This is a well-known and oft-repeated sentiment. This is also true for AIIAS Academy. Each international family’s story is different: why they chose to come—or were chosen and sent—to AIIAS, how their transition worked, what challenges they faced, and finally, what their arrival and “settling in” felt like. Their stories are mostly happy, but often contain some thrills, chills, and miracles. The family to arrive most recently traveled a faith-testing road to AIIAS, and by extension, to the Academy for their two young boys.
Jonatas Ferreira is a doctoral candidate at Andrews University in the latter stages of his PhD program. However, a U.S. immigra tion officer suddenly canceled the U.S. visas for his family’s passports all at once. This ended the Ferreiras’s access to their program and home at Andrews University. With the finish line in view, but wife Rebecca cut off from her home, and two young American-born boys needing to move ahead with their education; it was a low time for the family. Pastor Ferreira was now faced with having to close out their lives in the US and seek a place to start over.
The family felt the strain. Five year-old Marc would disappear each morning after getting up and each evening just before bedtime. His parents found him kneeling on their balcony. They asked him what he was doing. He told them he was asking Jesus to help them return home. Jônatas knew things had to change, soon. Through some quick encour agement from old friends from Brazil, and some special arrange ments by new friends in the AIIAS administration, the family passed one barrier after another and landed in Manila, making their way to the AIIAS campus just after midnight, August 29. It wasn’t the home young Marc had in mind as he prayed, but the Lord was caring for his little heart. He landed amidst new friends who know what it is like to be uprooted and placed in a different world. There is compassion among the Academy students. Nearly two-thirds of them are Third Culture Kids. And the teachers have a special kindness for these children who will someday soon take-off again as the family finishes their upgrading and returns to service.
Today, Jonatas says, “I have to look back and think that God did answer Marc’s prayer. Perhaps not precisely as Marc imagined, but He gave him, and us, a safe haven where we could continue our train ing and preparation for the field.” Jônatas and Rebecca, Nathan and Marc are quickly settling into life in the tropics. After Marc came home from his first week at AIIAS Academy, Jônatas asked Marc if he was ready to go back home now to the U.S. Marc replied, “No, let’s perhaps stay here another six months.” For a kindergartner, “six months” means a very long time, indeed. And that means he has found his new home.
Jim Weller, PhD
Academy Principal and Assistant Professor,
Education Department
USA
