SEARCHING FOR THE GIFTS

Change always comes bearing gifts. - Price Pritchett

Our kids are ready to search for gifts!

What a season of change we are in! The Alliance Academy International (AAI) has been facing a whirlwind of staffing changes, curriculum changes, structural changes and calendar changes. We eagerly invite your prayers as we strive for good relationships and favor with government agencies. Our hope is to be an example of excellence in education, particularly in the area of special needs education, which is not part of the national curriculum here. A sizeable portion of our students receive these important services.

Though curriculum changes are a ton of work, and though it hurts to say goodbye to departing staff friends, and though it stretches us to contemplate a much longer school year, we are looking for the gifts that come with change.

We aim for updated curriculum to be stronger than ever. We hope that new staff recruiting methods will result in more long-term commitments from teachers and a more stable community. We anticipate that a longer school year will provide more moments for building into the lives of young people.

Another gift (and big responsibility) in this season is Beth's recent election to the AAI school board. Please keep her and the board in prayer as they navigate changes ahead. Thanks!

DAVE'S DOINGS

Just as a drive through the beautiful Andes mountains is filled with peaks and valleys, emotionally this year in Ecuador has been a rollercoaster. Dave has been taken into the confidence of students struggling with relationships with parents and peers, with intense questioning, suicidal thoughts, self-injury and depression.

Dave with World Religions students
ready to present on the Amish

In a very mobile international school like AAI, we don't always get to see healing happen before students leave. That makes us value the lift that comes from the emotional "peaks" even more, such as Dave's recent induction into the AAI Teachers' Hall of Fame, based on votes from students and faculty.

Holding the Hall of Fame statue

Dave also cherishes students' moments of deep engagement in class or when a young person has the confidence to share their soul, knowing they will be heard. Your prayers and support are key to keeping us going through the highs and lows and we send out a huge THANK YOU!

CHOCOLATE, COFFEE, AND BANANA CHIPS

Come visit and eat with us,
just like Beth's weekly moms' group (above) does.
We've got lots of practice!

It's been two years since the family traveled to the U.S., so we're packing our bags with the finest Ecuadorian chocolate, coffee, and banana chips to share with all of you when we arrive in the States this summer.

We will be at Hope Christian Church in Shoreview, MN on July 7 and August 5; at Palos Bible Church in Palos Heights, IL on July 14; and at Trinity Vineyard in St. Charles, IL on July 21 and 28. We'll be looking for friends to spend time with during the week, too, so please give us a call at 1-651-447-6147 (rings to our computer) or drop us a line at thesaavedras[at]gmail[dot]com and we'll plan a get together. We look forward to seeing everyone soon!

BONUS LAUGHS!

You know you're raising missionary kids when...

• a friend comes to play bringing a bag of imported goodies and you have to explain to your kids that the little "donuts" are actually called "Cheerios".
• your foreign-born daughter gets asked what month she was born in and she shouts, "Ecuador!"
• shorts are always a reasonable option for wearing to school.
• one of the first questions your kids ask when you announce guests is "English or Spanish?"

And extra bonus laughs for this send-up video featuring the AAI staff. Dave appears at 1:53.