They say that humor is universal, but I struggle. It was a windy day, and I told a bunch of students that if they weren’t careful, they would take flight just like the Flying Nun. As they gave me puzzled blank looks, I made an urgent note to myself to UPDATE CULTURAL REFERENCES. As they stared at me, one of them said, “Nuns can fly?”

We had over thirty colleges visit in the past ten days, which is both thrilling and exhausting. Most RVA kids will never see a college before they show up, so being able to talk to reps is such an important opportunity for them. There were lots of eyes opened and lots of good conversations, but it is always nice to throw in a miracle.

Our musical for the term was Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. The guy that is our director is one talented person, and it was pretty spectacular. (Matthew was one of the brothers.) I was sitting next to the rep from a Christian college in Illinois who is African American, and when the sisters came on stage, she gasped. There were two African sisters and one Korean sister, and she whispered to me, “This isn’t stunt casting; this is just how it is here!” The grin didn’t leave her face the whole evening.

The miracle was this. Joel is a senior from RVA, and he had applied to St. Mary’s in California. St. Mary’s wasn’t here, but a rep from Messiah College was here, and they are best friends. The Messiah rep contacted the St. Mary’s rep and said, “You have GOT to take this kid; he stole the show!” And a college that was going to go to committee on Joel because he didn’t look strong enough has accepted him in the fall. Figuring out the odds of this happening would probably bust a Cray.

Two weeks ago, I visited a school that we work with. The kids know me well at this school; when I drive up, they all yell “Peifer” and greet me. I didn’t realize the extent of my fame, and how isolated they are, when another car pulled up a few weeks ago, and they ran towards the car and yelled “Not-Peifer!” The kids are thriving, our computer teacher is good, and they had a final in Excel that I don’t think I would have passed, but they did great on it.

They were full of life, and as I left there I thought the thing I never communicate is how fun this can be. The kids love to laugh, and I walked away thinking: “This is working. I get to be part of something that helps little kids.”

It is hard to explain how exhilarating it can be to do this work. It fills holes that are deep inside of you. There is a Scripture that says “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me” that I always figured was for holy people, but it even works for people like me.

And then there are weeks where everything is stripped bare, and stuff you’ve seen a million times hit you like you have never seen it before.

I had the video camera and I thought it would be fun to film students talking about what they were thankful for. Some of it was funny and some of it was touching, but then a little boy dressed in rags came up and told me that he was thankful for his clothes.

Usually I can hold it together until I drive off; I couldn’t that day. I had tears running down my face as I thought of how much I have and how much he didn’t have. I ran off like a fool full of crazy sorrow. I thought of how much need there was, and how little we could do, and I felt like giving up.

Sometimes it just gets you sad.

Your pal,
Steve

Kenya Kids Can is supported by the prayers and financial contributions of people like you, from all over the world.  If you are able, please make a donation today to either the “Peifer School Lunch Program – 000339” or the “Peifer Computer Center Program – 000336.” Steve and Nancy raise their own funding; to support their family directly, make your contribution to “Peifer, Stephen C and Nancy J – Support 047930001.” Thanks in advance!