Saavedra Stories

2011-12-12T17:52:00.001-05:00

DEAR FRIENDS,

Thank you for journeying alongside the Saavedra family throughout 2011, blessing our work with HCJB Global and the Alliance Academy International (AAI) with your prayers and financial support. Your partnership makes possible the following encouraging stories:

Thumbs up from Luke

1. As part of their study about missionary work, Dave assigns the students in his Acts course a project in which they research and design their our mission trip. This year's group was particularly enthusiastic about the project and several young people expressed interest in making their hypothetical trips a reality. One of these is an Ecuadorian young lady who wants to travel to Brasil to work with street kids there. How exciting to see the passion for service being passed on to the next generation.

2. Another one of Dave's students recently shared in chapel about the wonderful works God did during her summer trip Zambia. Dave had actively fundraised for her mission trip in his classes, so many of his students felt an investment in her service. It's great for them to hear some of the results of giving up their pocket money for their classmate.

3. While on the school campus one day, I (Beth) was stopped by a teacher who wanted to share a story about Dave. She needed to do a classroom observation of a fellow teacher and the high school principal recommended that she watch Dave. Though the teacher was only required to observe for 10 minutes, she told me the class was so engaging that she stayed the whole hour. She appreciated the warmth and openness of the atmosphere and the good rapport Dave has with students.

We know very well that such a positive response is the fruit of your prayers for us and the students at the AAI, and we thank you with our whole hearts for serving along with us.

Merry Christmas from our family
to you!

END OF THE YEAR GIVING

The work we are part of in Ecuador is a joint endeavor with you. We want to let you know about some of our current financial needs.

Health care premiums are going up $100/month for us in January.
Dave's much-repaired work laptop finally died completely, necessitating the purchase of a new one for just under $700.
While driving up a steep mountain pass, the radiator casing of our 1995 Trooper cracked. Fortunately, we were able to coast downhill to a mechanic and eventually get it repaired for just $200. We're grateful labor is so inexpensive here.

If you are willing and able to help out with any of these costs, we would be greatly blessed. All donations to HCJB Global are tax-deductible and should include account #110518. Check out bottom of this page for more information. Thanks so much for considering giving!

END OF THE YEAR CELEBRATIONS IN ECUADOR

In November we celebrated Levi's 7th and
Lina's 2nd birthday.

December 6 is the celebration of the founding of Quito.
We took in an exhibit of statues of Ecuador's famous
hummingbirds at a nearby park.

Christmas came early when Dave's brother Steve visited
with his family over Thanksgiving

Our boys represented at the church Christmas program...

...playing Joseph, a shepherd, and a cat.

And a Happy New Year!

STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER

2011-09-28T20:25:00.000-04:00

How often do we say to someone, "I'll pray for you," and then in the busy hum of life, we forget? How often, when someone shares their burdens with us, do we stop to pray for them right in that moment? These were questions on Dave's mind when he decided to start a prayer team as a new Christian Service Outreach (CSO) at the Alliance Academy International (AAI).

The CSO program offers high school students a chance to volunteer and serve in the school and surrounding community through a variety of groups such as:

hospital visitation
serving meals to the poor
mentoring middle school students
playing with kids at an orphanage
running Sunday School and AWANA's clubs

The groups are sponsored by AAI staff and meet weekly. Dave's new group of eight guys and three girls is called Intercessors and meets every Friday during lunch.

Dave with most of the Intercessors. There are six sophomore
boys serving, which is an exciting reflection of the spiritual
leadership we see in that class.

Some students walk the campus, offering to pray for people they meet, while others are available to pray with people in Dave's room and to pray through prayer requests given during the week. The members include a young man who was an atheist when he first met Dave, a girl who had never prayed with someone face to face in her life, and a boy who was agnostic when he first came to the AAI. The intercessors just had a great team building retreat and are ready to dive into their ministry. Would you take a moment right now to pray for them, please?

Finishing a ropes course on the retreat.

A SPANISH SPEAKING NURSE AND MOM

It's what I want to be! Nearly five years after I (Beth) last wore my nurse's uniform, I am stepping back into my scrubs. The AAI needed substitute nurses and I welcomed the opportunity to be on campus with my husband and sons, as well as the chance to get to know more students and to hone my nursing skills again. I'm glad it's only occasional work, since I treasure my time at home with Aaron and Evangeline. But it's good to be meeting many of the students Dave talks about and to be practicing Spanish with my youngest patients, who often forget their limited English when their tummies are hurting!

I love seeing these beautiful faces on campus.

Another new venue has opened for me to speak Spanish: in a group for mothers of AAI students. Entre Nosotras (Between Us Women) began five years ago with just a handful of women and has grown to over ninety ladies who meet in four different groups during the week. Please pray for me on Thursday afternoons as I co-facilitate our group discussions of the book Una Madre Conforme al Corazon de Dios (A Mom After God's Own Heart). After spending the last few years in the mostly English-language bubble of home life with my kids, I'm ready (though a little nervous) to jump into more Spanish-language ministry.

AN ENGLISH SPEAKING SUMMER

Our whirlwind five weeks in the U.S. this summer were packed with beautiful celebrations and reunions. We wish we could have seen more of you and are grateful for the visits we did have. Thank you for your prayers and your time and for showing God's grace to us while we traveled. We are thankful for you, our English speaking friends!

Nine cousins (aged 7 and under) spent a week all in one house.

Our Evangeline, the reluctant flower girl

Beth's family gathered from three continents for her
sister Rachel's wedding.

With love and gratitude,

Dave & Beth and kids

TIME TO CELEBRATE

2011-05-31T23:30:00.001-04:00

Celebration is in the air. Five children of HCJB Global missionaries are graduating from the Alliance Academy International (AAI) this year. It is an honor to have played a part in their education. Mentoring and discipling young people is the main focus of Dave's work in Ecuador, but a terrific additional benefit is to support the work of other HCJB Global missionaries by offsetting the cost of their children's educations. Because our work is funded by amazing people like you, the salary the school would otherwise pay Dave is instead used to lower the tuition costs of HCJB Global missionary kids.

HCJB Global's high school seniors for 2011
(and proud missionary parents, too)

We celebrate the work that God is doing in these students' lives and we're thrilled about the work that God is doing through the lives of their parents. We congratulate the following students (parent professions in parentheses): Elizabeth Hartwig (hydroplant engineering/national missionary training), Joseph Kurtenbach (communications/teaching), David Quiring (teaching/nursing), Trevor Weeks (radio engineering), and Josh Zook (radio engineering/human resources).

Thanks to your support, young people are getting a great schooling experience and the financial burden on the parents to provide a quality education is lightened. For next year, HCJB Global will have students at AAI whose parents work in health care, media, community development and education. Thank you SO MUCH for partnering with us to bless both young people and their parents. We are blessed so that we can be a blessing and we celebrate being able to do that together with you!

ENCOURAGING WORDS

We all enjoy an uplifting word from time to time, so with joy, we share this good news with you:

A student who is a self-professing atheist sought out Dave recently to tell him he really appreciated his Bible teaching.
The student feedback from the "sex-talk" seminars both of us gave has been very positive.
Several weeks ago, a young lady was baptized at our church and afterward, she told Dave that taking his class was one of the reasons she decided to get baptized.
Dave was just recognized by a vote of AAI staff and students as the 2010-2011 Outstanding Teacher for the high school. His plaque reads, "By word and deed, your presence has enriched the lives of students... and served as an example for all." The high school boys gave Dave a standing ovation when his name was called.
Dave with his small group at the Jr. & Sr. Class banquet
Dave was asked by the senior class to give the address at their Baccalaureate service on June 12. The entirety of his speech will be drawn from Scripture quotations.
An old tradition at AAI has been to hold baptismal services at the end of the school year. This June 12, that tradition is being resurrected as four seniors (including Joseph and Josh -- mentioned above) take the plunge before they leave for college. Beth will be leading music at the service.

