Transitions

Like many of you, we also have had to stay home with businesses closed. Here in the Greater Manila Area,

we have been in enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for two months. Our family was given a quarantine pass and only one person could go out at a time for only groceries or medicine. Lines to get into stores were long, with waiting time up to 3 or 4 hours. No other businesses were open. Since May 16, some businesses are starting to open up but they still only want you to go out on certain days, according to your area. Many of our missionaries have been involved with getting food to the poor people who have no income and no way to get food or medicine, without money or transportation. We praise God that some parents have organized a way for us to order food from some suppliers and have it delivered to us.

We praise God that we were able to get tickets to the US for Ashley’s wedding after our initial flight was cancelled. We were able to get an earlier flight in order for us to quarantine before the wedding. Please pray for the added expenses of repurchasing our ticket, 14-day quarantine time, and other expenses.

Continue to pray for our son, Ben, and his family as they have not been able to leave Brazil. It is easier and cheaper for them to leave by way of Columbia, but recently, they found out that Colombia has no international flights out until June 30, which will be too late for them to get to the wedding. Please pray with us that God will open the doors for them to get out. They are also expecting their third child and would like to be in the US for better health care.

Though we are thankful for the tickets to the US, we are also uncertain as to when we can return. As of right now, most foreigners are not allowed entrance into the Philippines, even if they have a valid visa. This also means that any other returning or even new staff for Faith Academy will not be able to enter the Philippines. This will greatly affect our school year.

As this school year comes to an end, please be praying for our staff and students, especially the seniors as this has been hard on everyone. Online school was hard without face to face contact. Many staff have left without saying a proper goodbye and the seniors have especially needed that. As a TCK (Third Culture Kid), they need that chance to have closure on their life here in the Philippines. Also, please pray for our administrative leaders. It is hard to make decisions for the next school year without knowledge of what will be allowed according to the government. They also need to make plans on what activities we can still do and how to implement them. Walter will be moving into the deputy head of school role so has been on some of those planning meetings and will continue online until we can return.

We have been praying about replacing our 2003 vehicle and are thankful that God has brought in sufficient funds to buy a 2011 vehicle from a departing staff member. Even with all of the turmoil, we felt at peace about the purchase and are amazed at how God continues to provide all our needs.

We are thankful to you, our prayer and financial supporters, enabling us to serve here in the Philippines.

Cheryl for the Spicers