A week ago amidst some tears and many waving little hands, I left DFW bound for Kenya and the Rift Valley Academy. On the flight, I sat next to a young man who is an advocate for persecuted Christian nationals in Africa. What an education he gave me! With a change of flight at Heathrow airport, twenty four hours later I landed at Nairobi airport and met up with another RVA teacher, young Naomi from Ireland. I don't know whether it was more difficult to understand our Kenyan driver or her! But after a week together we are buddies. This first week on this beautiful RVA campus (read School in the Clouds) on the side of a hill overlooking the panoramic Rift Valley has been a testament to Galatians 5:22. I have met so many wonderful people that shine with the Fruit of the Spirit: love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As they emphasize, Kenya and Christianity is all about relationships. They are so inspiring and most have been here many years. I am a light weight staying only a year and having no missionary family, but I still hope my service will help out until they find a long term Spanish teacher.
My adorable apartment (not the efficiency I expected)was outfitted by Meredith with attention to detail even a fire in the fireplace when I arrived. Yes, it is quite cool here. Then every evening has been a delicious dinner with different families in their cozy homes. They are fabulous cooks and I have been given the Kijabe cookbook to practice with. I must interview four candidates for house help, but we already have a gardener who chops my wood too. Everyone lives quite closeby and my classroom is a 5 minute walk. My lovely compound is called the convent as we are all single ladies! I am pleased that there are bars on the windows as monkeys do try to enter at times. I met a slow moving cameleon with velcro feet and three horns that walked up my arm.
Today the 7 new staff members were driven to Nairobi to go shopping for supplies. The British products are so much cheaper than American so I am happy.... steak and kidney pie, etc. We went to a modern mall and had lunch in a sophisticated food court. Then on to Nakumat, their version of Wallmart, where we got phones ( I can call US for 3 cents a minute!) and bought lots of stuff. Tomorrow at 8:30 is the English church service at the African Inland Church and I will be thinking of all my church family at FPCGV. It has been raining so much with clouds rolling over the campus that I have not taken pictures yet, but I promise to soon. Thanks for reading this and pray for my nerves to calm about standing in front of teenagers again after nine years or retirement. As they say here, suffering for Jesus, Suzanne
May 6, 2012
During the previous term, our principal encouraged us to read Ephesians repeatedly, and Paul’s words have revealed many of God’s gifts to me especially this one that tells us of I said in my last blog my experience here has been a heart experience over all others..
Ephesians 3:18 – I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all fullness of God.” It is one thing to understand the words of Scripture with your mind, but the heart comprehension is so much more difficult for me. Paul understood this. And God knew that I needed to be better equipped to be a good model to my children, grandchildren, and grandnieces and nephews.. By the way I am going to be a grandmother again at the end of November. Chris and Erica are expecting… this is huge answer to prayer, and we are all delighted.
And so my heart is full as I begin the last ten weeks of my calling to . It has become a place of spiritual comfort and I will miss it terribly. The thought that I may never see many of these wonderful fellow Christians again is sad and yet I think I will always be able to conjure up their faces and voices. Of course, RVA is not exempt from the ways of mankind, but amazingly most problems are solved more easily by putting Christian ideals first. I will leave here on July 21st for a couple of weeks visit to my family in and then arrive in Grapevine Aug. 5th. It will be fantastic to be back with friends and family and church family.
One of my dorm girls gave me a card with her family’s history of service and so I thought I would share that with you so you can get another glimpse into the type of students here:
“I’m 14 years old. I’m a missionary kid in , and my family I live in . Voi is a town close to (on the coast). My Dad works in church planting and a building center. He also works in a disciple making center and supports Bible college students. My Dad is a reverend and he preaches God’s Word to the people in Voi. My Dad was the founder of an elementary school where my mom is the administrator and helps the nursery school. She is also helping my Dad in mission. So far my parents have built 15 churches and more than 50 people got baptized by my Dad. My parents focus in Voi is the Taita and Saghala tribes. I have 3 siblings, and we all went to RVA. My oldest sister graduated from here. I think of RVA as a school that helps our relationships grow with many people: adults, younger kids and those who are older than me. But not only does my relationship grow with those around me, but also with God. God is the provider and the one who brought us to this school Even though there can be hard times when we are homesick, there are lots of fun and wonderful things here. God bless you.”
Now you can see why the staff here are considered support missionaries! In a three tiered acrobatic exercise, we are the ones on the shoulders of supporters that allow the frontline missionaries to see over the horizon.
For an update on St. Edwin’s orphanage that I have talked about, there is a good chance that in a few months they will be under the wings of an international organization called Oasis for Orphans. This is very good news and the monthly expenses until them are coming in. Thanks to those of you who helped with the month of March. Also I have received donations to help with the making of school uniforms (they cannot attend school without them) for the very poor children in the Internally Displaced Camps in the valley below us. So some children will be very happy to be able to attend school later this year.
As I have been all year, I am very busy with my classroom preparations and especially helping my seniors get ready for the AP exam which is on Tuesday. Please pray that they will be confident and do their best. I really feel that these seniors were the focus of my calling here and I am pleased that we have all learned a lot together.
