You may know that there has been a lot of turmoil, violence and riots in Kenya since the elections in late December ’07. We thank God that the faculty and students at RVA are currently all safe! The school has chosen to delay the start of classes from Jan. 2 to Jan. 19 so that the students can travel safely from their families to RVA.
Please keep RVA, both the staff and students, in your prayers. Pray for travel mercies, peace and understanding towards those around them as they readjust into a new term, and that God will continue to give wisdom to the teachers and staff while the minister.
AIM has set up a Kenya Crisis Fund to help the churches and ministries affected by this tragedy. To find out more, go HERE.
In light of this violence, we have been asked on a number of occasions if we are still planning on leaving this summer for RVA? The answer is a unwavering “YES, Lord willing!” We believe that this conflict will long be over before our time of departure, but even if it isn’t, we are moving forward as planned. God knew what the political climate would be when He directed us to RVA. We chose to walk in His path and direction as we continue our journey to Africa.
Archive for January, 2008
The Crisis In Kenya
Our Story
Rusty grew up in a typical midwest country towns in Oklahoma and Missouri. Brooks was raised near a growing metropolis in Utah. Both had opportunities through their local churches to reach out to their communities and the world through outreach and missions work. Their lives growing up couldn’t have been more opposite and yet both eventually felt called to go into full time missions work while still teenagers. They met at an internship in Texas. Unknown to each other, it was during this time that each of them felt called to be missionaries in Africa.
Throughout the internship and the next couple years, they became good friends. After leaving Texas they realized that their call to missions were quite similar. On Christmas day 1999 they were engaged. Five and a half months later they were married. They spent the first year of their marriage working and finishing school. Rusty graduated with a BS in Management Information Systems. Although Brooks studied International Community Development with a focus on Business, she graduated with an AS in Business Administration before she became pregnant with their first son, Micah. Almost 3 years later, they would also have a daughter, Kayla.
Throughout school and the first few years of marriage, they became and remained active in the local church. Every church they have attended they have found some way to help serve – including children’s ministry of all ages (birth through high school), Sunday school teachers, worship team, sound & technology, office assistant, and many others. They also helped charter a new church in Southwest Missouri for 3 ½ years before being led to move away from the area.
The desire to serve as missionaries has never left, if anything it has increased over time! From the initial time of being called to go to Africa until now they have had many amazing opportunities to learn and grow in ministry, spiritually, and in their relationship with each other. Finding ways to support and learn from the church & other missionaries while raising their children has been a meaningful time in their lives.
The time for short-term ministry is transitioning into long term! Between the two of them, they have gone on 17 trips, spending a year serving in 12 countries on 5 continents (North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia). They now find themselves being able to live out their calling to serve full time in Africa! The time has come to move their family around the world and they couldn’t be more excited.
They cannot do it alone though – they need help! They need pastors, churches, friends and family to step up and stand beside them in prayer, encouragement, and finances, both monthly and one time gifts. Nothing is too little, every dollar helps! We serve a big God who can do anything and use anyone. Will you pray about being one of those He uses to help Rusty, Brooks and their family get to Kenya?
The Munson Family
