Americo and Kathy Saavedra
Most recent Newsletters are listed below!
Americo and Kathy Saavedra serve as missionaries with Reach Beyond providing pastoral leadership training in various countries in Latin America. They live in Quito, Ecuador training pastors and are in partnership with Development Associates International (DAI) which is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Saavedras are also involved in providing training for churches in and around Quito.
Today there are ten evangelical churches in Shell and fruitful ministries with the Shuar and Huaorani people. They have been invited to work together with these churches and others throughout the region in their discipleship outreaches. Please pray for them as they work alongside these faithful brothers, in their efforts to build up the church of Christ in the Pastaza Province. Americo and Kathy Saavedra are long term missionaries mentoring and training pastors in Ecuador, Peru, Columbia, Guatemala, Argentina, Cuba, Brazil and Bolivia. Most of the pastors are not formally trained; they just have a passion for the church. They establish a relationship with the pastors, minister to them through small groups of pastors and family conferences. |
Americo Saavedra <[email protected]>
Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 6:03 PM
To: Hartford Bible <[email protected]>, Blum Phil <[email protected]>, Williamson Ben <[email protected]>
Hello Pastor Ben and all at Hartford Bible Church:
In our latest statement from Reach Beyond, we noticed a Christmas donation from you. Thank you for thinking of us!
Our Christmas was very memorable as our daughter, Carla, her husband Troy and their seven children drove from Florida to be with us here in Carol Stream, IL. For the holidays. Dave, Beth and their four were already here on furlough in Wheaton. We missed Steve, Jen and their three teens as they stayed in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where they serve with Compassion International. It’s so hard to get us all together. But there’s hope for this summer. In July, before Dave and family return to Quito, we are planning a family celebration with EVERYONE to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary! We’ll be 22 altogether.
Even though we’ve officially begun “retirement,” our schedule for 2020 doesn’t look like we’ve slowed down much. Below is our ministry travel schedule for the year as of today. We are awaiting confirmation of dates for the Southern Cone, Colombia and Central America. In between, we are visiting supporters and other friends, maintaining regular contact with ministry colleagues (national and ex-pats) in the U.S. and Latin America, and organizing the plans for each event. Since Kathy has spent so many hours over the years working on the computer, she’s developed carpal tunnel in both wrists. She may have surgery on the left wrist in March and later on the right one. Thank you for praying for her regarding this and both of us for strength and wisdom for each day.
With appreciation for you.
Américo and Kathy
APRIL
April 21 - May 3. Pucallpa, Peru. Mission On Board with the Evangelista riverboat.
MAY/JUNE
May 23 – June 6. Quito, Ecuador. Development Associates International (DAI)-Ecuador & Apoyo meetings.
AUGUST
August 2-8. Pucallpa, Peru. Training facilitators in how to be effective communicators in oral cultures (mainly indigenous people).
August 14 - 25. Anchorage & Valdez, Alaska. Giving ministry reports in two supporting church as well as visiting individual supporters.
OCTOBER
October 10 - 16. Pucallpa, Peru. On board the Evangelista riverboat: cross-cultural event for U.S. pastors and church leaders with Steve Harling, president of Reach Beyond and others.
NOVEMBER
Possibly November 3 - 16. Pucallpa & Nueva Italia, Peru. Indigenous training for Shipibo-Conibo pastors sponsored by DAI-Peru.
Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 6:03 PM
To: Hartford Bible <[email protected]>, Blum Phil <[email protected]>, Williamson Ben <[email protected]>
Hello Pastor Ben and all at Hartford Bible Church:
In our latest statement from Reach Beyond, we noticed a Christmas donation from you. Thank you for thinking of us!
Our Christmas was very memorable as our daughter, Carla, her husband Troy and their seven children drove from Florida to be with us here in Carol Stream, IL. For the holidays. Dave, Beth and their four were already here on furlough in Wheaton. We missed Steve, Jen and their three teens as they stayed in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where they serve with Compassion International. It’s so hard to get us all together. But there’s hope for this summer. In July, before Dave and family return to Quito, we are planning a family celebration with EVERYONE to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary! We’ll be 22 altogether.
