“Stop Bwana! Please let me off the bus before we go through the tunnel! I need to take a photo of the tight squeeze!” The only paved road out of Kijabe leads through a railway underpass on its way up the hill. The bus barely fits, and the driver always gets a round of applause after he successfully negotiates the tunnel.

That is a fitting analogy for the end of this term. As we ended five days early, all the end of term activities were squeezed into the available time. We celebrated Christmas in mid-November with choir and band concerts. RVA students put on the play, “The Mouse that Roared”. One Hundred and sixty cars raced in Pinewood Derby. Our dorm girls joined us for tree decorating, a dorm meal of Korean beef, a gift exchange and a Christmas movie. We had birthday suppers for two of the girls. Julianne and Evan performed in an elementary school Christmas presentation. The term ended with overseeing a complete dorm cleanup and saying goodbye to all the girls.

This week is our AIM Kenya conference. After our short break, or dorm is full again, this time with missionary families. Missionaries from the coast, the cities, the desert, and the small towns of Kenya have all gathered together for the annual conference. This is a chance to get together with 200 other missionaries to grow spiritually, fellowship, and conduct some mission business. The theme of the conference is “Rest in the Lord”. Our speaker is Eddie Larkman from London, England and he is covering the book of Habakkuk.

The referendum in Kenya ended with very little violence. The side against the new constitution won, and there have been calls for new elections. Please pray for continued stability and peace as the people of Kenya exercise their democratic rights.

November has been our busy Christmas Season. We'll be thinking of you as you squeeze all your Christmas events into December. This month will be a time to reconnect as a family of four. We will be heading for the coast in a couple days.

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests. Luke 2:14

Merry Christmas!

Michael, Bernadine, Julianne and Evan

I've put some photos of November at RVA at http://kijabe.org/RVA_November_2005/