Beth helps lead music at a recent

Sunday Service at our church

We are encouraged by your words, too, so we are really looking forward to spending some time this summer with many of you in the U.S.!

CELEBRATE SUMMER

June and July will find us in the U.S. and we can't wait to celebrate time with as many friends and family as we can squeeze in! We expected to be in Quito over the summer, but since Beth's sister, Rachel, is getting married, we're flying up for a five week visit. Yay! We will be in IL from June 21-July 11 and in MN from July 12-25. We will share in the following churches (follow the links for service times, directions, etc):

June 26: Palos Bible Church, Palos Heights, IL
July 3: Fellowship Church, Carol Stream, IL
July 10: Trinity Vineyard, St. Charles, IL
July 17: Hope Christian Church, Shoreview, MN
July 24: To be determined...

We hope to connect with more friends, as well, so please drop us an e-mail (if we don't beat you to it) to arrange a get-together. We have more stories to share and we are eager to hear some of yours!

With grateful hearts,

Dave & Beth Saavedra

and Levi, Luke, Aaron and Evangeline, too.

So, How Can We Pray for You?

2011-03-31T23:47:00.001-04:00

It's one of our favorite questions to be asked. As we head into April, I (Beth) keep thinking of the saying "April showers bring May flowers," and I am hoping that the showers we get this month are showers of prayer support that will flower into good news in the future.

So, how can you pray for us? Here's the scoop for April:

DAVE:

Time hanging out with the kids is always a treat!

It's the time of year when lots of students (and teachers) are feeling burned out. Stamina, or even better, enthusiasm, is definitely needed.
A., a student who identifies as non-Christian, just thrilled Dave by asking him to fill out a college recommendation for an evangelical school. This young man is one of the most engaged students Dave has and recently told Dave that he never wants to miss his Bible class. Yay!
Crime is still a very real issue for students. The family of one student is planning to move back to their home country after a traumatizing break-in and confrontation with thieves. Another student narrowly escaped pursuers on a motorcycle who were chasing him for unknown reasons.
Lunch and prep periods continue to be popular times for students to seek Dave out. It is a blessing that requires balance so that grading and class preparation can still get done.
The counseling department is hosting a day of seminars for students, with the theme "Controversial Topics - Things People Have a Hard Time Talking About." Please keep Dave in prayer on April 18, when he co-presents to high school boys about "Purity vs. Porn."

BETH:

Our three year old took this shot. It depicts my life pretty well!

I'm also going to present a seminar at the counseling summit. My topic is for the high school girls: "Healthy Female Sexuality." I'd like to be able to encourage students through the teaching and hopefully open doors to more mentoring relationships in the future.
Child-rearing is where the bulk of my energies go on a daily basis. Both Aaron and Evangeline have had major separation anxiety recently, which has been a test of patience.
Friendships with two young believers (and fellow moms), Margarita and Kim, are a source of real joy and opportunities to share about following Christ. The challenge is to find time to talk and pray and play together in the midst of busy lives.
I have been having recurring health issues with my eyes over the last few months and am looking into the possibility of corrective eye surgery. We want to carefully weigh options and make a wise decision about this.

ALLIANCE ACADEMY INTERNATIONAL:

The school is currently looking for secondary English and computer teachers, elementary teachers, an IT support technician, speech therapist and music teacher. Please help us spread the word! For more information, check out our web page.
For a neat overview of the school (and - at the end of the video - of the country of Ecuador), take a look at this new video:

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your prayers! What an encouragement to know our family and the students at the school are being faithfully remembered before our Father God! We are blessed to be serving together with you and we are eager to hear how we can be praying for you, too!

Peace of Christ,

Dave, Beth, Levi, Luke, Aaron and Evangeline Saavedra

ON YOUR SIDE

2011-02-28T21:58:00.000-05:00

This little guy knows that Daddy is on his side!

What could be better than having someone truly know you and the dirt about you and still choose to be for you, on your side? Dave recently got a chance to play that role with one of his students at school.

More and more often, the Alliance Academy International (AAI) is a place of last resort for kids who have struggled at or even been expelled from other schools. Parents see the Christian guiding principles clearly laid out in the AAI curriculum and hope against hope that a spiritually grounded approach will help their children where other schools have not been able to help. This dynamic presents the AAI community with amazing opportunities to be part of positive life transformations, but it also brings the challenge of increasing numbers of behavioral problems.

Dave's heart sank when he saw the blatantly copied homework assignments turned in by J., one of his newer students. All first semester, he had worked to build a relationship with this young man, spending time with him, encouraging him to engage with the Bible and to pursue God. Now he knew the disciplinary role he needed to play might destroy the rapport he had worked so hard to create.

In an evening e-mail exchange, J. admitted to cheating and asked for mercy. The next morning, when J. came to school, he was too ashamed to look Dave in the eye.

"This is about more than cheating, J. This is about you betraying our relationship."

"I know. Are you going to tell the principal? I don't want to get kicked out."

"J., what you did was childish, and part of my job is to teach you to be a man. So, yes, as a man of integrity and honesty, I will be going with you to talk to the principal... But let me promise you that I will be your number one advocate. I believe that this school is the best place for you and I will do whatever I can to help you stay here. J., this is like us and God. He knows exactly where we've been and what we've done and He's still on our side."

J. teared up, maybe from fear of the principal, but hopefully because his heart was softened by being seen in his sin, and loved just the same. During the resulting in-school suspension, Dave dropped by to bring J. a snack and make sure he knew that he was there for him. As part of J.'s consequences, he will also be meeting with a mentor - Dave - to help him stay on track. Please pray with us that this dear young man encounters God in a powerful way and that he surrenders his heart to the One who loves him best.

MORE RESPONSIBILITY, MORE OPPORTUNITY

Some of the precious young people Dave has the privilege to teach

Dave recently ramped up responsibilities at school, taking on the Bible Department Chair position, as the previous chairperson went on maternity leave and will not be returning next year. Several years teaching experience has given him lots of good ideas about the direction of the department, and he is diving in on creating a more defined curriculum, scope and sequence. There are some significant scheduling issues to address (every student must take - and pass - a Bible course for each semester of attendance in order to graduate) and hiring decisions ahead, so we appreciate your prayers for wisdom for him and the administration as they move forward.

SO GLAD YOU ARE ON OUR SIDE!

We are deeply blessed when we consider the many prayers lifted on behalf of our ministry by friends like you. Thank you so much for being on our side, partnering with us in the ministry of discipling young people in Jesus' name. You are essential partners in what we do!

Gratefully,

Dave and Beth Saavedra and family

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!

2010-12-31T21:09:00.003-05:00

We pray that you all had a Christmas filled with the peace of Immanuel, God with us.

The best Christmas present we gave to our own family was a trip to visit some missionary friends who live in the cloud forest (high altitude jungle) about two hours outside of Quito. We tagged along with them on their Christmas box deliveries to poor and remote villages (each box containing food to feed a family for about two weeks). What a powerful reminder to be grateful for the abundance in our own lives!

Anytime I (Beth) am faced with such stark inequalities, I struggle to understand why some of us have so much and some so little. I know that greater generosity is one response that God is calling our family to. But I also see that the suffering in the world requires the response of the entire community of God's people. He calls us to different careers and countries and pastimes, but as we each put our all into living lives that point to Christ, God will orchestrate our actions to bring his hope and mercy and love to the world.

So with deep gratitude, we thank all of you for pointing us to Christ this year with your prayers and giving and encouraging words. And our prayer is that all of us will point more clearly to Christ in the year ahead.

