A Long-Awaited Update!

It seems that much time has passed since I wrote here last. I would love to say it’s just because I have been so incredibly busy. But, while this is true, I have certainly had time and opportunity to write a little update to you. It is just that, truthfully, life here is much like it is at home. The day-in, day-out activity of living is what occupies most of our time – even in Africa -  and frankly, just doesn’t seem that interesting! In fact, most of the pictures I have included in past blogs have been from vacation times and trips to animal reserves and parks. I am not even sure we are allowed to show pictures of our students!

But an update is due – overdue – actually.

We are amazed to realize that we have been here 11 months now and are approaching the end of our first school year at RVA! It has gone by rapidly! We have come such a long way in that time.

By now we have developed good relationships with students and staff alike. We have worked, played, worked, and worshipped alongside each other.

Our most recent activity has been in assisting in the sophomore restaurant – an annual event that places all involved in the extreme periphery around their comfort zone. While we are not sponsors for the sophomore class, we are parents, and as such, had the opportunity to participate in this production. What a ride. Perhaps the most challenging and perplexing event of this school year, which is saying a lot considering the first thing I did when I arrived here in August was to stab myself with a steak knife!

Imagine a group of 5 adults managing about 70 fifteen- and sixteen-year-olds with no restaurant (or actual work) experience! Decorating, cooking, serving, entertaining, set-up and break-down (pun intended), and of course everyone’s favorite, cleanup. We felt like we were trying to keep our sandcastle from being dissolved by the incoming tide. Nonetheless, we were grateful for the chance to get to know more of Jade’s classmates – a gracious bunch of young people. We did take a few bruises along the way, however, and are still recovering from that tumultuous evening. This was in addition to teaching two guitar classes at the Titchie (elementary) fine arts night, administrating the ACT test, practicing for and participating in worship, teaching Sunday school, working in the nursery and making cookies for a baby shower!

So we arrive at Monday again, exhausted, and actually feeling as though the slow burn of the weekday work is restful compared with the weekends, which often seem filled to overflowing with frenetic activity and busyness. Don’t misunderstand – it’s all good stuff. But, man it is a lot! A “break-neck train wreck” as I’ve heard such things described.

So that, we have learned, is how it works here at RVA – go, go, go . . . rest. Repeat.

That is the culture to which we are adjusting. We do love it here, truly. But the truth is, life here is still life – work and sleep, good and bad. Thanks for looking in on it!