Midterm Report

We are now two thirds through the first quarter at school.  We had a great start even with the missing staff.  Praise the Lord that three of the staff families are here.  We are still waiting for about four more staff to finish raising their support and come help us.

 Ashley and Juliana got involved right away with the first season sports.  

Juliana had a tough time deciding between soccer and volleyball (as soccer changed from 3rd season to 1st season).  She chose volleyball and made the varsity team.  She doesn’t play as much (though she did get a chance when one of the girls sprained her ankle) but she is enjoying it very much.  Ashley made the varsity

soccer team and is one of the back defenders.  She is doing very well in her position.  Both teams will be going to an international tournament.  The soccer team is going to Thailand at the end of October, and the volleyball team is going to Korea for the Far East tournament for the DODD schools (Department of Defense) at the beginning of November.  They are both looking forward to it.  Please pray for us to have the finances for these trips.

 Walter is still going to be the girls’ varsity basketball coach this year.  With the added responsibility of planning outdoor education week, it was decided that he would have a co-coach so that he would be free to focus on outdoor ed. as it gets closer to the time.  The week of outdoor ed is at the end of the basketball season and during the tournaments and final preparation for the Far East tournament at the end of February.  Please pray for him as he prepares for basketball, works with a new coach and also starts planning for outdoor ed week for middle school.

 Abby is enjoying being a fifth grader.  This is the first time that her class has been split up into two separate classes while she has been here.  She still enjoys her friends and has made new ones as well.  She is also in the fifth grade band, learning to play the flute.  A new opportunity for the fifth graders is a fifth grade choir so she is having fun in that as well. 

 Our family is again involved in the A4J ministry at school (similar to AWANA).  Last Sunday we started registration for 400 children.  They all received a t-shirt as their ticket in each week; it was quite chaotic. This Sunday begin the lessons.  We are all working with different age groups.  I work with the junior girls, Juliana with the primary girls (and Abby is hanging out with them and befriending a girl), Ashley works with the kinder age, and Walt works with the primary boys.  (If Paul was here, I think we would have had all the groups covered.)

Our boys are doing well in their colleges.  Both boys are getting involved in the AWANA program at their churches.  Paul is also playing on the soccer team and enjoying that and making new friends, especially on the team.  A week ago, Paul had a mishap and broke his nose.  After seeing the ENT doctor, he determined it is deviated a little and needed surgery.  He had surgery on his nose Tuesday.  Please pray for him.  My parents went up to be with him before and after his surgery.  The surgery went well and he is now recovering.  Please pray for complete recovery and for the pain.  This will also affect his playing time.

 Walter is leading another Bible study for staff called the Truth Project.  Its focus is building a Biblical World View.  Plus Walter and Cheryl lead a Bible study with some of Ashley’s friends called True U.  Both Bible studies are DVD series by Focus on the Family.

 Thank you again for partnering with us and praying for us.  We feel privileged to be serving in the Philippines and are grateful for your support.

 In Christ,

Cheryl for the Spicers