It’s midterm break here at RVA and its time to rest and catch our breath after a busy first half of the term. In addition to the usual busy activities of RVA, these past several weeks have also seen a run of H1N1 through campus, several staff with serious prolonged illnesses that have taken them out of the classroom, and 2 staff members who had family members pass away and had to return to the States. Its during these times when we see the RVA community rally together and support each other to provide for the needs of the kids with whom God has entrusted us. As Sara and I catch up on some things that have been neglected in the flurry of activity, this weekend the junior class and their parents stay around RVA and create and build and prepare the annual Jr/Sr Banquet for next weekend. This is a task that we have been involved in at various levels several times and although we enjoyed the process we are glad not to be involved this yearJ We are hosting some long time friends whose youngest is a junior this year so we are not completely out of the loop.

 

I thought I’d relate a quick story to show one of the many differences between life here in Kenya and life in America. This past Thursday our varsity basketball team had a make-up game from when we were not allowing people to come and go freely from RVA due to the swine flu. The team showed as expected, but there were no referees. So the coach came to me for the second time this week as I was beginning my practice with the JV, and asked me to ref the Varsity game. I was thinking that there was a mix up in communication as this was a make-up game and since there was no alternative, I refereed the game. I found out the next day that the referees were indeed on their way to the other school to catch a ride on the team bus, when the matatu they were riding in was pulled over and they were arrested for not wearing seatbelts. They were detained for over an hour before paying a bribe and being released. Only in Kenya.

We had some sad news this week when we learned of the death of a former student and friend from Brian’s class. When a 20 year old dies of a heart attack in his dorm room, it is a reminder of how brief this life can be and emphasizes the importance of living each day for eternity because we never know when it may be our last.

Hope you are enjoying the winter, as we often forget that it is winter in North America is it is always between 70-80 degrees here in Kijabe.

Blessings,

Alan and Sara

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