Happy 2011, Dear Friends!
Love from Dave, Beth, Levi, Luke, Aaron and Evangeline

NEW LIFE!

2010-11-28T15:34:00.000-05:00

Sunday morning was filled with celebrations of life. Margarita, an Ecuadorian friend Beth has been discipling this past year, publicly declared her commitment of faith at her baptismal service. Then we affirmed God's work in her young children's lives by witnessing their dedication service.

What immense joy there is in walking alongside new believers! There are also many challenges and we ask for your prayers for Margarita as she grows in her faith. Please join us in praying for her as she single parents her kids (two and five years old) and as she seeks out community with other believers. Thank you for your prayers; they make a difference!

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Imagine being far from home and family at the holidays. Many of the women at Quito's prison are foreigners in that very situation. Our church here supports a year-round prison outreach in both Spanish and English in order to reach the maximum number of ladies. Beth will be headed to prison for the first time this December to lead music for a Christmas service for 300+ inmates. Please pray that the Spanish and English songs will bring comfort and joy, but most importantly, will communicate the freedom to be found in Christ!

Please also lift Beth up this month as she leads a musical kindergarten chapel and as she continues to play guitar regularly for women's Bible studies.

THE TRUE HARVEST

Thanksgiving is one of my (Dave's) favorite holiday, with food, friends and family. Even though the majority of my students aren't Americans and are unfamiliar with the Thanksgiving feast, they have helped me reflect this year on a deeper hunger: for the spiritual satisfaction of a life of eternal significance. Jesus' words to his disciples concerning food have made more sense to me this Thanksgiving:

God has given several of my students this year a passionate desire to do his will through missionary work. Over the summer, two of my students served as short-term missionaries. They were bursting with excitement to share with me how the power and hope of the gospel we talk so much about in class became real and alive during their trips to China and Tibet.

H., one of these students, is currently working with me on an independent study about missions, as she prepares to dedicate her life to missionary work in China. She is learning Chinese from V., a Chinese student of mine. V. also has her heart and mind set on bringing the gospel to her Communist family. She is taking my World Religions and Cults class and has mentioned on several occasions how helpful this course has been as she thinks about returning to China.

During this season of Thanksgiving I am grateful to be reminded by my students of the true feast set before us of doing God's will. May we all have the same passion to pursue God's design to reconcile all people to himself.

With thankful hearts,

Dave & Beth Saavedra

PRAY FOR PEACE

2010-09-30T20:18:00.000-04:00

Since writing the newsletter below, unrest has broken out in our country. While we do not feel endangered, school is canceled Friday and we do ask that you pray for a peaceful resolution. Please check your preferred major news sources (such as this article at CNN) for more details on the situation as it develops. Thank you so much!

PLANTING FOR THE FUTURE

2010-09-30T00:12:00.000-04:00

"You sound like my grandma! I'll think about God when I get older!" When Mario* graduated from the Alliance Academy to study in Europe, following God was the last thing on his mind. Dave wondered if the seeds planted in his classes would bear fruit. This fall, Mario came back for a visit and amazed us with his transformation. "I hit rock bottom in Europe. It was such a spiritually dead place. But I remembered what you taught me in class." Mario is on fire for God today, involved in his church and eager to help other young people learn to follow God, especially in the hard places.

"I never knew how to read the Bible until I took your class," said Carlos during Dave's Discipleship course. "You make it come alive." Dave asks each student to have an adult mentor through the course and Carlos' mentor has commented, "I've known him for years and since he's taken Bible with you, his life has been totally transformed."

Your gifts help make it possible for Dave to pour truth into Mario and Carlos' lives and the lives of other young people who are at crucial moments of decision. Thank you so much for being a part of this exciting work. We couldn't be here without your partnership!

*names changed

PRAYER POINTS

Energy and good organization for Dave, who is teaching more courses, with fuller classes than ever.
Adjustment for two-year-old Aaron, who is really missing his older brothers now that they are both in school.
Diligence and a teachable spirit for me (Beth) as I study Isaiah with Bible Study Fellowship and study the Old Testament tabernacle with the women's Bible study at our church.

TESTIFY!

Looking back over our seven weeks in the U.S.A. this summer, we are overwhelmed by the beautiful friendships that surrounded us. Thank you for the encouragement of sharing your lives with us.

Sharing at church

Evangeline and Aaron's church dedication

The biggest surprise blessing for us was how much our faith was strengthened by hearing your stories and by being able to share ours repeatedly. It's so good to take time to step back and remind ourselves of God's faithfulness over time.

Evangeline learned to walk (and climb) this summer

Levi and Luke learned to ride bikes

All the Douglas family reunited for the first time in 3 years

Lots of summer fun

Over the summer, we saw God provide a free vehicle to use, ideal housing options for our family, many uplifting visits with friends, new clothes for our fast growing kids, fresh reading resources for Dave's classroom, and a free plane trip for me (Beth) to my brother's wedding in Canada, to name just a few. Also, God provided almost half of our summer fundraising goal through your generosity. We have so much for which to be grateful and we hope that "counting our blessings" lifts your heart up as well.

Love,

Dave and Beth Saavedra

ENCOURAGING TIMES IN HIGH SCHOOL

2010-05-31T23:23:00.000-04:00

For a teacher, there is nothing like affirmation from a student! At times, teaching can be a very lonely job with just me and my teenage students day in and day out. But by God's grace this last month has been a time of tremendous encouragement. Students have come to me on a regular basis, with comments like this: "Mr. Saavedra, I've really enjoyed your classes this year. Which ones should I take next year?" Or "Mr. Dave, can you write me a recommendation for student government? I feel like you're one of the teachers who's gotten to know me this year." Or "Dave, can we get together for lunch to talk about something you said in class?"

The small group I lead on Fridays at lunch has just added another member, now totaling eight. Some of us recently played in a basketball tournament under the name "Combo Mixto" ("Variety Pack"). The title fits our group of two Ecuadorians, a Mexican, a Filipino, a Korean, a Peruvian, and two North Americans. What a picture of the diversity of the church!

Two co-workers recently came to observe my Acts class over several days and they both gave insightful and positive feedback. We all need to be seen and affirmed in our work, don't we? Praise the Lord for his encouragement this last month!

ENCOURAGING TIMES IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

“Mister, it’s right there under the tree! You just need to open your gift,” said an exasperated second grader.

I’m getting more chances to flex my creativity as a chapel speaker. After I spoke in the high school chapel, I was invited to present to the 2^ndthrough 4^th graders. With the theme of “spiritual gifts,” the music teacher had several students lead musical worship with pianos, xylophones, triangles and tambourines - quite the joyful noise! Then I presented a short drama in which I was seated next to three unopened Christmas presents. By the shape of the wrapping paper, the students could clearly see I had a soccer ball, a pair of boots and a Bible under the tree. Another teacher came into the scene to ask for those three exact items to donate to children in Haiti. After thinking for a while, I insisted I had none of those things. At this point, all sixty children began to jump up and down trying to get my attention. “You need to open your presents!” This set the stage for a brief discussion on the need for Christians to use their spiritual gifts to love God and their neighbor. I’ve never taught elementary students before, and it was fun and refreshing to see such openness to God’s word.

May you be encouraged, too, by God’s work in Ecuador!

And thank YOU for encouraging us through partnership in this ministry!

