of Christ on Sept. 10, 2008.

Discipleship University was a success!

2008-08-25T10:50:00.003-05:00

What a GREAT weekend! Many young people descended on Dripping Springs church of Christ this past weekend for "Discipleship University."
It was a weekend of spiritual strengthening for our youth before they went back to school.
There were many great classes taught and Brother Montgomery (pictured) brought several outstanding lessons about what it means to be a true disciple of Christ.
We had over 50 students attending all the classes with many of them coming from several miles away.
God was glorified, His Son exalted, and young lives were spiritually edified. Does it get any better than that?

Stepping back in time

2008-08-14T19:50:00.002-05:00

My grandfather used to tell me stories about how he would ride his horse to church and to work everyday when he was younger. I was always fascinated by his stories and wondered what that world must have been like. Well, I saw a place recently where one can get a taste of that era in time. As you can see in this picture, horses are still a common mode of transportation in places like Panama. There is no air-conditioning in the church building, food is cooked over an open fire, and people work from sun up to sun down. I am sure my grand father would have been able to identify with the people in Panama very easily.

The church in the Darien Jungle of Panama

2008-08-06T09:36:00.003-05:00

I find it simply amazing that the Lord's church can be found anywhere. When I say anywhere I really mean anywhere. Take the church that is deep in the heart of the Darien Jungle of Panama. There is only one road (partially paved) that dead ends about 50 miles from Colombia. Along this route, one can find several congregations meeting in the various towns along the way.
This picture is of the congregation (and some missionaries) meeting in Sanson.
It is really heart warming to worship with brethren that believe the same thing as you, even though they speak a different language. I can't help but think about how excited Paul must have felt when he would meet various brethren throughout the regions that he traveled.

Youth Group Road Trip

2008-07-21T16:42:00.004-05:00

This past weekend we had the privilege of taking the Dripping Springs Youth Group on a road trip to Glen Rose, TX where we checked out dinosaur tracks and fossils. We all had such a great time getting to know each other and many new friendships were made. We worshiped at the Poolville church of Christ and developed more friendships there. The weekend came to a close with one of the young ladies being baptized. God was glorified this past weekend and the spiritual lives of many young (and older) people were lifted. We are truly blessed.............

"That Old Time Religion"

2008-07-08T18:56:00.003-05:00

I love old church buildings. I have been in and around church buildings my whole life. But, the really old ones fascinate me. I often imagine all the families pulling up in a horse and buggy or even in Model T's. All the ladies would have on their big hats and the men in their three piece suits (or their best farmin' clothes). I picture the preacher shouting and wiping his brow from sweating while the church goers fan themselves with the bulletin pages.
Sometimes I wonder what excitement there might have been when a couple of the old time preachers would debate each other some late summer night.
Religion was more important to Americans back in those days. I would like to have seen some of that history with my own eyes. But, at least for now, I can look at the old church buildings.

Andrea gets all the good shots

2008-06-23T22:51:00.003-05:00

Look at this great picture! Andrea snapped this as we were driving through a state park. The deer just stood there posing while Andrea looked through her viewfinder! Why won't they do that when I am looking through my viewfinder (scope)?

Keep Andrea in your prayers, please

2008-06-18T13:24:00.002-05:00

Andrea is my best friend. She has been my best friend for many years now. You would think after all these years I would finally figure out why she still has anything to do with me, but I haven't.
That's what truly makes a friend - when someone knows all your secrets and quirks, but still likes you anyway!
Andrea helped save my soul. She was patient with me as I slowly built my faith in God by following her example. I will be eternally grateful to her for that (literally)!
Everyone who knows her knows how special she is. Right now, she needs our prayers. Please keep her in your thoughts.
(This picture is at the County Line BBQ - Andrea is a "foodie" and loves to try out new foods and places to eat!)

An Exhausting Week at Camp

2008-06-13T22:39:00.002-05:00

Well, I just completed my first youth camp experience. Whew! Am I tired! We had a great week with about 160+ kids in attendance and it wasn't too hot during the day. No one got hurt, but there were some hearts pricked. There are now 5 more precious souls added to the Book of Life. Many great lessons were presented and the spirit of the camp was a very uplifting one.
Please pray for the new babes in Christ and all those that attended that they will take the things they learned and apply them to their lives.

Wait for meeeee!!!

2008-06-01T15:28:00.004-05:00

What a photograph! This was snapped by the professional photographer at the Prom Alternative. He took it when he was set up to take a picture of the Dripping Springs church of Christ youth group. Apparently, Josh Moore wanted in the picture too!

Youth Prom Alternative

2008-05-29T10:56:00.007-05:00

Last weekend we helped host a "Prom Alternative" for the youth of Dripping Springs, Southwest, Buda/Kyle, and University churches of Christ. We started out with a wonderful dinner at an Italian restaurant, then went to the church building for dessert and entertainment. It was a great success thanks to the help of many people. It was a lot of fun and the young people told us they had a good time!

