LOCATION: Kenya
TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT: Our vision is to not only help educate but also disciple the students attending Rift Valley Academy (RVA), allowing their parents to reach the least reached across Africa and the Middle East.
MINISTRY FOCUS: Approximately 90% of RVA students are children, from 25 different countries, whose parents serve as full-time missionaries in 30 countries with over 60 organizations. A main reason why many missionaries leave the field is because of inadequate or unaffordable education options. Hence, our goal is to be part of RVA’s mission to provide an exceptional Christ-centred education for missionary children.
As the food services manager, I (Jeremy) oversee the school cafeteria and all special events. I also serve as the worship pastor and the advanced Swahili teacher. I (Christine) serve as the travel & immigration coordinator, handling the transportation needs for our 275 boarding students and the 550 permits for our boarding and day students, along with our staff. I also interact with our alumni scattered around the world. Together, we host small groups, organize weekend activities, cover dorms, and liaise with boarding parents across Africa.
YOUR IMPACT: You will help provide a Christ-centred education for approximately 450 students, helping them reach their full potential in Christ.
MINISTRY HISTORY: I (Jeremy) grew up on the mission field, graduating from RVA while my parents served in Tanzania. I (Christine) grew up in B.C., never expecting to leave there. We married in second year while both of us were studying at the University of Waterloo. God then called us to Africa to work alongside Jeremy’s parents. In 2007, we moved to Tanzania with a 21-month-old and six-week-old. In 2011, I (Jeremy) became the international director for Pamoja Ministries, a Christian media company, while I (Christine) handed many financial and administrative tasks for said organization. After 11 years in Tanzania, in 2018, due to a medical emergency with our son Jacob, we moved very suddenly to Kenya. Since then, we have been serving at RVA with our children Jacob, Natasha, Paul, and Benjamin.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- For God to help our students and their parents grow closer together as they navigate boarding life, international travel, and being at such far distances from each other.
- For God to pour His grace, wisdom, and love into us to care for the hundreds of students we serve every day.
- For God to protect and guide our son Jacob who graduates this year and heads far from us to Quebec and help us to adjust to our new normal as a family.