Weekly Update - November 4, 2009
Hello all!
Well, this week has been an unusual one in several ways. First, we had a four-day weekend due to All Saints Day (Dia de los Difuntos) on Monday and Cuenca Independence Day (yes, we live in Quito, but we still get the day off… not sure why) on Tuesday. While many of our friends took the opportunity to head out of town (many of the to the beach), we decided it would be more fun (and less expensive) to stay in Quito and hang out with the others who were here.  (game night at the Saavedra’s house, one small group of trick-or-treaters / pumpkin party kiddos, etc.) and I, for one, am glad we stayed in town. We actually had quite a good time at several gatherings.
As I mentioned last week, one of the students from the dorms stayed with us over the weekend, too (since the dorms were officially closed). It was fun to have him around, he was eager to follow any of the few ‘rules’ we set out, and he spent most of his daytime hours either with his girlfriend (and her family) or skate boarding in one of the local parks. While we did drop the ball on one occasion, leaving him at home with no food prepared and no minutes left on his phone (we came home several hours later, wondering why he hadn’t called us…), he was forgiving of our lack of ‘parenting skills’. We don’t have a lot of practice in that area. 
Over the weekend we did receive some bad news, having to do to with past debts that we thought were already taken care of. The amount is considerable and, while we are confident that we have found a way to start paying them off, we are not sure how this will affect our future plans here in Quito. As always, the sale of our car (in Olathe) would greatly help our current financial status, too. Please keep us in your prayers as we seek the Lord’s will in this matter. At this time, both staying here and/or moving back to the States seems overwhelmingly difficult.
We continue to seek out answers with regards to future continued education, as well. The school ’strongly encourages’ continued education, and will also pay for it. The only set back is their current policy, requiring a commitment of five years at the school after the completion of the degree. We are not at a place where we can commit to that length of time, nor do we feel that it would be financially responsible for us to amass more debt (even if it is for a good cause - education). We are talking with the school to see what options exist. As always, they are willing to work with us and have asked us to provide them with a little more information about the type of degree, cost, etc. Again, please keep us in your prayers as we try to discern the Lord’s will.
In three more weeks we will have our Thanksgiving holiday. We have already made plans with several friends (and some of their families that will be visiting) to get together on that day and share a meal. Rick is excited about cooking a turkey. Everyone else is bringing sides of some sort. I am wondering if I should try to bring anything, as Rick will be well entrenched in our kitchen at that time… Maybe I will just show up and eat. For those of you who have had Rick’s turkey in the past, you know that it is wonderful!
Thank you all for the support that you give us. We are thankful for the chance to minister in Ecuador, and all the experiences that it is bringing us. We are also thankful for our friends and family, who let us lean on them when times are tough.
May God bless and keep you all,
Rachel Sams
