Praise

• For Carolina Zamora’s discharge from the hospital – she is home with her family! Continue to pray for her full recovery and for the exam results to be clear enough for the doctors to give a precise diagnosis.
• For the unique opportunity we all have to spend more time with family. We still have the same 24 hours in a day, and we want to make sure we are using them wisely. Taking out commuting time and other outside-the-home commitments has freed up time to reorganize priorities and invest more deeply in family relationships.
• Despite the moments of frustration with technology, we are very grateful for this tool to be able to stay connected, to move forward on academic goals, and to have up-to-date information to base decisions on.
• For the support that ECA has received from the great majority of ECA families during this crisis affects everyone. With the Lord’s help, we can make it to the other side. Mark 4:35. That evening, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side.” (GW).
• For our Staff Day celebration – We thank the Lord for each one who was involved in making Staff Day such an encouraging celebration. The staff felt loved with the notes of appreciation, the videos from the elementary students, and the fruit baskets.
• For Lucas Spicer, Beth Afanador’s son-in-law, being back at work in the ER near Toronto.

Prayer

• For our 18 seniors as they are closing their ECA career very differently than originally planned. We were able to take pictures of them in their graduation robes (one by one, outside of their homes) to replace the typical group picture in the yearbook, and this represents just one of the many changes we are dealing with as we celebrate and honor the Class of 2020. Pray for our 12th grade students to be able to close well, both academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually, and pray for them as they are making college plans in a very uncertain scenario.
• For our staff who are leaving Colombia without the privilege of the normal farewells and hugs. Pray that God will give strength, wisdom, and appropriate closure during these difficult transitions.
• For our 25+ families who have communicated with us of difficult COVID-related job losses or salary reductions. Pray for wisdom for these families as they make adjustments, and pray for wisdom for us as a school to know how to best support them.
• For our former Lobena and Asher (transportation and cafeteria) teams who are unable to work during these weeks. Pray that God will supply the needs for them and their families during this time of unemployment. We are thankful for the $15.7 million pesos that have come in or were promised (9.3 from staff and 6.4 from parents) to bless these who have served us so well.
• For our president, our mayor, the Ministers of Education and Health, our ECA Board and admin team, and all others in positions of authority who are making difficult decisions regarding COVID, and our society’s response where there are complex choices that affect health and economic viability.
• For Emily Camplejohn’s (ELL) grandfather. He is sick and it is most likely a mild case of COVID-19. Pray that the Lord would protect him and that Emily’s grandmother would not get sick.
• For travel plans and visas for our new and returning foreign staff during these uncertain COVID times. Pray that we can have our complete team here to begin school in August and that God will provide the necessary visas.
• For our staff team for 2020-21 with all the uncertainties that are part of our current international panorama. Pray for those who are in process and are seeking God’s confirmation. Pray for those spots we are still missing:
  • 2 elementary teachers
  • Secondary Bible, math, science, and social studies
  • Learning Center Specialist / Special Ed
  • Music and PE
  • Director of development, recruiting assistant