Off and Running!

We have been in Kenya now for 10 weeks.  Last week, we were on mid-term break.  It's hard to believe that we are at the half way mark with our time at RVA.  It has been a busy term!  We'll use pictures to help show you what we have been up to since school started. There are too many for one blog post!  We'll just share our August events/activities, then post September's in the next post.  

August, 2023

First Day of School and Welcome Assembly

We had an all school assembly (grades K-12) in Centennial on the first day of school.  We sang worship songs together and the Superintendent spoke.  Then, students carried in flags to represent the different countries that our students are from and serve at. It was amazing to see all the different flags and hear their national anthems.  

Friday Flag Raising 

On Fridays, the whole school meets at the flag pole for Flag Raising.  We sing the Kenyan National Anthem in English and Swahili.  Then someone speaks during an outdoor chapel time.

3rd Grade

John is enjoying teaching third grade.  He is teaching Bible, math, the Daily 5 (read to self, read to a partner, writing, mini reading lesson, word work), CAFE, spelling, history and science.  In history, they just finished discussing the Black Plague and Joan of Arc. History is John's favorite subject to teach!  The third graders attend music, art, PE, computer class, and visit the library throughout the week.

Reading Class

Becky is teaching small reading groups and is helping the third graders during math class.  She has Ruthie and Gracie each day and they are working on completing the 3rd level of All About Reading.  Becky also pulls two second graders to help them with their reading and writing skills. Below you can see a colobus monkey watching our reading class.  Maybe he wants to learn to read, too!

Church and Praying for Unreached People Groups

On the first Sunday of the month, the school walks out the main gate and across the street to attend the English service at the African Inland Church.  We sing many songs and the Pastor shares a message.

On the other Sundays of the month, we attend church at the Centennial Building across the street from the house we are staying at on the RVA Campus.  During the service, a grade level shares about an unreached people group in Africa.  We pray for the people group and the missionaries working in that area. 

Dorm Cover

Dorm Parents have someone cover their dorm once a week so they can have a night off.  James and Shelly were filling in for the elementary girls' dorm parents the first two weeks of school.  One night, we gave them a break and spent a school night with the girl boarding students.  John led dorm devotions and Becky served a snack.   Becky stayed after snack to help the girls with study hall and the bedtime routine.  It's a fun group of 5th and 6th grade girls!

John is leading the devotion.

Ruthie and Gracie loved spending time with the girls!

Snack time!

Lunch with Students

On Fridays, we pack our lunch and eat at the elementary school.  Many of the third grade students join us. We love sharing stories and time with these amazing kids!

Titchie Hunt

On the weekends, the staff organize activities for the students.  On one of the first weekends of the term, the elementary school has a Hunt.  The teachers hide somewhere in Titchie Bounds (the area around school that the kids can play) and the students try to find them.  The teachers have candy to hand out to the  successful Titchie's.

John is serious about his hiding.  He likes to blend in with the trees.  He hid in a spot that kids could find him if they looked hard enough.  If they were struggling to spot him, then he made a noise to help them.

August kept us busy with a variety of activities!  Soon, we'll share pictures with our adventures in September.

This week, we have had Spiritual Emphasis Week.  A worship team from our friends' church in PA came to lead music.  Our speaker this year is an RVA Alum.  He was also one of John's sixth grade students!  It has been fun to connect with Caleb Bannister and to hear him speak to the student's about his walk with Christ.  We have seen the Holy Spirit move among the students this week, which has been great fun to witness. 

The elementary students are too young to attend Spiritual Emphasis Week with the High Schoolers, so they had their own praise and worship service Saturday night, October 14th. John was able to share his testimony with the kids, and one of the sixth graders gave their life to Christ! 

Prayer Requests: 

1. Pray for the students as Spiritual Emphasis Week wraps up. Pray for the hearts of the kids as they attempt to apply what they have learned to their own lives. Pray our own girls will grow in their faith also.

2. Pray for John to have wisdom in teaching third grade and that he would be able to encourage the kids in their academics and even more in their faith. 

3. Pray for us as a family as we seek to serve well here in Africa. Our time is short and we want to be wise about how we use the time left to invest in the students here at Rift Valley Academy. 

May God bless each of you as you serve in all the places He has planted you!

In the love of the Savior we Serve, 

John, Becky, Ruthie, and Gracie