David Graduated!

Posted on July 11, 2021 by cairesonmission

Goodbye Rift Valley Academy Buffalos! Come on Abilene Christian University Wildcats!! David managed to graduate well, avoiding too many demerits while being in National Honor Society and winning the award for the best Senior student in the Social Studies department which he demonstrated by being a part of the African Model United Nations, taking multiple AP history classes, and being enrolled in the most Social Studies classes of any student in his class. He was proud to have his first term late night boxing match (RVA legend making) mentioned by the school’s graduation speaker from the podium. Last week he went on his “Senior Safo” to the beach, and last night we ended the day with a small graduation party at our house.Today we will take him to his favorite restaurant in Nairobi right after we get our preflight COVID tests done. We are looking forward to his next steps at ACU? Do we have a future businessman, politician, or lawyer? Could we hope for a university professor? The next four years (maybe more) will sort it out!

Almost Done

Posted on July 3, 2021 by cairesonmission

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It has been a weird four years. Moving to Kenya as a freshman and then all the losses COVID caused. David heads out on his Senior trip tomorrow. We are super happy for him! He graduates next Saturday. Hopefully we will have a trip to the our favorite restaurant in Nairobi to celebrate the following day, and then back to Dallas. The group in the picture above were the core of his friends. Not all of them made it through all four years as their families moved home or away, but they flew back this summer after they finished school in the US to have one last hurrah in Kijabe! I am thankful for each of them. We had barely arrived in Kenya in 2017, and on our first full day in town this group walked by the house and invited David to go up the hill with them for a bonfire. That was the beginning and they have been good friends since. God has been good to David with these loyal friends. Now we look forward to how God gives him friends at ACU!

Small Conveniences

Posted on May 10, 2021 by cairesonmission

The important things are available, even if not everything is convenient. However it is nice to have a plastic surgeon as a next door neighbor when your son slices open his hand opening a can of tomatoes. And did it really happen if it is not documented? Both David and I have the need to photo record our lives.

Par Three at RVA

Posted on May 25, 2020 by cairesonmission

Last week there was a golf tournament at RVA. One of the staff at the kid’s school put together a small par three course around the upper field. So now this spring instead of rugby cheers on the paddock, you hear cries of “Fore!” Small groups moved around the course, with a closest to the pin contest and free cokes for each hole in one. The low scorer won two free pizzas from the local Pizza Inn. Its a tiny course, but it is a lot of fun for a quick nine holes. Tennis courts are water hazards. Soccer goals are tall trees in the fairway. The wind blows across the pitch toward Mt. Longonot in the valley. You are considered in the hole when your ball is within a club length of the flag. There are no greens and the fairways are deep as rough. David and Peter have picked up clubs for almost the first time, and progress is being made by all of us in our nine iron game.

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On a Lighter Note – David Hiked to Chicken Inn

Posted on April 29, 2020 by cairesonmission

David has a Video Blog

Posted on November 13, 2019 by cairesonmission

Have I posted this before. If not, please go check it out. If you follow his Vlog he would be quite pleased. I recommend the pranks vlog and this most recent linked below. It is a decent glimpse of life at RVA for a Junior.

Happy Thoughts

Posted on August 17, 2019 by cairesonmission

Things I’m thankful for this morning:

Trash bags– I found some biodegradable rubbish bin liners (as they call them here) and I’m happy to put them to use!

King Arthur Flour website recipes– try the cinnamon scones

David comes back to Kenya tomorrow!

Lovely memories of the birds, the acacia trees, the sunset on the lake, from a family weekend on Lake Naivasha

The many types of birds who live here that lift our spirits with their carefree flying and jubilant songs

The kindly painter who told me that I made good chai (I nearly doubled the sugar yesterday!)

The friendly joking and laughing of the construction guys working at our house

Bright fires on chilly nights

Will is content with his job and has been commended lately for his teaching

The Lord’s reminder of all the wonderful people (specifically from ACU) who encouraged us to do missions

Sibling pairs who are friends with our girls

New kids coming to school next year and all the possibilities therein

Peter’s enthusiasm for the guitar

Coco soundtrack, especially the Spanish version

Two families who visited this summer– we appreciate you!

Cry, the Beloved Country

The repetition of the phrase “I, the LORD, have spoken!”

Carol truly grandmothering our kids

Each time one of the kids says “Thank you”

Talking to Katherine on the phone

Annie’s braces

Black and White Casqued Hornbill

The Shirk girls are over

Will at work delivering babies

Annie’s braces

David on his way to the States nearly a month ago

Katherine the Great

The Reids visit us and Hell’s Gate

New construction at Flamingo House

Sunset on Lake Naivasha

Glamping with the girls

Acacia trees on Lake Naivasha

The Shewmakers visit and we ascend Mt. Longonot

Parental Prayer Request

Posted on July 22, 2019 by cairesonmission

In a few hours, we will put David on a plane headed to the USA. His grandparents have generously offered to fly him to Dallas to work on his driver’s license, spend time with them, and maybe even make a few college visits. Thanks, Abo and Carol!

His family will miss him though and we’re all a little nervous about this solo international travel. Please pray with us that he will make it safely to London, not fall asleep and miss his connection, and then fly on from London to Dallas without problems. Thanks for praying for all the things, small and large, that we post here.

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Sophomore Restaurant

Posted on June 11, 2019 by cairesonmission

At Rift Valley Academy there are projects for each class to build unity as well as to serve the RVA community. One night is called Sophomore Restaurant. All the sophomores and their sponsors (we are some of them) work to plan a menu, advertise, arrange baby-sitting, and then it all comes together in one day while we cook, serve, clean, and entertain our RVA diners. I think it is the funnest thing we have done with the sophomores, and it was fun to watch them all work together to help one another and serve the RVA staff. Allison once again took on cooking responsibilities, and I helped run a small cafe next door that served those who were not able to get tickets to the main event. It was definitely an all day project.