We left Kenya in July to bring Matthew back to start at the University of Richmond. He has had a wonderful first term, and a great start to his college career. JT is one term away from graduating and marrying the lovely Janelle. The twins are enjoying school and some of the joys of American life.
Somehow with your help, we managed to feed 20,000 students a day for the year, even with donations way down. We have completed 20 computer...
You would think a wife who is aging well would be a GOOD thing for the husband, and mostly it is, except when she is standing next to you and you are seeing friends you haven’t seen in three years.
Old Friend: Nancy, you look so great!
Same Old Friend: Steve, how ARE you?
Comparisons can be CRUEL.
We have gotten to see JT, dropped off Matthew at University of Richmond, and I have had eye surgery which resulted in my eye going from...
It is hard to sum up the last five years, but a couple of thoughts come to mind.
If you are like me, once you went digital, you hadn’t printed out many pictures lately. I recently went through three years of pictures, and printed out the highlights. When we looked through the pictures, the kids that you are helping to feed LOOKED better. Years of good nutrition began to have an effect; they look younger and more alive. Being hungry...
Continue ReadingMy all time favorite commercial is from the 60’s. In it, an earnest looking middle aged woman boards a bookmobile and asks a question to an equally earnest looking librarian:
Earnest Middle Aged Woman: Do you have any books on … biology?
Librarian: Why, are you constipated?
The earnest middle aged woman agrees that she is, and the librarian gives her advice of her favorite choice of laxative. What I loved was the leap: if you wanted a book on biology, what other...
I have twelve students who require obtaining educational visa’s in order to study in the United States. It involves compiling a packet of eleven different documents and then making an appointment at the US Embassy for an interview. The US Embassy interestingly schedules all appointments at 7am. So, you arrive at 7am and stand outside for hours with hundreds of others before they let you in, and then you sit inside for several hours waiting for your student’s turn. Often,...
Continue ReadingMatthew has been in a sentimental mood lately. My guess is because he has been at RVA since second grade, and graduation is in July. So much to my surprise, he put on the newest Neil Diamond CD, Hot August Night/NYC. As we listened to the first song, I started to ponder how impossible it would be to pick his greatest song, or even the best recording of his biggest hits. But while the opening version of Holly Holy might suggest...
Continue ReadingBeing in Kenya has taught me a new way to pray.
I walk across our campus and am surrounded by wonderful young people. Some are encouraged to pray for their safety. Some pray for their futures.
I pray that Jesus will give me a water balloon that I can throw at their heads.
And I pray it loudly.
I’ve found that nothing brings people together as when an old guy prays, “Lord Jesus, please give me a full water balloon that I can throw...
There started to be an unusual amount of illnesses, so the principal asked who could fill in for a sick home ec teacher. Nancy volunteered me, which for some mysterious reason received enormous laughter throughout the meeting. The principal sent out an email that night entitled “Save the Children,” which made the sad case of the horrors that the children would be exposed to if I taught the home ec class.
It turned out that what they had been exposed to...
