Weekly Update - April 14, 2010
Hello, dear friends and family!
I pray that this email finds you all doing well.
We are getting closer and closer to the end of the school year here at AAI, so senioritis (in students and staff alike) seems to be on the rise. Next week marks the end of the third quarter, so there is some stress related to grades, as well. Despite all of that, things seem to be going quite smoothly.
Over the last week, we have had two different groups of students traveling and we are thankful that they have all returned safely. One group was the Close Up group, made up of students who have taken US Government and American History classes. They traveled to Washington DC to learn more about how the goverment of the US works. This opportunity occurs once every two years, so students only have the opportunity to go one time during high school. The second group that traveled was our AP Biology class (two adults and five students) who traveled to the Galapagos Islands. In addition to seeing all of the items and animals of scientific significance there, they also were able to snorkle with sea lions, sun bath with penguins, and interact with giant tortoises. Definitely the experience of a lifetime!
Several of our teachers have recently learned of significant health issues, either for themselves or for their loved ones. Please keep them in your prayers, and they seek God’s healing. One of our eighth grade teachers will have surgery this next week for a brain tumor (she is in the US now) that is causing pressure on her occular nerve. Please pray that the sugery is successful, and that the tumor is benign.
Rick has begun the count-down for this year’s yearbook (last years is done and at the printer. Hooray!). His class this year has proven to be both talented and hard working. I am excited to see what the final outcome will look like.
We have received quite a bit of rain in Quito over the last few weeks. We no longer have the scheduled power outages, and the landscape is getting greener all the time. I have even noticed a greater number of birds in our back yard (black birds called Mirlos, with bright orange feet, beaks, and rings around their eyes). Our hummingbirds coninue to come faithfully to the feeder, also.
Please keep us (and the others who minister with us here in Quito) in your prayers. We thank you for your prayers and your support.
Blessings,
Rachel