I will be teaching Sunday school this term and we are reading a book called Worldliness as we help these young kids understand how to keep their Christian values amongst lots of temptations to lose them. And on my dorm duty night we are studying the beatitudes as Nancy Drake’s women’s study of them endeared them to me some years ago. Please pray that I will do a good job of teaching these.
One last personal prayer request I have is for the wife of my nephew. Sarah has had a brain cyst for some time and now is experiencing blurry vision, and headaches. She will be going to a neurosurgeon soon who will hopefully know more than the other doctors who say it is quite rare. Sarah is a wonderful Christian and mother and we love her very much.
The weather must be commented on!! Wow is it ever the rainy season and winter! Thank goodness for my boots and my fireplace. The monkeys and the sun are gone too. Now we have flying termites, and awful insects called eyes which give you an acid burn that leaves a permanent scar. The students like to show they are bush babies and eat the bodies of the termites after they pluck off the wings!
So as I begin to see the end of this marvelous year in sight, I hope to stay open to any more lessons that God has for me. Happy Mother’s Day to all, Salama, Suzanne
April 2, 2012
Matthew 22:37 “Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
We often quote this verse, but never question the order of the three ways to love God. As I shared with my 7th grade dorm girls last week about my own spiritual journey, I realized that I started to know God with my mind in my youth, moving to my soul as I yearned for more as an adult, and finally in my older years, am learning to love with more and more of my heart. This year at RVA has opened my heart to the wisdom and beauty of the Bible and to see the fruit of the Spirit in the Kenyan people I encounter and the school community. What a gift this year is to me!
Since I last wrote, I seem to have had various conversations that have taught me the perils of tribal or partisan attitudes. I went back to the displaced persons camp for Sunday services under their acacia tree. It was windy, dusty, but joyous, song and dance filled. Some children acted out the Good Samaritan story which teaches us to cross tribal lines. Others sang, “Sanctuary”. Truly it was a special experience, but they are in this barren, dry, place because they were expelled by a stronger tribe in the 2007 elections period. Some have terrible stories like family members locked in churches and burned, even babies. They cannot go back and so they are eeking out a survival in the valley and right now waiting for the rainy season to begin. Still they are praising God at church. Both times I have gone, I have met children who ask me to help them go to school by purchasing their uniform. One of our RVA Kenyan workers goes every Sunday to preach and give out eggs to the kids. Our assistant superintendent gives a tailor work down there by ordering the uniforms from him periodically. As I have mentioned before, I feel these kids are even more desperate than St. Edwin’s orphanage, so I am able with my special ministry funds to buy a few uniforms. ’s politics were explained to me recently as very tribal in allegiance and so trust in officials is low as evidenced by the current trials of Kenyan leaders at . Hopefully, one day will be able to come together and overcome these divisions that man easily falls into in many parts of the world without seeing more than one side of issues.
The last weeks of the school term, which has ended now for a four week break, were very busy. With three preparations on top of trying to get the Advanced Placement students ready for the test, I have been working around the clock. They took the mock AP test and will take the formal one the first week of May. Since they are taking it after 4 years instead of 5 years of Spanish, this is quite a challenge, but worth a try! As the third term approaches and I know I will be busy again, I am trying to see a bit of in the tourist sense. I have visited the flamingos around Lake Naivasha, the elephant orphanage and Karen Blixon home in Nairobi, and just got back today from a three day trip to the Masai Mara for a safari on the largest game reserve in Africa (800 square miles in Kenya and more in Tanzania). After seeing a pride of 15 lions yesterday, the grunting of one as I went to sleep in a luxury tent was a bit disconcerting. The Masai wear the most wonderful red outfits as they herd livestock and have maintained their primitive culture which we learned about when visiting one of the small circular villages. We also saw a leopard, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, wart hogs, herds of various antelopes, and ostriches. I faced down my fear of hippos too as they only showed us their heads a bit. All in all it was a fun time with some of my fellow teachers here.
Well, today is Palm Sunday and it seems very strange that I was not able to attend church, but I certainly can imagine all the kids waving their palm branches as they entered church. I know this will be a solemn week for you spiritually, but we are the Easter people as Bob Crilley says! So here is wishing you all an early Happy Easter.
Suzanne
Saturday, March 10, 2012
1 John 3:17 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
Reading this passage in my Bible study this month, I am reminded of how so many of you live this admonition by John. But it was brought home to me by the giving of $500 by a friend of new members of FPCGV, Pat and Ben Beltzer. Their friend, Barty Shipp lives in OK but was moved by the loss of my luggage to give generously to help me. The money came just at the moment that I had made a pledge to pay the expenses of St. Edwin’s fledgling orphanage here for the month of March and was short the exact amount of that donation. God really is good all the time. Although the 25 pairs of pajamas were lost with the luggage by British Airways, the funds will be more helpful for food and school expenses. (BA is giving me some monies but not all!) Sometimes the orphans are encouraged to fast for spiritual reasons when I wonder if it is not for practical reasons! This, of course, is heart breaking. Please continue with your prayers for these little ones who could have a much brighter future than they have started with.
