*We have spent the last three hours trying to get this newsletter sent out, but we are having issues with the Internet here in Africa (go figure). So rather than delay our newsletter any further, we are posting it here and will be sending it out via e-mail with the pictures and other fun stuff once the Internet decides to start working better. Thank you for your patience and understanding*
Dear Friends,
Jambo! We are amazed, humbled and blessed by what God is doing in our ministry here at RVA and in our personal lives! It is wonderful to see how God is helping us adapt to our lives and responsibilities. We really do understand why so many people told us before we came that it really takes about a year to adjust completely to life here – as so many things change so quickly and often. Even as we write, we are still processing all that has happened – both fun and challenging – this past term as well as preparing for the inevitable changes that the next months hold. Part of this prolonged processing in due in part of how fast the term goes by with personal responsibilities 24/7. Its often not until vac that we get a chance to realize all that we have just accomplished and experienced throughout the term.
It has been a fun realization that despite the challenges and struggles that we encounter, both personally and as a school (more so this year than recent years, we’re told) we really believe that we are exactly where we are called to be! The longer we are here, the more we love it here. The harder days help us learn, grow and find new ways of adapting in life. The good days increase our love of Kenya and RVA, astonish us at how wonderful God is, confirm that we are where we need to be, and create wonderful memories. Both help types of days help us become closer as a family and a dorm!
One of our dorm highlights include a mystery dinner – done in place of our normal Wednesday night dinner. The boys were given “secret invitations”, told to come to the dorm at 4:07. After playing a game, they practiced their band instruments and finished their homework, which enabled us to have an evening of amazing fun without other responsibilities of a normal night. They walked into the dining room of “Davis Diner” that was strangely decorated, had black plastic taped to the tabletops and were told not to talk. Most of them had never been to a mystery dinner before. They had 3 “courses” in which they chose their meal one course at a time – ‘Boston’s Favorite’ (iced tea), ‘Sticks and Stones’ (spaghetti and meatballs), and ‘Chicken in a Basket’ (devilled eggs) were a few items on the menu. They also had to order plates and utensils with each course. It was a night that none of us will soon forget!
Another highlight was our continuation of the end of term HUGE sleepover. This time we had a total of 26 kids, including Kayla, Micah and one of his friends. It turned out that there was not a Friday night activity for the boys to be involved in – it was a rare week that the Titchie weekend activity was on Saturday night instead. This created a great opportunity for the boys and their friends to have more time together and create mischievous activities like only boys can! We often wonder why do this, and yet, by the end of the night we are convinced that we have had as much fun as they have. It’s an incredible opportunity to interact in the lives of not only our boys, but their classmates and friends’ lives as well!
Brooks also had the opportunity to finish strong with her 9th grade boys Sunday School class. They were always full of energy and questions. Every Sunday provided a myriad of discussion topics as they talked about different myths and ideologies related to the Christian Church. It was great to hear some of their feedback as well as open their minds a bit more about who Christ really is according to the Bible not just individual beliefs!
There is one personal challenge that our family has faced this past month we’d like to share with you. We were able to rejoice with the news that Brooks was pregnant again! Within a week of finding this out, she began having strange pains and cramps. Even with the doctors and hospital that we have here, it took an excruciatingly long week before we confirmed that the tiny life inside her had indeed died. Instead of having our third child, we had our third miscarriage. Thanks to some amazing friends, we were able to have an evening to cry and talk just the two of us after we found out. We have been reminded time and time again that only God is in control! He has helped give grace and a heavenly peace that is helping us through the pain of this loss as well as the strength, patience, love, and endurance that was needed in the dorm to finish the term.
As we look at the past 8 months here, it is with mixed emotions. We have thoroughly come to adore this place and what we are doing teaching, parenting, and mentoring the students here. There has been so many times where we have poured out God’s love into the kids and other staff here (as well as been poured into)! The experiences and memories are like none other. We could live without another monkey raiding our kitchen for bananas! We also could never get enough evening one-on-one or two-on-one chats about life, friends, God, or family with our boys. Life as a family of 16 has definitely had its challenges, but they seemed to be outweighed in the end by joy, love, fun, and God’s gift of drawing us all close together despite our nationality and backgrounds!
We only have 4 more months left of our initial time here. Just the thought can bring tears and grief. As much as we miss our friends and family in the States, it is so hard to imagine leaving here – especially when we do not have a return date. We already know that we want to come back – believing that this is the place that God is calling us to be for as long as He sees fit. Our plans are to fly back into New York the end of July. We will have a couple days of debriefing with AIM in Pearl River and then will see Brooks’ family in PA before heading back towards Missouri. We know that we have friends and supporting churches along the way that we would like to see, but we are still working out the details and timing of these visits. (Please remind us if you’re around NY or along the way through PA to MO, we’d love to see you, but also need to plan ahead to make it happen!)
We are aware that the economy in the U.S. has changed. We also know that God is much bigger than any of our problems and needs! We have watched as time and time again He has provided for our family. Trusting that He will continue to provide and lead the way, we are letting people know that the only thing stopping us from returning to Kenya is monthly support. We are currently a bit less than ½ of what we need monthly. “How did we make it here in the first place?” you might be asking… well that came from the generous one time gifts that helped compensate the monthly needs. Those gifts are running out and will only help us through the rest of this year, maybe. We would appreciate your prayers (and any financial help you feel led to give) as we continue on this journey to be missionaries long term in Kenya!
We thank God for each of you! Thank you for your love, prayers and notes of encouragement.
Serving God by Serving Others,
Rusty, Brooks, Micah & Kayla
The Munson Family
