Multi-Cultural Day

Every year, on October 20 (which is a Kenyan holiday) instead of a regular school day we have a special day. Our school celebrates Multi-Cultural Day! This is absolutely my FAVORITE day of the year...hands down. We have a special program in the morning - with songs and skits from different cultures. The program always ends with the infamous "Flag Ceremony." The students carry in the flag of their passport country, one by one, with their national anthem playing in the background. It is a huge honor to be chosen to carry your country's flag - an honor that is carefully pondered -and comes down to how long you been at RVA, your grade, etc. Sometimes there are several students who qualify for this special privilege and so there are a few hands on that sacred flag pole. When each country parades up to the stage, cheers erupt all over the room - sometimes so loud that you can hardly hear the anthem! The students are incredibly patriotic - painting their faces, wearing their national costume, etc. But for many of them, they are loyal to two countries - their country of birth as well as their country of residence. So you may see an American flag painted on one cheek and a Kenyan flag painted on the other.
Whenever the parade of flags begins, I get this big lump in my throat and I long for heaven, because in this moment, I feel as though I am truly experiencing a slice of heaven, just like in Revelation 7:9 where it says, "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands."

A very special part of this year's program was the Korean Fan Dance. Although they do this dance from year to year, it was very meaningful this year as Megan was a part of the dance. I know I am going to be a complete basket case when Megan graduates from high school...or gets married...or any other major milestone. Because I got all teary during the Korean Fan Dance. There was my baby....all dressed up and doing A GREAT JOB with this very complicated choreography and this mama's heart was bursting with pride!

I know there are a ridiculous amount of pictures, but seriously...this was amazing! I wish you could have seen this!

After the program and a nice long chai break, full of picture opps...

...we head into game time. I was in charge of games this year and all went smoothly - thanks to my amazing crew of organizers, game leaders, team leaders, etc! We had 10 cultural game stations that the teams rotated to. The big kids helped the little kids and everyone cheered for their color team and all had a great time!

Lyndsey and her two high school "big sisters"

Megan and her "big sister"

We had a great BBQ lunch, an afternoon of free time or sports, and ended the day with carmel apples and fireworks! What a GREAT day! 


I realize this is a VERY LONG post, so hats off to you if you read this far! But there was so much fun packed into one day, I just had to capture it all! 

Princess Tea Party

I have the privilege of teaching tenth grade girls' Sunday School. Over the years we have established a set curriculum, based on "The Five Aspects of Femininity" by Barbara Mouser. We hit the core aspects: Daughter of the King, Helper-Completer, Sacred Vessel, Handmaiden of Wisdom and Beauty for the King (we modified the last one). We have also added in some fun "extras" to the curriculum - such as this tea party that we do every year at the end of studying the "Daughter of the King" aspect. We really want the girls to feel lavishly loved - as God loves each of them! It is one of my favorite lessons! When I say, "we" - there are 6 amazing women that I teach with - who are all passionate about training and instructing these young ladies to love God and pursue righteousness. 

Here are some photos from last Sunday:

Pinkies Up!

All of the girls are beautiful - inside and out!

We set up 7 tables of 5 - in the fireside room of our school cafeteria.

And we used fine china!

I think the girls had a lot of fun...I know the teachers did!

They all dressed up in their princess best...

...and used their best manners...

...and smiled their best princess smiles!

Here are 6 of the 7 teachers...one had to slip out early since she was unwell.... :(

Twins!

Aren't they cute?

We had a lovely selection of teas....

....and piles and piles of goodies! Oh my!

All in all, it was a wonderful morning. We even had a special speaker (our SEW speaker from the States). I think the girls had a small taste of how much God values and loves each one of them as his daughters and we had a chance to really love on them too. I count it a privilege to be a part of this amazing team, teaching these amazing girls.

Romans 12:15

Today my friend Faith and I had the opportunity to put this verse into action.  "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn." Our Kenyan friend, Virginia, who cares for our kids, helps us in our home and is a great friend to both us, lost her father this past week. Although he was elderly and his health was failing, it still was a devastating loss to Virginia's family.
Our schedule didn't allow us to attend the all day funeral later this week, so we consulted another Kenyan friend on cultural etiquette in this case. Our friend assured us that it was acceptable to pay the family a visit in their home to visit and pray together on a day leading up to the funeral.
So, this afternoon, we set off  with some home baked goodies and some money to contribute for the funeral expenses, and most of our kids (my girls had after school activities they were involved in) and went up the hill to Virginia's childhood home.
We were greeted warmly by Virginia and her family. There was a houseful of people, paying their respects. We enjoyed a cup of chai, were able to talk with the various family members, take some pictures, and pray with them before we left. I was thankful that my parents had taken me on many visits to Kenyan homes when I was a child!

Here are a few shots of the day:

All the brothers and sisters....and me!

Here is Virginia, with Faith, her four children and Ian and Maureen (Virginia's youngest daughter).

