Greetings from warm and sunny Kijabe! The sun is shining, the grass is freshly mowed, parrots are migrating through the campus, and colobus monkeys are playing in our trees while eating the succulent leaves. In the past two weeks, we have had several vivid reminders of why we do what we do.

Student Baptisms

Just 10 days ago we had the privilege of hearing the testimonies of eight students who chose to be baptized! Each student shared their testimony and their personal, heartfelt story of discovering who God is and how much he loves them. Many had hard experiences and had to wrestle with God, ultimately surrendering to his love and redemption found only in Jesus. This is a good reminder of why we do what we what we do!

Connections with Alumni and Parents

Just a few days ago, we had lunch with a Korean couple who are retiring after 40 years of ministry in Africa. As they shared some of their story, they asked if we remembered their children. Brian had taught both of their children, who graduated in 2000 and 2002! We are the only staff members still at RVA from those years and these dear parents were so excited to connect with us. Both of their children are married and involved in ministry around the world. We’ve also recently connected with other alumni who are now serving as missionaries in East Africa. More reminders of why we do what we do!

AIM Spiritual Life Conference

As our students departed on Saturday morning, AIM missionaries from Kenya and Tanzania began arriving at RVA. We were excited that RVA was again hosting the conference, for the first time since 2017. The speaker, a Kenyan pastor at a church in Nairobi, shared from the Books of Daniel and Revelation, reminding us why we do what we do. We were challenged to be different from the world, to dwell on the sovereignty of God, and to recognize that missions is the fruit of worship. One quote that stood out was that modern Christianity often says to God, “I will follow you because you make my life better”; but biblical Christianity says, “I will follow you because YOU are better than life!”

Lots of thought-provoking questions from our speaker:

• Will we choose obedience over deliverance?
• Will we worship even if it kills us?
• Will we weep for those facing a Christ-less eternity?
• Will we keep Christ at the center of our lives?
• Will we partner with God in turning rebels into worshippers?

And…we’re off!

Tonight, we are flying to the US to spend a few weeks of our school break with family. We are looking forward to seeing our three children, their spouses, and our grandchildren, along with extended family and friends. Pray for safe travels and rich times full of blessings with those we love so dearly.

You are appreciated, as you continue to support us through faithful prayer and giving. Without you, we would not have the privilege of being able to do what we do for so many years as we serve and support many families and their children from across Africa and beyond.

In His Service and for His Glory,

Brian and Missy

Our midterm break begins TODAY as we finish out our 6^th week of school! PRAY that all students and staff would have a restful and fun few days.

When our students return from midterm, we’ll begin our annual Spiritual Emphasis Week (SEW) – five days of focused worship and teaching from God’s Word. This year’s theme, From Conformity to Transformation, comes from Romans 12:1-2.

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Nigel and Jessie Paul, our speakers for this year, are the founders and directors of a ministry called MoveIn Global, which encourages and supports Christians who prayerfully and intentionally move into unreached, urban poor neighborhoods around the globe (https://movein.global). There are 81 teams of approximately 400 “MoveIn’ers” in 53 cities, 14 countries worldwide, who know about 20,000 people by name in the communities where they live.

Here’s a short video introducing their ministry: Watch the video here

YOUR PRAYERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

PRAY for powerful times of worship led by a team from Nairobi Chapel.

PRAY for freedom from guilt, fear, distraction, and discouragement.

PRAY for a deeper understanding of God’s love through teaching from His Word.

PRAY for renewed and transformed hearts and minds.

PRAY for the Holy Spirit to be at work on our campus.

In His Service,

Brian and Missy

A LOT has happened since our last update in June!! Here’s the latest news!!

AP Calculus: It’s been 16 years since Brian was first invited by the College Board to score Advanced Placement Calculus exams. He spent nearly two weeks in June first collaborating with other teachers to refine scoring standards for the free response questions and then leading his table group as they evaluated tens of thousands of individual questions over the course of seven days. Brian thoroughly enjoys the annual opportunity to network with so many teachers, always returning with fresh ideas for the Calculus courses and the math curriculum here at RVA.

During the final day of scoring exam questions, just 30 minutes from the conference center, our 2^nd grandbaby was born to Rachel & Luke!!

JUDAH BENJAMIN arrived on June 17^th, making Cayden a BIG brother! What an incredible blessing that our grandson came a few days early, giving Brian three days to enjoy newborn baby snuggles before returning to Kenya! Micah & Lynnsi had already planned to be in the area at this same time, so they all enjoyed celebrating this precious new addition to our family together.

Coming HOME: During our last week of school, just two weeks after Brian returned to Kenya, Hannah & Jamie arrived back home for a visit! As our “Tribe of 9” finished the school year, we celebrated with a Mexican Fiesta, complete with a taco extravaganza, the Mexican Hat dance, and a pinata stuffed full of candy!

