Two Pencils and One Pen: Rewards in Kenya

April 6, 2007

 

Ben and Kate were VERY insistent that I take this picture and send it to you:

(Someday they will hurt me for this, but they are VERY proud of it right now.)

 

I also have proof of my raw courage with the cheetah. Notice the incredible valor:

 

(I think this could possibly be a motivational poster)

 

JT had an amazing interim, and had an interesting interaction with an animal:

(JT and an eagle)

 

It is the end of the term at RVA, and we had one more breakthrough: our first ever student accepted at Columbia. It means that in five years, we have gone from having no representation in the Ivy League to every Ivy League college having accepted an RVA student. In the senior class of 80, we have had two students accepted at Harvard, one of those students also accepted at Yale and Princeton, one student at Stanford, one student at MIT, one student at Penn, one student at the Air Force Academy and one at the Naval Academy. In my heart of hearts, I really believe that RVA kids will change the world; it has been such a thrill and honor to be a part of it all.

 

We completed two more computer centers, which puts our total at six. We just received the computers in the country, so when the Kenyan schools begin May 7th, they will be ready to go. We visited Kiambogo, and the kids are so thrilled to have the opportunity to learn computers. I don’t know if I have ever seen more grins since I’ve started doing this.

The headmaster told me `When we have our opening, you will come and we will roast a goat like Africans do when we celebrate. You are a part of us.’

 

Kinungi had its ribbon cutting ceremony and invited us to attend. It is a large school and we were given seats in front.

It was the last day of school, and it was the awards assembly. The head of education for the area announced to Nancy that he was giving out more cash awards for teachers than he had ever had. The total amount could not have been more that $15.00, but the teachers were very excited.

 

I got to give out those envelopes, but I also got to give the rewards to the top three students in each class. They would receive one pen, one pencil and one colored pencil. It was a bittersweet moment; these kids who were dressed in rags who had nothing who had worked so hard and all they got were pencils and a pen. I longed to give them so much more.

 

But all that showed is how shallow I am because the kids were thrilled to get the pen and pencils. One little guy ran in place when I handed him his.

I went home and prayed that I would appreciate how much I had, and how much I have been given. We will have ten computer centers up by the time we leave in July, and so I want to make sure you all know that we are so grateful for you and what you have done. You have fed over ten thousand children for a term, and we are so blessed at what you have done.

 

And most of all, we are grateful for the God of the second chance, who gives all good gifts, even one pen and two pencils.

 

Your pal

 

Steve

 

PS. Nancy turns 50 in May 30th. Would you consider sending her a birthday card? It is only 80 cents to mail a card to Kijabe; I would love her to get a bunch. I will hold them until the special day. Our address is Nancy Peifer PO Box 80 Kijabe, Kenya 00220.

 

 

Steve and Nancy Peifer

Rift Valley Academy PO Box 80 Kijabe, Kenya 00220

Stateside Address: AIM PO Box 178 Pearl River, NY 10965

Home Number: 011-254-20-3246-458

Office Number: 011-254-20-3246-170

Steve's Cell: 011-254-0734-124292

Nancy's Cell: 011-254-0734-124291

Webcam

 http://www.kijabe.org/longocam/

Website

http://peifer.kijabe.org/index.html?intro.html&1

Foundation

 http://www.solutionbeaconfoundation.org/programs.html/

http://www.yourpal-steve.org/index.html/