May the Lord bless you all on this Monday evening!

Once again, this has been a very busy week.  I think that  the next few weeks will continue to be ‘full speed’, as the school year winds down.

Last Wednesday was our last Opcion de Vida meeting for the year.    Some of the Alliance Academy students brought guitars and a conga drum, and the Opcion de Vida boys really enjoyed the opportunity to sing and praise the Lord.  Our students had prepared four different worship songs, and I think we sang each of them at least five times!  I don’t know why we didn’t try this earlier this year! We will definitely do it again in the following school year.  At this point there are eight boys sleeping at the Opcion de Vida building each night.  They earn this priviledge by working up a point/level system based on their ability to follow directions and show respect to others.  Their goal is to be in a house set up by September, which will be able to house many more boys.  We have seen a significant improvement in the way the boys treat one another and adults over the last month.  There is a lot less arguing and yelling, not to mention a decrease the amount of pushing and shoving eachother when they are upset.  Pastor Marcelo (who runs the ministry) has requested that the Alliance Academy group help him put together some photographs of the boys, so that they can put them over their beds and really make the building their ‘home’.

This next Saturday will be our second time to take the Opcion de Vida boys to Calacali.  Many of these boys have never been out of the city before, and really enjoy going to a farm type environment and spending the day outdoors.  Please keep us in your prayers this Saturday, as we lead them in devotions and worship, as well as many games.  For boys on the street, when you have little to no possessions, the most important thing in your life is your relationships.  They notice when we miss, and ask us why we weren’t there!  I pray that they will continue to know that we care, even during the summer months when we are not around.

We have a new visitor to our back yard…    Along with the hummingbirds, the doves, and the Mirlos (strange, black birds with bright orange beaks and feet), we now have what I think is a Plain Breasted Hawk.  We hear him screaming every morning and night, although we have only seen him once.  I hope that he doesn’t scare off the other birds, but it is fun to have some variety around.

Sunday was our goodbye party for our friends, Joey Swenson and Cherie DeRieux.  Joey is a former graduate of AAI who has been working with Youth World for a few years.  He is easily the most affectionate and genuine person that I have known, although we often tease that he has not personal space to speak of (although he is respectful of other people’s personal space, when appropraite).  He is returning to the States to attend seminary.  It is his hope to return in the future, and we hope to see him back, too.  Cherie has been at AAI about as long as we have (2 years) teaching girls PE and Health classes.  She is returning home to Texas, but has promised to return in October for Rick’s birthday.  We have loved her sense of humor combined with a wonderful sense of cynicism.

This week is the Senior Trip, which means that all of the seniors (and a few lucky staff) are all at the beach.  Rick’s classes are missing about 50% of the students (since they are seniors), and many classes seem to be spending a lot of time in the library, working on projects.  We hope that they will all return, safe/sound/tanned in time for the Junior/Senior Banquet this Saturday.  We also pray that they will enjoy the banquet and the after parties in a safe and healthy manner.

I actually have two birthday parties lined up for this weekend.  Amanda Black and I will celebrate our birthdays together this Friday, as we got out with all the girls to a local cafe.  Plans are still up in the air, but there is talk of cake and a ‘chick flick’ at Mari Hernandez-Tuten’s house afterwards.  Rick is also planning a birthday get-together on Sunday (for guys and gals) at my favorite restaurant in Quito, Uncle Hos (I promise I like it for the food, and not for the name… although it does amuse me!).

Thank you all for you prayers and support.  The next few weeks should be very busy, and we need all the energy, patience, and organization that we can get!

May God bless and keep you all,
Rachel Sams

Hello friends and family!

This week finds us both healthy and happy.  As always, it has been a week full of activity, but mostly enjoyable.

