Luke graduated today. We realized a bit belatedly that the term-end
at RMS (Rwenzori Mission School) was in effect a major milestone for
him, his last day of school in the little four-room school house with
the other missionary kids, after 10 years of study. I was so thankful
for our team, who rallied to plan a ceremony for him. We all met at
noon, sang both the Uganda and the US national anthems in true-third-
culture-kid combination, then hummed Pomp and Circumstance while he
walked down the short path to the door and received a lovely diploma
Miss Ashley had made. We prevailed upon her to recap the great speech
she gave as guest-of-honor at her old high school's graduation in May,
and as the last of a long line of faithful teachers here she rose to
the occasion (Miss Sarah, who actually TAUGHT Luke since January, was
accompanying her parents to Kampala and missed the festivity, which is
a bit sad since she actually suffered through Paradise Lost and
Precalculus . . . ). I took the Dr. Seuss book and re-worked it for
Luke (opening line: Congratulations! Today is your Day! You're off
to Great Places, to begin RVA!). Then we distributed a stack of old
photos to everyone, and made a timeline of all the teachers and team
mates and milestones of the last 15 years so that people could take
turns taping up old photos from the Heather era all the way up to the
current year. Interestingly Luke included his favorite Christ
School teachers as well. AFter prayer we enjoyed cookies and samozas
provided by the team. I wanted that closure for Luke, a recognition
of the transition, and a concrete moment for the younger kids to
understand life's trajectory. But though we planned for Luke, I think
the hour gave testimony to the rich history of this team, to the many
faithful and capable teachers who have passed through, to God's
provision, which encouraged all of us. Mission schools can be
tricky, as JD used to say . . . after all we care more about our kids
than other aspects of our ministry, so if you throw together 3 or 4 or
5 families with their different educational priorities and
expectations, it requires prayer and grace and lots of plain old work
to make it run. I'm thankful to say our team has risen to the
occasion, and though Luke's education is truly unusual . . . his
"graduation" today is a testament to the fact that it has worked.
Luke graduated today. We realized a bit belatedly that the term-end
at RMS (Rwenzori Mission School) was in effect a major milestone for
him, his last day of school in the little four-room school house with
the other missionary kids, after 10 years of study. I was so thankful
for our team, who rallied to plan a ceremony for him. We all met at
noon, sang both the Uganda and the US national anthems in true-third-
culture-kid combination, then hummed Pomp and Circumstance while he
walked down the short path to the door and received a lovely diploma
Miss Ashley had made. We prevailed upon her to recap the great speech
she gave as guest-of-honor at her old high school's graduation in May,
and as the last of a long line of faithful teachers here she rose to
the occasion (Miss Sarah, who actually TAUGHT Luke since January, was
accompanying her parents to Kampala and missed the festivity, which is
a bit sad since she actually suffered through Paradise Lost and
Precalculus . . . ). I took the Dr. Seuss book and re-worked it for
Luke (opening line: Congratulations! Today is your Day! You're off
to Great Places, to begin RVA!). Then we distributed a stack of old
photos to everyone, and made a timeline of all the teachers and team
mates and milestones of the last 15 years so that people could take
turns taping up old photos from the Heather era all the way up to the
current year. Interestingly Luke included his favorite Christ
School teachers as well. AFter prayer we enjoyed cookies and samozas
provided by the team. I wanted that closure for Luke, a recognition
of the transition, and a concrete moment for the younger kids to
understand life's trajectory. But though we planned for Luke, I think
the hour gave testimony to the rich history of this team, to the many
faithful and capable teachers who have passed through, to God's
provision, which encouraged all of us. Mission schools can be
tricky, as JD used to say . . . after all we care more about our kids
than other aspects of our ministry, so if you throw together 3 or 4 or
5 families with their different educational priorities and
expectations, it requires prayer and grace and lots of plain old work
to make it run. I'm thankful to say our team has risen to the
occasion, and though Luke's education is truly unusual . . . his
"graduation" today is a testament to the fact that it has worked.
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