Dave Saavedra

CHAPEL CHANGES

2010-04-24T21:56:00.000-04:00

There's nothing like change to grab your attention. At least that's the idea with the new Wednesday chapel format at the Alliance Academy International (AAI). Breaking from the traditional sing-songs-listen-to-a-speaker approach, the new setup seeks to tear down barriers between students, teachers, and God. Friend cliques have been reshuffled into chapel "tribes," assigned small groups that mix grade level, race, gender and beliefs. "Tribe leaders" (teachers and staff looking for the chance to connect more deeply with students) sit with their kids during the first chapel of the month, when a presentation is given. During the second chapel of the month, each tribe gathers to discuss the previous chapel. The third week is geared toward musical worship and the fourth week is for bonding activities (fun and service) in the tribes.

As we pilot this new schedule, would you please pray with us that:

chapels aren't just cerebral, but used to change lives.
older kids are able to mentor younger ones.
tribe leaders can powerfully influence their students for good.
teens are freed from negative peer pressure so they can ask questions from the heart.
staff and students alike engage deeply with their heavenly Father.

Dave gave the first chapel presentation this month, bringing in a big black "death box" that student actors passed through - with varying results - to illustrate beliefs about the afterlife. A humorous video, created by students, showed the excitement we'll feel when Christian friends are resurrected to be together forever. You can watch it below:

Please keep the spiritual growth of AAI students in your prayers. May the risen Christ be glorified in the young people here in Ecuador!

ECUA-ADVENTURES

"It was the hardest thing I've done in my life," Susie said, recounting her summit of Cotopaxi, the world's tallest active volcano. The last three months visiting Ecuador were filled with adventure for Beth's sister. "Tia Susie" has been a tireless babysitter, dishwasher and cultural explorer. We miss her presence dearly, as well as the constant reminders she gave us of what a beautiful and exciting country we now call home.

IT'S LIKE PUTTING ON GLASSES

That's how an Ecuadorian friend described reading a New Living Translation of the Bible for the first time. "M" is a new believer and brims over with great questions. When Beth gave her the study Bible to read, M said, "This is exactly what I've been looking for... I'm speechless." Please lift M in your prayers as she looks to Jesus for wisdom and strength to parent two young children on her own. And Beth appreciates your prayers for time and opportunities to disciple M and other young moms in the community.

SUMMER PLANS

I (Dave) found myself day dreaming this morning about waking up in St. Paul this summer to the smell of freshly cut grass and the sound of our kids playing with their grandparents in the back yard. Please pray for us as we begin to put our summer plans together. Our major concerns right now are scheduling our time, finding a vehicle, and raising enough funds for the summer activities. We will be in the U.S. from July 2 until August 25 and are so excited to reconnect with family and friends in MN and IL.

With gratitude,

Dave and Beth (Levi, Luke, Aaron, Evangeline & Susie)

RESILIENCE, MIRACLES, COMMITMENT

2010-03-01T10:40:00.000-05:00

These are words that our water engineer friend, Martin Harrison, used to describe the two weeks he just spent in Haiti as part of a HCJB Global relief team working at a hospital at the edge of Port-au-Prince. The team of seven (three of whom have kids or grandkids at Dave's school) worked in the chaotic environment to triage patients, perform surgeries and set up a water purification system to keep the hospital supplied.

RESILIENCE - Martin was amazed by the selfless service of the Haitians who had just suffered so much tragedy. One woman, who was in charge of running the operating room (making supplies available to surgeons, sterilizing equipment, etc). lost her home and was sleeping outside, yet worked in the surgery from 7 a.m. until midnight for the first week. Her age? 82 years old!

MIRACLES - The hospital was quickly running out of clean water, so Martin set up a water purification system from Samaritan's Purse. His source of water was a fish pond on the property, but they couldn't find enough tubing to connect it to the hospital, which was at some distance. After prayer, they decided to look one more time in the store room and found a pile of tubing in the middle of the floor, where nothing had been before.

COMMITMENT - When such devastation occurs, the road to rebuild is long. Martin mentioned that though God didn't prevent the earthquake from happening, He promised to walk with His children through it. God is committed to His people in Haiti. The Haitians are committed to reconstructing their lives. And we invite you to join us in committing to help the people of Haiti through HCJB Globals' emergency response fund. To donate, click here. A second relief team will be leaving from Ecuador soon, with more teams planned for the future.

Martin created this moving four-minute presentation from photos he took in Haiti.

AN URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

Over the recent Carnaval weekend, our community lost a former Alliance Academy International (AAI) faculty member, Ana Ladines, along with her husband and her son (Asaf, 2nd grade) in a tragic car accident. Her daughter (Alejandra, 5th grade) survived the accident. Please pray for the AAI students who had classes with members of the family, and pray for the larger community as it grieves this loss. After the accident, Alejandra said she was glad she was the one who survived because she didn't think her little brother could have handled such loss. She also said the tragedy has only strengthened her resolve to become a nurse so that she can be a missionary someday, just like her parents. Please keep this amazing nine year old girl in your prayers.

IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM

Just this morning, Dave turned to me (Beth) to say, "I really like my job!" It's great to have the confidence of teaching some classes for the third or fourth time and to have built up rapport with kids over several years. One student was creating a video to encourage his girlfriend, also an AAI student, and he asked Dave to comment on camera, "Because, you're, like, our spiritual father, man!"

Outside his classroom, Dave recently led a panel discussion on identity formation in third culture kids (TCKs). Many of the kids at the AAI are TCKs, growing up in a country that is not their parents' passport nation. When they graduate, students usually go on to study in their parents' countries. This is when it really hits that they are different. It was a good conversation-starting time for preparing these special kids for the transitions ahead.

Another recent speaking opportunity was with a different crowd - 40 squirmy preschool and kindergarten kids (including son, Levi). Dave and Beth guest-led the weekly chapel program: playing guitar, singing, acting out a story and talking about God's love.

Lastly, we ask for prayer for an upcoming seminar Dave is giving at a conference of international schools (of which AAI is the only Christian one) in Quito. He'll be talking about soul care for the teacher. Teachers from various faith backgrounds will attend, so Dave is asking for wisdom as he prepares his remarks and for discernment to speak truth and encouragement into the lives of all who attend.

THANKS SO MUCH!
Dave and Beth

10 LESSONS WE'VE LEARNED IN 2009

2009-11-28T13:00:00.000-05:00

1. We love having a daughter! We finally added a girl to our family on November 14. Evangeline Joy weighed 6 lbs 10 oz at birth and has blue eyes, another first in our family of brown-eyed boys. The three big brothers are wildly enthusiastic about their sister. Born just a week before his fifth birthday, Levi told his brothers, "She's my birthday present." He also asked us hopefully, "Do we get to keep her forever?" (photo: Introducing our princess)

2. We really appreciate electricity. Most electricity here comes from hydroelectric plants, which have been struggling with the worst dry season in almost fifty years. For the last month, Quito has had rolling blackouts of 2-4 hours every weekday. Thankfully, the outages are announced in the news so we can prepare. And we're glad it's just electric that's being rationed - much easier to handle than water rationing!

3. Every class is completely different, even when the subject matter remains the same. Dave had a dynamic group of students in his Discipleship class last spring, which made teaching seem easy. This fall's Discipleship class is a group of reserved students with a very different learning style. It's been challenging, but a good growing experience for his classroom skills. (photo: a few fall semester students)

4. You can't predict the impact you'll have. As Dave's former students have headed off to colleges around the world, he's been pleasantly surprised to hear good feedback from students who seemed less than engaged while in high school. One young man didn't attend church as a high school student, but after going off to study in a secular setting in Europe, he told Dave he realized how much he needs spiritual community. Because he plays semi-pro soccer on weekends, he didn't think he could find a church with services he could attend, but after prayer, he not only found a church, but a Spanish language one, his native tongue.