It has been more than a month since I wrote last in this blog due to an unusual occurrence of a lightening strike which hit us and fried our internet. So we have been without it for almost two weeks. Service is spotty anyway as a ship off the coast hit an internet cable with its anchor and severed it. TIK – This is as they say here often.
In that month, I have been keeping my nose to the classroom grindstone and staying close to home except for one visit to a colonial tea farm run by a British Lady who has lived here most of her life. It was a step back in time with an instructional time about tea production, a tour of the her tea fields and little forest followed by lunch in the gardens. It was truly a nice day with RVA friends. I also went into a suburb of called Karen (after Karen Blixon from “Out of Africa” whose home is there) and went to a restaurant called the Rusty Nail, obviously an old colonial home. We had lunch with Diane Bunny who is an artist who has lived her entire life in as her parents moved here early in their lives too. I hope to see her again and ask her more about ’s history which interests me a lot. I am reading a book called Kijabe, a novel which follows the Indian immigrants in during the 20th century. Kijabe is the name of the village that I live in. I am finding out more about the Hospital that was founded here in Kijabe about the same time as our school. So many capable doctors from many countries come here to serve. Dentists too as I am having excellent dental care here. They are all committed Christians who feel the call to serve. Kenyans come from all over the country to be treated here as they know it is excellent care at an affordable price. You see the families of patients sitting outside on the grass waiting for news. Local people are able to get care also for their families in the day clinic. The hospital is just outside the gates of our school. I had a lovely guided walk past the hospital to its cemetery (I always find them interesting and historical) and beyond to the homes of the doctors who have the most magnificent view across the Rift Valley, one of the perks! Then we walked around , founded here to educate pastors through the to spread the gospel around . So you can see little Kijabe is a real mission station including the , the , and the .
I met Elisha, a middle aged taxi driver, who walked here from far away as a teenager after losing 7 of his 14 siblings to hunger. He had heard of the mission station and felt it was his only hope of survival. He was taken in by an elderly missionary couple and educated. He has built up a thriving business taking missionaries and doctors various places. I met one of his sons who is an accountant at an orphanage called ’s Village who is carrying on this legacy of giving and caring. Elisha is also an old friend of the family of my helper, Lisa. Everyone’s stories are interrelated. Lisa tells me that with her own 9 siblings, she is usually related to many around Kijabe. So she says one must be careful who to date and be sure you are not closely related!
My students continue to astound me with their faith focused educational goals and diligence. They do not complain and even exhort one another with Bible verses about the consequences of doing so. One of my personal goals was to be less judgmental and complaining, so I am learning from my students as I teach them Spanish. Most of them are taking in stride my not returning next year and are confident that God will provide a replacement. This may sound like they are not interested in me personally which is not the case. They are also very relational which I love. There are so many I could highlight, but let me tell you of just one, Bea. She was adopted by an American missionary couple who have an orphanage for 300 on the . She is a joyful young lady, a hard working student, and an accomplished athelete. She will be attending Vanderbilt next year on a full scholarship. She is the African in the picture on the home page. Quite impressive! And there are many like her. The students are always in class, always do their homework, and thank me for teaching that day. The investment in their future is an investment in a better world. Thank you to all of you who support this calling with your prayers and encouragement.
I do get a bit homesick once in a while, but I know I must stay in the moment as this is a fleetingly Christ filled one. Growing in Christ, Suzanne
February 4, 2012
1 Chronicles 21:24 - King David upon being offered free materials and oxen to build an altar to God replied, “I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”
Our RVA chaplain chose this verse before the offering last Sunday and I have thought about it quite a bit, especially at our daily faculty prayer and tea time. There is hardly a day goes by that someone doesn’t ask for prayers for a close family member with a serious condition. After these six months here, I can see that the greatest cost for the missionaries is the long distance from family members. They know that their elderly parents are also paying a high cost for their missionary work. As we all think about what we can do to further God’s work, I think we should keep in mind that it is not a true offering if it doesn’t cost us anything.
My suitcases never arrived but I seem to be surviving quite well without them. God has brought home the lesson to me that we don’t need to store up “stuff” here on earth. Some supplies such as AP mock tests and graduation tassles, etc. have had to be reordered at a greater cost due to shipping. But generally I have enough stuff even if I look a bit raggedy.
RVA had another student outreach day (I wish they had more even) and I went down into the valley to one of the IDP (internally displaced persons) camp and we all played with about 40 children that came to the big acacia tree that they call church. A little 8 yr. old called Naomi attached herself quietly to me and I was amazed at her reading ability as she read some verses to me from Philippians. Public school here is quite inadequate and the children cannot attend unless they can pay for uniforms, shoes, and books. I have made arrangements to go back down in a couple of weeks with one of our well respected workers, John, who preaches under the tree each week. I hope Naomi is there.
There are so many in need here and it takes time and prayer to decide where you will put your funds. One fledgling orphanage called St. Edwin’s won my heart before the break and now some of us are trying to help it (25 kids) become self sustaining. An accountant/angel has been hired to assess the needs and improve the diet of the children. His skills within the culture and loving heart are amazing. There is also a possibility that an international orphan’s organization will take them under their wing. It looks like they need at least $1500 a month to survive and so I am seriously hoping to become a captain for a month of the year to raise funds on an ongoing basis. Their living conditions are pretty dire but not as bad as the IDP children that I saw.
