Weekly Update - January 4, 2010
Feliz Navidad and Happy New Year!
It has become quite apparent that, when I am not actively caught up in the school schedule, I am not very consistent with the Monday Memos. :P So, today’s memo should serve as a catcher-upper….
Let me start with the last two weeks (Christmas Break). Over the break…
- We had a Christmas party at our house (co-hosted by Rick, myself, and our friend Stephanie Taylor), inviting all of our regular Tuesday night pizza crowd (and then a few more). We had a total of 24 people, most of whom brought large amounts of food to add to the copious amounts that we cooked.  Everyone left with a large plate of goodies for home, and we were still left with several plates more. Thankfully, Rick agreed to take all that was left in to school the next day and to share it with his students!
- Rick and I spent Christmas Day with our friends the Saavedras, as well as with Dave Saavedra’s Mom and Dad, Leslie Foster, Kim Thomas and her boyfriend Fernando. Much lasagna was made (and consumed), along with yummy side dishes and desserts. We are so greatful for friends who are willing to share their home and their family with us during the holidays!
- We had about 10 friends over the Monday before Christmas for more lasagna. Once again, we ate ourselves silly and enjoyed our time spent with people that we like. Present were the Tutens, the Hanlins, Leslie Foster, Juan Pablo Tumipamba, and Dan Klassen.
- We also spent New Year’s Eve at the Saavedra’s house, along with the Tutens, the Bryans, the Blacks, Leslie Foster and Dan Klassen. We watched the firework displays from their rooftop at midnight, and then went down on the sidewalk to burn the effigy of the Old Man (the Old Year). By about 1am the whole neighborhood was covered in smoke and fireworks, and we all went to bed happy. :) Please check out our facebooks for pictures taken by Rick of this great fun! (I also want to reassure our mothers that we were very, very careful when setting things on fire… hee hee).
- Overall, we assisted in the feeding and entertaining of somewhere between 65 and 70 people over the last two weeks!
- Our friends, and co-workers, Josh Brown and Sarah Sherrick celebrated their marriage on December 24th in Pennsylvania. They flew back to Quito a few days later, and then headed straight to the coast and the beach for their honeymoon. They were back at school as Mr. and Mrs. Brown today.
- Our friend, Luke Owsley, proposed to his girlfriend, Wendy, while visiting New York at Christmas. His mother was able to fly in from China (where his parents are missionaries) to be there for the event. He, too, was back in school today, and was smiling from ear to ear. Wendy hopes to come to visit Quito in February, and we are axious to meet her.
Today…
- We started back to school today, so just about everyone looked a little sleepy and confused. One student, sadly, was not able to return due to disciplinary issues right before the break. The school made the decision to expell him due to these issues. This was a student that Rick was beginning to form a relationship with, so it has been sad for us to see him return to the States. Please keep him, his friends here, and his parents in your prayers as they work through these changes. Disciplinary issues are never easy, and I pray that it will be a learning and growing experience for all involved.
- Please continue to pray for the peer relationships amongst our students at Alliance Academy. We continue to have many concerns regarding sexual harrassment and innappropriate behavior amongst some of our students. While I realize that this is not an uncommon problem in most schools, it is my great desire that Alliance Academy be a place that is safe and free from harrassment and bullying.
- Rick and I continue to pray and seek God’s will regarding our time here in Quito and at Alliance Academy. Finances continue to be a worry, as I know they are for many people in these times. We make about 1/4th of what we made in the States, and have been learning how to live on a budget that is a little tighter than we have been used to in the past. As always, please help us pray that our car in Olathe will sell, as that would free us from the car payments and cost of insurance.
As always, we are so greatful for your thoughts, prayers, and support as we continue to serve God in our day-to-day lives. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful family and friends! We welcome visits at any time, and would love to help coordinate any missions trips, too.
May God bless and keep you all,
Rachel Sams
