Hello all!

Once again, I apologize that my ‘weekly’ memos have been so sparse through the summer months.  As schedules have been less predictable (and I have been more distractable) I have been less frequent in my emails overall.

We are once again in Quito and settled back in to our apartment.

Rick completed a three week (eight hour a day) intensive Spanish course through a local Spanish school called the Andean Study Center.  In addition to grammar, vocabulary, etc., he also learned a lot about Ecuadorian history and culture.  While he says the course was very challenging, he also says that he really enjoyed it and feels that his Spanish has improved significantly.  It is my hope that Alliance Academy will provide this learning opportunity to the teachers again next year, since all who attended seem to have found it beneficial.  (I took advantage of these three weeks to catch up on sleep, reading, and housework.  For those who know me well, you will know that being home alone is a blessing, and not a challenge for me.)

We also had visitors for one week.  Beth (Gruver) Gulley, her husband (Jeremy), and their two sons (Israel and Asher) came to visit for seven days.  Beth is also an Alliance Academy graduate and she wanted the opportunity for her husband and kids to see where she went to school.  In addition to the places where Rick and I regularly take our visiting friends (Otavalo market, Mitad del Mundo, the Teleferico) we were also able to go to Quilotoa.  Quilotoa is a crate lake formed when an ancient volcano massively erupted and then collapsed in upon itself.  The views are breathtaking and the lake is an unbelievable shade of turquoise, due to the chemicals in the water.  (Check out Quilotoa pix here.)

Last weekend Rick and several guy friends went camping in an area called Antisania.  (Check out camping pix here.)  They camped at the base of Antisana, a dormant volcano covered with a glacier.  It is one of the three snow caps that we can see from the roof of our apartment building.  Antisania is also home to one of the country’s few remaining families of condors.  While the last reported number (total) in the country was 24, Rick and friends were priviliged to see at least six of these majestic birds during their trip.  They have wing spans that reach anywhere from 10 to 12 feet across.  It was an exceptionally rare treat.  Many people are born, live, and die in Ecuador without ever seeing one.  (Check out condor pix here.)  The weather on Antisania was very cold, especially when the wind was blowing in off the glacier, but the campfire was warm and the food was good.  It’s one of Rick’s priorities this year to make more opportunities for “guy” hangout times.

This Friday will be the beginning of Teacher In-Services at the school.  Classes start a week later.  Rick and I are both gearing up for our return to work, preparing lesson plans, and setting up our classrooms.  Please keep us in your prayers as we return to our areas of ministry, both to students, parents, and staff.

We pray that you have all had a wonderful summer and that the Lord will continue to bless you in all that you do.

Sincerely,
Rachel Sams