Start of a new school year at RVA

Once again it has been too long since I last updated our blog.  We seem to always be so busy that it is hard to simply sit down and write about all the things the Lord has been doing in our lives. As many of you know we had to return to the States during the latter part of July and first part of August.  Since we originally came out as short term missionaries ( one year or less ) because of our age, we had to return to the States before returning for another one year term. We enjoyed catching up and visiting with family, friends and our home church. The time really went by quickly, since most of the time we were on the road, covering about 3500 miles in the few weeks we were there.

The end of August we returned to Kenya, flying into Nairobi airport.  The international wing of the airport had burned down while we were home and we didn't quite know what to expect on our arrival back in Nairobi.  The Kenyan government had tents erected for the overseas arrivals and we managed to get through customs efficiently. Since we arrived late at night (about 9:30 pm) we did not try to drive back to RVA after dark, which can be a dangerous endeavor in Kenya.  We stayed at Mayfield, which is an AIM missionary guest house the first night and shopped for groceries at a mall before returning to RVA the next morning.

                                             Waffles for breakfast on a Saturday morning!



Immediately upon returning we had meetings every day with staff meetings, new parent orientation, and learning and preparing for our new assignments. This year Debbie and I would be dorm parents to Junior girls, since our girls last year had all graduated and were now in college. Debbie is teaching Spanish 3 and I began the term teaching 7th CIT (computer) as well as managing the Arcade again. Since I had never taught that course previously, the first week I was busy preparing curriculum for the class. Three weeks into the term another missionary family returned and the class was turned over to him. I miss teaching them, but now have more time to devote to my other duties at the Arcade, teaching 9th grade Sunday School, Caring Community and being a dorm dad.

They've got rhythm!

It has been a long time since Debbie and I have had teen aged children and one of the concerns last year before coming to RVA was how we would relate to having the girls who would be in our care for the year. As you know we were blessed with great girls and it was a wonderful year getting to know and love them.  Since our girls were Seniors they have now left RVA and are scattered over the globe either attending college or waiting on the Lord to see what plan He has for  them. This year we have a whole new group of girls which are Juniors in High School. Once again we can confidently say we have been      blessed.  We have quickly learned to love each one of them, and are enjoying sharing  in their lives as they allow. There isn't one we would want to trade with other dorm parents.They all seem to love the Lord and many are involved in several campus ministries.

Enjoying our fire on a cold evening!

Watching a "chick flick"!

Laura (on right) baking cookies with her Jr. High youth group girls

A few weeks into the term Debbie and I were able to help along with other staff in taking approximately forty- eight students on an outreach program to an IDP camp. For those who may be new to our blog, IDP stands for Internally Displaced People. These camps were set up to house refugees from a previous election a few years back. During that election there was much political violence between some of the tribes, and thousands of people were killed and many more injured.  Many people were chased from their homes and businesses and lost everything they had including their means of employment and earning money. They are now living in makeshift tents of torn plastic and cloth with no means of steady employment.

  Many of the children get little to eat.  One of the Kenyan nationals I work with, John Karanja, has been ministering to the camp, many times at his own expense. He has started a church there and each Sunday helps to feed a meal to many of the children. Our home church has felt called to help support this ministry. The church has been meeting under a tree since it was begun, but this past year a new church building has been erected. John has begun taking classes towards his pastoral degree at the Moffet Bible College while working full time at RVA.

As many of you already know two weeks ago an al Qaeda linked group called al Shabaab attacked the Westgate Mall in Nairobi.  Most of the staff here at RVA frequently shopped at this mall.  Three of the families on staff here were at the mall, some with their children, during the attack and were trapped inside for several hours in hiding .  Praise the Lord they all managed to safely escape, but they did witness some of the carnage.  Pray that they will be protected from any lasting emotional anxiety from this incident. Continue to pray for the safety of all the students in the school.

This week I hope to attend a men's camping retreat with several of the other men on staff here.  The retreat will last through the weekend, but I will return early Saturday evening to help Debbie with Caring Community. Caring Community is a night that we get a chance to spend with a mixed group of seventh graders playing games, eating, and just spending the evening getting to know them.  We enjoyed having the same age group last year and requested the same age group this year.  This will be our second time with them since the term began. Seventh graders have enough energy that it requires both of us to be here with them.

Continue to uphold us in prayer.