Weekly Update - March 7, 2010
Hello to all!
I hope that this email finds you all well and preparing for another week of adventures.
This last week was Elementary Spiritual Emphasis Week at Alliance Academy. The special speakers were Tim and Kate Carpenter, parents of one of our high school math teachers (Teri Newburn). Despite some personal health issues, the Carpenters had a great time ministering to our younger kids. While Spiritual Emphasis Week does cause the change of the elementary student’s daily schedules (which can be a little rough on some), it was all well worth it, and many of the kids (and parents) were touched by the message of our Lord.
I found out last week that one of our school counselors, due to family needs, will have to cut back on her weekly hours. Thankfully, the school has approved for one of the other school counselors to pick up those extra hours (as she has been hoping to move closer to full time). This change will actually make it possible for us to provide more testing/assessment opportunities for our elementary students (such as testing for attention issues, depression or anxiety, etc.). Please pray for all of the counselors at AAI. This year has been very challenging, as we strive to meet the needs of many hurting families.
Along those same lines, I ask that you keep me in your prayers over the next few days. Tomorrow morning I have a meeting with parents, due to suspected child abuse in the home. While the laws for child abuse in Ecuador are good, and still improving, they are different than in the US, and I am still learning what my legal and ethical responsibilities are. Please pray that the parents of these three siblings will recognize their need for help, and that their family will be strengthened by our intervention. Please pray for our staff and teachers, as we struggle with the task of protecting the children with the task of loving the parents.
Tomorrow afternoon will be the memorial service for the Ladines family (who passed away a few weeks ago in a car accident) at 4pm. Many people from Alliance Academy, as well as from the missionary community in Quito, will attend. Alejandra Ladines (the surviving daughter) may attend the service, also. Please keep her, her classmates, and all those affected by the death of her parents and brother in your prayers.
Friday will be a day of conferences (Teachers Teaching Teachers) at a sister school, Cotopaxi. I will be leading a seminar on Depression in Teens, spotting the symptoms and seeking to help. Many of the other Alliance staff will also be presenting seminars, as will the staff from several other schools. Please pray that the AAI staff will have opportunities to minister to others, to be light and salt to all those present.
Rick and I are both finding ourselves consistently very busy at work. Please pray that God will give us focus, patience, and persistence to complete the tasks which He has set out for us.
As always, we thank you for your prayers and your support. We think of you often and thank God for the part that you play in our lives.
May God bless and keep you always,
Rachel Sams
