Prayer and Praise from RVA 18th March 1999 Has it really been twenty kids that have had to go home for non-disciplinary reasons in the past month? Wow! Add to that the number of kids now experiencing home-stay because of discipline and we are having a significant happening this past month. Our administration and counseling staff have been incredibly busy. Varsity Basketball easily beat ISK in the finals of the RVA tournament this past weekend. Only one loss all season for the guys. Girls hockey and soccer had great seasons and winning records but couldn't pull it off at the end here. Banquet was a huge success with the Babylonian Hanging Gardens theme. Seniors are in the middle of transition seminars with Dave Pollock. You may have heard that Rosslyn seniors were involved in an accident near Voi on their way to their safari in Mombasa. The school hired a Kenyan company to drive them since the roads were so bad. A semi sideswiped the back of one of the vans they were in and the tout who was sitting in that spot was killed in a grizzly fashion. Three kids were airlifted by flying doctors to Nairobi for treatment. Dave Pollock had just flown in from Uzbekistan for their transition seminar and was able to debrief the class. The Rosslyn seniors will be coming back to Nairobi in three days. Keep praying for the school as they work through all this. Our baptismal service went very well. The kids who were baptized are presenting a solid testimony. We had a farewell tea for the Eppys and the Swansons this past Sunday. The Eppys are leaving to consider options for Mrs. Eppy's breast cancer. The Swansons are leaving to explore job opportunities in the States. Lyn Burman is leaving for a one term home assignment in BC, Canada. I'm still battling health concerns - right now it's a relapse of my malaria. There have been a lot of strange illnesses on campus. I've been doing grief debrief groups with girls affected strongly by Miz's death and that seems to have been a helpful thing but there are many students and some staff still dealing with the internal results of that event. I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned it but RVA is establishing an award called the REMAS award. It will be presented on behalf of contributing alumni and friends to the graduating senior who has made a significant spiritual impact on the student body through character and service over the last two years of their time here. The student will be chosen primarily by other seniors and then finally by a group of staff who work closely with seniors. Interested people who wish to contribute can send their donations to RVA - either the business office c/o Mr. Bob Christian - or to the Chaplain's office - care of Mr. Jack Taylor. Tell us if you want a receipt. The band and choir concert were a great success. Music Sunday displayed the fine talent still here. Fiddler on the Roof is practicing hard for next term. This Sunday is the junior high musical. Rugby and volleyball practices are underway in preparation for next term. And.....last Tuesday I challenged the students to get on their knees and pray for rain. Around 50 student stayed after chapel and Tues night and every night since it's been raining. The people are out in their shambas hoeing and preparing to plant. Most are too poor to buy seed yet but they're preparing and doing all they can. The last two outreach projects where we painted a church out in Masai land and then dedicated a widow's house we helped to build have been good for the kids who participated. We'll talk about all that's happened in outreach this Sunday. We are ready for vacation but want everyone to know that the Easter season is the high point of the year for us as Christians because it reminds us of God's incredible love for us and of the eternal life we have because of the sacrifice of Jesus. Keep in touch. I've appreciated those alumni who make connections and let us know what's happening. God's best to all. - Jack Taylor