On a sunny Sunday afternoon two weeks ago, I took a taxi up the hill (too scared to take a matatu) to the lunch I was invited to at my helpers home. Lisa’s grandfather was a pastor and was paid in land, so her elderly mother has that advantage over other poor folks around. Lisa is the youngest of her 9 siblings and joyfully cares for her Mother while also mothering her two daughters Imani (faith in Kukuyu) and Rahab ( also grandma’s name). She made mutton stew and ugali, so it was a treat. I had a tour of the kitchen hut out back next to the chicken and sheep huts. There is no running water, so water is a challenge. They are lucky to have a well but it is very hard to pull up the water and then it must be boiled. Now I feel guilty that Lisa cleans my shower and yet never has that luxury of a hot shower. And how does she feel when she uses our washing machine……. Then goes home to more primitive washing, cleaning, gathering firewood, sheep caring, etc. She is a smart, happy, and hard working single mother who is so grateful for what she has. I am lucky to know her.
Last weekend was the ladies retreat for RVA and other missionary ladies around at the (see pics and history online), an old plantation from the British colonial period. It is very lovely. Naomi, Amy, and I (the three RVA newbies this year) roomed together and renewed our trio friendship. I heard some amazing stories from long term missionaries who braved some hair raising experiences from being stoned to talking machete toting attackers into a peaceful conclusion. Many come from a family tradition of mission work for many generations.
Well, this is getting long and I am sure you are busy. We have midterm break coming up and I will go to the Masai market and another tea plantation a la British style with friends.
I hope you are enjoying as good weather as we are. It is a bit dry as we could see Longaunat volcano brush burning across the way from where we watched the soccer game over the Rift valley this afternoon. That view is one more inspiration provided by God’s beautiful world. My prayer is that you may see someday. Blessings to all of you back home. Serving God in a small way, Suzanne
January 6, 2012 – Epiphany!
I read often a prayer from my Cursillo Walk:
“Come, Christ Our Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may feel Your Presence and serve as vessels of Your grace throughout our days.”
Paul in 2Co:4 talks about us being vessels. We all sometimes feel unworthy to be called God’s child. God does not create us as a glittering treasure chest, but as ordinary vessels of clay in which God pours himself into to reveal his glory. It doesn’t matter how many wounds or scars we have. It doesn’t matter if we feel we aren’t smart enough or spiritual enough to be used by God. Our worthiness is not the issue. Paul advises us to simply wrap ourselves in the love our Savior. As we are being transformed by his Spirit, our acts of love toward God and toward others fulfill every requirement of Jesus’ commandments.
I am back at Rift Valley Academy after a month holiday in the . My last entry on Nov. 14 was before the around the clock business here at RVA with exams and holiday celebrations began. Then it was off to to board the plane to . I didn’t realize that I so needed to be filled up with the familiarity of friends and family. I could physically feel that love giving me comfort and grounding as the days of my holiday at home sped by. Two weeks with Erica and Aurora and family dinners with the rest of the gang were tiring but joyful. Thanks to all that I got to chat with in between. When I entered my home church sanctuary I looked up at the stained glass cross and was tearful because I have a picture here that I look at as I fall asleep each night and the connection to the reality of that picture was overwhelming. Now it will be easier to conjure up the true cross.
So now I have stepped back into this other planet called RVA. I had forgotten how lush and beautiful it is here. The view across the valley never ceases to take my breath away. Plus the warmer weather is here with lovely crisp and sunny days. After all the rain they had while I was gone the flowers are spectacular. It was so much easier to come back with so many familiar faces and hugs. We were all glad to see each other. The students are getting back into the swing too. Today is Epiphany and so I attempted to make Three Kings Day cakes with baby Jesus dolls hidden inside. They were so appreciative and complimentary. These kids are worthy of all my efforts and I know as I serve them, they will one day serve God in greater capacities. As I look at them and other Kenyan friends, I am already feeling future separation anxiety. How will I feel when I cannot see them daily? This feeling is more intense as I had made a final decision in the last few weeks about my future here. My commitment was for one year, but the administration had been talking to me from quite early on about staying longer. I was flattered that my efforts were appreciated. Many come here for one year and stay for many years. After much prayer and thought and talks with family though, I feel that my calling here is for just the one year. I also feel a calling to be a good granny and aunt and find other ways to serve God closer to home. I made it official by talking to the superintendent and others this week, and I am at peace with that decision. Also there is a sense of relief knowing that there are a couple of replacements for me in the works. There is no recruiting done for RVA as they feel strongly that God will lead people here to serve. It has worked very well for them for 100 years and so the strength of this place lies in the commonality of purpose, serving God.
One blip on this week’s horizon has been the disappearance of my four bags en route.. Thanks to friends that are pounding the British Airways desk to find them there is hope. The 25 pairs of pajamas for orphans here and my bagpipes to be donated to the music department are the things I would despair of. We spent much time in Kohl’s finding the right pajamas for the kids. Edwin’s orphanage is a fledgling place, but teachers here are getting it on the right track as I learned at a meeting this week. Pray for the reappearance of the bags!
