Rugby is the big sport at RVA, and JT and I went to the Safari Sevens Tournament, which featured adult teams from all over the world. It was a huge crowd in a big stadium, and a ref made a call that was not pleasing to the crowd. They began singing a song that recalls the tune of My Darling Clementine:

Who’s your father?
Who’s your father?
Who’s your father, referee?

You don’t have one
You don’t have one
You don’t have one, referee.

Who’s your mother?
Who’s your mother?
Who’s your mother, referee?

You don’t have one
You don’t have one
You don’t have one, referee.

I can’t tell you the last verse because of the decorum that holy missionaries must follow, but it was comforting that Kenyans feel the same way I have always felt about referees. Write me if you want the last verse, and don’t say I didn’t warn you.

JT had an away tournament last week, and I was able to go on his bus and watch the game. It is always a thrill to see your son play, but there were four hundred spectators rooting for the other team. They were loud and enthusiastic.

I was the only spectator for RVA. Since we were getting beaten rather badly, I felt that it was important for my team to get some cheers. Since there were dozens of Kenyans on our side, I somehow convinced them that it was only fair that they would cheer for RVA, because… well, because I wanted someone to cheer with. So, suddenly, I had a group of 75 kids repeating after me:

We are the Buffalos
We come from the forest
If you can’t hear us
We’ll yell a little louder

After five minutes of this, several students ran over and demanded to know why they were cheering for RVA. I wish I had a picture of my cheering squad’s faces, as they tried to explain why it had seemed so logical to cheer for the other team. One of them came up to me and said `How did you get us to do that?’

I mentioned that I was from Texas, like that should explain everything. And he bought it; I heard him explaining to his chums `It is because he is from Texas.’ So, if Kenya has unusual political views about the United States, I like to think I did my part.

We needed to deliver more maize to a school this week, and the hard work that delivery is came alive to me again. If there is a bright side to being 51, it is that I no longer lift the bags of maize; young strong men do that now.

The kids were so excited that more food was coming, and I was invited to eat by several of them. When one of them asked me how the food made me feel, I told them that it made me feel great. I asked one of the kids how the food made them feel, and one of them, in the quietest of voices, told me `It makes me want to try.’

That made me want to try too.

Later in the week, I went to Kenton, where the second computer center is operational. They had a big ceremony, and I was the guest of honor. Lots of politicians spoke, and children sang and recited poems about the center. Lots of it was praise directed to me.

Part of the reason I became a Christian was because I got what I thought I wanted. I was insecure, and I wanted to be popular. I got elected President of the Student Council, and senior year, I was elected to the Homecoming Court, which was the mark I had set for myself that I had arrived, and that I had made it.

I remember walking home from school that day totally depressed, and realizing my dreams had some true, and that they were stupid dreams, and that my stupid dreams couldn’t fill the emptiness inside. It was the thing that got me seeking, and eventually finding Christianity.

I sat in front of a group of students and parents who said all these nice things to me and all I could think is `I so don’t deserve this. I didn’t contribute the money, and I didn’t build the center. I am a low rent middleman. I didn’t even come to Africa to help people. I came to Africa because I was fleeing the death of my son. All my life, I wanted this kind of attention, and now that I get it, I realize it doesn’t satisfy.’

So when I got up to speak, I was able to say, with all honesty, `I don’t deserve any of this praise. The praise all belongs to Jesus. And if you will let Him into your heart, His plans for you are so good, and so kind.’

And in that spirit, I would like to announce that we have begun construction on two more computer centers. I am grateful beyond what I can say to you all for your kindness and generosity, and to Jesus, who is the source of all good things. Thank you and God bless you.

It’s good to know who your Father is.

Your pal

Steve

PS. If you received a snail mail from us stating when we would be in the United States, that message was an error. It was last year’s schedule. Sorry for the confusion. Nancy is going to teach French next year, so RVA is sending her to a missionary language school in France next month, and JT is taking AP French, so he is going also, but we have no plans to be in the US this summer. Of course, when the Cubs win the World Series in October, I will return to bask in the glory of it all.