When we first knew God was calling us to ministry overseas, we thought our professions as teachers would be such a benefit. We were absolutely not going to go into ministry where we had to depend on others to support us and teaching seemed like a great way to work in a country and then find ministries to be involved in when we were not working. Well, God had other plans. He called us to Rift Valley Academy in Kijabe, Kenya. How awesome! A beautiful location, serving God by serving missionaries living in remote, sometimes even dangerous locations, teaching was the ministry, and our kids would not be completely isolated from other children and Christians! Our experience teaching in public and private schools, working at summer camp, leading worship, and many short term mission trips seemed like great fits for the work God had for us here in Kenya. “But wait….God, we would have to raise support to go there, it is not a paid position. God, we don’t really want to that. God that seems impossible and it would be a burden to so many others.” We had a lot of excuses for God. As we prayed about it, God started teaching us that having others support us was the ministry He was calling them to do. They needed to obey Him in the ministry He was calling them to just as we needed to obey Him in the ministry He was calling us to do. We reluctantly obeyed and started the support raising process. What blessings God poured out on us as we met with individuals and churches and shared the ministry that God was calling us to. What even greater blessings He has given to us as we have been living and working here in Kenya! The prayers and support and encouragement for all those He has called to the ministry with us have been more that we could ever have hoped for and are the reason we are able to continue in the ministry God has chosen for us.
So, after making it half way through our our initial two-year commitment to serve at Rift Valley Academy, God has asked us to once again trust Him and follow Him in His plan for us. The school has expressed their need for us to continue in the ministry here and we feel God has asked us to continue in the ministry He has laid before us. As I think about the years ahead, I am filled with excitement as I anticipate everything God will do and the students He will bring into our lives. I am honored that He is choosing to use us even though we are nothing special. I also begin to feel turmoil as I think about having to begin to ask to people to once again join with us financially in this ministry. “Not again God, not so soon. Can’t we have a little longer break from this task that I do not enjoy!” But then God begins to whisper to me, “Esther, Trust Me! I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I will supply your needs. Trust Me. Let Me be God. ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present Your requests to God.’ I have called you and I will make a way.” I felt anxious and wanted to figure everything out myself. I wanted to make a plan B in case God got busy and forgot what I needed. I have knowledge that says “God will provide” but sometimes my emotions still take over and I think I need to make a plan. How foolish when I recognize my feelings. I serve a mighty God who is so much bigger than I and who loves his children so much deeper than I even love my own. He will not forget about me, He has always provided and I know He will continue to do the same.
So, as we look ahead, here is what we think will be happening (God could always let us know otherwise). We are planning on heading back to the United States for furlough after graduation in July. We will share more about furlough and our needs during that time as well as what we will be doing during that time in a later post 
We plan to be in the U.S. from August through December and then returning to Kenya soon after Christmas to start back up with the students for their second term at the beginning of January. We will finish the last two terms of the school year and then two more school years to complete a two year and two term commitment to RVA. If you know anyone who is a Spanish teacher and would like to spend some time teaching the best students in the world from September to December 2017, the school is looking for someone to cover Ben’s classes while we are home on furlough
Please be praying with us that God will bring in the financial support for another term of ministry. We need to let RVA know in January if we are going to have support to return in the fall. The process of looking for someone to replace us can be very lengthy since whoever would replace us would also need to raise support. It is a much longer process than just hiring a teacher in the States, so we need to give them time to begin searching and praying.
Please also be praying for our time on furlough next year that it will be restful and that will be able to connect with many of you!
Pray for our students and their relationships with God. We just finished up our Spiritual Emphasis Week (SEW) and the students were challenged with great words from the scripture. Pray that as God spoke to them this week, they will listen and obey to what God was spoken to them about.
Also continue to pray for our family and the families we are serving. It can be hard living away from home and all things that are comforting and familiar. Our students are living in a culture different from their own as well as living away from their parents and sometimes younger siblings for many weeks at a time when they are here at school.