celebration nation

With two birthdays, Father's day events at church + school, a graduation, and all three of my countries qualifying for the next round of the World Cup games, the past week has been an especially celebratory one!

Brace yourself - a very long photo and video update coming your way...

1. Friday - Father's Day at Escuela Marangatu; Michelle's graduation (by far the nicest and most intimate high school graduation I've ever been to)

My preschool students performing a body worship at Marangatu

Asuncion Christian Academy's class of 2010 - all eleven of them

The Cho family + relatives

With Michelle, my beautiful high school graduate and future Biola student; the group from Iglesia Marangatu

This moment was so sweet - Michelle and Pastor Cho's father/daughter dance :)

Paraguayan buffet dinner. Oh yeah.

Meet Martin, Michelle's 4-year-old cousin <3

2. Saturday - Father's Day at La Esquina; Michelle's 18th birthday

Three dads and a mom were able to make it out to our Father's day event

It was so cute watching the dads play "Musical Chairs" :)

The balloon-popping game

Some of the fathers of La Esquina

3. Sunday - Father's Day at Iglesia Marangatu; Paraguay v. Slovakia (2-0); Rachel's 21st birthday

We watched the live game at 6:30 AM before Marangatu's Sunday service

Michelle, Rachel, and me drinking cocido during halftime

Paraguayan breakfast = chipa and cocido

Who let the (stray) dogs out? Who, who, who, who? The kids of Marangatu, that's who.

Final score: 2-0 (Paraguay)

After the game, we celebrated Michelle's and Rachel's birthdays at Sugar, a local ice cream parlor.

And to wrap up the day, we ate 오리탕 at our favorite Korean restaurant in Asuncion.

4. Tuesday - Korea v. Nigeria (2-2) = QUALIFIED for Round of 16

Rachel, me, and Michelle - rooting for KOREA this time

Paraguay didn't broadcast the Korea v. Nigeria game because of time conflicts with the Argentina v. Greece one, so the Korean community in Asuncion squeezed into an empty gymnasium to watch a live stream from the Internet. Technical difficulties, low bandwidth, and hot-tempered Korean ahjusshis made it quite an interesting sports experience.

대한민국!

5. Wednesday - USA v. Algeria (1-0) = QUALIFIED for Round of 16

Pretty much my reaction to the end of the game. LD, you are CLUTCH.

6. Thursday - Paraguay v. New Zealand = QUALIFIED for Round of 16

Since the game took place during school hours, the older students at Colegio Cerritos filled the school's gym to watch the live broadcast on a projector screen (the little ones watched from TVs in their classrooms).

SMN and Pastor Cho

7. Friday - Pizza and movie night at Yanina and Joel's. A simple, perfect end to a busy and exciting week.

Definitely looking forward to resting and recharging my physical + spiritual batteries this weekend.

EDIT: Meant to post this on Friday, but no Internet at home = waiting until Monday to use the school's wi-fi. It was a rough Saturday for South Korea and USA, but both groups put up a good fight and made their countries proud. Paraguay is the last of my teams still standing in this round. Fuerza Albirroja!

Did lots of resting and recharging as planned this weekend, with

another birthday celebration (for Digno Segovia, one of the deacons from Marangatu)

and baptisms + membership at church (including the baptism of Marcelo, one of my Escuela Marangatu students. Praise the Lord!)

Whew. Hopefully this update will last you until the next time I have a chance to use the Internet again :)

Prayer: of thanks for having so many momentous occasions to celebrate! For a heart that rejoices not only in these times of blessing, but also in adversities as opportunities for growth. To not be blinded by the temporary splendor of earthly celebrations, but to always seek God's complete, everlasting, and truly glorious glory.