SAAVEDRAS SEND OUT 2016!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Saavedra Kids Update

Levi Matteo Age: 12 Grade: 6th Hobbies: Reading book series & playing strategy board games 2017 Goals: I want a big part in the sixth grade year-end play. I want to practice driving the car more (parent note: this only happens on private, off-road property!). I want to host lots of game nights with friends. I want to keep running the media (lyrics, sermon slides) at church. Luke Isaiah Age: 10 Grade: 5th Hobbies: Learning science facts and comic book sketching 2017 Goals: I want to start learning to drive. I want to design a video game. I want to do some big paintings on large canvases.  Aaron James Age: 8 Grade: 3rd Hobbies: Playing soccer and entertaining friends and family with humor 2017 Goals: I want to keep playing on my soccer team. I want to get better in math and social studies. I want to run a 5K road race. I want to have sleep overs with my friends. Evangeline Joy Age: 7 Grade: 1st Hobbies: Composing and singing songs and cooking with mom. 2017 Goals: I want to make every recipe in my Princess Cookbook. I want to play violin. I want to get baptized. I want to have a cooking-themed birthday. I want to read chapter books.

2016 Highlights 2017 Opportunities and Prayer Needs Beth’s News: In addition to being our lead pastor at La Viña, Oscar Palma is also a music teacher. He has long held a vision to open a school of music as a means of outreach into the community, as well as to train up musicians and songwriters to serve in the church and to shape and influence the broader Ecuadorian culture. God is bringing that dream closer to reality through an unexpected source: the influx into La Viña of Venezuelans fleeing the instability of their country. Recent arrivals have included several music teachers, a production studio owner, and a Christian business consultancy team.  With their expertise on board, Viñarte, our music school, will open in February (our kids will be some of the first students!). And our congregation’s first songwriting workshop yielded three worship songs toward a total of ten that we plan to record for a 2017 album release. Currently, most of the songs we sing are Spanish translations of well-known English worship songs, so we are excited to “home-grow” music that speaks from and to the heart of our Latin culture here. Please pray that the community of La Viña can complete these projects with great skill and creativity.  And pray that I can draft top-quality English translations of our new songs for our English-speaking service.  Thanks! Dave’s News: Please keep our school community in regular prayer as the regulatory and financial difficulties faced continue to mount. This has contributed to the planned departure (at the end of the school year) of a larger number of staff than usual, especially in leadership positions. Please pray for the hiring process occurring now to fill those positions, that God brings anointed people with the right fit of talents and passion.  And pray for our hearts as we prepare to say goodbye to good friends, while at the same time staying open to and invested in sustaining the school community. And speaking of prayer, a bright spot for 2017 is Dave’s work with several student leaders. He’s been training six students to increase student awareness and engagement with intercessory prayer. Starting in January, these students will be leading a weekly prayer meeting at which all secondary students are invited to pray for each other and the campus.  Please pray that these students will be encouraged and empowered in this much-needed student-led ministry. From All of Us:  Your prayers and financial support of our ministry in Ecuador with Reach Beyond mean the world to us! Thank you so much for partnering with us to make our work possible. We hope that you are encouraged to see your giving making an impact here in Quito. And we pray that you continue to see God’s love and transformation in your lives in 2017. May we all joyfully jump into the adventure that He has for each of us this coming year. With love and thanks, Dave & Beth, Levi, Luke, Aaron and Evangeline

COURAGE, DEAR HEART

COURAGE, DEAR HEART   “But no one except Lucy knew that as [the albatross] circled the mast it had whispered to her, "Courage, dear heart," and the voice, she felt sure, was Aslan's...” -C.S. Lewis, “Voyage of the Dawn Treader”