Here’s wishing you all a Happy New Year and I will see you all in August. I feel lucky to still feel like Grapevine is home. Many here don't feel like the US is home anymore as they have been here so long. Remember the Fruit of the Spirit and that we are all too blessed to be stressed, love, Suzanne
Nov. 14, 2011
PRAY FOR
Every Friday the entire school meets outside in the courtyard for the flag raising and we sing the lovely words of the Kenyan national anthem:
God of all creation, bless this our land and nation.
Justice be our shield and defender.
May we dwell in unity, peace and liberty.
Plenty be found within our borders.
has only been independent since 1963 and yet 70 – 80% have become Christians in the last 75 years or so. Stability seemed to be in sigtht with the peaceful passing of the new constitution last year. She has accepted thousands of Somalian refugees, victims of a politically caused famine. But has now invaded in search of the Al Shabab terrorists that threaten stability and economic progress here. So please pray for .
On a lighter note, I met a tall dark Masai warrior ---- about midnight last week when I opened my door to investigate a whirring sound. He was dressed all in black from tall head to toe. Having no instincts for defense, I asked, “May I help you?” He shined his flashlight on me and introduced himself as a security guard. We chatted quite a while about his Masai life and family in the valley. He asked if I would like to buy some of the jewelry that his wife makes. So at midnight business was accomplished. He told me next time I should hop back in my little home. The next Sat. he brought me a spear and rungu (a large club).
On the teaching end, I got a kick out of teaching Spanish family vocabulary by means of Father Abraham’s family tree… what a kick! It just seemed naughty as that would not fly in the public school.
I have been reading a book called Third Culture Kids since most of my students have a greater allegiance to their African country than their home country (or their parents). The dilemmas they face in not knowing where they belong sometimes and not understanding their home culture well struck a cord of recognition for me. Suddenly I realized why I make cultural errors and yearned for roots as a kid…. I am a 3rd culture kid/older folk. And so another epiphany moment while taking time to ponder my life while here at RVA. Surely God had multi purposes in calling me here. Wow, how cool to figure yourself out in your sixties! I have been doing some flip videos here to go along with this book and School in the Clouds for the Sunday school class on Dec. 4th. Hope you can come.
Saturday a young guy I sat next to on the plane coming here came to RVA with his wife who works at a rival school in (Rossyln). He and I talked most of the way to as he is a advocate for politically imprisoned Christians in . It was great to see him again and we chatted during the soccer game they were here for.
We had about 8 student baptisms here yesterday. It was lovely with everyone gathered on the grass around the cement pool. Some kids were in trees which reminded me of Zacheas. The older ones had heartfelt testimonies about their commitment. At each event, I get to know someone better. This time it was Carolyn Kinzer, the asst. super’s wife. She pointed to the last song listed, “The Lord Bless you and Keep You.” I got very excited as this is what makes me the most homesick when I listen to it. But then it was an entirely different song. She promised to listen to the version that always brings me to tears here.
Next week we will simultaneously celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas. My young teacher friends and I are planning a big dinner with turkeys and everything! The Christmas concert is two days before and we will carol in Spanish to the Kenyan workers too, so as usual all the cultures come together in a warm unique way.
I am looking forward to long showers, my favorite foods and drinks, a disposal, dishwasher but most of all seeing my family and friends after 4 months. God keep you well and happy until I see you soon, God bless, Suzanne
Hello, all,
I have had trouble posting to my blog and it isn't my usual technology incompetence.. RVA has been having a lot of issues with the internet on campus this week. As they say here, “This is ”.
It has been over 2 weeks since I wrote last. We had a 5 day midterm break and the chaplain and his wife (Baylor grads) took 3 of us young teachers and me to Simba Lodge on about an hour north of here in the valley.. It was amazing with lovely rooms looking out onto zebras and giraffes wandering around the grounds toward the lake. We could stand a few feet from these animals. The hippos could be seen yawning out in the lake. Thank goodness they were not in the shallows at the edge like on the Nile in . They do come in toward the hotel at night, so I was glad we were on the second floor. It was so strange to be in luxury with non alcoholic drinks on the veranda and around the pool. TV was an amazing memory! A massage was just the tip of that culture shock. After two days of that pampering, it was back to my little abode on campus. We did another trip into and had lunch in a posh restaurant at Village Mall and went to the Masai market also. My days of bargaining are over. Way over the top!!! My helper Lisa works at that market, so I just tell her what I want and she gets the “dealer price”. I bought a small microwave and am so enjoying one that works!
With the students gone, it was like the first 3 weeks of this experience, but this time I really missed their noises. From my apt. I can usually hear the “titchies” on their playground behind me, the soccer players on the field in front, and the cacophony of instruments being practiced from the band hall to the side of me. Kids wander through our compound. It is a lovely mixture of life and hope. Add to this mix is the whooping of the colobus monkeys that are scampering loudly on our roofs and jumping into the loquat trees to get the fruit. They seem to prefer to make their chorus at 5 AM. They look like bounding skunks and it is really exotic. Everyone says to keep the windows closed as they can get through the bars and wreak havoc in your kitchen.
