Isaac,  Marcus and Jeremy

Adoptions at RVA:  Although missionaries can't solve all the issues in Kenya, quite a few have chosen to make life better for one or more orphans by making them part of their family.  Three families at RVA are at different stages in adoption, yet are trying to complete the adoptions to allow them to return to North America in a month or two.  

The Nelsons had their final court hearing for Isaac on Friday.  The judge ruled in favour of the adoption a month before they return to the US.  Please pray that they will get  visa and passport issues worked out in time to return to New Hampshire next month.  

The Hogmans are adopting Marcus, a nine month old with hydrocephalus and spina bifida, a condition which has caused him to be a paraplegic.  Even with his condition, Marcus is the most content and social baby you could ever meet. We hear glowing reports of him excelling  in his physiotherapy classes!  They have just been accepted by an adoption agency and have a lot of paperwork and legal issues to sort out. They need a miracle if they are going to meet their original schedule of returning to Alberta by the end of July.  

The Harrisons, who have already adopted a Kenyan boy, are in the process of adopting Jeremy. He will be eighth child in their family!   The Harrisons are in the middle of their  home visits. They were planning to return for a short time to the US last April, but have been delayed due to the long adoption process. 

Please pray for the Nelsons, the Hogmans, and the Harrisons as they complete the bureaucracy involved in the adoptions.

Transitioning:  We leave Kenya next month.  There is an air of finality about it which is both scary and exciting.  We leave Kenya on July 19th, stop in Amsterdam, then fly to Toronto.  We plan to buy a van in Toronto and drive the rest of the way to New Brunswick. Our return to Canada will be fairly easy, at least from a logistical sense.  I will be returning to my job at Point Lepreau Nuclear Power Plant on August 7th.  We have our own house to move back into, have a wonderful church five minutes away, and we know many people in our community.   There are others leaving at the same time as us who are not so fortunate.  Many have supportive churches, but without income, housing, or community support, it can be quite challenging.  I think all of us will go through a difficult mental transition as we leave the close community of RVA to return to North American society.

There will be many changes with staff at RVA  next year. We have a 30% staff turnover in an average year.  This coming year they are faced with a 50% turnover of staff!  Many of the new people still have funds to raise before they can come.  Due to so many uncertainties at the school, many staff will not know their assignments until a couple of weeks before school starts.  Staff is encouraged by the administrators to be flexible and patient with the staff assignment  and housing process. We have never witnessed  such an amazing group of people who are so willing to do what is needed as the staff at RVA!

Violence in Kenya:As you might have heard on the news lately, there seems to be more insecurity in Kenya than there has been.  Organized crime, in the form of the Mungiki movement, has been fairly violent. The police response has not been gentle.  While we are fairly isolated from these events, we know they are going on, and we know people who are affected.  This year is also an election year in Kenya. There always seems to be added violence in the lead-up.  Please pray for safety and peace in this country in these difficult times.

Bibles at Matathia: We were at the Matathia Church last Sunday.  There were over 200 people there -- many because they had heard of free Bibles. One man from the "Feed My Lambs Project" stood up and spoke. He had recently become a believer and was praying for a Bible.  He had come to Matathia church that day, not realizing that his prayer would be answered.  Many people have been put on the waiting list for Bibles for next month which brings the Bible project to a close.   We have given out 720 Bibles to different places, and we will buy one more box of youth Bibles for this church.

"Be Strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."  Joshua 1:9

You can see our previous newsletters on our website at www.kijabe.org/mission2005

	Michael and Bernadine Steeves P.O. Box 80 Kijabe, Kenya 00220 phone: 011-254-20-3246-255 steeves@kijabe.org www.kijabe.org
	Africa Inland Mission 1641 Victoria Park Ave. Scarborough, ON M1R 1P8 (877) 407-6077 (Toll Free) www.aimcanada.org