What happens when Alaskans leave their winter wonderland to do manual labor in the notorious heat of Paraguay? Thirty-four volunteers with Amazing Grace Academy found out on their Maranatha Volunteers International project in March. Their primary goal was building a new church structure for the La Amistad Seventh-day Adventist congregation. “It’s 8 degrees Fahrenheit where we’re from in Alaska, and it’s 91 degrees Fahrenheit right now, today, here in Encarnación, Paraguay,” reported project leader Stacy Peterson from the construction site. “[It’s] fun and it’s exciting, but it takes a little bit of getting used to–to work in that kind of weather.”
In addition to new temperatures, volunteers had to get used to learning new skills on the work site, which they did with guidance from Maranatha’s in-country construction crew. “I’ve never laid block before,” said one volunteer, Misty Fender. “So it was a very humbling experience … there’s nothing like laying the brick and then seeing it’s too low. And then you have to do it again–it’s too low. And then you have to do it again. So that has been the biggest challenge for me–just overcoming the idea that I can’t be a perfectionist the first time. But I can be a perfectionist, and with time, I can learn how to do it correctly.”
The La Amistad Church formed in 2004, using a member’s home as a church building. They endured 22 years of small, unideal spaces, and are now thrilled to have a proper church structure. “As people pass by the church, they will notice that it is, in fact, a truly attractive temple—a place where they can come to worship God and come to know Him,” explained La Amistad’s district pastor, Raúl Jaime GarcÃa Mamani. “There will be a surge of deep emotion when we are finally able to take possession of the completed building. It will be an indescribable joy … we will be receiving a magnificent blessing from Maranatha.”
Through English language classes and Vacation Bible School programs, volunteers were able to connect with the local community. “We’ve had probably over 50 kids total between the two days,” said Fender. “But the kids don’t just come by themselves, they come with their parents. And so their parents are also listening to the Vacation Bible School message. And so we’ve been able to spread Jesus’ love and the gospel–the good news–to the families of our community of La Amistad.”
The weather on this project was undoubtedly hotter than most volunteers were comfortable with, but it was the group’s camaraderie that warmed hearts. “Everyone is very positive,” said Fender. “Even if we mess up, there’s no yelling, there’s no cursing … we’re all supporting each other and doing what we need to do to get the job done in a way that really shows Jesus’ love inside the work.”
Maranatha renovated a church building in Paraguay from 1988 to 1989 and built more church structures and classrooms from 2001 to 2002. This work helped lay the foundation for Paraguay’s Adventist Church expansion to roughly 15,000 members. In response to this growth, Maranatha returned again in 2024, and crews are currently working on the twenty-fifth and final church structure of this current effort.