AUGUST 2023

After just over one month in the UK, we are now back in Kenya. It was lovely to be able to see so many friends and family and despite sleeping in 9 beds in 5 weeks, it still managed to be a good break with some rest. To be able to get away with our families was particularly special, as well as having a few days away without the children. A particular highlight for Sean was travelling to Belfast to share about mission at the Elim youth festival, Relentless.

We have now settled back to life in Kenya and Jonah and Caleb are back in school. Jonah has started 4th Grade (Year 5) and Caleb 2nd Grade (Year 3). The boys’ school, Rift Valley Academy, really is a special place. At the beginning of the school year we attended a whole school assembly where they celebrated all of the countries represented by students at RVA – over 20 countries! The school serves families on mission and there is a lovely sense of community across the whole school. Anna is thriving and doing really well. She is now walking everywhere and becoming increasingly independent as a result. If it is not glued down or out of reach then she sees it as fair game, whatever it is! She seems to be learning new words daily and says hello to everyone she sees - she is extremely sociable and relational, like a true Kenyan! As well as trying to keep up with Anna and the boys, Rachel is beginning to do more with the child sponsorship team while working from home. She is also planning to start a toddler group for other missionary and local mums, something we are sure Anna will love. Sean is back at Cornerstone Preparatory Academy, one of the 5 initiatives that is part of Naomi's Village. This time of year is always interesting as for many of us, including our family, it is the beginning of a new school year and this start of the year brings a sense of new beginning and enthusiasm for what lies ahead. However, as Cornerstone Preparatory Academy follows the Kenyan curriculum and school calendar, it is actually the beginning of the 3rd term, with the academic year ending at Christmas. It is odd beginning a new school year as a family and being in the final term for ministry and work. As we arrived in preparation for the 3rd term beginning, Sean was straight back to it with teacher training meetings, budget meetings and such. Last year 100% of students were able to go on to University and we have the same target in place for this year. In Proverbs 22 it talks about training a child in the way they should go and that is our passion. A great education opens doors, it equips and empowers people and provides access to opportunities. We are well aware of the difference education can make in creating pathways out of poverty and we long to see children educated, equipped and empowered. We want to see orphans and vulnerable children have access to an education that will equip them to create their own pathway out of poverty and empower them to shape their future. With all this going on, we also had visitors from the UK with us and it was lovely to be able to show them the 5 different initiatives of Naomi's Village, share about our ministry and work as well as the delights that Kenya has to offer. It is only a 6 day turnaround between them leaving and our next set of visitors coming out. Balancing life, ministry and visitors is a lot of fun. Getting to spend time with friends and family and being able to share our ministry and life here is certainly very special.