One thing that has caught me off guard since we returned has been how out of my comfort zone I have been. I should have seen it coming. After you spend months longing to be back in your familiar surroundings, it shouldn't come as a surprise when things are different than you expected.
Even though some things around RVA will never change.....other things did while we were gone.
There is a new recycling system. I can't figure it out for the life of me. Do the food scraps go in the pink bucket or orange? Do I separate papers from tins? Where are the recycling stations? It may sound simple but it is not familiar to me so it seems super complicated right now!
There were a bunch of new staff that arrived while we were gone. And then more new staff came this year when we returned. We missed our Staff meetings at the beginning of the year since we arrived so late so I keep seeing new faces on campus and I feel out of the loop.
I spent the last 10 years of my life working part time here. My kids were preschool age so I helped as I could, but my identity was pretty wrapped up in my kids' schedules. Now, they are all in school and I am working "full time." I do enjoy it but it is different not to be in the young moms group anymore.
The subject areas I am teaching this term are all brand new to me. While I enjoy them, I feel out of my comfort zone.
This morning as I was having my quiet time with the Lord, I was reminded again of that familiar verse in 2 Corinthians, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
It is such a comfort to know that in the midst of so many changes, HE is the same. HE is our rock who never changes. And in the midst of my weakness, HE is strong.
Monday, September 2, 2013
New Beginnings
We arrived safely back at RVA late Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning. Our good friend, Ryan, picked us up at the airport and everything went very smoothly in the "temporary" arrivals terminal (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport had a fire several weeks ago, so we weren't sure how crazy it would be at the airport). Everyone was so happy to be back in our home and on campus again. The next day, the kids were already off and running to see friends and we set to work unpacking our things from storage and getting settled.
The students started arriving on Friday (new students) and Saturday (returning students) and classes began today (Monday). We have definitely hit the ground running!
Jeff is back in his position of dean of students. This term he is also coaching JV boys football (soccer). My job role changed a bit in the days before we arrived and now I am teaching Art Survey (to 10th and 11th graders) and elementary student support. Even though it was a last minute switch and I was a bit nervous about the change at first, I think it will be a great fit!
We are so thankful for everyone who has partnered with us to get us this far -whether it be prayer support or financial -we are so blessed by each of you!
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The students started arriving on Friday (new students) and Saturday (returning students) and classes began today (Monday). We have definitely hit the ground running!
Jeff is back in his position of dean of students. This term he is also coaching JV boys football (soccer). My job role changed a bit in the days before we arrived and now I am teaching Art Survey (to 10th and 11th graders) and elementary student support. Even though it was a last minute switch and I was a bit nervous about the change at first, I think it will be a great fit!
We are so thankful for everyone who has partnered with us to get us this far -whether it be prayer support or financial -we are so blessed by each of you!
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| The kids off to school today! |
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| Lyndsey and her best friend, Torrie |
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| The "winter" is finally ending here - yeah for a sunny day! |
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| My Art classroom |
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Launch Time!
Well, we have neglected the blog in the hustle and bustle of activity the last month or so! But it has been GOOD activity - sorting, cleaning, and packing in preparation to return to RVA. That is right! In case you missed our most recent newsletter, we reached our goal of 100%! Praise the Lord!
It truly is the Lord who brings us to this goal. We worked hard all year, writing letters, contacting churches, hosting fundraising events, and in the end, it was the Lord's prompting and the Lord's timing. We are so grateful and excited!
We fly on Monday, August 26. Once we arrive on Tuesday night, it will be a whirlwind. There will be teacher in-service meetings, New Parent Orientation (that the staff attend and facilitate), and then the students arrive on Saturday and classes start Monday, Sept. 2. Oh, and unpacking our things from storage and setting up our house....We need prayer that we will get settled quickly!
I must say, it is a relief to be on the other side of the fundraising journey, but the months of wondering, (worrying, unfortunately), and praying were not wasted. God taught us so many important lessons along the way about who He is and about His faithfulness. As a friend of mine says, "Why do we doubt?"
Thank you for following us on this journey! We hope to have more frequent ministry updates from the other side of the ocean!
It truly is the Lord who brings us to this goal. We worked hard all year, writing letters, contacting churches, hosting fundraising events, and in the end, it was the Lord's prompting and the Lord's timing. We are so grateful and excited!
We fly on Monday, August 26. Once we arrive on Tuesday night, it will be a whirlwind. There will be teacher in-service meetings, New Parent Orientation (that the staff attend and facilitate), and then the students arrive on Saturday and classes start Monday, Sept. 2. Oh, and unpacking our things from storage and setting up our house....We need prayer that we will get settled quickly!
I must say, it is a relief to be on the other side of the fundraising journey, but the months of wondering, (worrying, unfortunately), and praying were not wasted. God taught us so many important lessons along the way about who He is and about His faithfulness. As a friend of mine says, "Why do we doubt?"
Thank you for following us on this journey! We hope to have more frequent ministry updates from the other side of the ocean!