5. Technology is our friend. We've been so grateful to stay in touch with many of you via e-mail, Skype and Facebook. Still, face to face is the best. We've had our socks blessed off by visits from family and friends this year and we're thrilled to now have Dave's parents living just a few blocks away. Ya'll come visit now, ya hear? (photo: The Douglas grandparents visit Levi's classroom)

6. A juicer is a smart health investment when you live in a fertile country like Ecuador. Because fresh produce is so inexpensive, we take advantage of God's bounty and make juice almost every day. It does a parent's heart good to watch the kids happily down glasses of carrot-pineapple-papaya-spinach juice.

7. You get back more than you give when you work to build community. Since the expatriate community is so transient, it can be a real stretch to invite people into our lives, knowing they may leave in just a year or two. Yet after talking to some other young moms about the need for fellowship, Beth started a weekly moms-and-kids group which has been a real delight. We've already had some goodbyes, but the encouragement and strength we receive from each other is absolutely worth it.

8. It IS possible to bake a good pan of brownies at over 9000ft. It took almost three years, but Beth finally perfected her recipe. At this altitude, the low atmospheric pressure means baking often yields dry, crumbly desserts with fallen centers. But with plenty of practice, Beth is finally feeling at home in her kitchen high in the Andes mountains. (photo: Levi samples his birthday cupcake)

9. Not much is as spiritually invigorating as talking with someone who is hungry for more of God. For Dave, the fall semester brought in a number of transfer students who are very grateful to be in a Christian community and eager to know more about God. One student had never cracked a Bible, but is currently taking two Bible courses and plans to take three more before he graduates next semester.

10. God's provision is unfailingly faithful. It's a lesson all of our generous ministry partners teach us again and again, month by month, day by day. We are grateful for our health, our home and food, our family and friends and the continued ministry opportunities made possible through your faithful support and prayers.

With hearts filled with thanksgiving, we wish you a peaceful Advent, joyful Christmas and love-filled New Year!

Love,

Dave, Beth, Levi, Luke, Aaron and Evangeline Saavedra

P.S. You can see more new photos of our family at our Picasa album.

THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS BEGUN

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Due to scheduling issues, some of Dave’s classes are smaller than usual, which at first was disappointing. Now he’s trying to see it as an opportunity to connect more with individual students. His smallest class, a section of Bible Study Methods (BSM), has just four kids - all quiet, English as a Second Language learners - so this might be just the chance for them to feel safe enough to really open up. Dave’s especially excited about building strong relationships with the incoming sophomores (all new students to him) to whom he will teach BSM. He’s been working on changes to the curriculum in hopes of moving from a largely academic study of the biblical text toward a deeper, more personal engagement with God through his Word. This has the potential to transform lives!

Dave’s two other courses are World Religions and Cults (WRC) and Discipleship. The opening paragraph of the syllabus for each of Dave’s classes reads:

The Bible is the most important book you will ever study. Through it God has revealed himself to us so that we can be in a personal relationship with him. It is an amazing gift! Thus the study of the Bible is our most important task, because it is God's eternal truth for our relationship with him. Biblical truth is essential for your life as a friend of God. Thus, Bible classes are of highest importance.

BETH'S SUMMER

With Dave home more often, Beth has been more active in women’s ministry. Our church’s women’s program normally goes on hiatus over the summer, but God motivated Beth and a friend to keep the fellowship going. Beth and Denise have been co-leading a study over the summer with 7 to 15 women coming weekly (Denise is second and Beth is fourth from left).

One elderly Ecuadorian widow, R., told us that our study day and Sundays are the only happy days of her week. R. has barely been making ends meet as a street vendor and was recently threatened with eviction from the apartment where she lived with her grandson. Between the church’s benevolence fund and gifts from several women in our study, we were able to help her find another apartment, but please keep R. in your prayers as she looks for more stable work.

There are many situations like this within our congregation and we need discernment to know how best to respond. Right now our women’s ministry leader position is vacant, so please pray with us that God fills that spot quickly with a wise woman.

PUTTING DOWN ROOTS

This was our first summer here with a car and both of us as licensed drivers. It’s been a great blessing to drive around getting to know Ecuador better (see our travel photos). As we make family memories here, we feel more at home and connected in this nation—truly an answer to prayer. Another reason we’re feeling more at home here is that Dave’s parents, Americo and Kathy, moved down in July. The boys adore having grandparents living just a few blocks away!

Saying "Good" Goodbyes

2009-06-13T12:58:00.000-04:00

One of our most vivid memories from our pre-departure missionary training in Colorado was being locked into a room with the thirty or so other missionary candidates with whom we had just spent an intense few weeks of living and learning together. Our mission? To say goodbye to everyone in the room before we could leave.

There were grateful tears as we shared how certain folks had touched our hearts. There were awkward moments saying goodbye to acquaintances we doubted we would ever see again. There was joy in being able to say “thank you” to those from whom we had learned so much. And there were plenty of hugs to go around. When we finally left, we felt a closure about having said “good” goodbyes and we felt freedom to move on to the next stage of our lives.

The end of the school year is a bittersweet time that brings up the question: how will we say goodbye? None of us enjoy saying goodbye to departing students and staff, but in a mobile community like the Alliance Academy International (AAI), it’s a fact of life. It’s easy for kids who see people move in and out of their lives all the time to become jaded about relationships or just to keep things superficial so as not to get hurt. One of the most common defense mechanisms is just to walk away from relationships without saying goodbye. But reflecting back on our friendships and then talking directly with our friends about the blessings and challenges is an important way to deal with our grief. And that’s exactly what Dave had the high school and middle students do when he led one of the last chapels of the year.

Keeping it light at first, Dave started by asking the students (and faculty present) to find someone who had made them laugh that year and to give them a hug. Then he moved on to other topics, like finding someone who taught them the most, someone who they wanted to thank, someone from whom they needed to ask forgiveness, someone for whom they could pray a blessing. It’s the third year in a row that Dave has led this chapel and it has become a real highlight for students looking for a way to find closure and comfort in saying goodbyes.

We’re saying goodbye to a number of our adult friends, too, and ask you to please pray for us - both to be able to have “good” goodbyes and to keep doing the hard work of opening our hearts to new friendships. One great aspect of being children of God is knowing that no goodbye is forever since we’ll meet again in heaven!

Saying Hello

Even in the midst of many farewells, we are preparing for a big hello. The fourth Saavedra baby will be arriving sometime around November 14. The big brothers are very excited to meet our new addition (Levi pats Beth’s tummy and asks, “Is our little girl in there?” while Luke insists that he’s going to have another brother).

The first trimester was very challenging physically and emotionally for Beth (one reason for the delay in our news, since she’s the chief letter writer). But now that we’re into the second trimester, things are starting to look up. We’re so grateful for your prayers for our growing family, especially for health for the baby and energy for Beth.

Keeping Up the Work

What else has been going on for us over the last few months? There’s always a steady stream of activity!

In May, we had two ER visits, one for Dave, who got a minor dog bite while walking to work, and one for Luke, who got five stitches in his forehead after a fall. When Beth wasn’t running down to the hospital, she was going to the transit authority to work on replacing her lost driver’s license. It took seven trips, making us nostalgic for the DMV in the U.S.

Dave feels more confident all the time in the classroom and fills most of his lunch hours meeting with students. It was hugely encouraging to hear one graduating senior (who Dave met as a troubled sophomore) say, “I am coming away from this school confident that I am a Christian. And after taking your discipleship class, I know that I am the beloved.”

Thank you so much for your help in making our work here with HCJB possible! We deeply appreciate the faithful prayers and sacrificial giving of so many of you.

Right now we are running about $400/month under our recommended support level, so if you have been thinking about starting to give, or about increasing your gift, now is a great time to do so. For information on how to give or how to change the amount you give, please contact HCJB Global (info on front page). Donations to HCJB Global are tax-deductible.

Thank You!

