I am almost overwhelmed by my own tardiness and the overload of information I could share since I last sent out an update.. (And whose fault is that but my own?? :) ) I will try to organize my thoughts without bombarding you with a HUGE letter.
I should update you on a few prayer items as well!
Work Permit- STILL WAITING on news.. I was able to update my visitor Visa one more time, so I now have until June 23rd to get my permit.. This would be so helpful to have!! Please pray for favor in the eyes of the Kenyan government.
Support: I am continually humbled and grateful for the Lord's provision.. He uses so many of you to come behind me and provide for the financial needs that it takes to live here in Kenya. In March, I received the whole monthly amount, Praise the Lord!
Rain: If you noticed the heading, you can see that God has brought the rains to Kijabe (and most of Kenya really). Everything is so green again and I have heard from several of my Kenyan friends that their Shambas (gardens) are growing again. We are truly thankful for these rains. (even if it does bring cold weather and hoards of bugs. :P hehe)
Term 2 (My first term back)
I believe I shared before that during term 2 my girls (Juniors) were putting on the Jr/Sr. Banquet (BQ here) and that pretty much consumed them last term. It ended up being a lot of fun for them. In their words, "The most fun I never want to have again". :) They worked soo hard to put on a beautiful BQ. The theme was Narnia. I have a few pictures of my beautiful girls I will share.
All gussied up for BQ
Already love these girls so much. :)
Got to do lots of hair! :)
Because this was my first term with the girls in their Junior year, it took awhile to settle in and get to know the girls. With the girl's school commitments, Sports, and BQ it left little time for extra relationships. However, the Lord was good and did provide little windows of time here and there that were so special to be able to really start getting to know these sweet girls. I try to do coffee dates some afternoons. I also have the birthday dinners with whichever girl has a birthday. They get to invite any siblings here at RVA and usually a friend or two to join them. I love these times with the girls! A favorite request is PIZZA. No surprise there. :)
A couple of other activities I was/am involved in recently are getting to lead worship at church sometimes, helping coordinate the student Interim trips (Week-long field trips around Kenya and neighboring countries to study culture and experiences unique to that area), hosting a ladies' Bible-study group at my house, and I will occasionally help with the JV Volleyball team this term (3rd term).
Dorm Party fun: played Knock-Out and a few other games
They said they were the "losers" since they got out first.. silly girls
ready to eat some desserts and play more games.. we finished off the night with watching "Newsies"
I should update you on a few prayer items as well!
Work Permit- STILL WAITING on news.. I was able to update my visitor Visa one more time, so I now have until June 23rd to get my permit.. This would be so helpful to have!! Please pray for favor in the eyes of the Kenyan government.
Support: I am continually humbled and grateful for the Lord's provision.. He uses so many of you to come behind me and provide for the financial needs that it takes to live here in Kenya. In March, I received the whole monthly amount, Praise the Lord!
Rain: If you noticed the heading, you can see that God has brought the rains to Kijabe (and most of Kenya really). Everything is so green again and I have heard from several of my Kenyan friends that their Shambas (gardens) are growing again. We are truly thankful for these rains. (even if it does bring cold weather and hoards of bugs. :P hehe)
Term 2 (My first term back)
I believe I shared before that during term 2 my girls (Juniors) were putting on the Jr/Sr. Banquet (BQ here) and that pretty much consumed them last term. It ended up being a lot of fun for them. In their words, "The most fun I never want to have again". :) They worked soo hard to put on a beautiful BQ. The theme was Narnia. I have a few pictures of my beautiful girls I will share.
All gussied up for BQAlready love these girls so much. :)Got to do lots of hair! :)Because this was my first term with the girls in their Junior year, it took awhile to settle in and get to know the girls. With the girl's school commitments, Sports, and BQ it left little time for extra relationships. However, the Lord was good and did provide little windows of time here and there that were so special to be able to really start getting to know these sweet girls. I try to do coffee dates some afternoons. I also have the birthday dinners with whichever girl has a birthday. They get to invite any siblings here at RVA and usually a friend or two to join them. I love these times with the girls! A favorite request is PIZZA. No surprise there. :)
A couple of other activities I was/am involved in recently are getting to lead worship at church sometimes, helping coordinate the student Interim trips (Week-long field trips around Kenya and neighboring countries to study culture and experiences unique to that area), hosting a ladies' Bible-study group at my house, and I will occasionally help with the JV Volleyball team this term (3rd term).