Gone fishing

2008-05-21T17:36:00.006-05:00

When Andrea and I went back home last month, I got to spend some time fishing with my buddies. Josh caught this nice size large mouth bass while we were out in the woods.

Josh and I enjoy each other's company and we're both looking forward to fishing together when we get to Paraguay - as fishers of men.

"And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men." Mark 1:17

A Wealth of Knowledge

2008-05-11T21:08:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago, Josh, Cara, Andrea, and I all met in Atlanta, GA so we could sit down with Robert and Mary Martin. The Martins are missionaries to the South Pacific and have been involved in that work for more than thirty years. They agreed to answer some questions we had in regards to being new missionaries. We received advice and encouragement that was full of wisdom from their many years of experience. Several of the things which they shared with us gave us confirmation about things we had been thinking of. It also opened our eyes to some things we had not considered. We were truly blessed to have this opportunity and to be able to spend time with them. We pray we can apply the knowledge we gained from them as we progress with our plans. Please continue to pray for us! God bless.

Wildflowers everywhere!

2008-04-30T21:57:00.003-05:00

I cannot remember the last time I have seen SO many wildflowers! I am amazed at how many there are. I've always known that Texas had lots of bluebonnets (the state flower) but I didn't realize there were so many others. Andrea and I have enjoyed seeing all the different varieties everywhere we drive. As this picture shows, you can see how far they cover. We also pulled over while we were in Florida and snapped these pictures below of Josiah and Vivian picking flowers.

Cute or what?

2008-04-23T17:08:00.001-05:00

I thought this was such a cute picture of some cute kids! We get to see them in just a few days.

Paraguay Missions Workshop

2008-04-13T20:14:00.005-05:00

Andrea and I just returned from Savannah, TN where we attended the Paraguay Missions Workshop. We were blessed to be able to meet Josh, Cara, and their children there. The workshop was a great success and there were several in attendance. Many came from the different congregations that support the team in Asunción. Josh and Vanessa Hardin were the hosts for the workshop and gave a report of the work from the past year.

One of the highlights of the workshop was a live video conference with the team members in Paraguay. We were able to ask them several questions and make comments. One really funny thing happened. The announcement was made that Enoch and Laura had picked a date for their wedding. With a surprised look on her face, Enoch's mom said, "Oh really? Is that date set in stone?" Enoch was embarrassed and replied, "Mom, stop!" It was hilarious! They had a couple of the local Paraguayan church members on the conference feed with them., too. Overall, it was a great time and we enjoyed meeting the other supporting congregations.
At the end of the workshop there was a little pop quiz and Andrea, Cara, Josh, Mrs. Dye and I all won a little prize for answering the questions!
Brethren, please pray for this work and for our continued plans for entering this mission field. God bless! - TS

Oh, Deer!

2008-04-06T14:24:00.003-05:00

Those are the words you might say as one of these beautiful creatures steps out in front of your car! That's exactly what happened to Andrea Friday night. Everybody has been warning us to be careful on these back roads around here and we've been keeping our eyes peeled. But Andrea hit her first deer on a residential street! She said it came out of nowhere and it was just suddenly there. She was really fortunate because it only broke her headlight lens and put a small dent in the hood. Many times these accidents cause thousands of dollars of damage. Now if we could just do something to help her heartrate............

Mission Preparation

2008-04-05T15:10:00.003-05:00

How exciting was the news about Josh and Cara being given the opportunity to go out and raise support for their mission plans?! We are excited for them!
A lot is happening in these next few weeks as related to our mission work plans. Next weekend, we are going to Tennessee for a Paraguay Missions Workshop. The following week I will be presenting our plans to a local congregation. After that, on April 26, we are meeting Robert and Mary Martin to discuss mission strategy and other missionary related information. From there, we are driving down to West Palm Beach to visit with our family and friends. As soon as I get home, I have to start my 4th Qtr at SWSBS. Whew! Can someone say, "Gentlemen, start your engines!" We're looking forward to it!
This picture is of a Jaca fruit we saw in the mercado in Paraguay. It was real spikey. No idea what it tastes like - it was too scary looking to try!

Heading back home!

2008-03-31T13:37:00.003-05:00

When this picture was taken, it was the last time Andrea and I had been to the beach. We have been in Texas now for eight months and I must tell you, we miss the beach! Even though I am from Texas, I really grew to love Florida. My heart is there. Funny thing is, I never spent much time at the beach when I lived there. But I did like driving by it and strolling on it when I could. Andrea and I are planning a trip back to Florida in May. We're looking forward to seeing our friends and family back home. I think I might squeeze in some time to go to the beach.

Hot off the press!

2008-03-31T13:24:00.003-05:00

Wow! We are excited about this!

My dad, Dwayne Spradlin, just had his first book published!

It is the result of several people asking him for a simple "introduction" to the Bible. He wrote it as a short read and to simply present an overview of what the Bible is about. Then, a person could begin their study of the Scriptures with a basic understanding of God's message to man.

I read it in one sitting while eating lunch! It's a great little book.
You can find it at: http://www.ketchpublishing.com/

Way to go, dad!