On the last day of school, the 6^th grade class crossed the stage, receiving a Bible and certificate for successfully completing the course of study required to move on to grade 7. Our boys all finished strong, having grown both academically and spiritually throughout the year. We are SO PROUD of their perseverance through hard and challenging things; and there may have been more than a few tears shed as they moved out of our home later that day. We will miss our 6^th graders as they move to another dorm and are thankful for the energy, laughter, and fun they brought to our home!

Alumni Weekend brought many former students back to campus to “walk down memory lane” with friends and staff from their years at RVA. We always enjoy watching sports games played between alumni and the current varsity teams. So much fun to cheer for Jamie as he scored a try in the rugby game and then watch both Hannah and Jamie as they played in the alumni field hockey game!

It encouraged our hearts tremendously to have long conversations with alumni we had in our dorms and classrooms years ago (some are now in their 30’s and 40’s), or those who were members of the classes we sponsored. What a joy to hear how God has been faithfully at work in their hearts and lives since they graduated from RVA. How grateful we are to have been part of their stories.

Kazakhstan & USA: After bidding farewell to the graduated Class of 2025 and spending a wonderfully relaxing time at the Kenyan coast as family, Brian was off to Kazakhstan to lead an AP Calc workshop for teachers. During the last year, he has had the privilege of teaching several online and in-person workshops, sharing best teaching practices for AP Calc which he has learned over 35 years of experience! While Brian was deep in conversation about limits, integrals, and derivatives, I was off to meet 6-week-old, Judah, and make new memories with big brother, Cayden. Before heading back to Kenya (which turned into an unexpected nearly 3-day European airport adventure!), I enjoyed a few days in PA with Micah, Lynnsi, and extended family.

MORE New Arrivals: With the start of a new school year, we welcomed many new staff, including a new school superintendent, along with 91 new students! Six of those new students are part of our dorm family this year, along with our one continuing from last year. We are excited to love, care for, and walk alongside this group of 4^th through 6^th grade boys!

This week we received a prayer letter from AIM’s new South America director. In the letter, he asked, “Why does God entrust us with tasks that go beyond our capacity to carry them out?” He went on to share, “The answer we’ve found is simple and profound: so that God may be exalted. The truth is, it wasn’t Moses who delivered the people from Egypt (Exodus 14:13–14), nor David who defeated the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45–47), nor Esther who saved her people from death (Esther 4:14; 7:3–4). So, who accomplished all these wondrous deeds? The answer: it was God! He is the true deliverer, the invincible warrior, and the defender of His people. Moses, David, and Esther were merely fragile instruments, available in His hands, used by Him to reveal His power and fulfill His eternal purposes. And the same is true for us: if God uses us, it is by His grace and for His glory.”

Your prayers are a blessing as we step into a new school year:

Prayer Requests

• New Arrivals!!
  • New school year – A new school year brings many new staff to our campus. PRAY for quick adjustments to life in Kenya and RVA, strength and energy to meet the responsibilities of each day, and time to rest and recharge each week as we head into a 13-week school term.New students – SIX brand new 4^th-6^th grade boys in our dorm (out of 7), and 91 new students to RVA (~400 total enrollment). PRAY that each new student will feel loved, welcomed, and accepted as they transition to life at RVA.
  • New Superintendent – Our new superintendent, William Ripley, and his family arrived with many other new staff members in August. Relocating from Texas to the mission field is huge! PRAY that William will learn the rhythms and values of RVA as he seeks to provide vision and leadership going forward.
• PRAY for our 7 dorm boys to feel secure, loved, and “at home” as we care for them this year.
• PRAY for good balance as we serve students and families in a variety of roles both in and out of the dorm.

May God be exalted in all He’s asked us to do, by His grace and for His glory. Amen.

Brian & Missy

Crazy to think that we are half-way through the final term of this school year! Here’s what we’ve been up to since our last update.

African Field Studies in Cape Town – During our week-long school trip with seven juniors and seniors, we learned about the history of South Africa from early settlers to the end of apartheid, marveled at the diverse natural history and neighborhoods in and around Cape Town, experienced current ministries going on in the area, and were challenged by the complexity of contemporary issues facing South Africa and ways those issues are being addressed. We also thoroughly enjoyed tasting traditional South African cuisine!

Term Break Blessings – We had two glorious weeks of heart-filling joy, laughter, and fun with our grandson (& his parents), Micah & Lynnsi, as well as dear friends and RVA alumni at a marriage celebration! We returned to Kenya with tired bodies, thankful hearts, and special memories from our time together.

Third Term, Part 1 – Here are some of the highlights from the first half of this term!

