Kenya Quarantine
Like many of you, the families that remain at RVA are spending a lot of time at home. What does that look like? Is it different for us here than in the US? What about next term?
About 50 family units remain on campus, which includes about 100 kids. Some families chose to return to their passport countries because of health concerns, safety risks, or family needs back home. The last flight out of the country for the foreseeable future was Wednesday. $3,300 per one-way ticket!
There are currently 31 cases of COVID-19 in the country, all imported from outside. The government has shut down the borders, forbidden groups of more than 15 people, closed bars, limited restaurants to takeout and delivery, and now instituted a curfew between 7:00 pm and 5:00 am. This may seem minor compared to what is happening in the US, but keep in mind Kenya has only about 100 ventilators in the entire country.
Today would have been the last day of the term, had we not closed early. Most of our staff have been busy figuring out how to offer online school for at least the first half of third term. Our mission of serving families so they can continue gospel labor on the field in Africa has not changed. Many are working around the clock to make sure we are ready by the end of April. As chaplains we also are thinking through strategies to provide spiritual support and care in a digital environment – and for the staff that are physically present.
Our family is doing well. Of course, like most of you, we had to work through many areas of disappointment. We are currently reading the book J-Curve by Paul Miller as a family and reminded that even in these mini-deaths of suffering, there are glorious opportunities for resurrection.
“We much prefer one-time miracles, not the need for an ongoing miracle of a humble heart, but our ever-present flesh requires an ever-present solution: dying and rising with Jesus.”
Paul Miller, J-Curve
Some of you have asked what we’ve been up to. Here’s our (mostly) unexciting list:
- Reading. The RVA library is open on Mondays and Kindle is always open. Jonathan: Expository Exultation, Piper, The Story of John G. Paton, Paton; Lilli: Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross, Guthrie; Sophie: One Thing, Storms; Josh: Lord of the Rings Two Towers, Tolkien
- Watching movies. We still have access to the internet and able to stream news and movies. We watched Overcomer recently and loved it, as well as the excellent documentary Puritan: All of life to the glory of God. We also plan to see the new Pilgrim’s Progress soon.
- Exercise. Volleyball, basketball, Youtube exercise videos, walking the guard’s trail that goes around the entire campus (while listening to The World & Everything In It).
- Playing piano
- Sharing cooking duties (tonight is Josh’s turn). Jonathan has been making ice-cream – Java Chunk and Mint Chocolate Chip (which makes exercise all the more important)
- Visiting other families on campus – as long as we don’t exceed 15 people
- Puzzles and games
- Preparing for third-term
Thanks for all your care and prayer! Let us know what you’re up to during this interesting time and how we can pray for you. Trusting in the One who intends for good what Satan intends for evil.
Knowing that the same sovereignty that could stop the coronavirus and doesn’t, is the very sovereignty that sustains the soul in it. Indeed, more than sustains — sweetens with hope that, for those who trust him, his purposes are kind, even in death.
John Piper