It's midterm!

Well, we made it through the first half of first term here at RVA.  We are currently enjoying a 4-day break before the students return to campus Tuesday night.  Wednesday marks the beginning of spiritual emphasis week, during which RVA brings in an outside speaker and the students attend sessions every evening, as well as some extended chapel times during the week.

So what has life been like here?  We feel our pace of life has been about the same as our last year in Woodland Park when we kept up with teaching, MOPS ministry, and support raising.  (As well as Faith and Joel!)

Jim heads off to school at 7:30, in time for classes to start at 7:45.  Faith walks out the door at 7:53 and her class starts at 8, right behind our house.  (She walks all by herself and is loving it!)  Our helpers come at 8, by which time Joel is usually dressed and ready to start his day too.  Three times a week, I (Heather) walk around the guard trail with a friend for thirty minutes for a little exercise.  Joel sometimes tags along in the kid carrier.  He's a good 25 pound pack for weight training!  The other two days a week I watch one of Joel's friends for an hour or two while his mom teaches a class of Chemistry.  Later in the morning, we have playgroup on Tuesday, preschool on Wednesday, I attend a bible study on Thursdays and there's storytime in the Titchie (elementary) library on Friday.  When we can make it, Joel and I attend staff chai at 10:10 with Jim for thirty minutes.  The staff prays together and shares announcements before returning to classes.  The students also take a break at this time.  Faith has recess and snack with the titchies, and the junior and senior high students have chai and snacks outside.  After these activities, we wander on home, often chatting with other moms or staff who aren't teaching the next class period.  Faith gets finished with school at 11:55, Jim at 12:10.

Here, we get to do something differently as a family.  Something that happened only once in six years at Woodland Park.  We eat lunch together!  Hannah and Edward, our workers, leave at noon for their lunch, and we enjoy some moments together as a family.  Next year, Faith will be back at school by 1, so it won't feel as leisurely next year, but we are sure enjoying it right now!  This year, Jim has an open period right after lunch, so it makes for time together that isn't too rushed.  Joel naps after lunch, but Faith is often busy as a bee, even if she is "resting."  Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we have Hannah and Edward in the afternoons, so at three o'clock, we share afternoon chai with them.  The kids already cannot go a day without chai, and have been deemed "Kenyan."  Hannah, Edward, and I often talk about culture, swahili, or the kids.  It is nice to take a break with them, laugh a little, and learn a lot.

During the week, there are other things to keep up with as well.  I keep up with the milk and eggs, and take a trip or two a week to the market and dukas here in town to get fruits, vegetables, and staples.  It is a nice 15 minute (or less) walk outside the RVA gate.  If I'm in a pinch, Hannah will also go to get things for me, but it is nice to get out a little bit every once in a while!

Jim gets home anywhere between 4 and 5.  In the afternoon there is chapel for the junior and senior high students, and then there is "8th period."  It can be used as detention time or time for questions and make up tests.  Jim if often at school for one or the other each day.  Around 4:15 on various days, RVA hosts athletic games.  This term, they are playing boys football (soccer), girls basketball, and tennis.  So the kids and I make the short walk to watch a few of the students we are getting to know.

In the evenings, we stay just about as busy.  Once a week, Jim sits in the library to supervise the study hall.  Which has quickly become a biology study hall... the students know he is there and they show up!  So it's not as productive for Jim as he thought it might be, but it's great to spend some more time with the students outside the classroom.  Thursday nights, Jim likes to take off and play soccer with staff or work on projects in the wood shop.  I like to have other women over for tea and a quiet chat.  We often have weekend activities as well.  Caring community meets once a month, we have eight sophomores (boys and girls) that will come over for food, games, and fellowship this year.  We've helped with the two variety nights (where the jr/sr high can chose from different activities after supper) that have happened so far, as well as a few of the titchie evening activities.  Faith had a "hayride and bonfire" night last weekend.  Unfortunately, it was a little rainy, so it was a hayride and bonfire night without the hayride and bonfire.  She had a great time, nonetheless.

The first Sunday of each month (and when school is not in session, like this weekend), we attend the AIC church, which is the local church.  All other Sundays, RVA holds its own church in our chapel, which is more like we were used to in Colorado.  We then eat lunch in the cafeteria (many staff choose to do this on Sundays for the fellowship time) and have a quiet afternoon.  We also supervise supper in the evenings (for a free meal) so I enjoy having a day off from cooking on Sundays (but again... only when school is in session, I'm out of luck today)!

So hopefully that gives you a glimpse of what life is like here at RVA.  There are plenty of other details that fill in the cracks, but that's that big picture.  And yes, it's often easy to forget that we are in Africa, especially when it's been a few days or weeks since we've walked off the campus.  But then again... that's the purpose of this school:  to help these kids get ready for a more western university setting.  We are slowly learning what it looks like to serve here, and are looking forward to feeling more settled and at home as time goes on!