Our weekly pizza night (Tuesdays is two-for-one pizza at all the local pizza joints) found our apartment filled with fifteen friends.  Most were from Alliance Academy, one was the friend of a friend who was visiting from Cuenca, and another was a friend from a local ministry.  It is loud, the food was good, several people enjoyed bouncing about on our exercise ball (or falling off of it), and one of the pizzas came with choclo (white, feed corn) on it!  It was memorable!
Wednesday was our second-to-last time at Opcion de Vida, the ministry for street boys where we are involved.  We played a version of Hollywood Squares, and most of the questions were focused on listening/understanding/responding in English.  The boys seemed to enjoy it, and we were all pleasantly surprised by how much of the information they had retained from this year.  Several of the Alliance students have also stepped forward and are very good at leading the devotionals and the teaching times.  This week will be our last time to meet with them this year.  Rick is leading the devotional portion, with translation assistance from one of the students.  Several of our boys have agreed to help with worship, too.

Saturday was a soccer tournament at Alliance Academy, organized by another local ministry for street boys called Casa Gabriel (Casa G, for short.  Their website is http://www.youthworld.org.ec/street.htm if you would like to know more).  A few months ago, thieves broke into their home, tied them all up, held them at gun point, and stole all the money they had in their safe (approximately $4000).  They also took their watches, any cell phones, etc.  This was a huge set back for many of the boys and for the home.  God’s mercy and humour can be seen in the fact that, several days after the robbery, many of the boys were critiquing the robber’s style (ie “they didn’t tie those knots right” “When I was doing that type of thing, I wouldn’t have come in the front door, but come thru the back” etc.)

The soccer tournament this Saturday saw a wonderful turn out, with 16 different teams signed up.  All of the concession stand items were donated, as well.  At the end of the day, Casa G had raised $3000!  One of the boys took advantage of the event to share his testimony, along with an amazing rap about how God has changed his life.  It was truly amazing.

Rick continues to sing on the worship team at EFC.  They have hired a music director, Roberto Vivanco, who has a wonderful talent and a heart for the Lord.  Rick says that they work well together, and Rick is also getting a little more experience in singing some of the worship songs in Spanish, too.

Today was our last Peer Helpers meeting of the year.  We used the time to review the topics we have covered this year.  The students all seemed to have enjoyed it and seem to have remembered a lot of what we taught.  I pray that they will continue to sow into the lives of others, both at Alliance Academy and elsewhere.  About half of our group are seniors, which means they will be in several different countries soon.  We plan to meet one more time, in two weeks, for a final dinner to celebrate our group this year.

Our friend, Patty Uscategue, has returned to work after the death of her son.  She has asked us to convey her thanks for all of those who have held her up in prayer over the last few weeks.  Thank you for keeping her in your thoughts and prayers.

We are truly looking forward to the summer months and the chance to see many of you.  We may be a little frazzled when we first get there, but the time with friends will quickly remedy that.

May God bless and keep you always,
Rachel Sams

Hello and ’saludos’ to you all!

I pray that this email finds you all well, and content in the life that God has given you.

Wow, it seems like not much has happened this week, but there are always so many little things to share.

The social skills group for the 3rd and 4th graders continues to grow, and so far the kids seem to be having fun. We play a lot of games that focus on following cues and remember peoples names, as well as different craft activities to promote following directions and working with others.  This Friday we will start going into each of the elementary classes to lead brief lessons on healthy touch, bullying, etc.  The teachers are very excited about it, and have been very gracious in providing time for us to meet with their classes.  We hope to get at least one lesson per classroom done, and maybe a second, before the end of the school year.

Saturday was the final, couple’s event (offered to parents of students at Alliance Academy).  The couples joined together at a local ministry (through Youth World) and, together, worked through several different ropes/obstacle courses.  The activities encouraged and promoted communication skills, team work, leadership, and patience.  Several of the couples have stated that they came away from the event with sore stomach muscles from laughing so hard.  We are so greatful that we are able to provide this type of marriage building activities for the parents of our students!

Thanks to the blessing of our Vonage line, Rick and I were able to call our mothers on Mother’s Day.  While we would like to be closer to them on their special day, we are happy to be able to talk with them on the phone, and both feel very blessed to have such wonderful, godly women in our lives.