Dorm Party fun: played Knock-Out and a few other games
They said they were the "losers" since they got out first.. silly girlsready to eat some desserts and play more games.. we finished off the night with watching "Newsies"
New Responsibilities
In March, I took over the travel job for one of my fellow staff members whose load was especially heavy. This is a huge job!! It is not so bad during the course of the term, but since I took it over with just a month left in the term I was bombarded with just how great the details of this job were. Imagine coordinating travel to countries all over Africa for 250+ students and you get the picture of what my job might look like..Yep..madness. :)
On departure day I was up at 4:00am to start getting our kids ready and on the road by 5am.. Just some of the headaches were having a bus not start (realizing this after we had 44 students loaded with luggage) and having to suddenly shuffle vehicles and students around, vehicles not being usable(broken down) after planning on them being available, last-minute visa troubles, traffic that caused our bus driver to sit for 6hours on the way home from the airport, airlines overbooking their plane by 12 PASSENGERS and telling our kids they would have to be the ones to stay behind, and a host of other minor problems that when added up caused me to be very thankful when departure day was behind us. :) All that set me up for ARRIVAL day being a whole lot less stressful even though we had kids showing up at the airport without communicating ahead of time when they were coming and would need a ride. I am glad to start the term with a better idea of how I want to plan for this next term so I can get a leg-up for 12 weeks from now and another departure day. :P
VAC (how students call it anyway.. :) shortened from Vacation)
I went to Tenwek for a week immediately after school was out.. I was able to spend time with Dad and other friends at Tenwek. I then spent 4 days with a couple friends leading the Children's VBS program for the WGM (Tenwek family) annual retreat. We really enjoyed the time with the kids.. always nice for a change of pace from teens to kids ;). We did the Agency D3 VBS program from last year.. it was so good! Discovering God's truths about who Jesus is, Did he die and rise again. Deciding if you believe it to be true, and Defending the Gospel.. So many important truths and it was right after Easter which really seemed to impact the kids.
Emily and Cassandra, my 2 friends and fellow HS dorm moms, and I then went to Turtle Bay Beach club in Malindi for 5 days.. It was such a wonderful time of relaxing and spending time together with these sweet friends! The last week of Vac I was back at RVA preparing for Term 3 in the Dorm and the travel responsibilities with Arrival day.
On departure day I was up at 4:00am to start getting our kids ready and on the road by 5am.. Just some of the headaches were having a bus not start (realizing this after we had 44 students loaded with luggage) and having to suddenly shuffle vehicles and students around, vehicles not being usable(broken down) after planning on them being available, last-minute visa troubles, traffic that caused our bus driver to sit for 6hours on the way home from the airport, airlines overbooking their plane by 12 PASSENGERS and telling our kids they would have to be the ones to stay behind, and a host of other minor problems that when added up caused me to be very thankful when departure day was behind us. :) All that set me up for ARRIVAL day being a whole lot less stressful even though we had kids showing up at the airport without communicating ahead of time when they were coming and would need a ride. I am glad to start the term with a better idea of how I want to plan for this next term so I can get a leg-up for 12 weeks from now and another departure day. :P
VAC (how students call it anyway.. :) shortened from Vacation)
I went to Tenwek for a week immediately after school was out.. I was able to spend time with Dad and other friends at Tenwek. I then spent 4 days with a couple friends leading the Children's VBS program for the WGM (Tenwek family) annual retreat. We really enjoyed the time with the kids.. always nice for a change of pace from teens to kids ;). We did the Agency D3 VBS program from last year.. it was so good! Discovering God's truths about who Jesus is, Did he die and rise again. Deciding if you believe it to be true, and Defending the Gospel.. So many important truths and it was right after Easter which really seemed to impact the kids.
Emily and Cassandra, my 2 friends and fellow HS dorm moms, and I then went to Turtle Bay Beach club in Malindi for 5 days.. It was such a wonderful time of relaxing and spending time together with these sweet friends! The last week of Vac I was back at RVA preparing for Term 3 in the Dorm and the travel responsibilities with Arrival day.
Looking ahead
I have one more girl coming on Saturday. She had passport trouble so was delayed in her return.. Please pray for her safety as she travels from Lesotho (said, Lasutu) and then has to play catch-up for a week's worth of school.
I am looking forward to this term! Always good to start another term with the same group of girls.. I think this is the time you really start growing deeper with each other. Please be praying for continual wisdom for me to guide the girls and speak truth into their lives when I am able. Pray that the Lord would work in their hearts to continue seeking Him. At chapel today, the speaker challenged us to live our lives "Biblically". Referencing the verse from 2. Timothy 3:16,17 " All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." That if we TRULY believe this verse to be true, than it should be influencing the way we live.. I am praying my girls, and I, will really take this challenge to heart. That His Word would be precious to us, that we would seek out His truths and that it would affect every part of our lives.
The girls will start pursuing college decisions a little more seriously this term. I also have at least one girl who will not be returning next year for her senior year. This is such a hard thing for her, but her family is moving back to the states so she will go with them and really face a lot of transition. We will miss her so much next year!
I am so thankful for each one of you..
Serving with you,
Amy Jarrett
I have one more girl coming on Saturday. She had passport trouble so was delayed in her return.. Please pray for her safety as she travels from Lesotho (said, Lasutu) and then has to play catch-up for a week's worth of school.
I am looking forward to this term! Always good to start another term with the same group of girls.. I think this is the time you really start growing deeper with each other. Please be praying for continual wisdom for me to guide the girls and speak truth into their lives when I am able. Pray that the Lord would work in their hearts to continue seeking Him. At chapel today, the speaker challenged us to live our lives "Biblically". Referencing the verse from 2. Timothy 3:16,17 " All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." That if we TRULY believe this verse to be true, than it should be influencing the way we live.. I am praying my girls, and I, will really take this challenge to heart. That His Word would be precious to us, that we would seek out His truths and that it would affect every part of our lives.
The girls will start pursuing college decisions a little more seriously this term. I also have at least one girl who will not be returning next year for her senior year. This is such a hard thing for her, but her family is moving back to the states so she will go with them and really face a lot of transition. We will miss her so much next year!
I am so thankful for each one of you..
Serving with you,
Amy Jarrett
