We are collected at Rayita del Luz by Wouter and his children who we drop off at the American school on the way to Tekotau clinic to meet the rest of the group.
We commence the journey of 6-7 hours, not one inch of which is on a motorway or any other classified road in the UK. The best conditions included pitted road surfaces and worse than irratic driving. The banter in the vehicle moves swiftly from comedic to serious, analytical to visionary. To travel with a group of leaders is inspirational. The company is good, the driving is appropriate for the conditions and we arrive initially at a diner for breakfast, a stop four hours later to change money, the obligatory wait at border control into Brazil - which looks completely different to Paraguay: different architecture (more European ), Different coloured earth, more rational driving, similar advertising hoarding lining the roads.
The time trVelling gives good opportunity to reflect on the last few days.
We have seen extraordinary one to one ministry, work that is changing communities because it starts by listening, we have observed the strength of both the human spirit and depth of faith in God in those who have been served and heard vision for the future from the Salvation Army Officers who have very little resource to draw upon and frequently simply act in faith that God will provide.
Some of these officers live in conditions that would be completely unacceptable in other parts of the world, including occasions when no allowance is received. There is the constant need to prioritise resources - on the journey Esther (the Captain at El Redil) receives a call from the centre: the oil for cooking has run out. The little money that is available can be used for oil or food - but there is not enough for both. This sort of challenge is not unique - it is the reality of daily living.
Have I been shocked by the conditions or the challenges? Honestly, no I haven't because I was prepared for the worst. The conditions of living by an open sewer with no real protection from the weather or security from imposters are the reality for these folks and their approach to it is encouraging rather than anything else.
The pragmatic response of the Salvation Army is warming, and encouraging but is also challenging: this small Salvation Army is managing to serve suffering humanity in life changing ways when so often in the West we seem unable to do so - and they ensure that 'Jesus turns up' whenever they do. They are winning young people when we are losing ours. The strategy is one of engagement in ministry and encouragement to responsibility, relevant worship and relevant service. And it works.
The expected and frequent abuse of children in the refuge areas is probably the one area that is most concerning, and with education programmes for men being slow to move forward this will be an uphill climb - but jot one that will be abandoned for lack of support or funding. These people will keep trying to find new ways to win hearts and minds.
I am thrilled to have the privilege of being here for these days. We move on to Argentina with a sense that the journey could end here and it would be worth it - but the journey will continue apace and will have consequences for my ministry beyond this time, it may also have consequences for those I minister with and also, I pray, consequences for the Salvationists we have met in Paraguay.
Tomorrow is a rest day and the opportunity to visit the Iguazu Falls.
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