You asked for it!

A few months ago a joyful friend of ours asked us what things were the most difficult about being here at RVA. She implied that we're always so cheerful in our correspondence (that's debatable) and she wants to know the whole story.

So to quote her, "that you might pray better," we'll attempt to share some items:

1. It won't surprise you to know that the hardest is being away from our family. They have been great at writing and sending pictures regularly but it's just not the same as being there. We knew this would be hard before we came.

2. Getting along without a car comes next. If we lived in walking distance from good shopping this would not be so bad but the dukas and veggie ladies are limited in what they have to offer. When we first came, people offered to take us into Nairobi but that didn't last long. We can hire a driver but it's expensive. We try to go with another couple and then it costs about $40. If we go alone, it costs $80. We try to do this just once a month.

3. Our jobs are challenging. Both of us have had some behavior issues in our classroom. Missionaries' children aren't different than other children.

4. Technology (or the lack thereof) here is difficult. When we realize where we are we are thankful to have what is available. The electricity goes off frequently. The school has a generator so it comes back on quickly but if on the computer, one may lose what he or she is working on. Fortunately, our computer here at home has a battery but the one in Vic's office doesn't.

5. Being near so much poverty and being able to help so little is hard. We live in a little oasis here on the campus of RVA. Just five minutes away are many without enough food and other provisions. God has allowed us to be involved in three ministries (see other posts) and we are thankful for that.

6. Red tape is international! When we arrived in August our paperwork was started for residency status since supposedly we could only get two visas, one for three months and one for two. Vic's paper work went through without a hitch, but they lost Charlotte's. So I have been here illegally since February 14. Just today the man on campus who sees about these things asked for my passport (I hate being without it) and is going to try to get something done about this in Nairobi tomorrow. My chief concern is that I'm leaving for the USA in a little over three weeks and I really don't want a hassle at the airport going or returning.

These things frustrate us but on the good side they make us rely on our sovereign God.