Big changes at PACA
At the start of this semester we had a staff retreat where we all got together to pray and to discuss the second-half of this school year. It's an annual tradition, and part of that tradition is for people to announce any major changes in their lives. The biggest news of the retreat was that the high school principal, who started the same year that I did, will be returning to Europe to be a principal there. He is finished at PACA in June.
Yesterday, the superintendent of the school who has worked here at PACA for 19 years announced to the staff that he expects to be accepting a position on the international executive staff of ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International). He is finished at PACA in June.
Tomorrow, I will have the "honour" of announcing to the staff that I (the elementary principal) have accepted a job as the discipleship and Christian education pastor at a church in Ontario. I'm not at liberty to say which church just yet because the church wants to make sure that the congregation hears the news from the church leadership, not through the grapevine. I will be finished here in Brazil in June.
None of the resignations have anything to do with one another, and nobody has been let go due to poor performance, or what-have-you. This is just the way that God has been working in our lives at the same time. Neither of us as principals knew that the superintendent was leaving, and he didn't know that we were leaving.
There are too many factors that went into this decision to answer "Why?" It certainly was not an easy decision, and as many of you reading this know, we intended to renew for another two years. From mid December until mid February God made it unmistakably clear to us that He has a change in plans for our family. Although we are sad to leave Brazil so soon, we are also excited about the opportunity that exists in this new ministry back in Canada.
We will keep you informed of the details of the transition as they come up. We appreciate your prayers, as always.
Cary Sawatsky posted this message at 6:35 p.m..