Even though we’ve officially begun “retirement,” our schedule for 2020 doesn’t look like we’ve slowed down much. Below is our ministry travel schedule for the year as of today. We are awaiting confirmation of dates for the Southern Cone, Colombia and Central America. In between, we are visiting supporters and other friends, maintaining regular contact with ministry colleagues (national and ex-pats) in the U.S. and Latin America, and organizing the plans for each event. Since Kathy has spent so many hours over the years working on the computer, she’s developed carpal tunnel in both wrists. She may have surgery on the left wrist in March and later on the right one. Thank you for praying for her regarding this and both of us for strength and wisdom for each day.
With appreciation for you.
Américo and Kathy
APRIL
April 21 - May 3. Pucallpa, Peru. Mission On Board with the Evangelista riverboat.
MAY/JUNE
May 23 – June 6. Quito, Ecuador. Development Associates International (DAI)-Ecuador & Apoyo meetings.
AUGUST
August 2-8. Pucallpa, Peru. Training facilitators in how to be effective communicators in oral cultures (mainly indigenous people).
August 14 - 25. Anchorage & Valdez, Alaska. Giving ministry reports in two supporting church as well as visiting individual supporters.
OCTOBER
October 10 - 16. Pucallpa, Peru. On board the Evangelista riverboat: cross-cultural event for U.S. pastors and church leaders with Steve Harling, president of Reach Beyond and others.
NOVEMBER
Possibly November 3 - 16. Pucallpa & Nueva Italia, Peru. Indigenous training for Shipibo-Conibo pastors sponsored by DAI-Peru.
Hello all at Hartford Bible Church, 12/23/19
Thank you for your faithfulness in remembering and praying for us. The Missions Committee recently received Christmas card with well wishes made our day! In Ecuador, we don’t get much mail. So this card was a very special remembrance of you and your thoughtfulness. We have two of our three children and their families with us for Christmas. May your special day of remembering the Christ Child also be blessed with your families.
With much appreciation for you all.
Americo and Kathy
Thank you for your faithfulness in remembering and praying for us. The Missions Committee recently received Christmas card with well wishes made our day! In Ecuador, we don’t get much mail. So this card was a very special remembrance of you and your thoughtfulness. We have two of our three children and their families with us for Christmas. May your special day of remembering the Christ Child also be blessed with your families.
With much appreciation for you all.
Americo and Kathy
Email received: 4/12/20
Hello dear friends,
Greetings to you from bright, sunny Quito, Ecuador. Thank you for remembering us in prayer as we continue Pastoral Training and Leadership Development here and in other Latin American countries. Praise the Lord for His goodness evidenced on these last two international ministry trips:
As 2019 marches on, please pray for:
These last days in Quito are very full with things to be done before leaving Quito, details for resettling in our Carol Stream home and all the while continuing ministry here in Ecuador and other countries in the Region. Thank you for your love and prayers as we walk through each day with God’s grace, strength and confidence in His best for the future.
Américo and Kathy
Hello dear friends,
Greetings to you from bright, sunny Quito, Ecuador. Thank you for remembering us in prayer as we continue Pastoral Training and Leadership Development here and in other Latin American countries. Praise the Lord for His goodness evidenced on these last two international ministry trips:
- February 16-23. Nueva Italia, Peru. Américo’s trip involved serving with Dick and Ruth Robinson at their training center in Nueva Italia, a Shipibo indigenous community located on the Ucayali River. To get there, they flew in a SAM (South America Mission) float plane. One of Américo’s goals for the week was to learn how and when ministry happens in an oral culture. So as he taught, he also watched, listened, pondered, and asked millions of questions. Seeing leadership development in an oral culture challenged Américo to seriously critique his own assumptions about learning and leading. Even in an oral culture, learning styles fluctuate depending on the learner’s level of education, experience and cultural exposure. Américo was grateful for a patient audience during the entire week!
