YEAR (and KNEE) in REVIEW

Merry Christmas from Ecuador!

Knee Injury Update: Walking Again!

 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” – Galatians 5:16

I want to thank everyone who has been praying for me (Dave) as I recover from a ruptured ACL and a torn meniscus.  After a three hour surgery and a month of physical therapy I am walking again. 

Whoever told me that the first month would be very difficult wasn’t exaggerating.  There were sleepless nights, a few falls, debilitating fears and moments of intense pain. 

But there have also been numerous signs of God’s grace:  beginning with the surprising number of meals from friends, the concerns of my students, the countless prayers, and new insight into our walk with Christ.

There were two constants for the first several weeks after the surgery; pain and people asking me about that pain.  I never really knew how to respond to the question, “Does it hurt?” Hard pressed to explain what I was feeling, my default answer was, “Yes, but it’s good pain… I hope.” 

Even my physical therapist would insist on asking me how my pain was as she bent my reconstructed knee in half.  “Yes, it still hurts!  But it’s good pain…right?” I would say with a grimace. 

 At first I was unable to discern the difference between good pain - pain that strengthens - and bad pain - pain that damages.  Likewise it was difficult to tell the difference between comfort that restores and comfort that debilitates.

However, now that I am done with thirty sessions of therapy I have gained the wisdom to know when to push through the pain and when to back off, when to rest in comfort and when to flee from it. 

Learning to walk as a follower of Christ isn’t any different.  Wisdom is the ability to know when to embrace suffering that leads to the strengthening of our faith and to delight in His comfort when it restores our souls.  These two gifts, suffering and comfort, often seem to conflict with each other.  Through time, prayer and reflection we will learn to embrace both of them as tools in the hands of the great physician who longs for us to walk by the freedom of His Spirit.

2014 in Photos: 

Dave celebrated with grads of the class of 2014

We made it to Machu Picchu with Dave's family

We enjoyed a family reunion
 at Dave's uncle's home in Pucallpa, Peru

We gathered with the Bible Study Fellowship
small group Beth leads

We baptized our son Luke!

Thank you for your friendship in 2014. 

We look forward to journeying together in 2015!

ENTROPY CATCHES UP WITH US

Entropy, that gradual decline into disorder, has made itself know to us lately. After returning from an unforgettable trip to Peru, our clothes drier stopped heating, our microwave melted down, our car started randomly stalling out, a black spot started growing on the computer screen, and Dave seriously injured his knee playing soccer. Sometimes you have to laugh so you won't cry!

This feels like a good snapshot of our lives lately!

We so appreciate your prayers for Dave as he undergoes knee surgery at our mission hospital, Friday, October 17, and then for the slow process of rehab. After six mechanic visits, our car motor still randomly turns off at intersections, so we also appreciate wisdom to know whether to try to keep our aging vehicle or try to sell and find something new in this country of astronomical car prices. Most of all, we see the great need for people to stand along with us in prayer for teachable, grateful spirits as we navigate disorder in our lives. May the frustration of entropy turn our hearts more toward heaven, where all will be made new forever! 

LOTS OF GROWTH!

An area where entropy is being beaten back is in my (Beth's) outreach opportunities. As our youngest, Evangeline, has started morning preschool, I've felt a lot like a college freshman, ready to sign up at every booth at the activity fair. I ask for prayer for good time management, since those four daily hours to myself go fast!

Monday and Tuesday I am committed as a group leader with Bible Study Fellowship. BSF is in over 30 countries, but Ecuador is one of just two countries that have Spanish classes. It's an honor to serve in the Quito class, and we pray that the Spanish classes keep growing. Thursdays I continue with Entre Nosotras, our mom's group at school, reading the Spanish translation of Stasi Eldredge's book Becoming Myself. I also have a number of regular mentoring meetings, including with a Brazilian university student in campus ministry. Please pray that we can communicate well in Spanish, a second language for both of us! Finally, leading music at our international church a time or two a month continues to bring me great joy. 

PERU PICS!

Our family reunion time in Peru was filled with great memories. We're so glad we got to strengthen connections with Dave's Peruvian roots!

