We find our story to be unique and would like to share it with you

We traveled halfway around the world as young, single people in answer to God’s calling. Patti served in various capacities for four years with Africa Inland Mission International (AIM) at Rift Valley Academy (RVA) in Kenya, East Africa. RVA is a kindergarten through grade 12 boarding school for the children of missionaries serving throughout Africa. Travis came from Canada in 1992 to serve as a teacher at the school. Who would have ever thought that, so far from home, we would each find the person God had chosen for us to spend the rest of our lives with? After two years of growing a very special friendship at RVA, we made our way back to North America to get married and begin our journey.

This journey together started in December of 1994 when we made a commitment to love each other and serve the Lord — wherever He might take us. We returned to Kenya as newlyweds in 1995 and then felt led to return to North America in 1996. We were warned that Africa has a way of bringing back her own and that a part of Africa always stays with you.

Our lives went down another path with the birth of our first child in November of 1999. Kylea is a gift from the Lord! She has a gentle, loving spirit and brings joy to all who know her. Her laugh is contagious.

After three years and a three foot stack of paper work, we found ourselves back in Kenya once again. This trip tested our endurance but yielded great rewards. We were separated as a family for three months but in the end, Joshua and Tia became a treasured part of our lives. We cherish them and thank the Lord for the beauty of adoption. In Joshua and Tia we fully realize our relationship with the Lord as He adopts us into His family. We couldn’t be more loved — nor could they. Our Joshua is a solid, quiet boy who loves to run, laugh and sing (he could easily be in the African Children’s Choir!). His smile is infectious. Tia is a bundle of energy who goes like a tornado from the time her feet hit the floor in the morning until her head hits the pillow at night. She loves gymnastics, riding her bike, and eating! Tia has a servant’s heart and would share anything she has with anyone. We always love to share their story in greater detail.

Our journey seemed to meander along rather uneventfully for several years after Joshua and Tia came in 2003. We enjoyed actively serving in our church. Travis led several different small groups and was an elder on the Board; Patti taught children’s classes for church and/or Sunday school. We both enjoyed being leaders at the children’s program Coached By Christ on Wednesday evenings. Life was good.

A pivotal point in our lives was when we learned that Travis’ mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. We learned the severity of it on Travis’ 40th birthday in April of 2005. It was the day we were told that she only had a short time to live. It was also the day Travis found out that he would be a father once again. When Travis’ mom went to be with her Lord only two months later, we were changed people. We fully realized that the Lord gives and takes away, but what would we do with that which had been entrusted to us?

Levi was born in December of 2005. He represents life for us. He is a gift — as all our children are. His innocence is refreshing and his smiles and hugs melt the very core of your heart. We are blessed. And with blessing comes responsibility. How will we bless others with the blessings that have been bestowed on us? The Holy Spirit gave us the answer to that question when, almost one year after Levi’s birth, Travis came home from work and said, “It’s time to go back to Africa; it’s time to serve.” We both had struggled for some time with the meaning of this brief time we have on Earth. We wanted to make a difference; we wanted to be back in full-time service with missionary kids. The parents of the students at RVA are involved in evangelism, church planting, training nationals, and community development throughout Africa. We consider it a privilege to support them. As teachers, we have a part in giving their children a quality education, and as dorm parents, we provide a safe, loving place for their children to call home. Our desire is to love these kids while they are away from their parents and raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord so that they too will return to Africa one day and share the good news to every tribe and nation. Both AIM and RVA have mission statements that talk about “declaring the glory of God.” By serving missionary kids, we believe we are declaring the glory of God to them, as their families declare the glory of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Africa.