October 9, 2025
Susan Hoover
Dear family and friends,
Greetings in the precious Name of Jesus, whom we love so much. May we show by our lives, how much we love Him! Jesus said if we love Him, we will keep His commandments. He also expressed His desire for us to love one another, as He has loved us. Can we do that? Yes, by His grace and power, we can. We can love even those who persecute us and say all manner of evil against us, falsely. To love as God loves!
Thursday, October 9. Today Peter and I went to Villa Rica, about two hours drive from here. We enjoyed the drive through the countryside, and even saw some mountains in the not-too-far-off distance! We did a bit of legal work in the town of Villa Rica, then started off for home again around mid-morning. We were going to drive right through the town of Caaguazu, so Peter suggested that we stop at the MRI place and get that done. We had been to our doctor here in Campo 9 yesterday and we told him about my knees, one of which in the last few days has been quite stiff, inflamed and painful. Not sure what brought that on, but on Tuesday morning I thought I wasn't even going to be able to walk. However, Peter rubbed it with liniment and prayed over it, and it started being more flexible. I did manage to hobble around, and Peter and I did the laundry together that day.
Anyway, about the doctor. He suggested we get an X-ray first, which we did right there the same day. When he saw the pictures, he said they don't look like new knees (by no means!!) 😉 but like well-used knees (ha!) 🙂 but did not think we should go for replacement surgery. (Yay! I want to avoid that if I can.) He said he would like us to do an MRI, which would show much more in detail and more of the inner workings of the knee. He is hopeful that with some therapy and perhaps some corrective shoe soles, my knees will be able to be much more comfortable and less painful.
So then. I had the doctor's MRI order in my purse, so why not? It was nearly noon when we reached Caaguazu. We remembered where the MRI place was, from when we had Peter's eyes checked out there. We walked in the door and showed our paper with the doctor's order, and presto! I was taken in at once and the process was started. The technician said it will take nearly an hour per knee, in other words a total of almost two hours. Well I don't know why, but it took two and a half hours! And I had to lie PERFECTLY STILL the whole time. Sometimes I felt almost drowsy. I was so relaxed, even though the MRI machine makes all kinds of noises! It buzzes and groans, growls and hammers, ticks and rattles. My head was outside of the machine, so I could watch the numbers flashing on the little screen. My back and ribs were starting to ache from being in one position so long. Needless to say I was greatly relieved when the technician came back into the room and announced that it was done! He sat in a little room just outside the room where the machine is in, controlled and monitored the whole thing on a screen, and there was also a window into the machine room so he could see if the patient was in distress or something. Praise the Lord, everything went well!
We had to wait about an hour while he developed the films, so in the meantime we went out and got a bite to eat. After we picked up the photos we drove on home. Four hours of driving (counting both ways), two and a half hours of testing. Is it any wonder I am so-o tired. Tina was here today and did all the laundry, bless her heart. I hope I can do it tomorrow, but my right knee is still very touchy and painful, and I have to be very careful how I walk! In town I had to depend heavily on Peter's arm! I also had a cane along which I used.
This past weekend was a very eventful one for us as well. We went to a wedding on Saturday afternoon, along with Hein and Tina Hildebrand. We enjoyed the service, meeting the people, and the meal afterwards. A cold summertime meal, very delicious -- cold cuts, cheese, buns, tomatoes, pickles, etc. and a great variety of cookies.
We came home and had a bit of time to relax before leaving for an evening meeting in Pastoreo. A group of Spanish evangelical Christians meet there several times a week. Peter and I had met some of them before, and they really invited us to come to a meeting sometime. So we went that evening. There were quite a few gathered together -- about 35 or 40. We had a lovely evening. For about the first hour, they had worship singing and accompaniment. It was soft and beautiful, not wild and loud. Very lovely worship songs accompanied with several guitars. We enjoyed it so much. After that the pastor had a very good message on 1 Corinthians 10, about the Lord's Supper. We all had a meal together afterwards too -- everyone had brought empanadas or pizza or sopa or chipa or any such thing. A very friendly group of people that we were glad to meet and learn to know a little!
Sunday morning we went to church as usual and heard another very good message, taken from Matthew 7:1-6. Do not judge, but do forgive! If we do not forgive others, God will withhold forgiveness from us as well. That, in short, was what the message was about. Much good food for thought.
For dinner on Sunday we were invited to Bennie and Eva Bergen's place. Of course we had a delicious meal, and it was good to sit and visit and get to know one another better. Sharing and encouraging one another in the Lord, what better thing is there. Eva sent some fresh raspberries home with us -- what a treat!
Friday, Oct 10. Another trip to Campo 9 this morning, and then to Pastoreo. Came home and finished the laundry -- Norma had kindly done most of it already. Actually there wasn't much, because Tina had washed the clothes from yesterday afternoon's baths, yesterday already. She loves to do that if she can! It makes it so that the next day, there are mostly blankets and sheets in the wash, and not so many clothes.
This week has seemed short, with so much going on and going away. And we are not quite done yet! Tomorrow (Saturday) evening Peter and I are invited to a 25th wedding anniversary celebration for Billy and Christina Buehler, at the Missionsgemeinde meeting house. We look forward to that! It seems that milestone wedding anniversaries, like 25, 30, 50, etc. are made much of here among these Mennonites. I like the way they celebrate, so joyfully. We are happy to rejoice with them!
The cell group that we have been attending, met here at our place this past Monday evening. We sat in the office of the Home here, where there is more room than in our small dwelling. Another blessed evening! We had planned to sit outside, but since it was once again a chilly evening, it felt good to be indoors.
And right now, chilly it is not! We just finished bringing in and folding the last of the laundry, as well as our own laundry which I did this afternoon. One always has to look for opportunities to do one's own laundry here, too! These washing machines are very busy, between the Home laundry and all the staff laundry which gets done at various times.
A praise report -- my knee is a LOT better today than yesterday. Much of the inflammation has gone and walking is a good bit easier than it's been the last few days. I still need to take care, but I am so grateful for God's goodness and His healing touch. Early next week we will go see Dr Heinrichs again to find out what the MRI shows, and go from there.
"I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1.
Praising Him,
Susan for the Hoovers