Transitions in a Life Overseas…
Celebrating Jesus…
Just before Christmas, the Sarobidy Maternity Center hosted Christmas parties for all the women in both the prenatal (shown below) and postpartum programs. What joyous celebrations they were! There were snacks, games, prizes, laughter, and the Gospel message. Two of the pregnant mamas were particularly eager to learn more and stayed behind to ask additional questions about the birth of Christ, the Savior, and what it means for the world! Please join us in praying for these young ladies as they explore what the Good News and a relationship with Christ may mean for them!
Transitions in the Missionary Kid Life…
You may remember from previous newsletters that Alissa has been spearheading a new-to-RVA-role of TCK Care Coordinator as well as establishing and leading a team of staff in this endeavor. As previously mentioned, there aren’t many International High Schools that we’ve come across who are doing this. With that said, Alissa has been navigating unchartered territories as she develops this program without a pre-existing format or a clear way forward.
Thankfully, in recent years, an increasing amount of research and resources has emerged, illuminating this group of individuals and providing a framework for launching this program.
One such study by TCK Training, surveyed 1,904 adult third culture kids impacted by lives of global mobility in their childhoods. The results found that…
71% of third culture kids lived in two or three
countries outside of their passport country before
the age of 18 years old and an additional 20%
of TCKs lived in four or five countries outside
of their passport country (before the age of 18).
With each of these location changes come a whole range of transitions and emotions…. goodbyes to homes, to friends, to pets, to favorite locations, to community, to customs. On the other hand, there are hellos to a new location, new culture, potentially a new language, new schooling, new customs, and new friends.
Add to that the domestic location changes within a particular country and the results are even more astounding…
The average internationally mobile TCK in the survey moved location
every three years throughout childhood.
That is A LOT of transition for these young lives, hearts, and minds! When transitions become a regular part of life, it’s often easy to overlook the processing of grief, loss, change and new experiences!
As Alissa spearheads the new TCK/CCK role on campus, one of the exciting things that she has introduced is a brand-new TCK focused Social Emotional Learning curriculum through TCK Training. In the foreseeable future, every student, Kindergarten through 12th grade, will be receiving TCK focused education each year during their time at Rift Valley Academy!!
In the last few weeks, we’ve gone through the first two of four lessons of the Transitions Curriculum with the current seniors. It was incredible to start these conversations with them as they are amid yet another large and looming transition. Not only will they be graduating high school and leaving their “tribe of friends” here at RVA, many will say goodbye to the host culture of their childhood, in addition to either moving back to their passport country or moving to yet another new country altogether!
During this curriculum, one of the activities the students worked on was their Transition Timeline. For this exercise, they focused on their major transitions… specifically new cities and new countries from birth to present, noting the places, the dates, and the benefits and challenges of each transition.
The extent of their transitions took my breath away…
A second activity was to write a 6-word memoir based on the emotions that were represented in the enormity of these transitions. Some of their words included: numbness, excited, foggy, cautious, overwhelmed, regret, joy, trepidation, pondering, hope, indifferent, stretching. This is quite the range of emotions!
Our family is no stranger to transition… our own three kids have lived in 4 countries outside of their passport country. And within those big country transitions, we’ve experienced so many smaller transitions — transitions to a new city, new school, transitions back to the USA and back again to the field. My own 6-word memoir of my feelings in these transitions sums up this complicated life wherever the transition has taken me…
SETTLED
UPROOTED
STRANGER
CHAOS
FULFILLED
REPEAT
(again & again & again…)
We praise the Lord for His leading in this role… we praise Him for the conversations that we’ve already had and for the conversations that will come– both with students, with leadership and with staff. Would you please join us in praying for His continual guidance and wisdom and favor as we develop and implement all that is to come in this role!
Restoring Forests…
Ankarafantsika National Park is one of the largest remaining intact dry deciduous forests in Madagascar, hosting a unique array of critically endangered flora and fauna that exist nowhere else on Earth. Unfortunately, this remarkable ecosystem faces significant threats from deforestation driven by illegal tree poaching for charcoal production which not only results in the loss of trees but also instigates forest fires that further devastate the landscape.
The repercussions of such destruction create a vicious cycle, disrupting the natural cycles God put into place to sustain His creation. As the land becomes barren, it suffers from erosion with every rainfall, causing the nutrient-rich topsoil to wash away. Without timely intervention, the land risks becoming barren and sterile if the forest isn’t allowed to regenerate.
Furthermore, in many cases, grasses invade the burnt regions, exacerbating the situation by increasing the risk of future fires during the dry season. These fires hinder any attempts of forest regeneration by destroying the seed bed that once facilitated the revival of the forest– leaving little hope for future restoration.
For the past decade, we have collaborated with Ankarafantsika and recently, have partnered with Accelerated Restoration Collaborative, to employ local men and women to cultivate, plant, and safeguard seedlings, assisting them in restoring their forests which are crucial for their water sources, farming and livelihoods.
With the arrival of the rains, the 2025 planting season in Ankarafantsika has begun and we are nearing the completion of planting 91,970 endemic trees to further expand the forest cover. By prioritizing planting our seedlings in the early weeks of the rainy season, the young trees are allowed to establish robust root systems before facing the inevitably long dry season, thereby enhancing their chances of survival.
As we work hand-in-hand with the Malagasy community, we pray that the local leaders would have opportunities to share the Gospel and plant seeds of Truth and Hope. We invite you to join us in praying for favor with government and park officials, for local leadership, and for the continued restoration and protection of the re-emerging forests. Ultimately, our prayer is for transformation in the hearts of both the cutters and the planters!
Closer but not there yet…
Thank you so much to those that have started giving, have increased their giving, or have given a special gift over the last few months. Every amount, small or large, has made a difference in getting us closer to 100% fully funded. Unfortunately, we’re not there yet, which means that each month, we dip into dwindling reserves to pay for ministry expenses, rent, utilities, health insurance, etc. If you haven’t yet,would you prayerfully consider joining our financial partnership team? For those who already generously partner with us, would you prayerfully consider increasing your regular giving by 10%? Every donation is vital to our family’s ability to stay in full time ministry in Kenya and Madagascar.
Any of the following breakdowns, a different amount, or a special gift that feels right to you would be greatly appreciated!
3 @ $200/month
5 @ $100/month
7 @ $50/month
10 @ $25/month
** All donations are tax-deductible through our mission organization, WorldVenture. **
There’s three ways you can join our team or increase your current giving…
1. CLICK HERE and follow the link to set up your secure account with WorldVenture where you can proceed to make an on-going commitment or special gift.
2. CALL(800) 487-4224 and select option #1 to speak with someone 8am-4pm MST (M-Th).
3. MAIL a check to:
WorldVenture
20 Inverness Pl E
Englewood, CO 80112-5622
Please specify your donation by writing account #173 in the memo line.
(Note, for tax purposes, our names should not appear on the check.)
We’re thankful for the privilege to be part of what the Lord is doing in Madagascar and Kenya. Thank you for considering joining in the journey!
As we wrap up this newsletter, our hearts overflow with gratitude as we give God praise for each of you– our friends, family and dedicated ministry partners! We earnestly pray that the Lord draws near to you in this new year, that His profound peace rests upon you, and that His boundless love envelopes you!
We would love to hear your latest news and how we can pray for you… please drop us a line!
With love,
Jamie and Alissa, Isabella, Eliana and Gavin
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