On the boat Dave's dad takes for ministry
in remote jungle villages

Cousins head up the river to see the mission base
where their grandparents first met

Bakery equipment that belonged to
Dave's grandfather

Borrowing their great-uncle's motocarrito

The family business carries on

Enjoying the softness of products made
with llama and alpaca fur

Machu Picchu!

MY HOME IS A TAMBO

Excitement is high in our home as we get ready for a trip to Peru in July. Thanks to the generous help of Dave's parents, we'll have a reunion in the Amazon jungle with Dave's dad's clan, as well as visit Macchu Pichu in the mountains. To prepare, we've been learning about the Incas and how their vast empire was connected by roads. Tambos were way stations where travelers were housed and fed, and also served as storehouses for times of need.

I'd like to make a sign for our door reading Tambo Saavedra, since this school year has been one of intense hospitality. We've lived out the truth of Proverbs 11:24-25*, gaining so much and finding refreshment in our tambo.

On average, Tambo Saavedra has visitors twice a week, and in this nomadic community, we still feel we barely scratch the surface in offering refuge. Tambo Saavedra hosts lots of Dave's students, a weekly tribe of moms, assorted children whose parents need a respite, many school colleagues (including one at whose Quito wedding Dave will officiate in July), as well as a potpourri of travelers from our international church.

Our last family hangout with our dear friend, Sarah

The vision of Tambo Saavedra can be summed up in Matthew 25:35-36, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." A sweet German friend of ours wrote about these verses, "Wow!! Thank you sooo much for showing me the love of Christ in all these acts!!! I'm glad the nakedness and prison ones never happened, but we could add, 'For I was in tears and you gave me a hug, I was sad and you listened to me.' Thank you for blessing me and so many other people. I will miss you!"

And we thank YOU for helping us keep our tambo open!

JOY IN NEW BEGINNINGS

Baptism Sunday

A visitor to Tambo Saavedra who brought immense joy to our family this year is Sarah, the Iranian Alliance Academy International (AAI) graduate we mentioned in our last update. Dave had the great joy of baptizing her on her last Sunday in Ecuador. Please keep her and her mother in your prayers as they get settled in the Netherlands and as Sarah explores school and ministry options for her future. 

KEEPING ON KEEPING ON

Beth wraps her 3rd year teaching with Entre Nosotras,
the mom's group at AAI

Luke celebrates his birthday with friends

Moms from the play group Beth hosts,
 ready to send kids in search of Easter eggs

Visiting in our yard, post-egg hunt

Celebrating Abuela's birthday
(Dave made the lemon cheesecake)

Ready to cheer on Ecuador in their
World Cup game on Father's Day

Sweet Aaron graduates from kindergarten

* Bonus: This wonderful speech from Tim Keller (on Money in Proverbs) has deeply impacted our approach to hospitality as a part of a generous life. The whole talk is great, but if your time is limited, start watching at 28:05.

REACH BEYOND

Reach Beyond! It's not a new and improved toothbrush... it's the new name of our mission. HCJB Global started in 1931 as a radio station in Ecuador and the radio call letters eventually became the name of the mission. But as HCJB Global partnered more and more with people around the world, a name was sought that would resonate not just in Latin America, but beyond. Our mission's new name, Reach Beyond, reflects the vision to "employ every resource, talent and ounce of energy God gives us to shine the light of his grace into the darkest recesses of the planet." (Read more from the new mission manifesto here)

God invites us all to go beyond our comfort zones to help, to learn, and to share the life-transforming love of Jesus. Reach Beyond continues the work in media and health care which has been the distinctive of our mission's history. And we Saavedras will continue serving in Quito, in the community of the Alliance Academy International (AAI) - which has its own updated logo! Here we can support the children of Reach Beyond missionaries, as we all "work relentlessly for the day when a gaze around the expanse of heaven reveals thousands worshiping at Jesus' feet because of the mission He gave us for this moment in eternity," (from the Reach Beyond manifesto). Thank you for reaching beyond - alongside of us!

ALLIANCE ACADEMY IMPACT

Beyond the blessing of supporting Reach Beyond missionaries, we are privileged to reach out to many other families through the AAI. Two recent stories:

First, an Ecuadorian mom of a kindergarten student just told me that her son is the reason she has come to God. "He constantly asked us to pray with him and to read to him from the Bible before bed and eventually that drew us back to God." The impact of this boy's Christian teachers keeps rippling outward into his whole family!