Thursday, July 25, 2013
A Bolt of Lightning
Our deadline was a week ago. We were hoping to be at 100% of our support target by July 17 so that we could fly to Kenya on August 17.
We did not reach our goal.
It was a very hard day. We are not sure what God is up to. We wonder if this is just a test of our faith? Or a chance for us to practice patience? Or a closed door?
If only God could send us a message, attached to a bolt of lightning, preferably. Is that too much to ask? We just want to know where God is leading us and guiding us right now.
Our hearts are in Kenya. We desperately long to be on a plane to Kenya on August 17 back to our home and ministry that we love.
At this point, August 17 is not here yet....and we are getting so close - 88% (we only need $830 a month to go) that we are still keeping August 17 circled on our calendar. We are packing up our house in faith and we are trusting that the door is still open.
Please pray with us that God make His plans clear to us. And that if it be His will, we would reach 100% before August 17.
We did not reach our goal.
It was a very hard day. We are not sure what God is up to. We wonder if this is just a test of our faith? Or a chance for us to practice patience? Or a closed door?
If only God could send us a message, attached to a bolt of lightning, preferably. Is that too much to ask? We just want to know where God is leading us and guiding us right now.
Our hearts are in Kenya. We desperately long to be on a plane to Kenya on August 17 back to our home and ministry that we love.
At this point, August 17 is not here yet....and we are getting so close - 88% (we only need $830 a month to go) that we are still keeping August 17 circled on our calendar. We are packing up our house in faith and we are trusting that the door is still open.
Please pray with us that God make His plans clear to us. And that if it be His will, we would reach 100% before August 17.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
To pack or not to pack, that is the question
Well, we have had a great summer so far! We have been so blessed with many fun outings and summer activities. We started our summer off with a trip to Florida. Jeff's parents treated the whole family to a trip to Disney World - a dream come true! We made so many special memories there. We were then able to tie in that trip with visits with other friends and supporters along the way. We enjoyed each home we were in and it was a joy to catch up with so many.
Now that we are home, we have been dividing our time between work (Jeff is still working at our church), family gatherings, speaking engagements, and trying to figure out when to pack our bags for Kenya.
Our hopeful departure is August 17. We really need to have our support in by July 17 so we can book our tickets and let our landlords know our departure date. We will have a busy month! As we near that deadline, I am starting to pack in faith.
We are at 81% of our total monthly support and trusting that God will bring in the rest in the next few days. If you feel led to partner with us in our ministry at RVA, click on the yellow "donate" button on the sidebar.
In the meantime, we covet your prayers for us in these last days!
Now that we are home, we have been dividing our time between work (Jeff is still working at our church), family gatherings, speaking engagements, and trying to figure out when to pack our bags for Kenya.
Our hopeful departure is August 17. We really need to have our support in by July 17 so we can book our tickets and let our landlords know our departure date. We will have a busy month! As we near that deadline, I am starting to pack in faith.
We are at 81% of our total monthly support and trusting that God will bring in the rest in the next few days. If you feel led to partner with us in our ministry at RVA, click on the yellow "donate" button on the sidebar.
In the meantime, we covet your prayers for us in these last days!
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| Visiting friends in Florida |
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Goat Roast and Graduation
One may not think that a goat roast and a graduation go hand in hand, but really, they do. Especially in African culture. Roasting a goat is the way to celebrate something big. It is the ultimate feast.
So it was very fitting that our RVA kids, now in college in the area, requested a goat roast for an end of the year meal. After all, we had a lot to celebrate.Our freshmen students had just finished their first year of college. One of our students got her driver's license this year. Another had just been accepted into the Nursing Program. Most had summer jobs or trips lined up. And one was ready to graduate from college. We have had so much fun hanging out with these kids this year.
A huge milestone was attending Josh's graduation from college a few days later. Josh was in our dorm for his freshman and sophomore year at RVA and we have stayed in touch with him and his family over the years. We felt honored to attend his graduation and be a part of his big day. We are so proud of him!
So it was very fitting that our RVA kids, now in college in the area, requested a goat roast for an end of the year meal. After all, we had a lot to celebrate.Our freshmen students had just finished their first year of college. One of our students got her driver's license this year. Another had just been accepted into the Nursing Program. Most had summer jobs or trips lined up. And one was ready to graduate from college. We have had so much fun hanging out with these kids this year.
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| Girls making chapatis. |
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| Boys cutting the meat. |
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| Our simple meal turned into a gourmet feast with the help of my Mom! |
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| Nothing more romantic than a hunk of goat meat between you! |
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| The weather allowed us to enjoy our feast outdoors! |
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| Ian and his best buddy, Eun Sung |
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| Rachel and Lyndsey pounding the spices for chai. |
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| The whole group |
A huge milestone was attending Josh's graduation from college a few days later. Josh was in our dorm for his freshman and sophomore year at RVA and we have stayed in touch with him and his family over the years. We felt honored to attend his graduation and be a part of his big day. We are so proud of him!
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| Josh and his sister Rachel |
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| Jeff, Josh, Rachel and I |
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| The RVA gang... |
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