This last week we had multicultural day when the students celebrate their home culture and their adopted one in . About 50 countries were represented by their outfits, flag wearing and waving, and it was so heartwarming. These kids really prefer their adopted culture more often than their home one. They are identified in books as “Third Culture Kids” as they are a mix of the two. My Spanish students all sang a Christian rock song by Seth Condrey called “Dios Nos Ama”. They did a great job and I had to keep the tears back as they were so enthusiastic (They always are) on the stage. I already have separation anxiety about leaving them. They are so deserving.
I have some great pics of these two events and when the internet behaves I will try to add them to the website.
There is some tension around here right now as for the first time in ’s history as an independent nation it has invaded another country, . The terrorist group Al Shabob has entered numerous times recently and killed Kenyans and abducted tourists. You can read about it online to get more info although I don’t see anything on my news source, NPR (the only one that I can get the audio on). We are taking some extra precautions although I cannot imagine any terrorists wanting to endure the huge pot-holed curvy road from the main road that leads to RVA. The jolts would detonate anything they are carrying! Most of the students are used to dangers and so are pretty calm about it, thank goodness, although some of the younger kids are fearful. The Kenyan officials are coming to inspect our security this week and make suggestions. I appreciate your prayers for the safety of all at RVA as we are the biggest concentration of Americans in Kenya.
Once again I thank you for your friendship, prayers, and support that bring me to these appreciative students whose parents are doing God's work in .
In the introductions to Hebrews in my Bible it says that old habits are comfortable referring to the Jewish Christians of the first century that had to adjust to their new faith. Standing in front of the entire school to give my "story" was quite uncomfortable and yet good for me. This passage encourages me to get better at it.
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good, and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
Some of you have wondered how the story of my spiritual journey went and so I have decided to give you the text to decide for yourselves. People here have been honing theirs for many years and have very uplifting stories, but mine is what it is.
RVA CHAPEL TIME – “MY STORY”
Just like many of you I find the question “where are you from?” difficult. Outward signs like my accent would not give away that I was born in . Nor would most guess that I spent my early years chatting away in Spanish with the neighborhood kids in , in . God has mysterious ways of getting us ready to serve him. I have spent a lifetime getting ready to come here and use these gifts to serve the students of RVA. It just took God a really long time to get me ready as you can see.
My parents were not missionaries but rather in the international cotton industry which took us to many parts of the world, so I understand the MK’s plight of leaving friends behind. My parents were church goers but our Christianity was just discussed at church and Sunday school. My mother’s faith grew during our time in as she had more time to study there. Once arriving to , we all went to church as a family, and I particularly remember writing and putting on a play with a friend that we titled, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” I think that must have made a big impression on me because it seems that from that time on, I sought more and more opportunities to serve God’s children. As far as studying and understanding the Bible, that came later as I became very involved in high school with the youth group at church and later I attended a Christian university in called , one I would highly recommend.
Then in 1970 I went to to begin my teaching career and was there 16 years. I was married and had my two children there, but I found south a difficult place to be involved in church life. There were very few churches. Life was hard with both of us working multiple jobs and raising kids. There was an emptiness there that I knew how I must fill. I knew that I was not inviting God into my life the way I wanted to. I yearned to get back to so my kids could know their grandparents, and we could go back to my childhood church where I thought I could fill this emptiness. Fortunately, in 1986 we were able to move to a town near Dallas called Grapevine which is 10 minutes away from where your very own Peifers live when they are on furlough. My childhood church seemed just too rote and rigid now as my faith had grown to where I wanted a closer walk with God for myself and my children. The church we found became truly a church family for us where we could grow spiritually by means of Christian education and ministry experiences. I was looking forward to the day when I would be retired and have more time for volunteer work. Then I realized that teaching was a type of volunteer work considering the pay scale! But I thanked God for all my blessings and even told him I felt guilty for not having suffered much in my life. At this point, God must have taken my prayer very seriously.
Then a very sad decade began in 1991 when my older brother was given three months to live. He had lung cancer and as it was summer vacation, I was able to care for him until his last breath. Amazingly, although it was sad, I was elated at how close I felt to God during this time and at his death. I really felt God speaking to me. Four years later, my Dad was given the same prognosis and again I held his hand as he broke the surly bonds of earth and went to be with his maker. Then I took care of my mother in my home until her death 7 years later. Again, being with her at the end of her life and seeing her strong faith keeping her confident to the end helped me to understand the cycle of life that the Lord has planned for us and that we are not to be afraid of death. I feel that I needed to experience this suffering because as Paul says in Romans 5:3-5 “we rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us.”
Many of my responsibilities ended at this time with both my children away at university and my retirement in 2002. I thought surely that God would call me to serve him in a greater capacity than the short mission trips to and and other work I had been doing. Because now I had plenty of time to go. But no, God needed me to continue to grow and prepare for a bigger commitment. So I waited and prayed and listened to Nancy and Steve Peifer whenever they came to visit our church. After 5 years of prayer and searching and waiting, I knew that the need for a Spanish teacher at RVA was the calling I had been waiting for. It came at the time of the birth of my first grandchild, so of course, all my grandmother friends were amazed and puzzled that I would get out of my rocking chair and go to . But with the support of my family, here I am, grateful to be in this caring, Godly community. Whatever I can do in Kenya that is pleasing to God I will try my best to do.
