Last day of school

It’s been awhile since the last day of school, but wanted to share some memories and photos from this day. It was a bitter sweet day on campus…teachers and administrators ready for a break, yet cherishing every moment with each student and taking in every part of their smiling faces. The campus was busy as teachers and students were preparing their rooms so parents could visit, see their child active in their classroom, reciting bible verses, singing songs, and even watch a slideshow of photos from throughout the year. The day ended with the parents all coming together, as well as all the students, for a time of prayer and singing. Everyone was then invited for lemonade and a snack, and for a time of fellowship. Please enjoy some photos from that day.

A lot of goodbyes were said that day…and then the following week as we said goodbye basically to everyone on campus except for the Miedema family. Kevin and Brent have stayed busy around campus as usual…finishing the repairs on the preschool, finishing the new kitchen, getting the grounds ready for the new 1st through 3rd grade building, planning for an additional borehole, uniform estimates…the list goes on. We also have had a chance to spend some quality family time with the campus a little less crowded. We have been able to celebrate a few birthdays – Clayton on June 10, Hudson on June 29, and Kevin on July 7. We also celebrated our 14 th wedding anniversary on June 24! Our anniversary date night here in the African bush looked a little different than American standards but we were happy to just have some down time. Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks…

For Clayton’s birthday Kevin promised Clayton they could sleep outside on top of our shipping container…it sounded so fun that Rowan joined, as well as part of the Miedema clan. They hauled their bug tents and sleeping backs up there and made it all night. It was cold!

Nothing’s better than birthday cake…

An update on Rowan….if some of you hadn’t heard, Rowan was diagnosed with severe malaria on June 27. He had just had a mild fever for a day or so, but then shot up to 103.9. We decided to give Jim’s malaria test, since we had our own kit, and it came back positive. We started the normal treatment…just an oral anti-malaria medicine…very standard. We were assured he would start feeling better within 24-36 hours. But the next day he started vomiting so we too him to a local clinic where they did a blood draw and found his platelet levels had dropped into the 80s. Normal levels are between 150 and 450. After an hour of the doctor searching the city for an injectable treatment, she finally found a hospital who had it and we were admitted for treatment as well as an IV for dehydration. It was a scary few days there, but as of today Rowan is malaria free and his platelet levels are back into the 300s PTL! Thank you to all who were praying fervently for Rowan and for healing. We have seen God at work, in the midst of turmoil, He is closer yet. What a mighty God we serve.

More updates to come soon!