Walter and Cheryl Spicer Educating the children of missionaries When It Rains, It Pours
Flood waters outside our house
Saturday morning we woke up to heavy rain. It had been raining the night before but had increased in intensity and had not let up. We were told that our subdivision never floods, but our street began to flood with water pouring into it from a nearby creek. We were fortunate that the water never went past the level of our car port. We lost power halfway through the day and it was out until 5 am Sunday. We had water until Sunday morning.
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A4J
Ashley and some girls in A4J
We mentioned in our last email that we are praying for a ministry for our family. Walter still teaches and coaches at Faith Academy, but we wanted to do something as a family with Filipinos. Since then, we have joined the A4J (All for Jesus) staff. The ministry runs from September to December on Sunday mornings. For those of you who saw our power point presentation, it was one of the ministries that students get involved with at Faith Academy. Ashley and I will be working with the Junior girls (ages 10-12). Juliana is working with the Primary girls (ages 7-9). Paul is working with the Junior boys and Walter is working with the Primary boys. Next Sunday, we will have registration for 400 children living close to Faith Academy, dividing them into their groups and getting to know them. The following Sundays, they will be participating in games, learning Bible verses, hearing a story in their language and working on activity sheets. Students from a nearby seminary will be giving the lessons to each group. We are excited to begin this ministry. Each child will receive a t-shirt.
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Prayer Request
Please pray for a Korean missionary family here in the Philippines. Their second son died of dengue fever. Their oldest son attends Faith Academy, but the other children attend a Korean school in the area. Many of our Korean families knew him well. He was 12 years old when he died. They could use your prayers for God’s comfort and strength. The oldest boy is in Ashley’s class. There is still some sickness going around school, mostly colds with fevers, but also several cases of dengue fever (passed by mosquitoes).
Thank you for your prayers,
Cheryl Spicer for all
Back into Routine
Juliana playing volleyball
We are getting settled back into our school routine. We just finished a full week of school. Our girls have had their first piano lesson and soccer and volleyball practice/tryouts have kept the older kids busy after school. I have been in the health office more this week, taking over for one nurse still coming and taking the place of another who left with the high school.
The high school kids didn’t have a “normal” week however. They went to the high school retreat on Thursday to have a time of bonding and spiritual refreshment before the year gets started. They got back Saturday.
Walter is wearing several “hats” this year. He will have two middle school students in NILD therapy, two different Math 7 classes (advanced and regular levels), is in charge of the middle school senate, and will be girls’ basketball coach. Outdoor Ed. week falls at the end of the season and a tournament is at that time so he will need help during that week. He is also the Discovery coordinator and will help the middle school principal a little.
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Back in the Philippines
In front of our house with our new van
Thank you for praying for us—our trip to the Philippines was uneventful and we are getting settled into our house. All of our luggage made it fine—even our computer which I am typing on. They just installed our internet service today! Plus we already have cell phones but our “land line” is not working. So our communication is up and running!
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Tags: Family
Philippines Bound
Juliana at her 8th grade graduation
Walter and I just returned from a 2 ½ week trip out east along with Abby. We visited friends and supporters and Walter took two courses in Virginia that will help him with his students at Faith Academy. Right now, we are packing and getting the last few items needed before our return to the Philippines in July.
We enjoyed our year of home assignment. It was so good to see friends and family. Our children were anxious about transitioning to a school here in the US for one year, but they fit in so well and made friends and participated in many activities at school. It will be hard for them to say good-bye to these friends, but they are also looking forward to seeing their friends in the Philippines.
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April Showers
It has been a joy to be in the US to see all the changing seasons. Spring is here with all its beautiful colors and shades of green. April showers have definitely brought May flowers, but the rains continue and the grass continues to grow. My children just love mowing the lawn! 
We were blessed to speak at a few churches and even at two Christian schools for their chapels. We had many opportunities to meet new people and visit with friends and relatives.
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Spring time in the States
Paul and Ashley played in a trumpet quartet
March was a busy month. Walter had a great time at his NILD conference (a teacher’s conference), learning many things and being refreshed to teach again. All five of our children had spring break at the same time, so we had some family time together—it was a joy to have Ben home for a week.
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Home Assignment
Please pray for more meetings in churches and that God would raise up the remaining funds. Humanly speaking it seems staggering. We are praying for an increase of $2000 in our monthly support and $17,000 more in outgoing expenses (plane tickets, visas and a new vehicle). We want to return to the Philippines in July to teach at Faith Academy.
Winter Speeding By
Walter was the freshmen girls' coach
December was a time to spend time with family. We all enjoyed having Ben home for a few weeks. We were able to spend some time celebrating holidays with both the Burnhams and Spicers. This is something we are really enjoying during our year in the United States. The kids have also enjoyed the little bit of snow we received. They were disappointed that school hasn’t been cancelled due to snow.
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