My advice to you is be patient with God for He knows when you are ready to follow his calling.
Jambo, everyone,
I can see the valley clearly now from points around campus as the days are getting warmer and clearing the mist. The Rift Valley is a wonderful sight to behold. Speaking of eyes, I like this passage from Matthew 6:22. "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness."
I just wanted to share that verse because the staff and students of RVA are so accepting of each other and myself and so full of passion for the Word that their eyes shine bright.
Thank you for all your prayers during my illness. I think that echolie was perhaps a drastic diagnosis because Cipro did an amazingly quick cure. Now I have a supply on hand so I don't have to walk to the Kijabe Hospital to get it when I am sick with that again which apparently is most probable.
A week and a half ago our school community went through some wrenching mourning for a staff member who left here a few weeks ago to be on furlough and died from a brain aneurism. He had 8 children, some adopted Kenyans, that of course attended school with our students. He was well loved and will be missed. It was an amazing experience to see RVA come together and hold each other up. Being able to pray in class with the students was a first for me. It was a difficult time, but the students are moving on but keeping the family in our prayers daily.
I have been working day and night (brings to five Dolly Partons' song "workin' 9 to 9 - missionary midnight) on my classes as I got behind and I assigned a Mexican Independence Project. So many cultures coming together! Then last Saturday was the first time I had been off campus to go grocery shopping in 5 weeks. The Nakumat (Nairobi Walmart) seemed like Disney World to me! Wow! Pringles! My new dish drainer was the most exciting purchase and oh a non stick pan. Sat. night was my first "Caring Community" of 5 seventh grade girls in my tiny mouse house, but we played Catch Phrase and had ice cream, so they seemed to enjoy it. We do that once a month. This Sat. night we are discussing the "relationship policy" with the whole campus in the dorms. It is Biblically based and really quite healthy especially with this small encapsulated community.
My evenings are taken up on Tuesdays with small group and Wednesdays with dorm coverage.
I am quite tired at the end of the teaching day. By the grapevine I hear that my students feel I am extremely challenging but not boring. The altitude and my busy schedule has kept me from exercising much, so do not expect a svelt Suzanne in December when I come for a visit to Grapevine! Yes, they have decided it is safe to let me go. I have my ticket and will be in GV for Dec. 1st. I am planning on talking at around the coffee pot Sunday school class on the 4th about RVA before going to visit ERica and family in San Diego. It is exciting to think about alll the friends I will see again and all the amenities and luxuries I will sample!
Next Friday we begin a 5 day midterm break when the students go home for a visit or at least if that is too far, go to stay with a guardian. Some of my young friends and the older chaplain couple ( Baylor grads!) are going on some field trips with me. One night in Naivasha at Simba Lodge, a picnic at the Hippo Island (you know I had a bad experience with one), flamingos in masses, weavers village, tea lady, swimming, giraffes, etc. form the veranda. I am so excited. The big safari park is 4 hours away, but we are just going to the 1 hour away one. Fine with me as the main road is trecherous! This week we had about 8 colobus monkeys (look like large skunks) in our trees and on our roofs as they wanted the loquats from our trees. They woke me up at 5 AM doing their loud call. But it is really exotic to look out your window and see them. Much better than the baboons because the dogs keep them off the ground.
Thank you for your prayers for my "testimony" in front of the whole school around the Kenyan flag raising in the courtyard. I think it went okay. I got a giggle when I apologized for "my story" being so long as I have a long spiritual journey to share out of these 62 years. I realized I have quite a bit in common with these "3rd culture kids" who don't know how to answer the question "Where are you from". Well, I am proud to be from Grapevine now as it has been my home for 25 years now. Well, this is my chit chat for this week. I must do my bit to employ the locals, so the pedicure lady ($3.00) is arriving soon. I will send a picture of my stunning house helper next time. ( $5 a day). We are encouraged to have these people and they won't let us pay them more than the going rate or we upset the norm. So I wish you all well and many blessings. See you in 8 weeks! Salama, Suzanne
This is one of the favorite sayings around RVA, and I am seeing their context for it. Despite some dangers of living in this area of the world, the need is so great that it is a small price to pay. These students here at RVA are so used to it that they have a very open approach to life. During this second week of school, I am getting in tune to these "Third Culture Kids". I went with about 20 kids yesterday on Outreach Day (80% voluntary participation!). Our assignment was to build a stone and mud house down in the valley. I have attached some pictures of us working. The wood and roof were in place but in 5 hours we managed to almost finish the walls. I had an army of little ones bringing me stones to fit together into a semblance of a solid wall. The male chaperones were amazed at how hard Amy, the other female chaperone, and I worked! Not bad for a retiree! The future owners of this house, the father Paul and his wife Ester ( 9 kids) were very happy to make so much progress. Tribal conflicts had made it necessary for them to move. We were tired, sore, and had scarred hands at the end, but the boys managed to have a major mud fight, so I ducked behind the Land Rover. Well, I will keep this short as I have plans to walk the guard trail (hopefully no more baboons this time!) with the other singles and I have papers to grade and lesson plans to make later. I have been contemplating on and off today the last ten years after 9-11 and hoping we as a nation have made some progress in diffusing terrorist leanings amongst young radicals. I feel God can lead us to achieve that if we listen to him. Talk to you next week!
