Meet the Teacher

 Greetings from Kijabe!  The boarding students have arrived and school starts on Monday!  Today we could hear students playing on the field across the street and saw many students while we walked around campus.  

John first came to teach at RVA in 1999.  This is his 13th year teaching at RVA but this school year will be a year of firsts for him.  This is the first time he has taught third grade at RVA, the first time he has had children enrolled at RVA, and the first time he has had his own children in his class!  He is excited to get the school year started!

On Saturday, the elementary school hosted a new student orientation and meet the teacher.  John has thirteen students in his class.  Most of the students live on campus while their parents work at RVA.  Some of the students live just below the school and their parents work at the hospital or Bible college in Kijabe.  One of the new students we met on Saturday has parents who have worked with John's brother, Tim, when he worked at the Mission Hospital in Kijabe.  Myrick isn't a common name and the boy's parents quickly made the connection!

Our girls are excited and a little nervous about school starting and with being in their Dad's class.  I'm thrilled that the girls will have my favorite teacher!  If you have ever seen John in action, then you know he is a gifted teacher.  He is passionate about learning and his enthusiasm is contagious!  We can't wait to see how God uses John to help our girls learn these next 13 weeks.

The girls and their third grade teacher, Mr. Myrick.

The school provides the school supplies.  

We brought a box of Crayola Crayons for each student in John's class.

Gracie has already found some cat books in the class library.

Ruthie is looking for some of her favorite books in the classroom library,

This is a cozy reading area.

Mrs. Hazard, the teacher John is filling in for, has left fabulous anchor charts.  She also left all of the bulletin boards up.  It has made the transition much easier for John.

John found this cute welcome sign and added the students' names to the door.  The classrooms are side by side and the doors open up to the sidewalk outside.

As we prepare for school to start tomorrow, we have a few prayer requests:

Please pray for our girls and their adjustment to school.

Please pray for wisdom and patience for the teachers, dorm parents, and staff as we start the new school year. 

Please pray that John will be able to plan and organize his lessons to fit the needs of the third graders.

Please pray for rain.  Since we have been here, it has only rained a few times.  Everything is dry and the local families need rain for their crops to grow.

Thank you for your prayers and support!  Feel free to comment below and let us know if you have any questions or prayer requests.  

We will let you know how our first week goes!

Blessings,

Becky (and John, Ruthie, & Gracie)

A Tour of Rift Valley Academy

August 21, 2023

Greetings from RVA!  

We have been in Kenya for over two weeks now.  We are getting settled in to our home that we will live in for the next several months.  The girls have been busy playing with new friends at our house and at the school playground.  

The staff has in-service meetings this week to prepare for the students arriving this weekend.  New boarding students arrive Friday and all other students this weekend.  School will start on Monday, Aug.  28.

RVA has been educating students in Kenya for over 100 years.  The school's purpose statement is, "We educate and disciple students toward their potential in Christ, thus enabling families to serve across the African continent". Our family took pictures around RVA to show you the beautiful campus. 

This is the sign that welcomes you as you enter the main gate.  

President Teddy Rosevelt laid the cornerstone block in the main office building in 1909. He was touring Africa after his time in office.

This is the front and the side of the main office building.

This is the lower field.  Students play field hockey and soccer on this field.

The sign at the fork in the road.  

Ruthie and Gracie are sitting by some beautiful plants in front of the Worship Center called Centenial. The school employs local Kenyans to help keep the grounds looking beautiful.

The high school and junior high library.  Below the library are classrooms.

The girls are standing in front of the cafeteria. 

 The cafe serves three meals a day for the boarding students. 

You can see Mount Longanot touching the clouds behind upper field.  Students play rugby and soccer on this field. 

The girls stand in front of the clock tower in front of the cafeteria.

The cafo serves chai to students and staff every school day at 10 am.  John and the girls are sitting in front of the chai tree.

Giraffes are our favorite African animal!

Here is one of the high school girl dorms.  A family or single dorm mom live in an apartment that connects to the hallway with rooms that can house over 20 girls.  

The gym and basketball field are behind John and the girls.

High School Classrooms

The elementary school is called Titchie Swot. It is British for "a place where kids study hard and learn."

John will be teaching third grade in one of the classrooms behind the sign,

We hope you have enjoyed out tour of campus.  Please join us in prayer as the new school year begins. Please pray for wisdom for the staff as they prepare for classes to begin.  Please also pray for the boarding students as they say their good-byes and transition to the new school year.  Last, please pray for our girls and their transition to third grade at Titchie Swot,

You can learn more about the school at their website: https://rva.org

Please comment below and ask any questions you may have about the school.  We look forward to updating you on the start of our school year!

Love,

John, Becky, Ruthie, and Gracie Myrick