Virginia comes from a family of 16 brothers and sisters! So the house was bursting at the seams! They are a great family, whose testimony was shining through, in the midst of their sorrow.

6th Grade Science, SEW, and Lyndsey's Birthday

Well, we are starting our second half of the school term. We just had a lovely mid-term break, which started Friday afternoon and ended Tuesday evening. Our family enjoyed some days off of school, a few day-trips and some much needed rest! 

Now that we are in our second half of term, I am teaching the same group of kids, but instead of Social Studies, I am teaching Science this half term. This is definitely out of my comfort zone (Science, that is!) but the kids are great and so far the curriculum has been user-friendly for me! 

A new couple is due to arrive on campus at the end of month and Hanna will be taking over the 6th grade class when she arrives, so I will bid this fun group of kids farewell....

SEW - no, it doesn't mean a needle and thread!
 SEW stands for Spiritual Emphasis Week. It is held every year here at RVA and is a fabulous week of really focusing on God. We usually bring our speaker in from the US and this year our speaker is Kris Causton, and she is from Minnesota. She is funny and witty, yet really gets the message across at the same time. Pray for soft hearts for staff and students alike this week.

Lyndsey's Birthday - was this past week. We had some special missionary "aunties" and "uncles" over for dinner and also had her first grade class over for a party. 

Playing tag at the party

the birthday girl - at breakfast

Daddy made crepes on the birthday plate - Lyndsey's breakfast request.

Miss Jenny's too-cute sign!

pin the horse in the stable game

a cupcake horse cake

and some more tag!

Crazy Train

Here in Africa, we do see some unusual animals. We have had monkeys come into our house and steal food off our counter. We get lots of annoying bugs and critters around the house. We have seen a snake or two. But we also have the usual pets around campus - dogs, cats, birds, turtles (we even own two cute baby turtles!)

However, on this school campus we can claim the craziest pet by far.  Our neighbors have a pet rock hyrax. And not only is he tame, but he is potty trained - on the toilet. He was found, as a baby, and brought to their house and the rest is history.

His name is Crazy Train and he lives up to his name. Our kids absolutely love him, but whenever we babysit him, I must admit, I go a little crazy! He runs through the house, knocking over breakables, barely making it to the toilet, and wreaking havoc. But then, he cuddles up next to you and your heart melts. It is a love-hate relationship!

Our neighbors are trying to decide how / if / when to re-introduce him to the wild. He is definitely used to his comforts now and living with humans, so that may be challenging. So, here is a sneak peek at our little friend, Crazy Train:

Okay, so he looks really cute here. I'll admit it. 

Crazy running around at the neighborhood BBQ

Crazy holding on for dear life on Megan's bike

The Gift of Rest...and trying to go North

This past weekend, Jeff and I were able to get away for an overnight. We had a voucher to use for one night at Lion Hill Lodge in Nakuru – about two hours away from us – nestled in the Lake Nakuru Game Park. Our voucher was just weeks from expiring and our anniversary was up and coming too. So, we are either 11 months late in celebrating last year’s anniversary – or one month early! Either way you look at it, it was wonderful to get away, just the two of us! Our friend Jenny graciously watched our three kiddos while we were gone and if you want to see what they were up to while we were gone, check her blog.http://notbymight46.blogspot.com/ They had a blast with “Miss Jenny!”

It was wonderful to relax. Take a nap when you want to. Not have to cook or clean up. Not make your bed. Finish a conversation without the phone ringing or a child interrupting. It was so fun to grab our binoculars and camera and watch the wildlife, take walks and game drives. Sit with a cup of coffee, overlooking the acacia trees and lake at sunset. It was truly a gift of rest.

But one of our highlights was on the way there.  We listened to a podcast from our church, Blythefield Hills Baptist Church, and we were both challenged by God’s Word and it was wonderful to have time to debrief with one another on how to apply this particular message to our lives. The funny thing was the sermon was about how we respond to trials in our life – do we go “North” (turn to Jesus) or “South” (grasping, grumbling, complaining). One of the examples the pastor shared in his list of life’s trials was a flat tire. How do you respond to a flat tire? Jeff and I darted a look at one another at that point because we had both started off our trip to Nakuru in a grumpy mood because we had left an hour late due to a flat tire and neither of us responded well to the incident, or to each other in that moment! Thankfully, we heard what we needed to hear, were able to debrief it, and are so thankful that God is perpetually patient with us as we desperately try to switch directions, from South to North!!!

I read a great quote this week about joy in the midst of trials, which essentially is a way we can go “North” to God while in the midst of hardship:

It is impossible to be holy apart from suffering. There is redemptive fruit that cannot be produced in our lives apart from suffering. True joy is not the absence of pain, but the presence of the Lord Jesus in the midst of pain. Suffering is a pathway to sanctification, a doorway into greater intimacy with God.  Nancy Leigh DeMoss