The Downing Legacy

The Downing Legacy is the story of a
family dedicated to serving God as missionaries in Kenya.
Their assignment to run Rift Valley Academy resulted in a
multi-generational involvement with the myriad and diverse
roles necessary to produce a successful school, and one that
has met American accreditation standards, and gained
recognition worldwide for quality and uniqueness. Lee Harper
Downing, the patriarch of the family, led the way with his
gift of teaching Latin and the Bible. He was known for his
life of prayer and faithful leadership in Africa Inland
Mission. His eldest son, Herbert, served as principal of the
school for many years where he used his varied talents for
teaching, building, and administration. The younger brother,
Kenneth, was asked to fill in for a year while Herbert was
on furlough. He found himself "filling in" for ten years,
during which time he taught various classes and generally
ran the school. Both men's wives shared in the teaching and
responsibilities of RVA which included homemaking for
children living in dormitories, cooking, laundry, nursing,
and other duties that were gracefully taken on as the need
arose. This is the heartwarming story of their love and
commitment to their mission.