Walter and Cheryl Spicer Educating the children of missionaries First Quarter
We are now in the middle of our first quarter of school and already in the midst of busy schedules again. Thank you for praying for Walter as he worked on student schedules over the summer. By the time school started, all the middle school students had a workable schedule and very little changes needed to be made after the first day. The principal noted that was one of the smoothest first-day of classes that he could remember.
Walter will be the middle school counselor first semester and the middle school principal second semester; but he loves working directly with students, so is teaching Discovery again. This year he has three students in one class. He typically does one-on-one, but this year he is trying group educational therapy for three outgoing students. The class preparation is more but only uses one period each day. Walter is also leading two Truth Projects for staff this year—over 50 staff members are attending! We are also going through the True U DVD series with our two older girls and their friends. Juliana is on the first set (Does God Exist?), and Ashley is on the second set (Is the Bible Reliable?).
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Finishing the Race
Juliana and her group of friends in NHS
We have again let too much time pass by between letters. It is hard to believe that we have 4 weeks of school left. We have finished with sports seasons for this year, but there is enough on our plates to keep us busy.
To recap since our last letter, the girls’ basketball team did very well in their tournament in Guam. They had some good games and didn’t lose any until the final championship game against Seoul American. The girls played hard and took second. They also had fun making friends with girls from the other teams.
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Tags: Family
Outdoor Ed ’11
Students and Staff of OE '11
Outdoor Education Week 2011 is now history. Walter is still wrapping up the final details and finances. It was a very busy but wonderful time. We had three different sites: the beach site, reef site and volcano island. The kids were divided up into three traveling squads and traveled to each site with their group. The beach site was the main site where everyone came the first night then left from there to the other sites and returned in between sites. At the beach site, the children went to a school for a ministry with VBS and games (they were usually in charge of games and handing out gospel bracelets), and then they cooked their own chicken dinner (starting with a live chicken). At the reef site, the kids snorkeled and some scuba dived and were able to see and study some marine life. At the volcano island, they hiked to see various things like fumaroles, mud pots (bubbling mud) and other things on a volcano, including sulfur in the lake. Walter was able to visit all the sites during the week in reverse order of the kids so was able to see all the different squads during the week. He was in charge to see that everything ran smoothly and bills were paid. Each night there was a speaker who challenged the kids from God’s Word. It was a fun and safe, healthy week (I was camp nurse). At the ministry site, 97 kids and 8 parents prayed to receive Christ and the local pastor will be following up on them. Pray for the many decisions made for Christ, both with the Filipino school and our own middle school kids.
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Tags: school
January Happenings
Our family at the beach
We are 1 1/2 weeks into our 3rd quarter. This is our busiest quarter with basketball tournaments, talent night for the junior class (of which Ashley is an officer) and outdoor education week. Walter has been busy planning all the details for outdoor ed. He has made several trips down to the volcano, the town and the camp, meeting with people and checking out the facilities. He still has another one to arrange transportation. Many people are involved to organize their part, and the middle school students have been divided into their squads. The squads have been meeting and preparing as well. Please be in prayer for this week, February 7-11, for all the logistics, safety, good learning experience as well as the speakers for the chapels each night. Pray for a time of spiritual growth for these kids and for their squad leaders to be sensitive to them.
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Midterm Report
Juliana blocking the ball
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.
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Summer’s Over
Sightseeing in Manila
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.
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Transitions
Congratulations Paul!
Dear Friends and Family,
On June 2, our second child, Paul, graduated from high school. It was a joy to see him complete his first 13 years of schooling and see him take a step in the beginning of the next part of his life. He also received a memorial scholarship for his character. It was also a sad time for us to see him leave the home. For us, the separation is a longer time and many more miles separating us from him. We are excited to see what God will do with him and how he will serve God with his life. This fall, Paul will be attending Bible college in Missouri. He would like to work with youth and is also thinking of majoring in instrumental music education, but is still unsure. He has a part time job at a fast food restaurant and some odd jobs at a hotel and mowing. Our home church is mentoring him, working with the youth and song leading in the evenings.
Walter returned with Paul to the US to help him get ready for college. He also is able to see our firstborn, Ben on weekends. Ben is working at college in the Ozarks and a landscaping business. We are thankful for both jobs, working at the college will pay his room and board for next year and working at the landscaping business will give him some cash money. Plus we are thankful for the opportunity of the guys to be together.
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Tags: Family
Spring Happenings
Paul as Motel the tailor
Dear Friends and Family,
We are in the middle of fourth quarter and activities are picking up. Last weekend was the production of Fiddler on the Roof. There were over 100 students involved in the production with cast, stage crew and orchestra as well as many parents and staff. Paul decided to venture out and landed the role of Motel the tailor. He had fun doing it. It was a great production.
Basketball season finished the end of February with the girls taking second place in the Far East
Varsity Girls took 2nd place
tournament in Japan. They played well and were undefeated in the tournament until the last game. We are glad to slow the pace down a little. Both Juliana and Ashley are now on the JV soccer team, but haven’t had too many games.
Life in the Fast Lane
The Spicer Family
Life at Faith Academy is always full with many activities. Walter’s classes are going well and we are thankful to be a part of this ministry, helping to spread the gospel in Southeast Asia.
Walter continues to be busy with extracurricular activities. He is in charge of the middle school senate. They were in charge of a few activities, including a fund raiser and a Christmas party. He is getting help from other teachers which encourages him. I have been doing his shopping for these events.
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Second Quarter at FA
Half time talk
Thank you for praying for us. We had our school break a week ago. We stayed home and enjoyed the change of pace and being together as a family. It was refreshing as this next quarter will be very busy. Walter was able to catch up on a lot of work.
Basketball season is here. Tryouts begin this week. Walter will be the head girls coach for the varsity team. It looks like the coaches and assistants are now lined up for the season. Walter is feeling a bit overwhelmed, being new to “running the show.” He has usually been the assistant or JV coach and enjoyed being under someone more experienced. He has learned a lot during those times.