Ways to Pray

• Brian is currently Stateside scoring AP Calculus exams while Missy is single parenting our nine boys as RVA heads into the final stretch of the school year. PRAY for good health, strength, and restful nights at the end of long days.
• The senior class is experiencing their *lasts* with graduation just five short weeks away. PRAY for good closure as they make final memories together and excitement as they look ahead to where God is leading them next.
• In the same way, current RVA staff will be leaving while new staff are preparing to come. As we look toward starting a new school year in August, there are still needs for teachers, dorm parents, and support staff. PRAY that God will graciously fill these needs with the right people at the right time.

Family News

• Rachel & Luke (along with Bibi & Babu) are anxiously awaiting the birth of their second baby (grandbaby) any day now! PRAY for a safe delivery and that this sweet addition to the family would arrive in plenty of time to receive love and snuggles from Babu before his return trip to Kenya. PRAY for a healthy baby and a smooth transition to a family of four.
• Along with grad school classes and church commitments, Hannah & Jamie are preparing for a long-awaited trip back to their childhood homes in Kenya! They’re looking forward to arriving in time for RVA’s alumni weekend, spending time with both sets of parents, visiting special people and places, and vacationing together at the Indian Ocean. PRAY for good health and safety in travels, along with making fun new memories together.
• Micah successfully finished his second year of teaching middle school math & Lynnsi is fully funded and excited to begin her new role as a TCK Specialist with Interaction International! Check out her website to learn more: https://lynnsiwagnertckspecialist.my.canva.site. PRAY for all they have going on this summer between grad school courses, week-long camps for TCKs in transition, and preparations for changes in their jobs.

We’re so grateful for an amazing team of prayer warriors over many years of life and ministry at RVA. You are a blessing!

Brian & Missy

God is Moving – In the hearts of our dorm boys.

This has been a term full of questions!

“Do I just know about Jesus, or do I know Jesus?”

“How do I know if I really am a Christian?”

“What does it mean to follow Jesus?”

These are just a few of the questions that the boys have asked this term. They are really seeking to understand what it truly means to know and follow Jesus. It is very exciting that the boys are initiating these conversations and asking these questions. We’re so thankful that one of them made the decision to ask Jesus into his heart! PRAY that God will continue His work in the hearts of each of our nine dorm boys and that we will be sensitive to what He is doing and the questions our boys are asking.

We were recently reminded in our dorm devotions that Jesus was just 12 years old when He stayed behind in Jerusalem after Passover. His parents returned to the city frantically searching for Him and found Him teaching in the temple. He was just 12 years old! The same age as many of our dorm boys.

God is Moving – In the hearts throughout Africa.

Muslims throughout the world are observing Ramadan this month. Each day Muslims will fast from dawn to dusk, even being careful to not swallow their own spit. They are hoping that this will be a time that they can earn credit with God and come closer to him. They are spiritually searching and are more open to spiritual conversations. PRAY that Muslims throughout the world will meet Jesus during this time of searching. Here is a great prayer resource (30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World 2025) to pray for the Muslim world this month.

Africa is full of unrest right now. Unrest is really not a strong enough word — in eastern Congo there is essentially a war going on that has displaced so many people, even the UN Peacekeepers. Rape, murder, and child slavery are a daily part of life in this region. Seventy Christians were gathered together in a church and beheaded. God’s intervention is so needed in the hearts and lives of people in central Africa today. PRAY!

Moving Ahead!

A little over two weeks until the end of this school term! Our boys are ready to *MOVE* home and spend significant time with their families. Next week, we will be leading a group of juniors and seniors on an African Field Studies trip to South Africa. The students have been learning about the history of South Africa and the many challenges that are facing South Africa today. We will have some great opportunities to meet with people who are ministering in the Cape Town area. Our student group is very diverse, and we believe this will be an eye-opening experience for them. PRAY for safe travels, good health, and that the hearts of each student will be open to what God wants to teach them during this trip.

After the term ends, we’re excited for the opportunity to make a quick trip stateside to visit our grandson (and his parents), spend a few days with Micah and Lynnsi, and attend the wedding of one of our RVA sons. PRAY for safe travels, good health, and a wonderful time reconnecting with family & friends.

Finally, looking ahead to next year, there are still some needs to be filled at RVA. The one that hits closest to home is a math teacher for 1^st term (September to November) to fill in for a teacher on home assignment. Spanish, French, Art, Wood Tech, Computer Science, Band and elementary school teachers are also needed. We have a need for dorm parents: high school boys, high school girls and junior high boys. Finally, we are seeking a child safety officer, a therapist/school-based counselor, registered nurses and a pediatric doctor. Perhaps YOU could fill one of these roles, serving families throughout Africa. Please PRAY that God would move in the hearts of people who have a strong desire to be part of the ministry of Rift Valley Academy and are able to serve in one of these important roles.

We appreciate your faithful prayers, Brian & Missy