Why RVA?

Heather and I have always wanted to support missions. Some of our most rewarding experiences together have been on short term mission trips to Chihuahua, Mexico and Biloxi, Mississippi. But why Africa? I guess you'd really have to blame Heather... I've never been, but what I've seen and heard is amazing. Heather's in the living room right now painting and watching "Hatari" ...a John Wayne movie filmed in Tanzania (Tanganika at the time) - It's a fun film to watch. The storyline is painfully slow-moving, but the African people have such a contagious exuberance about them, and the land seems so rich... although to view the Mount Longonot webcam at RVA, you'd never know it. Apparently this summer has been quite dry in the Kijabe area... things are looking a little brown. But the real reason for serving in Kenya, and specifically at Rift Valley Academy is this:

The work in Africa to further God's kingdom is exciting... According to the Joshua Project: Nearly 1 billion people from 3,743 distinct people groups live on the continent of Africa within 57 countries; 930 of those people groups may never have heard the gospel; nearly 260 million individuals have not been told of Christ's salvation; 20 countries fall within the 10-40 window, containing some of the most unreached people groups on Earth.

While Heather and I do not have the proper education or background to be on the front lines planting churches, we are able to serve a need for those who are- Rift Valley Academy provides a quality American education for expatriate students whose parents are serving throughout Africa. Because Heather and I are serving as volunteers for Africa Inland Mission and must raise all our support, RVA is able to provide that quality education to missionary kids while charging relatively little tuition - enabling more funds and resources to be distributed to the front lines of the evangelical movement in Africa.