Salama, Suzanne
Ephesians 4: 11-16 - It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers to prepare God's people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
My reason for teaching at RVA have arrived! The campus is so different now with kids everywhere and at all hours! Last week I got to see the missionary parents as they brought their kids for the first time. It was an honor to see who I am serving by teaching their kids. I have met even more teachers that are very committed and have been here for many years. One teacher my age, Candace, is involved with a Kenyan couple trying to keep their orphanage together. It is called St. Edwin's and I hope to go visit it soon. Please pray for Candace as she is having some serious health problems.
I have survived the first week of classes and the students have reacted positively to my energetic approach to learning Spanish. Of course, they are already at least bilingual, so they are ahead of me. It is so different from public school. Kids are respectful and trustworthy and appreciative! It is a great place for them. They get an excellent education plus they have a dorm Mom who is loving. They can participate in sports, music, the arts, mentoring, etc. They are all outside around the hockey fields as we also exercise around them. Biblican truths are to be integrated into every subject too. The chaplain's wife brought me flowers before my very first class and prayed over me. Then we have chapel everyday and chai (Kenyan tea) time for faculty prayer needs. The sense of community is so uplifting.
With three preparations I am spending a lot of time getting acquainted with the curriculum. Plus the technology aids are a learning curve for me, but everyone is helpful. There are two students coming for help to my apt. in a while, so we are on all the time if so choose! Then Nancy Peiffer is going to try to get me understanding the online grade book, etc. It is fun to see Nancy and Steve in their home environment here at RVA as I know so many of you support their ministries from GPCGV. I hope to participate in Kenya Kids Can soon.
This week I have the Birthday Club on Monday evening, small group on Tuesday, Wednesday I spot one dorm's house parents for an evening, Thursday evening is another dinner with my fellow singles. On Saturday I am going to build a mud house in the valley. That should be a unique experience. Well, I could go on and on, but I will save something for next time. At the African Inland Church this morning we sang Great Is Thy Faithfulness, and I felt like I was transported back home although the choir looked quite different! I will try to add pictures next week. May you all have a glorious and cooler week. It is still winter here and so delightully cool. Blessings to you all, Suzanne
Luke 12:48 From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
It is my hope that I will be giving much and then much more as I have been blessed so much myself.
After 4 days of Kiswahili, I can't say much more than Jambo (hi) and Salama(peace), but I do greet all of you on this Sunday that I miss being with you. Well, church service last week was really enjoyable. My beloved Fruit of the Spirit were on banners hung from the ceiling and one of the musical pieces was "Shine, Jesus, Shine" so I felt right at home. Pastor Simon a US educated pastor gave a great sermon too. There were a few different things( Youth Sunday).... we were asked to move to a new pew at one point to meet new people!
During the week we had meetings and Swahili lessons and I got my classroom in order. It is so close to my little apt. I will have over an hour for lunch with two other breaks in the day. Plus my classes are all less than 12students! There is a waterfall and pond outside my classroom, so I can transport myself mentally to my back yard in Grapevine. I had quite a job getting the classroom in order, but I am close to finished. With three levels, there is a lot of curriculum to peruse too.
Each day of Swahili we would go out into the community to practice and the locals got quite a kick out of our attempts. We have eaten at the local diner and bought veggies from the duka ladies.. very cheap. some vendors come to our doors selling samosas, tortillas, English muffins, and flowers, etc. That is handy. I have become a better fire builder as each night we have one with the wood that our gardener brings with kindling. I have also hired a beautiful local girl( we are all encouraged to do this) who is staying long term with her sick mother (she usually works in Nairobi) to clean once a week. She will go shopping for me and do the laundry and cook, so I could get used to this.
We toured the Kijabe hospital which is quite efficient although seeing all the people around the outside is different from ours. They also perform operations for C.U.R.E which is next door (check out their website) I met one hospital administrator and his wife at church last week as we had met online through my friend Judy Brown, an SOL. Thanks, Judy! After going to Honduras, I find that the locals of Kijabe are in a better state with homes, jobs, etc. than those we saw in Honduras. but I am told that when we go into the Rift valley beyond that there are many many needs. Our first Outreach Day is Sept. 10th, so I will volunteer to go along that day.
The Peiffers and other teachers are arriving now as school starts in a week. So as I do errands around campus, I must engage in introductions that always last quite a while and are delightful. Remember it is all about relationships here. Through their eyes you can see the lamp of the Holy Spirit shinging through. They are all unique but amazing in their committment to serving the Lord.
Last evening I had all the single girls in our compound for taco soup and they are all so lovely. Today Naomi, my young Irish neighbor was walking the guard trail (I am home with a cold)around the compound and they ran into some baboons, so I may stick to the soccer field for exercise! Another girl found a loaf of bread stuck in her window because the monkey had gone in and tried to get it out!
Well, that is all for now. I will try to update this each Sunday. Salama, Suzanne