Bonus Video: Blast from the Past!

This seven minute clip is from February/March of this year. It includes a walk to the neighborhood park and interviews with family members.

A Week with the Saavedra Family

2009-03-11T20:58:00.000-04:00

Life in Ecuador IS different than in North America but the longing to enjoy a loving family, connect with a caring community and live a meaningful life before God is the same around the world! Here is a snapshot of what a typical week looks like for us in Ecuador. You may find the rhythm of our lives feels more familiar than you expected!

Monday: After Dave walks to the Alliance Academy to kick off a week of Bible teaching, Beth gets the boys ready to grocery shop at Quito’s biggest supermarket chain, Supermaxi. It’s very similar to grocery stores in the U.S. and there’s even a bigger version of the store (called Megamaxi) that includes apparel, toys, electronics and appliances.

For our first two years in Quito, we always took cabs (about $1.50/ride), which was getting to be a handful without car seats for the boys. But now, thanks to your kind support for our work with HCJB Global, we have finally purchased a vehicle! We love the freedom it affords and the opportunities to give rides to our friends!

Tuesday: The boys and I prepare to attend Bible Study Fellowship. Our study on Moses is a real hit with them because, as Luke says, “I have a brother named Aaron, just like Moses did!”

The rest of my small group is all Ecuadorian ladies and most have only a basic grasp of English (the language of the study). We laugh a lot as we try to pronounce Hebrew words like Kohathite in both English and Spanish.

At school, Dave spends Tuesday lunches with a small group of young men, alternating more serious Bible study with weeks of fun activities (they were playing Wii together this past week – another hit!).

Wednesday: It’s off to AWANA’s Club on Wednesday afternoons, or, as Levi and Luke call it, “Iguanas.” It’s fun for Aaron and Mom to have some quality time alone while the boys are gone. At night Dave does mid-week stress-busting playing soccer (called futbol here) with fellow teachers and school alumni.

Thursday: Titus Women is a Bible study sponsored by our church and Beth leads the weekly worship time with her guitar. This gathering has been the source of some of her closest friendships and prayer partners. It’s also a time for sampling cuisine from around the world as Ecuadorian, German, American, Canadian, Filipino and Colombian ladies take turns bringing snacks to share.

Friday & Saturday: When Dave isn’t working on lesson planning for the upcoming week, these are our days for entertaining. In a highly mobile community like ours, it can be hard to open up to friendships when you’ll likely be saying goodbye to those people in a year or two. Yet we all long to know and be known, so we make a point to keep reaching out. And the returns in friendships are rich indeed!

Sunday: We head to church at English Fellowship. Beth leads music about twice a month, so Dave pulls extra kid duty. And then comes the Sunday afternoon siesta (nap)– hopefully as much a staple in your home as in ours!

Regardless of the day of the week, every evening ends with Beth speaking the Aaronic blessing over the boys before bed. And it is our prayer for you, through your week that:

2008-12-20T08:47:00.000-05:00

We are filled with gratitude looking back over 2008 and we are filled with joy in the prospect of what is to come in 2009! Please let us share with you some events that have encouraged us in recent weeks...

We are so thankful for each of you! You keep us going with your prayers, words, and financial care. May Christ fill your hearts with thanksgiving and joy this Christmas and New Year!

BIG NEWS, SMALL NEWS, ALL THE NEWS...

2008-10-13T10:43:00.000-04:00

In these times of financial turmoil, we have been keeping this verse in mind, remembering that our father, God, faithfully provides for all our needs. Even as we look for ways to pinch pennies (putting in energy-efficient light bulbs, using our water heater less, eating more rice and beans) we know many of you in the U.S. are doing the same, and it moves us deeply that you continue to give steadfastly to our ministry with HCJB Global. Together we are investing in lives and we rejoice to know the dividends are eternal!

NATIONAL NEWS:

At the end of September, a majority of Ecuadorians voted to approve a new constitution, the 20th constitution this nation has had since it gained independence about 180 years ago. The new constitution is so large - 444 articles - it is unclear what changes will be immediate and to what extent they will be enforced. As new rumors swirl each day, we ask you to join us in praying for wisdom and integrity for legislators. No matter what happens, we know that God will never leave nor forsake us!

ALLIANCE ACADEMY INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

Spiritual emphasis week occurs once a semester, and this September was one of the best yet. As Greg Collord, Dave's former Bible teacher, said, "It was low on hype and high on practical biblical content." We were especially blessed by a chapel service in which students were invited to pray for a teacher who had impacted them. We were both in tears as several students prayed over Dave, blessing him for pouring himself into their lives.

Student mentoring is blossoming as Dave spends at least three lunch periods a week connecting with several young men and Beth has started meeting weekly with one of Dave's female students. Please pray for these relationships and especially for healing for the young woman Beth mentors, as she struggles with multiple health issues.

CHURCH NEWS:

This summer, English Fellowship Church, where we attend, found itself without a regular music leader. Beth stepped up, along with two others, to fill the void, and is now leading worship several times a month. There is a lot of musical talent in our culturally, denominationally and linguistically diverse church, and Beth asks for discernment and anointing for herself and fellow leaders, Sally and Brad, as new worship teams are developed.

HOME FRONT NEWS:

Levi and Luke have been enjoying playing with each other so much that we decided to forgo preschool this year. Instead, the boys are attending weekly Bible Study Fellowship gatherings with Beth, as we study the life of Moses. It has certainly captured their imaginations, as we often find them playing with their doll, "Moses," and pretending to be his parents, Amram and Jochebed. Levi and Luke have also started the Cubbies program of our local Awana club.

Beth just finished Ecuadorian driving school and is looking forward to getting her license in the next few weeks. One step closer to wheels! If you would like to give to the car fund, please include a note saying so with your tax-deductible gift. Thanks so much!

Even as we enjoy building community here in Quito, we miss all of you up north very much! We love our friends! Please keep in touch!

A HAPPY NEW YEAR'S FOR THE SAAVEDRAS

2008-08-20T12:06:00.000-04:00

In August? You bet! We're getting into the New Year spirit of goal setting for the future and reflecting back on the past as we prepare for another school year at the Alliance Academy International.

First, reflecting back:

We've had a jam-packed summer in the U.S. with friends and family. What an emotional rollercoaster to sandwich so many hellos and goodbyes into such a short time! We were encouraged by our visits with so many of you, bummed out to miss a few of you, and grateful for the prayers and hugs and hospitality shown to us. Thanks especially for your prayers for the boys, who were real troopers through six location changes and many hours in the car.

While we enjoyed our time in the U.S., we felt homesick for our lives in Quito, which was a neat confirmation that we are where we need to be.

For a musical photo extravaganza of our lives in Quito up until our trip to the U.S., please watch Dave's video creation below:

Next, looking ahead:

While in the U.S., Dave stocked up on resources for the coming school year. He'll be teaching a new class, "World Religions and Cults" as well as repeating "Discipleship" and "Bible Study Methods."

More than anything, Dave wants his students to see Jesus in him this school year. He also has goals of mentoring relationships with at least five students, as well as starting to help out with coaching the junior varsity boys' soccer team.

One of Beth's goals for the new year is to get to know Ecuador better by cooking more Ecuadorian food.

Beth is also shooting to join up with Bible Study Fellowship, as well as continue her involvement leading music for Titus Women, her church Bible Study.

Both of us are excited to keep having students over to our home. Purchase of a vehicle would be a giant step toward facilitating this goal. It's not safe to walk after dark in Quito and we would like to be able to chauffeur friends (and our family of five!) around when need be. Would you please consider making a gift toward the car fund? Thank you!

(A Bit of) What We Did This Summer ...

WHERE IS HOME ANYWAY?

