Saturday, July 12, 2008

Kelly Graduates from Rift Valley Academy

Praise God! Kelly graduated today from Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe, Kenya. Four years of hard work at boarding school. We are so proud of Kelly. She and her 78 classmates had a great day of celebrating the goodness and faithfulness of God over the years of schooling at RVA. RVA is a African Inland Mission school established in 1909 providing schooling for kids in grades 1-12. Kelly began there in 9th grade after being home schooled by Sally at our home in Uganda. For Kelly it meant being at boarding school 9 months a year and home with Sally and I the other three months.
Kelly had great roommates but has really been blessed to have Daniela the last two years. Daniela’s parents serve as missionaries in rural Malawi. Kelly and Daniela have become great friends over the year sharing their lives at RVA and their cultures as well (American and Dutch).
It was a great day for our family to all be there today. All three of our kids have graduated from RVA so it was a nostalgic time for Adam and Megan as well.
Although it is an emotionally charged day with Kelly leaving her ‘home away from home’, her many friends, leaving Africa, it is also exciting as our family will spend a relaxing week in Ireland before heading to Michigan.
Join us as we praise God for his faithfulness, steadfastness, and grace.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

A Party to Celebrate the Goodness of God

The last weekend in Mbarara we had a great two days of celebrating what God has done in and through our lives over the last 12 years. We invited friends, colleagues, clients, mission family, and many others to celebrate Jesus. Denis and Rose Lukaya generously offered us the venue and others helped us decorate. We had fun and games, heard the children's choir sing, two other choirs, sang praises to God, danced, ate, and had a great time recalling what God has accomplished. It was a time to celebrate both what God has done in our family life as well as in ministry.
It was especially fun to see several of our former students and church members come back for the weekend. We recalled the early days of University Baptist Church Mbarara as well as the beginnings of student work. Sally and I praised God as we saw fruit of what God called us to Mbarara to do. Former students now professionals in areas all over Uganda holding firm to the truths of God's Word and Way.
Needless to say there were lots of stories and smiles, and lots of tears as we said farewell to our friends. Saying farewell is something that we have come to know well in missions work.
Saturday evening we had a great time of fellowship with some of our mission family recalling stories of our life in Uganda. We are so thankful that God gave us a loving mission family in addition to our biological family.
Sunday was a great day of worship at UBC Mbarara. Several former church members stayed the weekend to be part of a large praise and worship team. I preached my final sermon to my 'flock' encouraging them to "Contend for the Faith" and keep Jesus the supreme satisfaction in their lives. I have to admit it was very hard to speak those final words to a church family that I have come to love so much. As I preached I handed over the flock to our new full time pastor Enoch. He is a man of God who we are confident will lead and feed the flock now. Remember to pray for him and the flock.
We're now in Kenya at Rift Valley Academy (RVA) preparing for Kelly to graduate (July 12th).