CREATING SPACE

The activities and busy moments of life can pile up one after another, until we're laboring under a crushing weight of responsibilities and commitments. We recognize the feeling all too well as adults, but it's familiar to teens, too, like the students at the Alliance Academy International (AAI).

Dave snapped this view from our roof,
one of our family's favorite spaces to relax

The need to create space to breathe, space to rest, and space to ask the questions that niggle at the edges of our conscience is a driving force behind the changes to the weekly chapel structure at AAI. Dave has a new responsibility this year to serve on the chaplaincy team and he is encouraged to see some of his ideas for a new use of chapel space come to fruition. In the traditional model, chapel has been an information-driven time to bring in speakers, but the team was looking for a more interactive, relationship-focused option that would engage a generation unfamiliar with sermons.

Hence, Discipleship, Nurturing and Accountability (DNA) Groups were born. They are led by the mature Christian staff members at AAI and structured around leisure interests like scrapbooking, jogging, drama, and chess. Every high school student selects a DNA group to attend during the typical chapel time. Then the groups gather to enjoy a kind of Sabbath rest together, having fun, deepening relationships, and all the while creating space for the kind of deep conversations that form the foundation for spiritual growth.

Already teachers and students alike are reporting that they are dialoguing on topics they have always wanted to explore, but for which they never had time in the classroom. Students have a safe space to open up to trusted adults with whom they are building a history. Once or so a month, there continue to be community assembly times, following the more traditional chapel format, and our prayer is that the groundwork of relationship building in the other weeks opens the way to make that a more meaningful time.

In the word of long-time AAI staff, Greg Collord, "Pray that our staff will wisely love, listen to, and learn about each young person so that they can best help each one mature in Christ. And particularly pray for those students who do not yet know Jesus, that they will commit to follow him before they leave AAI."

LEGAL UPDATE

We shared our concerns with many of you over the summer about sweeping reforms in Ecuadorian laws which have called into question some of the ways that we operate the school, handle curriculum, support our special education students, and cover expenses.

Our director, David Wells, issued the following statement:
"The AAI continues to operate outside the authority and supervision of Ecuador's Ministry of Education, in accord with an "Acuerdo Ministerial" signed by the Minister of Education in 2010. Officials within the Ministry periodically pressure for compliance with Ministry regulations and reporting requirements, but there has been no official change in the school's status. We expect to have a meeting [soon] with the Minister of Education, or his representatives, to discuss the Alliance Academy's historical and current contribution to education in Ecuador, and we are praying that this will result in an ongoing commitment to permit for the AAI's ministry and services to be offered according to the school's unique philosophy and purposes. Your prayers are coveted."

FINANCIAL UPDATE

God's goodness, as well as the generosity of his people, leave us in awe when we consider how our work with HCJB Global has been supported over the past seven years. Thank you!!!

Doing some giving of our own
at a 5K run for local charities in Quito

We want to share a neat opportunity to boost the impact of your giving. An anonymous donor has offered to help HCJB Global missionaries who, like us, are underfunded, by giving a one-time $100 donation for each new monthly supporter who makes a commitment during this October. If you haven't financially supported HCJB Global in the past, and you believe in the work we are doing, would you consider becoming a monthly donor? This is a great way to increase the impact of your gift, as well as meet the need of our deficit of about $350 per month. A link to the donate page is on the sidebar on the right. Thanks so much!

A TASTE OF AAI

For some chuckles and a glimpse of AAI humor, check out this promo for the upcoming Man Up Retreat for Alliance Academy high school guys...