2008-06-09T18:37:00.000-04:00

If you want to hear a missionary hem and haw, try asking that question. It's one we've been asking ourselves for the last few weeks as we've moved into a new apartment and are also preparing to go on "Home Ministry Assignment" in the U.S. this summer.

First, our new digs: After house-sitting for the last year and a half, we've finally moved into our own place. Now the kids can destroy our furniture instead of someone else's! For the first time in our married lives, we've bought a fridge, stove, washer and dryer. It's said that "stuff ties you down," and in a good sense, we feel that by furnishing our own place, we've crossed an emotional threshold toward making Quito our home. We've even got a spare bedroom, so ya'll come down to visit now, ya hear?

Second, even as we've been settling into our new home, we've been dreaming of going "home" this summer to the U.S. As a missionary kid, Dave learned that "home is where the people you love are." So we'll be going "home" to see those we love in IL, MN, CO and KS.

The summer ahead of being "pilgrims" reminds us that our true home is in Christ. What a comfort to know there is a place where we will always belong!

SUMMER ADVENTURES

Even as our eyes glaze over while dreaming about U.S. playgrounds, Wendy's Frostys and thrift store shopping, what we most look forward to this summer is visiting our friends! Here's is a brief overview of where we'll be. Please let us know when we can take you out for a meal or outing. We will continue to check our e-mail address (see bottom of the page) and can give you phone numbers of where we'll be if you drop us a line.

June 18: Arrive in Chicago
June 22: Share at Palos Bible Church in Palos Heights, Illinois
June 23-28: Reunion with Beth's family in Minnesota
June 29: Share at Hope Christian Church in Shoreview, MN
July 12: Leave MN for IL
July 13: Share at Trinity Vineyard in St. Charles, IL
July 21-31: Reunion with Dave's family in Colorado
August 1-3: Attend seminar at IHOP in Kansas
August 4-13: In Illinois

JOURNEYING TOGETHER

In the final days of the Alliance Academy school year, Dave has heard from a number of students who are eager to take his Bible classes next fall. We are encouraged by their interest and hope you are, too, since our work here is a team effort with you!

Recently our average support has been running about $200/month under target. We also are at a point where purchasing a car makes sense both for our family's needs and for more opportunities to connect with students outside of school. If you could help with a monthly pledge of support or with a special gift for a vehicle, please contact HCJB Global by phone, internet or mail. Thanks so much!!!

AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH

2008-04-25T17:41:00.000-04:00

How do you get students at the Alliance Academy all riled up? Make a moral judgment about their media choices. When Dave questioned the influence the rapper Eminem - a popular listening choice - had in the lives of his students, they vehemently denied the music had any negative effect on them. Posting a picture of Paris Hilton on the board for a discussion on media, kids vigorously jumped into a debate on whether it was a "waste of time" to follow her life. When asked about their free time, most students say they spend at least a few hours every day surfing the internet.

(I love my computer, but I want to love God more!)

Imagine if they spent those passions for God! So we asked ourselves, "Are students seeing in our lives a powerful and enticing work of God? Or do they see what some students have told Dave: Christianity is boring?" We know that "the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power," (1 Corinthians 4:20), so we started praying that this power would be more evident in our lives and in the lives of the students.

The book of Acts is full of examples of God acting powerfully and Dave has been challenging his students to act as the disciples did, to pray right away for someone when they are hurting. It is an answer to prayer to see students making the connection and getting excited about God. One student reported that he prayed for his mom and her migraine went away. You could almost see the light bulb go on for another student as she said, "I finally get it! You actually want us to DO what we've been reading about!" YES!

Please keep praying along with us for spiritual awakening in the students' lives.

PRAYING TOGETHER

We are honored to have you join with us in praying for the following:

- We're moving in May! After 16 months of housesitting, we're finally getting our own place. Please pray for a smooth transition and that we can find affordable furniture and appliances.

- Dave took a tumble in the Turkey Bowl (flag football tournament at school) and got a bad muscle injury. Please pray for rapid healing for his leg.

- Beth took a hiatus from worship leading after Aaron was born, but has started leading music again in women's Bible study. Please pray for her as she balances mothering three kids with her music ministry.

-Aaron needs both Ecuadorian and U.S. passports to be able to travel with us this summer. Please pray the paperwork for this gets done quickly.

- Luke turned two on March 29! He has been extra clingy since the baby arrived, so please pray that he would feel secure and that Beth would have extra patience in caring for him.

- Family changes since Aaron's birth have been a stretch for Levi, too, who has been acting out at preschool. Please pray for peace for him.

- Praise God, though, that both boys seem to enjoy their little brother Aaron a lot. Our three musketeers bring us great joy!

(l-r: Luke, Aaron and Levi)

(Saavedra family at Easter)

(Luke dives into birthday presents)

NATIONAL NEWS

2008-03-25T15:52:00.000-04:00

A volcanic eruption. Massive flooding. Political tensions. What do they have in common? They've all been happening here in Ecuador in 2008.

(Below: Tungurahua erupting)

(Photo: REUTERS)

Through January and February, the volcano Tungurahua, which means "throat of fire," increased its activity, shooting columns of ash into the air. The volcano is about 140 miles from where we live in Quito, far enough away that we are safe. However, we do ask for your prayers for the several thousand people who had to be evacuated from their homes. For a video of HCJB Global's response, follow this link.

Torrential rain has also been causing problems for thousands of Ecuadorians, particularly on the coast, where flooding is severe. The president declared a national state of emergency and HCJB Global has been coordinating with other ministries and churches in relief efforts.

(Below: Donations ready to be packed at HCJB Global in Quito)

Along with sending health care workers and community developers (specializing in water projects), our mission has been collecting food and toiletries to make relief packages that can sustain a family of five for a week. Trucks from our mission, each carrying tons of goods, continue to drive down to the coast. For a really terrific video of the relief work (created by fellow HCJB Global missionary, Martin Harrison) follow this link.

(Below: Relief packages await transport)

Finally, we are relieved that political tensions have eased after a successful regional summit of Latin American leaders in early March. The crisis was triggered after a raid in which the leader of a rebel group, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC), was killed on Ecuadorian soil by Colombian security forces. We are so grateful the dispute over sovereignty was peacefully resolved and we ask your prayers for continued peace in our nation here and throughout Latin America.

FAMILY NEWS

As the nation has been dealing with various crises, we've faced a few challenges of our own. The entire family has been battling illness for the last month, including a respiratory infection that landed Luke in the emergency department twice.

(Below: Luke gets some TLC from Tia Rachel)

Fortunately, Beth's sister, Rachel, was visiting from the U.S. during the worst of our illnesses, so we had extra hands to help out. It wasn't the vacation Rachel had imagined, but it sure was great timing for us! And fortunately, we were functional enough to squeeze in a little sightseeing and fun.

(Below: Rachel stands on the equator at Mitad del Mundo)

(Below: Beth & Rachel enjoy the view at Pululagua)

Pop Quiz Time!

2008-02-25T14:31:00.000-05:00

In this new semester, Dave is teaching a favorite topic of his: Church History. After polling the students, he found the majority in his class have not yet taken World History. What better way to learn about the development of civilization than through studying the church's influence?

To gauge the knowledge base his students were starting with, Dave gave a pop quiz on the first day of class. A few students scored a few correct answers, but most were pretty mystified. It's a fun semester of learning ahead!

Itching to take the quiz yourself? An excerpt is below. Maybe you'll find you want to join Dave's Church History class, too!

Church History Quiz!

