Concepcion Guillermo & Bishop John
Justin Buchanan represented Derryloran in Paraguay this year, and I have to say he did a fine job (;-) Follow this link for a report on his experiences and lots of photos.
Click here to see all the photos...
Canon Porteus has recently returned from his second trip to Paraguay in South America where he helped with the construction of a church and dormitory building in one of the poorest regions in the world. Located at San Juan, more than 500km north of the capital city Asuncion, the Canon first forged links with the area twelve years ago when he became a 'Partner-in Prayer' with John Ellison, the local Bishop and his family.
"Over the years the names of Bishop John and Judie Ellison had become familiar to the congregation as we remembered them and the Paraguayan Church on Sundays in Derryloran," said the Canon.
Concepcion Guillermo & Bishop John
"They even visited us during their periodic returns home, however it was a very welcome surprise when in 2003 we were afforded the opportunity to travel the 10,000 miles to visit with them and help construct a new place of worship at San Juan."
Canon Porteus, along with five other members of the Derryloran congregation, were invited to join in the construction of a new church building in the area as part of a 15-person strong contingent by Phil Granger in association with the South American Missionary Society.
Arriving in the capital city of Asuncion, the Cookstown group were immediately struck by the sheer poverty of the country. "Asuncion is not a capital city as many of us would think of one, it's not all sky scrapers and bright lights," explained the Canon. "Really it was a case of culture shock for us as we were met by chaotic traffic, dusty roads, abject poverty and street vendors of all ages selling anything imaginable to try and make some elusive cash. "Paraguay is home to around 6million inhabitants, of which 69 per cent live in absolute poverty. To put it into perspective average wages are about only £1.50 to £2.00 per day. Wealth is reserved for a very small minority with only 0.4 per cent of the population owning 78 per cent of the land."
Following a brief stay in Asuncion the group then made the 5 hour journey to the town of Conception before moving on San Juan where they would work on the construction of a church on land purchased the previous year. "Here we set up camp, complete with toilets and showers and prepared to build a church in just three weeks," said Canon Porteus. "We knew it wouldn't be easy but put our minds to it and began working on the site where the local church had worshipped for the previous ten years under a big tree. "The work was tough but rewarding and it was a joy to see the red brick building take shape and finally be completed and ready to be Consecrated." Finished and ready for use a service of Consecration was held as parishioners arrived from near and far to share in the celebrations.
The 160-seat Church was filled to capacity and many had to stand outside as the weeks of hard work and effort came to a moving close. "Tears of joy were shed by a few," said the Canon. "Over the weeks we had became very close to the local people and as we left my thoughts had me pondering just what would become of the new Church in the days and years ahead."
Once home in Cookstown, Canon Porteus remained firmly in touch with the Paraguay Project and was especially interested with their plans to construct a dormitory building near the new Church in the not too distant future. "Although I was back home in Cookstown, I retained a great interest for Paraguay and was greatly moved by their faith in the power of prayer," he said. "So much so that this year I found myself returning to San Juan to participate in the building of the new dormitory."
Canon Porteus set out for Paraguay once again in July of this year and was part of a 45-strong team from the province including representatives from all six counties of Northern Ireland. "The interest in Project Paraguay seems to be constantly growing and this is very inspiring," he said. "In just two years the numbers involved have swollen from a team of just five to a 45-strong contingent and shows just how important this part of the world has become to many people."
While he may have enjoyed blazing hot conditions on his first journey to South America, nothing could have prepared the Canon for the weather on his second trip there. "Gone was the warm sunshine of 2003 as bad weather dogged the trip from beginning to end," he said. "We were immediately delayed in Madrid where we had to wait for 12 hours on a connecting flight and wet conditions in Paraguay itself created a lot of difficulties in transporting building supplies such as bricks to the site." As well as this the group had to deal with the wildlife including snakes and a tarantula spider dislodged while building the dormitory. Despite this work continued apace and in a matter of weeks the building was completed and now provides sleeping and basic cooking facilities for up to 16 people at a time.
This will soon double as work has already begun on a second dormitory at the site and is complimented by a toilet block complete with showering facilities. "The rain failed to dampen our spirits and we were all delighted when the building was completed," said Canon Porteus. "It will allow people living in the nearby shanty towns to come into San Juan and spend time at the Church and worship."
With two trips in Paraguay in as many years, Canon Porteus is now ready to change the pace a little and says his next vacation will be a much more relaxed affair with his wife Janet. "My interest and love of Paraguay is still a very big part of my life, however, next year I think I will be taking a proper holiday with my wife," he said.
Jonathan Walmsley, Mid-Ulster Mail, Cookstown
Dear all, Yesterday just after our church had finished we realized something serious was happening when lots of ambulances went flying along the road in front of school. Then police pickup trucks acting as makeshift ambulances went past with burn victims in the back. They were going to the nearby Emergency Hospital. This morning the shock of the full extent of yesterday's fire disaster sunk in. Paraguayan colleagues came to school with news that our Domestic Science teacher is in intensive care with life threatening burns to her lungs. Also a cleaners brother had been killed. Later we heard a pupil from the Annex School had died with her preschool sister and cousin. Also some of the maintenance team had nephews killed. Asuncion is small enough for us to [know] people with family members directly affected. Reports now say 350 killed and 500 injured, perhaps 50% under 13 years old. |
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The supermarket is about 3 miles from school. It's one we often passed, some Missionary Colleagues often had lunch there or regularly shopped there - the Principal and Vice-Principal, Mags & Gwen live about 50 metres away! It had a large restaurant and on a Sunday lunchtime would have almost 1000 shoppers. The most shocking thing is the report that security guards locked the only usable exits to prevent people leaving without paying! Our school was designated a donations post for medicines which were urgently
requested. The system here is that patients pay for medical supplies and drugs.
So hospitals do not keep large quantities in stock and were overwhelmed. Staff,
pupils and parents who came to volunteer help were greatly shocked by it all. Personally we are fine, very shocked at the scale of it all and concerned for Gloria our Domestic Science teacher. Keep us all in your prayers. Blessings, Stephen, Eileen, Elijah and Hannah |
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October 2003
November 2003
December 2003
Click here to read a note from the Canon on the work and experiences of the team from Derryloran who travelled to Paraguay in the summer of 2003.
Click here to read an article about the project which featured in the Gazette.
Click here for more photos from Debbie, one of the Derryloran team.
Click here for even more photos from Leonardo, one of the Craigavon team who partnered with the Derryloran crew.