Last January, instead of making a list of New Year’s resolutions, I (Beth) picked just one word for 2016, that would center on my character and give me a vision for the future.    After reflection and prayer, I chose the word, “Courage.” In hindsight, that was   kinda nuts! Not long ago, I laughed out loud in recognition when I saw a meme that read, “You have no idea how far out of my comfort zone my entire life is.” Yes! I keep finding myself in crazy spots in which I’m sure the only reason I arrived is by God’s will, and the only way forward is to keep depending on Him. One place that happens these days is in a radio program I was invited to begin in September with HCJB, our mission’s station. Our goal is to reach women in their child-rearing years with an informal conversation about the experiences of being a Christian mom. I am a guest every other week of the two regular hosts, and we discuss a theme (such as “discipline” or “family devotions”) for about ten minutes and then take call-ins for the next twenty minutes or so. I still get nervous every time we go on-air, but I take heart seeing how God prepared the way for me to be open to this project through the “Ex-pat Sisterhood” video series I’ve been making over the last year with my friend, Mari, on her FB page (@inspiredbyfamily). She and I cover some similar themes (in English) to what I’ve been discussing on the radio (in Spanish), which is great practice, plus the mental release of “perfection” that doing live videos has required has also given me courage to try the same on live radio.    The other arena that requires a lot of courage (read: leaves me feeling terrified pretty often!) is our bilingual Vineyard church. Our Chilean pastor, Oscar Palma, asked Dave and me to take responsibility for the English-language service this school year. Oscar preaches in the English service once a month with a translator (usually me) and Dave and I teach the remaining Sundays, as well as overseeing English growth groups (we have just one currently). This has been an enormously stretching experience, and has given us a much deeper appreciation for the work of pastors everywhere! Just like Lucy, in Narnia (see quote), we know the strength to keep forging ahead comes from listening to the voice of our Savior leading us on. We appreciate your prayers for courage, hope, and wisdom so very much!   Teaching through our church's mission statement SCHOOL UPDATE We shared with many of you this summer about the challenges facing the Alliance Academy International (AAI) as it makes the transition to existing under the supervision of the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education (MoE).  Arriving at compliance with the MoE standards, while meeting U.S. accrediting requirements and keeping our Christian distinctives is quite a bumpy road. We need your prayers for wisdom. One big change has been switching to block scheduling in high school, which means Dave has to re-work all his lesson plans for the longer class periods. He also sees his students fewer times each week, which makes building rapport more challenging. It is exceedingly challenging to fit chapel and discipleship small group times into the new requirements, so please pray for creativity and divine insight for the staff as they navigate all these obligatory changes. Thanks!   Creatively engaging our lively AAI students We Got Our Car!  At long last (but in God’s good timing!), we were able to complete the purchase a 2005 Ford Explorer at a reasonable price at the beginning of October. We were able to sell our car quickly to help finance the purchase. The kids christened the new blue vehicle “General Washington” and we have already been enjoying ferrying our family and loads of friends all over Quito and beyond. Thank you SO MUCH to all who gave and prayed for this process to be completed.   With gratitude, Dave & Beth,Levi, Luke, Aaron and Lina But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 15:57

HERE WE COME!

The school year finally wrapped and all six of us are in the U.S. for the first time in three years. We’re looking forward to the chance to see many of you and talk face to face about our lives and yours. We have a U.S. cell for the summer (847) 284-1367. Please give us ring or send an email if you have time for a get together! We will be in MN July 4-17, driving roundtrip to Colorado July 18-25, then back in IL July 28-August 10. We will be at Palos Bible Church, Palos Heights, IL, on July 3, Hope Christian Church, Shoreview, MN, on July 10 and 16, and Trinity Vineyard, St. Charles, IL, on July 31 and August 7. Summer travel in the U.S. stretches our budget to the max, so this is a super helpful time to consider an extra gift to our ministry. Thanks so much!

TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life… ” These words Peter spoke to Jesus keep coming to mind as I reflect on this past school year, which has been one of unexpected heartbreak.  From the tragic death of one of Dave’s students, to the painful departure of our pastor at La Viña, to the devastating earthquake that rocked our country and left hundreds dead and thousands homeless, we are still recovering. Yet I resonate with the rest of Peter’s answer to Jesus “…and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” We see God’s holy hand, in how he directed me (Beth) to step down from “extra” activities a year ago, so that I had more margin to navigate these challenges within our family and community. Dave has seen God’s provision in how his teacher-coach role this year has given him one-on-one time with his department staff, not just working through pedagogy, but also being a prayerful support for these teachers who influence so many young lives. 

One of the moments that really stirred our hearts was when the senior class (above photo) decided to change the celebratory/leisure-focused class trip (which they had spent years working to save up for) into a service trip to the coastal areas affected by the earthquake. Character formation is slow, long-term investment, so to see the fruit of maturity in these students’ lives is an encouraging sign of the Spirit’s faithfulness. The students even decided to leave seed money for subsequent classes to take service trips, as well. The rebuilding efforts here will take years, so we are praying that other students take this charge seriously.

Our Vineyard church has also been helping earthquake survivors who have come to Quito, as well as making trips to Canoa, a town that was 90% destroyed, to assist with clean-up, aid, and psychological services (above photo). People are searching for God and asking for not only physical help, but spiritual help. Some of our church members plan to continue to visit Canoa regularly, to help with both of these needs.

There have been a lot of tears, lots of questions, lots of struggle, but we keep praying Psalm 73:25-26 “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing that I desire but you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.” Thank you so much for your prayers, which lift our hearts, and for your financial giving, which sustains our work in Ecuador.

EARTHQUAKE UPDATE

Shaken Hearts, Steady Faith

Thank you so much to the many who have been in touch with us and let us know you are praying. Ecuador needs your prayers! The massive earthquake which hit the coast of our country on Saturday night was also felt here in Quito. After an endless minute huddled under the dining room table, praying with the kids, we came out unscathed. The same can be said for all of our capital city, but not for other places in Ecuador. The epicenter of the quake was about five hours east of us, where many areas already faced great economic challenges. Now, entire towns are in ruins (English coverage in Miami Herald http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article72581422.html). The latest government numbers show around 500 confirmed deaths, nearly 5,000 people injured, and many more unaccounted for and homeless. Our hearts are deeply grieved.

