A Different Kind of Exhilaration

October 16, 2011 by Steve Peifer

BenKatieFrom student announcements:

“Mr. Peifer is delighted to announce that the broken glass on his historic, personally signed picture of Neil Diamond has been repaired and is available for viewing in his office with an appointment.”

(I just thought you would want to know.)

I first met Alan in the weight room at RVA. It isn’t hard to do; it is little more than a large closet, so those of us who are 6am work out people tend to get to know each other. It turned out that he was from Texas, which made it better yet.

Steve and AlanAlan is a doctor who has come to the mission hospital adjoining RVA for over 10 years. He comes for a month every year. He uses his vacation to come and work for free at the hospital. He pays his own way to come. He eats most of his meals alone, and he works long, long hours.

The guy that writes this newsletter knows this guy who, for some reason that he can’t figure out, wins awards and gets all kind of recognition he doesn’t deserve. That guy has met a real hero, and he wanted you to know.

Kamuyu Primary School lunch preparationNancy and I got to go to Kamuyu Primary School last week. It was the first school we had been to since we’ve been back. We have had lots of car issues, and we hit the ground running here. It has been busy.

But being back at a school reminded me of the scripture that says, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me.” Watching little kids who have absolutely nothing engaged in an excel class, and getting it is, just about the most exhilarating thing I can think of.

Nancy at Kamuyu Primary SchoolWe made a little video of our visit that you might enjoy.

The headmaster told me that when I first came to the school, the students feared me. When we brought the computers to the school, they feared the computers.

Steve and kids at Kamuyu Primary SchoolThere wasn’t any fear at Kamuyu last week.

Your pal,
Steve