RVA December update Amy Jarrett PO Box 80, Kijabe, Kenya 00220
Hello my dear friends! So much has happened since I last wrote. I am sorry for the long break in between updates. The last of the term finished out with all the craziness that everyone warned me about. The weekend before school let out we had a dorm Christmas party. It was dessert themed and I had lots of requests for milkshakes. I am always amazed at the amount of food these girls can consume. J We had a great time eating, playing games, doing a craft, and listening to Christmas music. This felt very strange having Christmas decorations and songs in the middle of November, but because the kids won’t be here for Christmas, they like to celebrate it early. The last week was really stressful for the girls as they had many finals and projects due. It was easy to tell that the girls and I were very ready for the upcoming break! I had a couple days where I was discouraged because of bad attitudes the girls had and thought, “Lord, why do you have me here doing this, am I really adequate to be a “mom” to 17 teenage girls?!” I was encouraged by this verse the Lord gave me. “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:4-6 ESV) He is so faithful to give me these reminders from His word! I know that in my own strength, I am not adequate. But because of His calling me here, He has given me the sufficiency through Himself. The last day of dorm clean-up went so well for which I was so thankful after the stressful week. I was sad to see the girls leave but glad for them to have this month at home with their families and time of rest.
Classes finished up really well up at Titchie. I am still not sure what they are going to have me doing this next term but trust that God will only give me what He knows I can handle. As of now I will plan on continuing teaching both PE and Music, but the dean of women is really pushing for me to have less of a teaching load so I can devote more time to the dorm. I would love this, but am happy to continue if they are not able to work something else out. Please be praying for that to work out for the best and that I would be ready to tackle another term of teaching if God wants me to be there.
Vacation time! J Immediately as term was finished AIM held the eastern region conference at RVA. This was a 4 day conference. I really enjoyed the fellowship and meeting other missionaries around east Africa. Several single women stayed in my dorm so I was able to spend time with them. My new friend I met last year at the AIM candidate week in NY stayed with me and we had a Lord of the Rings Marathon each night as we are both big fans. J The theme of the week was “In His Hands” focusing on God’s sovereignty. This was so encouraging to me. Since conference, when I am reading my devotions I have looked specifically for verses talking about God’s sovereignty. It has been a really neat exercise to do. I loved this verse in Acts 17:24-28 “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’“ What a comfort to know that God has already determined our times and the places He would have us go and that we are able to trust Him and seek Him. He says He is not far from us! After conference I have enjoyed the rest and time with other friends here at RVA. I was blessed to be able to join two of my friends for a last minute trip to Mombasa (the beach!) this last week. We had such a good time enjoying the sunshine and relaxation. It has rained for 2 months straight at Kijabe! Since we have gotten back there have been 2 days of sunshine. So maybe the rains are finally letting up for what is supposed to be the dry season until about February. The rains were so bad that in Nairobi part of the main highway was washed away! It’s such a delicate balance here and how strongly people are affected by it. They need the rain for the crops, but when we get too much their farms flood, their homes are destroyed, or roads are ruined.
I am very excited to be picking up Tony and Holly Gordon, and Karen Long and her son on Wednesday. They will be staying for about a week. We will go to Tenwek after I show them around RVA. Please be praying for safe traveling as well as a special time of fellowship with these dear friends. We are hoping to make a few trips to see the orphans while they are here. I am very excited to see them! I am looking forward to being at Tenwek for Christmas with Dad and Rachel. I would really appreciate prayers for comfort while missing being with my family for my first Christmas away from home. I am so thankful that God blessed me to be able to be with Dad and Rachel, but it will be very hard to miss my other siblings and my precious nephews and nieces.
Thank you for praying with me about a ticket home in March/April. I couldn’t believe it, but I found an incredible deal for a roundtrip ticket with Turkish airlines to come home March 24th-April 15th. I am so thankful for this opportunity to come home and see the family as well as get to meet my new nephews and niece! J (This will be during the break after our 2nd term)
It is such a blessing to be a part of the body of Christ. To serve together in the different ministries that God calls us to. I love how when we pray together, we get to be blessed by seeing God’s answers and His name glorified. As always, I would love to hear from you! “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:3-6 ESV)
Serving with you,
Amy