- March 28-31. Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Américo and DAI´s (Development Associates International) Mexico coordinator, Esau Aguilar, joined together with Pastor Miguel Olivares to facilitate an overview of Servant Leadership andTeaching and Learning for Impact for 20 local pastoral leaders. Américo was delighted to see his co-facilitators’ teaching skills in motion. But more than that, he felt their heartbeat for their own people. They longed to see vibrant, healthy churches everywhere in Mexico. “But to get there,” they said, “it has to start with us leaders!” The days serving together allowed them to hear the cry of the Mexican church for sound biblical teaching and for reaching out to each other in Christian love and mutual service.
As 2019 marches on, please pray for:
- April 29-May 3. Ucayali River in Peru--Mission Aboard. Américo and 61 others (medical team, facilitators, mission participants, and boat crew) depart the Pucallpa port on the Evangelista riverboat to visit four Shipibo communities located on the Ucayali River. In the mornings while the Evangelista is navigating the river, the participants learn about the biblical basis of missions and ministry in a cross-cultural context. In the afternoons, they have opportunity to put into practice what they learned while visiting a Shipibo community. They spend time with people as they go about their daily chores and in their homes, play games with the children, tell Bible stories, and distribute clothing and shoes. The medical and dental teams provide care all day in each community. At night they hold services in coordination with the local church. Pray for: safety as the Evangelista navigates the fast-running river, responsive hearts to the Gospel and each participant’s enlarged vision of God’s plan for the lost and how to participate in it.
- June 16. USA. We leave Quito, Ecuador, and relocate to Carol Stream, IL. From July through December, we will be on HMA (Home Ministry Assignment --“furlough”), touching base with our supporting individuals and churches as well as seeing friends and family. On January 1, 2020, we enter a new stage in life -- retirement. Actually, this is “active” retirement, which means that we will still be involved in pastoral training and leadership development in Latin America with Reach Beyond (the APOYO ministry) and DAI as appropriate opportunities arise. As long as there is a positive balance in our mission ministry fund, we will be able to receive financial support from Reach Beyond.
These last days in Quito are very full with things to be done before leaving Quito, details for resettling in our Carol Stream home and all the while continuing ministry here in Ecuador and other countries in the Region. Thank you for your love and prayers as we walk through each day with God’s grace, strength and confidence in His best for the future.
Américo and Kathy
Mission Aboard
Mission Aboard is also a part of their ministry. Mission Aboard which is in the 12th year of annual outreach was organized by Americo to demonstrate “God’s heart for people through simple acts of love and service” and he has helped to coordinate a river trip since it’s beginning. They have a large triple decker, 98 feet long riverboat that serves as a floating missions conference along with outreach work during a five day excursion each year. Team members bring healthcare to the villagers, share Bible stories and engage with the children and families. They invite villagers to attend evangelistic services each evening. In September of 2017, the riverboat ministry engaged in outreach in the Peruvian Amazon. The indigenous Shipibo people living in river communities are still considered an unreached people group according to Joshua Project. The medical team saw almost 600 patients and they ministered to dozens of children in five river communities providing children’s activities and evangelistic outreaches.
Mission Aboard is also a part of their ministry. Mission Aboard which is in the 12th year of annual outreach was organized by Americo to demonstrate “God’s heart for people through simple acts of love and service” and he has helped to coordinate a river trip since it’s beginning. They have a large triple decker, 98 feet long riverboat that serves as a floating missions conference along with outreach work during a five day excursion each year. Team members bring healthcare to the villagers, share Bible stories and engage with the children and families. They invite villagers to attend evangelistic services each evening. In September of 2017, the riverboat ministry engaged in outreach in the Peruvian Amazon. The indigenous Shipibo people living in river communities are still considered an unreached people group according to Joshua Project. The medical team saw almost 600 patients and they ministered to dozens of children in five river communities providing children’s activities and evangelistic outreaches.