The first AAI grad of 2014 with some of her mentors

Second, we have to enjoyed getting to know a lovely Iranian student who came to AAI this year as she awaited a refugee visa from the European Union. When "Sarah" arrived at AAI, in her own words, she felt lost, scared, and uncertain about the future. But just a few days ago, she stood before the whole high school at her early graduation ceremony (her visa was granted and she leaves for Holland shortly) and delivered a speech that left us in tears. "I am a different person now than when I came here... You showed me that I was not alone... that He was with me." She referenced a verse that Dave shared with her as being a great comfort. Zephaniah 3:17:

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save. 

He will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love, 

he will exult over you with loud singing. 

PRAYERS FOR PROTECTION

We are thankful that God protects us in all circumstances and we pray that even if we are victims of crime, God will make those experiences count somehow for his kingdom. There has been a noticeable uptick in crime in our neighborhood in the last few months, and we ask that you please keep up your valuable prayers for us!

I (Beth) experienced an attempted robbery while driving my car at the end of the year, and four of our neighbors have been victimized in separate incidents lately. This leads us to believe our area is being targeted. The police have been very helpful and supportive, but have yet to apprehend the criminals. The laws here hold minimal consequences for minor theft (under $500), so there is little deterrent for such illicit activities. 

These events have reminded us to pray more diligently for police officers whenever we see them and especially to intercede for our neighbors (and fellow AAI colleagues) who are young, single women. Please pray that God keeps our eyes open to other ways we can turn this situation to His purposes and glory!

KICKING OFF 2014 IN PICTURES

Celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary

Enjoying Ecuador's great weather
and great climbing trees

Sharpening his skills as a goalie
on the AAI soccer field

Getting ready for a train ride to honor an AAI
teacher's 50th birthday

Success on his first trout fishing outing
(the stocked pond helped!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Merry Christmas from Quito, Ecuador!

Students… they bring us joy, they make us cry; watching them grow is the reason we are here.

Our boys hang out with some of Dave's students 
from Korea, Ecuador, and Iran 

Alumni… their visits back from college bring to mind the proverb “Leadership is planting trees under whose shade you’ll never sit.” Still it’s nice to see the saplings!

Alliance Academy... all three boys are now in our school full-time and sang their hearts out in the Christmas concerts. You can see Aaron (in a green shirt) here in last year's program. We'll let you know when this year's program is available on the web!

Vista Seminar… where Dave just presented to the broader community three classes on World Religions and Cults.

Entre Nosotras… the international-themed Christmas party of this book club for AAI moms gave Beth the chance to sport a sombrero for her beloved Mexico.

Year three for Beth on the Entre Nosotras team

Dunked... Our oldest son, Levi was baptized in his birthday month of November.

A definite highlight of the year for our family

Refreshed… and relieved to have friends for the journey—that’s how Beth feels after hosting her weekly mom’s group. This is our fifth year!              

A sampling of the (mostly) happy chaos of Beth's group

Anonymous donors… continue to bless us with the opportunity to receive a $200 boost in our account for each new monthly supporter who signs up (until February 28). Please consider this great chance to increase your giving  impact. Our work only happens with your help. Thank you so much!     

                        Love in Christ,                           

The SAAVEDRA Family

Other shots from our end of the year activities...

A ninja-themed birthday for our girl; 
can you tell she has three brothers?

Star Wars and soccer fans: they are their father's sons!

Evangeline and Aaron celebrate after his Christmas concert.

A Christmas gift of swim lessons from the MN grandparents; 
what else from the land of 10,000 lakes?

Luke and Levi survive another piano recital

¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!

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...

SEARCHING FOR THE GIFTS

Change always comes bearing gifts. - Price Pritchett

Our kids are ready to search for gifts!

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

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

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

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

DAVE'S DOINGS

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

Dave with World Religions students
ready to present on the Amish

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

Holding the Hall of Fame statue

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

CHOCOLATE, COFFEE, AND BANANA CHIPS

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

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

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

BONUS LAUGHS!

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

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

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