School Begins…

Hello, all!

The 2009-2010 RVA year has essentially begun! Classes start tomorrow, and my girls have all arrived safely at RVA and are getting settled into their dorm rooms…

I would think that after getting through high-school, graduating from high-school, going to college, graduating from college, starting a full-time corporate job, AND moving across the world to Kenya, there wouldn’t be much room left for feeling nervous/jittery/anxious to host my first “dorm night” two nights ago in my apartment with seventeen girls, ages 14-16. But, I must admit…I was.

Was my vanilla chai going to taste good? Were the cookies going to be sweet enough for the girls? Was the fire going to glisten and roar and make their toes and backs toasty-warm? Were the games going to produce smiles and giggles and laughter and fun, or flop? What if they just want to text on their cell phones the whole time, and whisper to one another? What if they think I’m too young? Will they respect me? How do I find the balance between being their friend, and being their authority? Whether silly or serious, the questions egged on…

All these questions, and more, crowded my brain as I began what I now believe to be the greatest task of my life: being a mother to seventeen, young, unique, blossoming girls who each have different gifts, talents, weaknesses, strengths, and backgrounds. It’s amazing to think that it was almost ten years ago that I was 14. Nine years ago that I was 15, and eight years ago that I was 16. How will I remember? How will I put myself in their shoes, but remain outside of them to continue walking in my own—perhaps a pair a bit more experienced, mature, beaten up, worn, and wiser. Surely, this will take courage. This will take sweat. This will take hours. This will take patience. This will take love. This will take Gospel grace and power.

It has now been about two weeks since I left for Kenya. In some ways, it feels like a lifetime since I left. I am so happy here! The people are already becoming dear friends. The “HOE-DEE’s” (Howdy’s) that we give each other as we step foot into somebody’s home are like cheerful pieces of sunshine coming through my door. The Veggie ladies down by the Duka’s are starting to look familiar. My keys on my big key-ring are beginning to work on the first try—in other words, they look familiar now. I no longer begin panting like an out-of-shape dog when I walk around campus and breathe in the air of a much higher altitude. I think I have almost found my “quiet-time” spot in my house (although I’m still trying out a few here and there…) I am beginning to feel comfortable in my own kitchen, too, and am no longer living off of oatmeal packets and coffee and things people put in my freezer before I got here. In fact, I asked Emily to make Italian Lentil Stew for dinner a few days ago, and it was quite delicious and felt like my first homemade dinner here. And, a small group of us Kedong dorm moms even surprised Annie on Friday morning for her 27th birthday and brought her cards, muffins, and our chipper morning voices to sing Happy Birthday to her at 8:30am!

Although these evidences of “settling” far outweigh any negative feelings, I experienced my first real moment of homesickness on Friday that I can’t even put into words. And it all happened right after the last Mom came into my kitchen to sit down and chat with me about their particular daughter. Before leaving and saying their goodbyes, some took a few minutes to mention things that I should be aware of related to their girls’ health, spiritual life, struggles, etc. Each conversation was great—healthy, honest, open and real. But after they left, and the girls all went up to the Cafeteria for dinner, I was left alone in my little apartment as the sun was going down…and it was rather sad. I realized that these Mothers know their daughters SO well, and I don’t. I am starting at square one. What a sobering reality! It is an exciting reality, but intimidating. They are entrusting their precious daughters to ME! I’m so glad that ultimately, they are really entrusting them to the Lord…in fact, many of the parents communicated that they would be praying for me this first term…what a blessing to hear them say that!

And so the story begins. At our first dorm meeting on Friday, we ate Oatmeal cookies, Ginger snaps, and drank Vanilla Chai Tea…we also made Popcorn, and then played a “Getting to Know U” game and Telephone Charades/Pictionary. It was quite fun, and I think the girls enjoyed it for the most part. They are each VERY different and unique, but all around, they are a fun-loving group with LOTS of energy (some more than others…). I really wanted to create a fun, warm environment on the first night, and I am thankful that that was accomplished. Today, I’ll put on my strict, Dorm Mom cap and go over all the rules and cleaning schedule and expectations for respect and discipline. Some Dorm Parents have jokingly told me not to smile for the first month, but that’s pretty much impossible for me, so I’m just going to do my best to set the standards high and then allow for some wiggle-room much later in the term…I must admit, though, it was quite fun “tucking” many of them in tonight in their beds and feeling “maternal.” And, I have already been officially and unofficially invited to come visit some of the girls’ in their parent’s mission field locations over Christmas break: Ethiopia, Johannsburg, South Africa, Northern Africa…where shall I go? Hmmmm….we shall see.

To all my supporters: thank you. Thank you so much for your prayers and continued financial support! The girls are so precious, and it’s neat to finally put their names and faces with my prayers…your support is allowing these parents to continue serving the Lord in their local mission fields, and after meeting them and hearing some of their stories…believe me, you are giving to some awesome, mighty things! I can’t go into all the details, due to an RVA policy to protect names in their respective, geographic regions of service, but I CAN say that these parents love God, want to see the kingdom of Jesus Christ come to the African people groups, and are true, noble servants. Please continue to pray that God will give me wisdom and discernment for each one of their precious girls in the coming days, and that I would continue to love God with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength, so that that love can overflow to these girls.