Hello WPCC!
We wanted to take some time to introduce ourselves and let you know a little about our ministry. We are newly supported as missionaries by WPCC and we are so excited to develop this relationship! We are missionaries with
Africa Inland Mission and have been appointed to teach and love missionary kids at
Rift Valley Academy in Kenya. RVA is a large boarding school for kids whose parents serve all over the continent of Africa. There are 450 students at the school from very diverse backgrounds. Twenty two "home" countries are represented, as well as over 70 mission agencies. We are so excited for our own children to grow up in this environment! Most of the students come from missionary families, and most board at the school nine months out of the year. While many of them love living in Africa and love the experiences they've had, some are not happy either growing up in Africa, or living at a boarding school away from their families. Some even do not call their parents' faith their own. We are so excited to love these kids and be a part of their lives during these important formative years.
We will depart, Lord willing, July 20th. We have committed to a two-year term of service to begin with. We will have three weeks of formal orientation, and then we will move to the school and settle in time for classes to begin in late August.
School is often a difficult decision for missionary families. In the past, some kids were inadequately schooled at home or in national schools, some were sent all the way back to their home countries to live with relatives and attend school, and some families left the mission field altogether so that their children could get the education that was desired. Even today, choosing international schools can create a huge financial burden for missionary families due to high tuition costs. Because of schools like RVA, where the staff are missionaries themselves, families can continue their ministries while keeping their kids closer and equipping them well for college and possible future ministry, without financial burden.
We do keep up a blog,
Aspen Leaves to Acacia Trees, which has details about our preparations, support team, family life, and our thoughts as we prepare for the mission field. We hope to use it as an important tool of communication once we arrive in Kenya. On the right side of the blog, there is a link to join our mailing list, or you can email us directly at j_h_frazier@yahoo.com. There is also a video made by AIM's media team that we think really portrays the heart of the school. Take some time to watch it
HERE.
We are very excited and humbled to have your support. We realize while we could have easily found an international Christian school that would pay our way, spending all of this time building relationships and prayerful support is going to be very important as we move across the world with our young family. It feels a little daunting at times, but with the prayers, love, and concern of many people, we are not doing this on our own, but YOU are the heart and the arms of the Father as you send us and care for us.
Love,
Jim and Heather Frazier
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