RVA

Rift Valley Academy, a ministry of Africa Inland Mission International, is a K–12 boarding school overlooking the Great Rift Valley in Kenya. It exists primarily to serve missionaries by providing a quality educational experience and a safe haven for their children, thereby enabling them to continue the important work to which God has called them. The school serves about 500 students from families who represent a wide range of mission organizations and nationalities. RVA’s campus is located in Kijabe, a small town about an hour’s drive northwest of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. Its high altitude (7,200 ft) gives it a generally cool and pleasant climate, as well as a spectacular view out over the Valley.

RVA has had a profound impact on both of us. I first arrived on the campus in 1977 as a skinny sixth-grader, graduated in 1984, and served on the staff in the early 90s. Carolyn taught English at RVA for two years, and it was there that we had one of the most public courtships in history with our students monitoring our every move.

See a map of East Africa.

Visit the AIM website to see a brief video about Rift Valley Academy.

Several RVA staff members write blogs. You may be interested in their different perspectives and the experiences of our coworkers.

Mary Stokesis graduate of both Davidson and Wake Forest (for all your NC folks) and calls Florida home. Mary is in her second of a two year commitment of teaching grade 11 English at RVA.

Todd and Allyson Nagle are from Ohio and arrived in Kenya in the summer of 2007. They are dorm parents for boys the same ages as our girls. Todd also works in the business office. Allyson, who is now the office manager for the main office, worked with Carolyn in the guidance department during the first term.

Ryan and Heather Murphy arrived in 2005, hailing from California. Ryan is the English department head and teaches grade 10 English (our dorm girls!). Heather is the Social Studies department head and teaches World Civilizations to an assortment of our grade 9 and 10 dorm girls. AND they have two preschoolers.

Michael and Frances Worsham are members of the Koning prayer team and our friends from Raleigh. Recently appointed missionaries with Africa Inland Mission, Michael will be teaching high school Bible, and Frances will be teaching 2nd grade at RVA beginning in the fall 2008. Michael and Frances have three adult, married sons and a new grand-baby. Frances was Lily’s 2nd grade teacher for one brief, glorious term at Green Year Round Elementary.

Steve and Linda Weidemannare a retired couple whose daughter’s family has served at RVA for ten years. The Weidemanns just left Kijabe in December 2007 after six months of service in RVA’s business office. While Steve and Linda were in Kijabe, Tim and Bonnie Cook (RVA’s superintendent and his wife) lived in the Weidemann’s house in Florida near Bonnie’s family, and the Weidemanns lived in the Cook’s house in Kijabe! (Hint: Short-term mission opportunities are without limits for retirees who want to stay busy and use their gifts and talents to glorify God!)

Steve and Nancy Peiferhave been in Kijabe since 2001. Steve is the college guidance counselor. Nancy is the Foreign Language department head and teaches French. They just returned to Kenya on December 29 from a one-term furlough during which they settled their oldest son in at college (again, Wake Forest!). Carolyn covered Steve’s job during their absence. The Peifers have four children, the youngest of whom are adopted Kenyan twins currently in the 1st grade.

Alan and Sara Bouchardare midwesterners (from Montana or Indiana or some such place) who have been at RVA for at least ten years. Alan teaches high school science, and Sara is the high school librarian. The Bouchards have two adult daughters and a son who is a senior at RVA this year.

Ed and Debbie Rothfusand their three teenagers have been at RVA since 2003, at least. Ed teaches middle and high school art. Debbie is the elementary school librarian.

Tim and Jill Reber and their four children arrived in the summer of 2007 from Pennsylvania. They are dorm parents for 7th grade boys. Tim is the Bible department head and teaches grade 9 Bible to some of our dorm girls. Jill also teaches our 9th grade girls Home Economics. Their son, J.T. is one of Silas’ best friends.

My (Carolyn) ulterior motive in sharing these links with you is that – no matter your interests, skills, and talents; no matter how old or young you are; no matter your education, training, and experience; no matter how many children you have or how old or young those children may be; no matter where you come from – God can use you on the mission field. God can use you at RVA.