At the same time, we are grateful for the outpouring of support which has followed this tragedy. Our church, La Viña, held normal services on Sunday morning, and our community filled the building with prayer and gifts. Donations for the afflicted started filling the platform and the giving has been steady ever since. 

Sunday services a La Viña

A number of church members have family in the affected areas and a team from church will leave tomorrow morning to try to reach several of the more remote villages. Water, in particular, is sorely needed, as large areas have been without potable water or electricity since the quake. 

Our sanctuary fills with water and supplies

A team of physicians from our mission, Reach Beyond, left this morning to assist at one of the hospitals that is still standing on the coast. They plan to scout out needs and bring down more help where it is most needed.

Reach Beyond Latin America Crisis Management Team

Please pray for each of these groups, as well as the many other kind volunteers and emergency personnel who have arrived or are making their way into the disaster zone. Many of the winding mountain roads that lead to these coastal areas have been severely damaged by the earthquake and aftershocks, so please pray that help will be able to get through to those in need. We also ask for prayers for safety, since trucks taking supplies down have been robbed by desperate people. Thankfully, the military is coordinating escorts for the convoys in which our church and mission teams are traveling.

Should you wish to donate to the relief efforts, you can give in several ways. To support the relief efforts of Reach Beyond, give here: https://reachbeyond.org/ecuadorrelief To support the relief efforts of our Vineyard church, select the option "Ecuador Partnership" here https://vineyardkcnorth.ccbchurch.com/w_give_online.php.

We are immensely grateful for your prayers for our beloved adopted country. Please keep us in your hearts and prayers in the upcoming weeks and months, and please pray especially that Jesus' love and care will be clearly and tangibly expressed to the many whose lives have been shattered.

Thank you!
Dave & Beth   

MANY THANKS!

Dear friends and family,
As we look back on 2015 and look forward to 2016 we are reminded of what an incredible network of support you have been for us! Thank you for your faithful prayers and gifts as we mark the 9th anniversary of our arrival in Quito and begin our 10th year serving with Reach Beyond in Quito, Ecuador. Here are some pictorial highlights from 2015:

Dave's knee keeps getting better

Commissioned for new ministry

Beth celebrating with her BSF ladies

Dave with a newly minted AAI grad

Evangeline now does two wheels

Aaron is getting into reading

Levi rocks the State Fair

Luke feeds his fascination with creation

Levi's first mission trip

Three generations together in Quito

Celebrating Beth's parents' visit

A cloud forest zipline adventure

The Challenges & Opportunities of 2015

As we look back on 2015, we are grateful for the many new challenges and opportunities presented to us. 

• For me (Dave), the greatest challenge has been bearing witness to the hope of Christ as our community mourns the sudden death of a student. I had the privilege of meeting regularly with this young man and, as a result, have had a unique position to minister to his family and friends as they endure his death.  Please pray for me as I continue to counsel students and co-workers who have been significantly impacted by this loss.

• For Beth, a multiplicity of ministry opportunities have arisen, now that the children are at school all day. The major challenge for her has been to prioritize her activities with the time and energy given her.  Currently, she has been focused on the development of the new English-language service and small groups at our Vineyard church.  Please pray for her as she seeks to step wisely into various roles at church, such as growth group leader, worship leader, lay counselor, and teacher.

Looking Forward to 2016!

We are looking forward to the new blessings and challenges awaiting us in 2016. 

• Please pray for Dave, as his job provides him ample opportunity for mentoring both students and fellow teachers. He resonates with the words of Rick Bovey, our beloved dean of students, who is spending his retirement years volunteering at the AAI: "Wisdom! I have this ministry here in this fabulous school which requires wisdom which I do not have. Kids on their journey toward adulthood make a lot of crazy decisions and do a lot of crazy things. They come from homes that are broken. They have friends that influence them. They have raging hormones. They are immersed in a world system that opposes God and all things godly. They are locked into social media that is almost all g.i.g.o. - garbage in, garbage out. How does one get into their hearts and minds and spirits to point them to Jesus and motivate them onto a path of life and hope and joy and peace and love? It takes wisdom from God. It takes a team of people seeking wisdom from God. With HIM there is hope!"

• Please pray for Beth has she seeks to grow as a church leader. On February 14, she spoke at our church (in both English and Spanish services) on 1 Corinthians 13, and will speak again in May. The February recording is posted at http://www.vinaquito.com/index.php/escucha under ¡AMOR! if you want to listen. Also pray as she continues to host an Alpha series and as she meets with people looking for counsel and mentoring. THANK YOU!