Thursday was the first day of school for us here at Faith Academy. A lot has happened to get this year off to a start. Registration for the high school was the two days before. It was quite a challenge for the principal and guidance counselor helping the students get the classes they wanted and needed into a working schedule. This year was especially difficult due to the lack of staff. There are many “holes” in the staff. We are also awaiting the arrival of some staff that are delayed due to lack of finances or health reasons. Please pray for our staffing situation. Walter, as the middle school counselor, was busy with the same challenge, scheduling middle school students.
We had a great time as a staff the weekend before school started at our staff retreat. It was refreshing spiritually and a great way to get to know the new staff as well as reconnect with returning staff.
Walter had a good time with Paul and Ben during his four weeks in the US, plus he was also able to spend time with his parents and siblings. It was rough leaving Ben and Paul, but they are both doing well, which is an encouragement to us. It is wonderful to see the support they have in family and friends. My parents will be taking Paul to college and getting him settled in there. He found out that his roommate is the son of friends of ours so at least there is a connection, even if they don’t know each other yet. The boys will start classes in a few weeks so we would appreciate prayer for them.
The girls and I had a good time relaxing together and doing some projects. They all had summer reading so spent some of our time doing that. Ashley and Abby went to camp one week and had a great time, Ashley as a counselor and Abby as a camper. Ashley had five third-grade girls in her cabin. She also came back with a souvenir—stitches above her right knee while hiding from the campers. She was found anyways. After Walter returned, we were able to get away to a hotel in Manila and spend some time together, doing some fun things as a family. Our family dynamics have changed with the boys being gone.
The high school retreat is August 26-27. They go to a camp for those 2 days and have a speaker and activities to bond them together as classes and as a high school. Pray for the student and adult leaders as they plan and for the speaker.
Thank you for standing behind us in prayer as we serve God by providing an education for the children of missionaries. We couldn’t do it without you.
In Christ,
Cheryl for the Spicers