Special People

Meet Dave and Mae Kellum. The first night of our retreat at dinner, we were sitting next to them, and we began to talk with them about missions. We told them we were headed to the Rift Valley Academy and their faces just lit up! Turns out Dave attended as a boy from 2nd grade through graduation (11 years!), and then their three children all attended high school at RVA. They served most of their years in Burundi and Rwanda, two countries found southwest of Kenya. They continue to return, leading short-term missions trips and maintaining the relationships that many years built up.

We listened to many stories about Dave's time there as well as when they sent their kids off to school at Rift. There is a very famous story in the history of the school; we had heard of it a few times. This is from the RVA website:

Saturday, March 28, 1953 is one of RVA's greatest stories. It was clear the Mau Mau were raiding in the area, several days before the town of Lari had been burned and RVA was the next target. All went to bed sure they would be awakened by gunfire in the night. The staff prayed for God's protection, and the attack never happened. Months later when several Mau Mau were captured they said they were on their way to attack the mission station but were prevented from doing so by the large number of soldiers that surrounded the campus. Historical record shows that the only British soldier anywhere near Kijabe that night was [a single man named] Chipps. God had sent his angels to protect the school.

Dave was a student at RVA when all this happened. I can only imagine how the tension of these years in the middle of the Mau Mau rebellion shaped him and prepared him for the lifetime he would spend serving the people of East Africa. It was somewhat of a thrill for us to hear firsthand some of the dramatic history of the school.

What we treasured even more was their encouragement to us about the importance of the Rift Valley Academy. They truly spoke from their hearts about the pain and adjustment that comes with dropping a pre-adolescent child off at school hundreds of miles away and learning to entrust that child to the teachers and staff to love, encourage, grow, and nurture during the years that are traditionally lived out "at home". These kids really do leave the coop earlier than most American kids, and as my Grandmother said, "once you leave, you don't really come back home." What a powerful choice these parents lovingly make. RVA exists to give missionary kids in Africa a top-notch primary and secondary education that may not be found easily in the parents' mission field, and also to be an "in-between" to American or western life so that they can function well in their home culture, and colleges if they so choose.

I loved how every time Dave gently but passionately told us of the far-reaching impact of our work, he would tear up. From someone who lived through what we hope to be a small part of, it was incredibly affirming. We have been so blessed to meet this couple. What a legacy!