I led two seminars for the seniors today on the topic of addiction.  Since they are all preparing for graduation and all the transitions that come with that, this seemed like a good topic for them to think about.  While they all seem to be suffering from ’senioritis’, and attention spans are short, the classes were respectful and moderately attentive.  Overall, it was fun.

Rick and I wanted to voice our thanks to all of our supporters who reached out in prayer and/or financial support to our friend Patti Uscategui and her family during their time of grief.  The funeral costs were around $1000, plus the cost of the plane ticket to bring her youngest son back to Quito from Germany (where he is studying).  The family is strong in their faith, and have a wonderful support structure through their church, as well as through Alliance Academy.  Patty hopes to return to work by next Monday.  Thank you for keeping them all in your prayers as they navigate the grief process.

Rick and I will land in Kansas City, KS in 39 days!  We are so looking forward to seeing many of you, either in KS, MO, CO, or FL.  Rick is starting to schedule lunch/dinner/etc. dates for us, so feel free to email him if you want to book a specific time or day.

May God bless and keep you all, as you continue to serve and minister in His kingdom.

Rachel Sams

Hola, friends and family!

I am proud to announce that Rick and I have now eaten at Chili’s in Quito, at their highest (altitude-wise) location in the world. They opened their restaurant here a few weeks ago, and eating there on a Sunday afternoon reminded us of the many wonderful Sunday lunches at Chilis in Olathe with the Millers and other Oak Hill’s friends. Rick was delighted to learn that the Chili’s here has sweet corn, and not the traditional ‘choclo’ (white, feed corn… similar to hominy).  It was a taste of home.

A brief update on the Uscategi family.  Their son, Daniel, was 22 years old, and had been diagnosed with tachycardia a few years ago.  This last Friday morning, while at the birthday party of a young cousin, he suffered a heart attack.  The family called for an ambulance, but he died before the ambulance arrived.  The memorial service was on Saturday and the funeral was on Sunday.  Due to a delay in information, Rick and I were not able to attend the services, but we hope to be able to continue ministering to the family over the months to come.  Daniel’s father, Raul, has many serious health issues and is not able to work.  While Daniel’s mother, Patty, works at Alliance Academy, she is the only bread winner in the family and the funeral costs are high.  Please pray for them in their grief, as well as for their financial needs.

Last Thursday was the first Social Skills group for 3rd and 4th graders at Alliance Academy.  We started out with four girls from 3rd grade, who all seemed to enjoy the time spent together.  We hope to continue on Fridays from now on, and will have at least 4 boys join the group this week.  Please keep the kids and the counselors in your prayers, as we seek to minister to the kids while still allowing them to have fun!  It should prove to be an enjoyable challenge.

We spent this last Saturday with our friends, the Greers (Josh, Joy, and their 4 month old daughter, Isabella), in two towns named Otavalo and Cotocachi.  Otavalo has one of the largest, indigenous, artesenal markets in the western hemisphere.  We were able to spend time with friends, as well as get some shopping done for friends in the States.  Cotocachi is a town dedicated almost entirely to leather goods.  While we did some shopping for friends there, too, we also decided to invest in early anniversary (August 31st) gifts for ourselves.  We both found nice jackets, at very reasonable prices, that we will be able to use often in Quito.  I am sure they will show up in some of our pictures eventually.

In Otavalo I was able to stock up on many different colors of yarn.  I am currently in the process of crocheting multiple hand puppets for the counseling department.  Those of you with facebook have probably seen pictures of one of the completed ones…  Yes, I know how much of a geek I am! :)  It is fun to be able to contribute in a crafty way, and the kids seem to like to really engage with the puppets.

May God bless and keep you all.  You are in our prayers, and we know that we are in yours.

Rachel Sams

Please pray for the family of a dear friend and co-worker of ours here.  Patty Uscategui’s 20-year-old son, Daniel, had a heart attack and passed away.  Patty has been such a tremendous blessing to us, and her family (who live just a block away) have become some of our favorite people.  Pray that they will receive comfort in their grief, and that an other-wordly strength will sustain them in their darkest of hours.