Ugali is a Kenyan dish that consists of boiled cornmeal. If it sounds appetizing, you need to read it again. We had a luncheon for all the computer teachers, and many remarked that I didn’t eat the ugali. When I asked why they ate it, three different people told me that if you ate it at night, you would not wake up with hunger pains, which is a real issue for most Kenyans. I found a way to look away, because I thought it would embarrass them to see me cry.

Perhaps the greatest gift Kenya has given me is the gift of tears. I been afflicted with cynicism for most of my life, but Kenya has managed to pierce my hard heart again and again. Tears are your proof that your heart hasn’t gotten hard, and it is easy for that to happen here.

We are so grateful that because of a church in the states, we are going to add another school to our food program. That means 35 schools, and over 20,000 students will eat lunch this coming year. Learning doesn’t occur when a child is hungry, and so it has been so important in the goal of equipping students to find their way out of poverty.

The computer labs are a different story. Our funds are drying up, and there are many schools that need solar or upgraded computers and we are barely paying our teachers. If your accountant has come to you and told you that you REALLY need more deductions, we should probably talk. The word the Lord has given us is to maintain and improve what we have until the ship comes in again, but we need help.

Nancy is teaching French and in charge of teacher development, and it has been a thrill to see her embrace that role and really have a vision for all of us at RVA to get the training to get better at what we do. She has been innovative and passionate, and it has already made a difference.

Last year broke me in ways I had never been broken before, and it has changed the way I relate to students. My approach as a college counselor has been corporate/results oriented. This year has shifted to more of a relationship oriented approach to dealing with kids. I’ve tried hard to help students hear the Lord as to where they should go, and in many ways, it has felt like I am starting to get the hang of this. Our first student in 105 years will be attending Duke in the fall, and his parents, who have sacrificed so much to serve the poor, just cried when they saw that he would be able to go without taking on debt.

Our book, which was on hold, is really coming along and it looks like it will come out next year. More to come about that, but we are grateful for what we have seen so far.

Matthew has had a great second year of college, and the twins are doing well being back in Africa. Last year saw our oldest graduate from college, pay off his college debt, get a good job and most importantly marry a wonderful young woman who is currently working on her doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Virginia.

What you long for with your children is that they marry a great person and find work that satisfies them. We have seen that with JT, and we are so grateful. But however great that is, it reflects that a stage of your life is over and that comes with a measure of sadness. This is the first time that all of us won’t be together for Christmas, and while we rejoice that our son begins new traditions with his new wife, a part of me aches for a season that has passed. Embrace the time you have and be grateful for it is something I wish I had done a much better job of.

We are so grateful for your support and your prayers. And as we begin our 13th year in Africa in a week, our prayers are with you and our hearts are grateful for you.

Your pal,
Steve