August update: La Grand Finale

La Grand Finale :)    Term 3 (and the school year) ended with lots of goodbyes. The staff turnover rate is always fairly large at RVA. I think this year was one of their highest at around 52%. I had to say goodbye to 2 of my girls and many special friends that were such a blessing to me. God has always been faithful to provide new friendships and I look forward to seeing the way He does that again. Already He has provided in a different way with a special little furry friend. :)   My Puppy Zawadi is a ton of fun and so sweet. He does not lack for any attention in a dorm full of girls.
Graduation: Graduation was quite the experience here.  To imagine it; think back to when you graduated from High school and were looking forward to but also maybe a little nervous about facing new adventures in college or life and multiply that by 5. Also throw in several variables such as; moving to another country far away from your family and anything you really know, leaving friends they have lived with for the last 4-8 years, and moving to a whole new culture. Then you start to get a little better feel for what these seniors are facing at RVA. Most of these kids have lived in Africa their whole lives with very little time spent in their home countries. It’s a whole new ball game for them.
Dorm Life: The girls finished out the year really well. They worked hard and were ready for their break. I am excited that I will have 13 returning girls this next term along with 3 new students. So if you do the math.. :) that gives me 16 girls this 1st term. I am looking forward to seeing the way God works in my girl’s lives this year. To see them mature and grow in their walks with Him. Please continue to pray for each one as they learn to seek Him daily.   ““We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:9-10
ABO and Break:
Immediately after Graduation I moved all the rental Furniture I have been using the past year and moved in furniture of the Dorm mom below me that is going on home assignment. That was an answer to prayer that God provided. I was only allowed to rent furniture for 1 year then would have to find other options, but thankfully, Candace asked me to furniture-sit her things!

Monday I headed into Nairobi and met my Dad at Mayfield guest house. He flew in earlier that afternoon. We enjoyed catching up that night and the next morning before he headed to Tenwek Hospital where He will be until September 30th and I headed to Machakos (1.5 hrs. south of Nairobi) where I would spend the next 3 weeks being orientated to Africa. :) Never too late I suppose? These 3 weeks had their own difficulties;  long meetings to sit through day after day, living dorm style with people you don’t know, running out of water (with 90 other people!!).  But at the same I was also encouraged greatly to hear the ministry reports of the different serving regions where AIM works. It was really cool to see the places where some of my girl’s family works and to hear the impact we at RVA have in serving those families.  I  was also greatly challenged by one of our speakers who came to present sharing the gospel with Muslims. This man (a Kenyan) knew so much scripture and passages from the Quran. He could name verses left and right. That really challenged me to continue growing in my knowledge of God’s Word as it is the best “tool” we have been given in evangelism.  Not to mention one of the greatest blessings to us as the Word of God. The other aspect I really enjoyed was the relationship building with many new families coming to RVA this next year,   other new friends that will go all over Africa, and the staff who were a huge blessing and encouragement to me.
Ministry Opportunities: A new year with new opportunities! This year instead of teaching, I will be working up in the office as an assistant to the principal.  I am excited to have a break from teaching and be able to focus all my planning on the dorm but still be able to fill a need in a different role.
I will also be co-leading a small-group of 9th or 10th grade girls in a year-long Sunday school that will focus on Biblical Femininity. I am very excited for the chance to study this with these girls. I am looking forward to learning alongside of them as we dig into God’s Word to study this year.
Another opportunity I think I mentioned in the last update was being one of the “Chappie ladies”,(as our dear Chaplain’s wife termed it last year) helping reach out to the other single women on Campus. I will be the only returning single this term at RVA so I am praying for wisdom and direction in how I can be a blessing to these new women that are coming.
I am excited that I may be able to help with the PT department at the beginning of term by helping teach a taping class to the new student helpers this year.  I will be glad to use my abilities and training to help out at RVA.
I can’t thank you enough for your faithful support in prayers and friendship. I am continually blessed and encouraged by the body of Christ. I know that I could not do any of this in my own strength. God is so faithful and I am excited to see what He does in this next year. Please be praying for direction after this year. Usually RVA starts trying to nail down staffing around Christmas time. So I have started to pray for God’s leading and the next step after I finish this 2 year commitment. Thank you for praying with me!