A True Account of an RVA student

I wanted to get a student's story, a student's perspective, during my visit to RVA ...just for my own understanding of the ministry we are about to enter. I am thankful to have had the privilege of speaking with an outstanding Senior girl on the last day of my visit. I was so blessed and enlightened by what she shared that I now want to share it with you!


For the protection of her family, I can not use my new friend's real name, so I will call her "Penelope..."  Okay, how about "Anna"?


Twenty-five years ago, Anna's parents moved to a small village in the middle of the bush in Eastern Kenya that had no electricity, no running water, no internet, no phone... and was a 12 hour drive to the city, where they could purchase groceries. Why? Because they felt called by God to minister to the Muslim people in this village and so they willingly made the sacrifice.


Anna and her 3 siblings were raised in this village. They consider it home and consider these Muslim people their family. Anna's mother is a registered nurse and works day and night to serve the people in their village. Because of cultural differences, she is not able to carve out and protect "school time" to properly home school her children. Alternatively, they were schooled by American teachers who would volunteer 1-2 years at a time and serve this missionary family by teaching their children.


Unlike American culture, every Muslim child is not allowed the opportunity for an education. Traditionally, once a Muslim child reaches the age of five, the father decides his child's fate:
1. To stay at home to work (typical fate of the first born female),
2. To become a herdsman, or
3. to attend school


Kenyan law (loosely) requires students to complete eighth grade; at which point the students take a test to determine whether they will go on to secondary school (boarding). In this particular village, the girls typically marry anywhere between the ages of 12-18. It is not unusual for a man to have 2 or 3 wives and for each wife to bear 10-12 kids! A little different than what we are used to! :) Anna told me,

 "I don't view this as my parents' mission,

but as MY mission, too."

Following in her mother's footsteps, she aspires to earn a medical degree in America and then return to Africa to minister to Muslims, a culture she already knows. (Sidenote: I am learning that many missionary kids (MK's) grow up to become missionaries themselves! Very cool!)

We all know that medical programs in the States are competitive. Her parents had to choose which of four educational options would best equip Anna for her God-designed future and suit their family.
         Option 1: Continue to home school with limited resources for computer and science lab work.
         Option 2: Send her a world away to attend boarding school in the States.
         Option 3: Leave the mission field and their home and move back to the States so Anna could get an American education.
         Option 4: Send her to RVA which is in their same country (Kenya) and offers a great education and preparation for university and medical school.


We already know which one they chose. While not denying that it was a challenging transition at first (including culture shock), Anna claims that she has loved her experience at RVA and is so thankful her parents chose RVA for her education. She has enjoyed and taken full advantage of the opportunities there to learn, to play sports, and to interact with other cultures, becoming more diverse herself. She is currently applying to several ivy league schools in the States and I have no doubt that God is going to use her in mighty ways to share His love and expand His Kingdom.


I'll leave you with something she said that was very challenging and convicting to me.

Islam is a lifestyle... its own culture. You will know a Muslim by the way they live.

I wish Christianity was more like that.

Food for thought from a Senior missionary kid at RVA.

More about RVA- the school we'll be serving at

RVA is a Christian boarding school located in central Kenya. The academy, a branch of Africa Inland Mission International, exists to provide a quality education in a nurturing environment for the children of missionaries serving in Africa. 

With over 100 years of rich history, RVA has played an instrumental role in the lives of countless MKs (missionary kids). The current student body of about 490 includes more than 20 different nationalities. 


The families these students represent serve with 80 mission organizations in over 20 African countries!!


Here are some pictures of the campus from my recent visit there.

Here are some of the high school...

This is the biology lab (where Michael may be teaching?)

This is the metal tree where the students hang their mugs.

At 10am everyday, the whole student body gets to come outside, grab their mug off the tree and enjoy their chai break.

The girls basketball team praying before the game against a Kenyan boarding school in Nairobi (the capital city of Kenya... over an hours drive away).

And here's some of "Titchie," the elementary school...

Don't you love all the different flags? :)

Michael's Aunt Carolyn has so much fun in her first grade classroom!

The fun outer walls where evidently the kids park their bikes.

Why are we going to Africa? -the big picture

To serve and teach at Rift Valley Academy (RVA), a boarding school for children of missionaries serving all over the continent of Africa. Why?


"Today over 900 African people groups are still unreached, with NO VIABLE WITNESS to the transforming power of Jesus Christ!" *

Or here's another way to look at it:

                 Each dot of light represents 25,000 believers. Notice the dark areas remaining in Africa, especially Northern Africa, which is predominantly Muslim.

"'Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.'

How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in?
And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
And how can they preach unless they are sent?"
Romans 10:13-15


"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the LORD of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves."
Luke 10:2-3


"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the LORD Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
Acts 20:24

Why go?

• Because there are people in Africa who deserve to hear the gospel of God's grace. 
• There are missionaries who have been called to bring the good news of God's love to them. 
• Some of these missionaries are in need of a safe, supportive, God-centered, missions-focused educational option in Africa for their children.
• RVA was established to meet this need for missionaries called to serve in Africa.
• We have gifts, skills, and passions that are needed at RVA. 
• We are willing to go and humbly serve as this link in the chain in obedience to Jesus' command to "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19) 

Will you consider partnering with us as another link in the chain to reach the over 900 unreached people groups in Africa with the transforming love of Jesus?