The challenge is on!   My mother-in-law, who was a missionary at Rift Valley Academy for 18 years, has made it clear to us that dorm parenting is definitely one of the most challenging roles at the school. It is a 24/7 job for three months at a time.  We were asked to be dorm parents to Grade 7 girls. Last year, my son Evan said he would climb a tree if the girls tried to kiss him. This year at age seven, his view has matured. He says for every time the girls kiss him he will charge 5 shillings! His price isn't very high but could add up fast being the only little boy around.

I recently found an Africa Inland Mission pamphlet  titled "When their parents go to the mission field THEY GO TOO. Investing in the Lives of Missionary Children."  Ruthie Koops, a Dorm Parent at Rift Valley Academy, wrote a short description of her experiences as a dorm mother.  I found it to be a very colourful picture of what I would guess to be an exceptional three hours of the dorm experience.
 
                              Three hours in the Life of a Dorm Parent...

"Last Wednesday night, between 7:00 and 10:00 pm, I answered the phone 14 times, responded to the cry,  'Miss Ruthie!' 57 times, gave antacid to Julie who was bent in half on the sofa, ibuprofen to Amanda who fell down and got 9 stitches in her knee, organized Lisa to soak an infected finger and Janet to ice both her shins, had a water fight with Corny, sighed with Cristen over a new flame, discussed predestination with Alli after trying to help her with her math, laughed with Emily over a funny story, tried to wrinkle my eyebrows for Andrea when she exclaimed in distress that she had failed her Algebra test, prayed for Muslims with Ginny, Joy, and Betty, groaned with Heidi at the stack of homework yet undone at bedtime, and tucked everyone in - except for Rebekah who fell asleep before I got to her room to say goodnight. Mmmm. These kids are precious. I love this stuff. I'm so glad I'm here..."

Ruthie Koops, Dorm Parent
Rift Valley Academy

We have 96% of our required finances.  This is not going to stop us from going, however any additional funding will go towards ministry expenses in Kenya.  We look forward to helping out the local church and community with some of the blessings that you have given through us. 

Bernadine is having gall bladder surgery at 8am on July 7th. She will be home that evening.  We are thankful that this could be arranged at fairly short notice.  Everyone involved was very understanding of our schedule and keen to assist with our needs.

This Sunday is our comissioning service.  Our church continues to grow in their understanding and involvment with missions.  We are pleased that God has allowed us to be a part of that.

Michael finishes work on July 22nd.  We will have a final week to finish packing, sell vehicles, and say goodbye.

We leave for Kenya from Saint John on August 2nd. We will meet up with Paul and Kelly Carline in London for the flight to Nairobi.  We didn't plan it that way, but it is nice to see friends along the way.

Blessings,

Bernadine, Michael, Julianne and Evan

You can see our previous newsletters on our website at www.kijabe.org/mission2005.

	(Until August 1st) Michael and Bernadine Steeves 113 Pauline St. Saint John, NB E2J 3K8 (506) 658-6081 steeves@kijabe.org (will remain in use in Kenya) www.kijabe.org
	Africa Inland Mission 1641 Victoria Park Ave. Scarborough, ON M1R 1P8 (877) 407-6077 (Toll Free) www.aimcanada.org
	Canadian Baptist Ministries 7185 Millcreek Dr. Mississauga, ON L5N 5R4 (905) 821-3533 www.cbmin.org