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.
