A Farewell to a Faithful Family

The Dreiling family from the United States of America have served God in Paraguay for 20 years.  Their 3 kids grew up here as MKs before returning to the US for university.  Paul and Becky Dreiling are now returning to America to take up positions in the SIM office there.

Only about a month ago one of their US-based kids thought it would be good to fly out to Paraguay to spend their last week there with their folks and importantly leave with them.  Within days all the kids were wanting to come out alongside their spouses and the Dreiling's first grandchild.  As you need a visa to enter Paraguay from the US it was a race against time to get everybody there in time, but God is faithful and with about 2 days to go before they flew down here all the visas came in.


They all spent a week in Caazapa where they had lived and then for the final 2 days they stayed at HQ in Asuncion.  Their departure from this field brought out everybody (except Hannes as he was teaching the next morning) to Asuncion to bid them farewell.  The night before they left we all went to a traditional Paraguayan eatery where the Christian family who ran it -all musicians- played Paraguayan harps and guitars, danced and sang as we ate.  The Reich kids, similarly gifted in music, were allowed to use their equipment and play for us all too.


The next evening, hours before the flights, there was a party at HQ with a great comedy written by Dan Hough telling the 20 year story of the Dreilings in Paraguay which included an encounter with the local Fuzz who pulled over their car to check their fire extinguisher (all cars here must carry one), and having found fault with it, Paul proved that it worked by spraying the Plod with it!  There was also a time of praise and then prayer.


From there we all headed out to the airport with them near midnight and had some fun.  To see the Dreilings leave all together, all by God's grace on the very same flight, we thanked God for ending this chapter of their life in such a remarkable way.  I'll miss them.

Traditional music.

These guys could play several different instruments flawlessly.

The Reich boys.

The youngest Reich looks like a Beckham kid.

The first Dreiling grandchild.

Heather's family.

The youngest Dreiling.

There were many pictures on the walls of former students at the harp place, and one looked just like my good friend Lulu.

Baby Dreiling turned one year old during his stay at HQ, and also took his first steps the same day!

The MKs gathered with party poppers...

...for when the Dreilings appeared.

Ben putting fake dog ears on Shadow the guard dog.

Dan in the comedy dousing the Fuzz (Denny).

Paul and Becky looking over a gift made by Vonni.

Jeff wore a hat that had him mistaken as Waldo from Where's Waldo.  I told him he's a Wally to me as a Brit.

Tony finds Wally.

The Dreiling kids singing. 

Jean sharing some thoughts about the Dreilings.

Arriving at the airport with a trailer filled with luggage.

David is straitjacketed at the airport.

MKs.

There was one of those large sponsor boards sports-people and the like stand in front of for photographs at the airport so we made use of it.  Luke's interesting socks made the image disturbing.

Daniel messes up Denny's moment.

David striking a footballer pose.

Background: SIM people.  Foreground: Luke getting hit in the face by a hurled backpack.

Drinking mate (the hot version of terere) before departure.