Who Are Missionaries and Their Comments About
the Value of MK Teachers and Schools.
"When I first heard you mention this possible article, I was so excited! While we were on deputation, I actually prayed and thought about this exact type of thing! MK Teacher Scholarship Fund! Wow! I would daydream in the shower (not that you needed to know that) that if God would drop $1 million in my lap, I would use it to help future missionaries pay off their student loans and get them to the field. It took us over 7 years to pay off Stacy's loans while I was an officer in the Army. Here's something for you to pass on to the scholarship foundation:
"It took us 7+ years to pay it off." That's what we told people during our deputation about my wife's college loans from Asbury College. While on deputation in preparation to come to Rift Valley Academy (RVA), we knew that this burden that loomed above us had to be removed before we could go to Kenya with Africa Inland Mission. I am a MK and could not imagine what my 6 1/2 years at RVA would have been like if my teachers and dorm parents were made to wait to pay off their loans like we did. Here is an example of how Christ worked through some people at RVA in my early years
"In January 1982, I entered the 2nd grade class at RVA for the first time. Miss Barb Probst was my 2nd and 3rd grade teacher, and she greeted me with a hug. I needed it at that time since I was a new boarding student and feeling the pain of separation from my parents. Of all my teachers at RVA, she had the most impact on my life. Ms. Probst quickly got me into singing in musicals and encouraged me to play sports. She is the ONLY teacher that I can remember through elementary, high school, and college who truly loved us kids and spent all her energy on us. Today, I can't imagine making the transition to RVA at 8 years of age without a lady like Ms. Probst being there to love and teach us kids.
"But it doesn't stop with a teacher...Our dorm parents also helped shapeus. I think of Tony & Rose Dickens when I think of my best dorm parents. Tony & Rose loved us, discplined us, made sure we washed up, scooted us off to school every day, held devotions every night, fixed our bike tires when needed, took us on Saturday hikes to wear us little boys out, and so much more. Tony was like a Dad when us little guys needed a Dad in our own fathers' absence.
"Partially because of examples of Godly people like Ms. Probst and the Dickens, I am today a dorm parent of 20 challenging high schools boys and a part time French teacher at RVA . Another classmate of mine from Ms. Probst's class and dorm brother from the Dickens' dorm is also here at RVA as a teacher. What would us kids have turned out to be like without these people? From where would we have received the hugs and discipline we needed?
"Would we have had the warm environment in the classroom and dorms to help raise us effectively in Christ? These are only 2 examples of the people God placed in our lives to mold us into the vessels for His glory. I thank glorious heavenly Father for each of them and allowing them to come to RVA when they did.
"Now at Rift Valley Academy, I am leading a Bible study for 8 young men, mentoring and raising 20 high school boys in our dorm, helping teach French to 9 high schoolers, Security Director for the campus, cafeteria monitor when needed, and a Dad to my own 2 little girls. God brought my family to RVA at the appropriate time to serve Him in this school for MKs. We pray that since we are now here in Kenya, we will serve Him effectively to His glory like Ms. Probst and the Dickens family did."