A Blessed Christmas to You All

Christmas is not the usual holiday for us this year. There are no snowy cards available, so we thought we would just share the beauty we see in the African December.

Good friends' garden

Mt. Longonot

Some things are the same the world over--here the blessing of young ones

sharing their gifts and talents.

Nativity sets made by resident potter Zedekiah.

And more traditionally...Merry Christmas.

Much love, Jim & Gale

Curious Critters and Collections at RVA

Almost every day brings us new sights and new introductions to creatures and characters and collections here in East Africa.



We see bulbuls everywhere--don't be deceived--he is a bandit.
This cheeky fellow with the yellow rump
likes to eat the squash blossoms in our shamba.











This fellow likes to put the bulbul in his place. Jim calls him
the "orca" of the bird world. Shrikes don't want any competition for bugs,
and it suits us just fine when they chase the bulbuls out of our garden.












One of Jim's eighth graders found this chameleon by his dorm.















Another raider in our shamba--an ibis after nesting material.

And weeks later, here are her babies

No, she looks like a stork, but she does not bring babies...she just has them...

Loud babies...think raucous crows...BIG raucous crows.

A Curious Collection -- Chai cups.

Everyday at about 10:30 RVA students and staff enjoy chai--yummy hot tea

with lots of milk and sugar. Each high school student brings a cup,

and some leave them outside day after day...rinsed...or not.

Most kids turn them upside down and that's good, because birds love new perches

...and to leave small "gifts."

A sunbird in a blooming jacaranda tree. These relatives of humingbirds don't hum,

because they know the words.

A rare sight -- blossoms on an acacia -- the flat-topped tree we associate with Africa.

A sadly rare sight -- rain. We enjoyed a brief spell and things were looking

much greener. The total for the year is about half of

what it should be. You need to make this a matter of prayer.

This unusual bush with purple, lavendar, and white blossoms is

called Yesterday and Today. The leaves and blossoms on our bush

have wilted from the drought. Much more serious, potato plants

in local Kenyan shambas have died.

A Favorite Character -- Max

This fierce guy is a Rotweiler/Doberman mix. He can clear a five-foot hedge with no strain at all.

And he is on the job, protecting us from...

Monkeys...this one is a Colobus.








Seriously, if it weren't for Max things like this would happen more often.

A baboon crashed through a friend's roof recently, creating this hole.

A few months earlier, and the baboon would have landed on their daughter's bed

and possibly their daughter as well.

This Welsh Corgi likes to think of himself as Max's nemesis.

He has just enough attitude to turn his back on me and walk off from a photo op.

Max is not impressed. He hops over Crown of Thorn bushes.

Having the run of the campus, he goes where he likes.

But he's really just a big baby. I felt a huge presence nudging my leg

as a I worked at a desk top in the staff lounge...it was Max wanting love.

I think you are all expecting bugs in Africa. Here is a flying ant...a huge flying ant.

Rugged RVA kids eat them.

Sometimes even Africa must cope with invasions of alien species...one of the most notable...

TEXAS AGGIES!

Student Life at RVA 2 -- Pine Wood Derby

The entire campus mobilizes for this major event at RVA: The Pinewood Derby. From the Titchies in elementary grades to our secondary students, parents and staff members, all use their best skills and craftsmanship to compete in this exciting event, under the careful guidance and encouragement of Mr. Baker our industrial arts teacher. Chuck Baker will be quick to tell you that the real goal is glorifying God in it all.

Pastor Jim prepares to launch the next competitors' vehicles.

Seventh graders wait their turn with their vehicles.

All of RVA turns out to watch.

A proud staff member shows her work.

Adult women await the results of their race.

The massive track reaches nearly the entire length of the gym.

Audience and competitors alike look for photo finish results.

That evening winning competitors will receive coveted trophies
that they will cherish for years.

Finding God's Glory

The blessing of rain, a greener valley, yet still beset with challenges. The white IDP tents remain.

We bumped down the mountain road and onto the highway that would lead us to the Internally Displaced Persons Camp again. En route we saw a man delivering a garden bench by bicycle. The wooden bench, back rest and all, teetering precariously behind the delivery man served to remind us that life here in Kenya is generally a challenging balancing act.

We turned left toward the camp. Newly built stone homes had sprouted, but many were without a roof and many tents remained. Rain has fostered grass, but the blades struggle, overgrazed by sheep and goats.

Jim spoke from Psalms 44:23-26 and in his authentic, straight-forward way spoke to the struggles and doubts the Psalmist and these folk both faced. "Where was God in calamity?"

Folks gathered under the weathered acacia tree to ponder this...in rainy drizzle. We prayed hard that it would not pour on them -- though the land badly needs the rain. Those of us who had hoods put them up at one point, and someone in the congregation sacrificed an umbrella to shelter our bare-headed friends.

Ever wonder what dogs chased before cars? Donkeys with burdens strapped to their backs, in this case right along side our service. A stray goat also wandered through our midst. Despite rain and livestock, worship went on. A little one in a green filmy party dress, a peach sweater two sizes too big and blue canvas shoes toddled from one side of worship area to another.

Jim spoke to God's glory that He conceals and how in the midst of troubles we cannot always see His perfect plan. Did the message hit home? I think at least our presence did. The hugs, the handshakes, the heartfelt greetings said as much.