Match the number with the corresponding letter (answers at the bottom of this post):

Luther
Destruction of the Temple
Abba Antony
Charlemagne
Augustine of Hippo
John Wycliffe
Julian of Norwich
Council of Trent
Gutenberg
Henry VIII

A. Mass production of Bibles
B. Counter-reformation
C. Church of England
D. Medieval mysticism
E. Confessions
F. English Bible
G. Christmas Day 800 A.D.
H. Diet of Worms
I. Desert Fathers
J. 70 A.D.

Reading Time!

Christmas just kept going for Dave when he learned last month that the Covenant Bible College of Ecuador (CBC) was donating their entire library to the Alliance Academy. While we are sorry to see the CBC leave Ecuador, we are thrilled by their generous gift to our school. Dave had to leave behind a large portion of his personal library when we moved here, and he has often bemoaned the loss of those great resources. Now they have been more than replaced! There was even a complete classroom set of a book he planned to use for his church history class - and it is an updated edition from the copies the AA owned. God is so good!

Preschool Time!

(Above: Levi digs play time at Pirulitos, his preschool)

Levi has been enjoying attending a Spanish language preschool, which he began in August. His teachers report he is coming along well with language acquisition and has lost his accent. If only Beth could say the same about herself! Levi is also learning about Ecuadorian culture and holidays and making lots of new friends. We are grateful for the quality of his teachers and programming. We plan to start Luke in the same school this coming August and it will be interesting to see which language the two of them choose for their play times.

(Below: No school for Luke or Aaron yet, but lots of fun learning at home!)

Answers Time!

1. H 2. J 3. I 4. G 5. E 6. F 7. D 8. B 9. A 10. C

SO GRATEFUL!

2008-01-25T10:35:00.000-05:00

What can I do but thank you? What can I do but give my life to you?
A hallelujah, hallelujah!
What can I do but praise you? Everyday make everything I do
A hallelujah, hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
- Paul Baloche & Graham Kendrick lyrics

With immensely grateful hearts, we announce the arrival of our son, Aaron James Saavedra, born January 18, 2008 at 12:10am. He weighed in at 7lbs 12 oz and has dark hair and dimples. The whole family is enjoying getting to know him (including both sets of grandparents over the next few weeks). Big brothers Levi and Luke are quite pleased with our new addition and eager to hold and hug and kiss him. Thank you so much for your prayers and love for us. We are truly blessed!

Hallelujah!

MORE GRATITUDE!

With great thankfulness, we celebrate one year of service in Ecuador this month! As we reflect on our work with HCJB Global and the Alliance Academy, a real highlight has been Dave’s Biblical Discipleship Class (pictured below).

The class evaluations these students gave so encouraged us that we want to share some quotes with you, too. Thank you for being part of building into the lives of these young people!

I felt Discipleship was one great life lesson, not just a class.

Biblical Discipleship equipped me with tools I had no clue existed.

My life has taken a whole new direction. I am a lot happier and I now strive for a closer relationship with God.

I was able to “wake up” from my boring Christian life. The fire to chase after God has become a reality.

I started to see Jesus not only as our savior and powerful God, but as a close friend, a friend whom I could trust with even my greatest fear, even my greatest secret.

I spoke to God more often and expected an answer.

I learned to be uncomfortable for Christ.

...that I could actually walk around praying for others, asking God to heal them or help them was something that was hard to grasp, yet my heart jumped with joy while I did this.

Practicing solitude was challenging and exciting because I could finally start to listen to God’s voice.

I would also like to continue praying…“Lord, help me to love how you love and feel what you feel,” since I really want to be Christ’s arms and mouth to people.

You are an inspiration to me to run hard after [Christ] because I also want to have the peace that God has given to you.

After this class, I realized that Jesus is calling for me, waiting for me, and most of all, is calling me his beloved.

WE'RE THANKFUL FOR YOU AND YOUR SUPPORT!
PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH!

A WALK IN QUITO

2007-11-29T22:34:00.000-05:00

What’s it like to stroll the streets of Quito? Every week day morning, I (Beth) take in the sights and sounds as Luke and I escort Levi to preschool. Come along with us for a snapshot of our neighborhood.

On wet mornings (which are rare even in rainy season, when it mostly rains in the afternoon) we catch a taxi, which costs one dollar. U.S. currency is used in Ecuador, alongside some Ecuadorian coins. Better have exact change, though, since many taxi drivers (and most small businesses) carry little change and hate to part with it! Purchases may even be turned down if you only have a ten or twenty dollar bill.

Most days, it’s sunny and we take the thirty minute walk up the hill. I push the stroller on a wild ride over uneven paths, curbs and grass. There’s no uniformity since homeowners are in charge of their own sidewalks. But city maintenance takes care of the boulevard down the middle of the street and we enjoy the year-round greenery and flowers. Many homes are bordered with big bushes of mint, bearing yellow and pink flowers.

If you’re hungry on the way, there are plenty of breakfast options. Quito has loads of bakeries with tasty bread. At the end of October, they traditionally carry “guaguas de pan” or “bread babies” to commemorate deceased family members and celebrate All Saints Day (Levi shows off one he made at preschool). Street vendors offering breakfast – anything from potato soup to eggs – are popular with commuters. Watch out for flying water, as bowls are rinsed out on the street between customers.

We say hello to lots of security guards as we stroll. Most apartment buildings and almost every business hire them, so we’ve gotten to know quite a few on our twice-a-day walk. They stand all day in front of concrete walls, topped by wrought iron, barbed wire or broken glass (as Dave & Luke point out). The building material of choice for homes here is also concrete, as it withstands rain and earthquakes well and keeps an even internal temperature. Houses don’t have heat or air conditioning, since it usually stays between 60-80 F.

Our walk can get pretty noisy, as we are passed by honking trucks, announcing they have gas (which powers appliances) to sell. We also hear vendors hawking their wares over loudspeakers, driving by in pickups heaped with bananas and pineapples, or toting chicken or goats. Luke is fascinated by the loud advertisements, as well as by the roaring airplanes that pass every few minutes to the airport, just a few miles away.

Thanks for coming along!

DAVE'S DAILY DUTIES

God asks no man whether he will accept life. That is not the choice. You must take it. The only choice is how.

—Henry Ward Beecher

Dave would really appreciate prayer for encouragement in his teaching. He is encountering a lot of apathy – something all teachers deal with, but which is especially disheartening when the subject matter is our beloved Christ! It is wearing on him to stand before students day after day, passionately presenting what is most important in the world to us, and to be rewarded at times with bored or blank faces.

Thankfully there are bright spots and we pray for more of them! A student recently told Dave that even though the chapters he assigned from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “The Cost of Discipleship” were a challenging read, he was so moved by them that he is choosing to read the whole book as part of an English assignment. Another student is fasting from the internet as part of a unit Dave is teaching on spiritual disciplines and she commented to him about how valuable the re-evaluation of her time has been to her.

HCJB GLOBAL HIGHLIGHTS

We are honored to join you in supporting the multi-faceted outreaches of HCJB Global missions. Some mission highlights for 2007:

- In August an 8.0 earthquake rocked neighboring Peru. Our mission hospital sent a medical team that treated 1,300 people and was able to pray with a number of them for salvation.

- Training sessions and church conferences were offered to 6,000 pastors and leaders throughout Latin America by Apoyo (Dave's father's ministry) in cooperation with HCJB.

- Our mission's city and jungle hospitals and community clinics here in Ecuador provided more than 340,000 patients with physical and spiritual care.

- Resources were provided to radio partners in 47 countries, empowering local believers to reach their communities with the great news of Christ. This included distribution to remote areas of newly designed solar powered radios, pre-tuned to partner's local FM stations.

STAYING IN TOUCH

As always, it is a great delight to hear from friends. And now we are looking forward to seeing friends, too, as we plan a trip to the U.S. for summer of 2008. Please let us know if your church or small group would be interested in hearing from us while we are in Minnesota and Illinois.