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The Rafiki Foundation, Inc.PO Box 1988Eustis FL 32727-1988

www.rafikifoundation.org

The call to missions carries an undeniably high cost. It is nothing short of a call to leave behind all that you know and to follow the call of Christ to parts unknown. There is simply no denying that this daunting possibility leaves many with concerns. Questions about finances, raising children, and distance from family are often the first to come to mind. However, there is nothing new under the sun. Missionaries throughout history have been confronted by these same concerns. The famous nineteenth century missionary David Livingstone addressed this very issue with these words.

“For my own part, I have never ceased to rejoice that God has appointed me to such an office. People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa. . . . Is that a sacrifice, which brings its own blest reward in healthful activity, the consciousness of doing good, peace of mind, and a bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter? Away with the word in such a view, and with such a thought! It is emphatically no sacrifice. Say rather it is a privilege. Anxiety,

sickness, suffering, or danger, now and then, with a foregoing of the common conveniences and charities of this life, may make us pause, and cause the spirit to waver, and the soul to sink; but let this only be for a moment. All these are nothing when compared with the glory which shall be revealed in and for us. I never made a sacrifice.”

I concur wholeheartedly with David Livingstone. I never made a sacrifice in my years on the mission field. In fact, the mindset of a missionary is not “I have a duty to go!” but “If I get to go....” I and our current missionaries have dealt with these questions as well. And we submit to you their stories as well as their responses to such questions. From these words you will see that God is worthy of our “sacrifice” and faithful in it. We trust that Christ, who is sovereign over all, will use them to calm your concerns and draw you to serve Him to the fullest, whether that be in your home country or across the globe.

Karen J. Elliott

KAREN ELLIOTTEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR—THE RAFIKI FOUNDATIONTO PARTS UNKNOWN

IN READINGIN PRAYING—OR GOING IN GIVING

Join Us12 additional missionaries to serve with Rafiki this year

4 Headmasters2 Plant Managers2 RICE Deans (Teacher Training)1 Village Administrator3 Music and Art Deans

Accreditation of RICEKenyaTanzaniaUganda

Funds for School ConstructionEthiopia—Junior Secondary SchoolRwanda —Senior Secondary School

We are grateful to our generous donors who have joined us in funding the Rafiki Institute of Advanced Learning (RALI) Complex in Liberia and the Education Fund. How are we doing?

Living the Words of Jesus by Rosemary Jensen, Kregel Publications, 2003. ISBN: 0825429439

Reformation Study Bible ESV, Reformation Trust Publishing, 2015. ISBN: 1567694411

The Courage to Be Protestant: Reformation Faith in Today’s World by David F. Wells, Eerdmans, 2017. ISBN: 0802875246

Voices From the Past: Volume 2 by Richard Rushing, Banner of Truth, 2016. ISBN: 184871727X

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Crossway, 2009. ISBN: 1433501198

The Cost by Steven J. Lawson, Christian Focus Publications, 2017. ISBN: 9781781919552

Faithfulness Under Fire: The Story of Guido de Bres by William Boekestein, Reformation Heritage Books, 2012. ISBN 1601781024

A Place of Healing—Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain and God’s Sovereignty by Joni Eareckson Tada, David C. Cook, 2015. ISBN: 0781412544

The late Dr. Robert Jensen, one of Rafiki’s founders

Karen Elliott in Zambia with Lemmy and Jack.

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THE RAFIKI REPORT | SPRING 2017

KELLY FOREHEADMASTER—NYAMATA, RWANDA

Single, 24 and on my way to Africa as a missionary, an older friend asked, “What about marriage?” I replied with the truths that anchored my heart then and still do today:

• God only gives me His best. If I get married—it will be His best for me. If I stay single—it is His best for me. Don’t I want His best?

• Living in Africa will not inhibit God’s plans for me regarding marriage. God’s purposes for my life will prevail no matter where I am on the globe.

Singleness on the mission field can carry potential for loneliness. However, what an opportunity to experience the riches of God’s provision through the body of Christ! Over and over again God has met my need for community and fellowship through His people. I enjoy a weekly meal with fellow missionaries. A peaceful Sunday afternoon is lingered through with other expats after church. Short-term missionaries have become life-long friends that email regularly. Some of my deepest and dearest relationships have been birthed and strengthened on the mission field—and oh the laughter—so much laughter! God truly “sets the lonely in families” (Psalms 68:6).

SARA AND PHIL NICKELSWIDOWS PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND VILLAGE

ADMINISTRATOR—MOSHI, TANZANIA

We moved to Tanzania in 2009. Raising our kids in Africa has not been without its challenges. Times of relative isolation, loss of regular interaction with extended family, and several bouts with parasites are experiences we would not have chosen. However, we see how even those hard times have been used (together with the blessed times of serving God as a family, experiencing other cultures, and living in this amazing place) for the good of the ministry, ourselves, and our girls. We are nearing the end of our elder daughter’s senior year. At just the right time, God has led us to good school options, college admissions advice, and even ACT prep classes. Lydia will attend a selective U.S. university in the fall, and God has even provided a full scholarship for her.

JULIE AND DAVID PEDERSONCHILDCARE ADMINISTRATOR AND

RICE DEAN —NAIROBI, KENYA

We have been on the field for 20 years. We have four daughters. The older girls were five and two and a half years old when we moved to Madagascar. Olivia was 5 months old when we moved to Nigeria.

Being away from family has been the main hardship of living overseas. But God has given our daughters a very sweet relationship with family members despite the separation. The experience of living in three different African countries has given our children an ability to live simply, flexibly, and with an appreciation for the cultural differences of other people. They would not trade their African upbringing for all the world. Our children have received a mission school education that offered small class size and AP courses. Students with global experience are highly valued in the university setting. They all received scholarships to the universities they chose and were all in the honors programs. God provided financially from various sources and the girls finished well.

IRENE DAFOECHILDCARE ADMINISTRATOR—LUSAKA, ZAMBIA

Being an influence for my grandchildren was a concern. I was blessed to be part of their lives when they were young and in their formative years. The Lord gave me special opportunities to share truths about God and His love with them. But there came a time, an age, where time spent with Grandma just wasn’t a priority. I asked God to use my example of following Jesus in overseas missions in a way that would impact their hearts and minds for His Kingdom. Almost five years ago, I left 16 grandchildren when I relocated to Zambia. Three more have been born since. So, I rest in Jesus’ promises! Truly, in different ways, I have already received the blessings of God! Now I am the grandmother to 75 orphans!

VICKY AND MIKE KOCHRICE DEAN AND VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR—

NYAMATA, RWANDA

We recently read a poster that said, “My happiest days were at grandma’s house,” and it made us have a bit of a pity party. We live in Rwanda, and our grandchildren don’t get days at our house. We aren’t there to go to their school plays, to go to church with them, to help with homework and put band aids on their scrapes. But, when we look back on our 15-year journey on the mission field, we think of God’s amazing faithfulness to our entire family. We have discovered that He doesn’t need us to be around for our grandchildren to turn out wonderfully. He does a much better job than we could ever imagine. God has worked through our children by leading them to Christ-centered churches and schools. So, what is our role as grandparents? To answer His call and step up and serve the incredible, Sovereign Lord. We are to teach by example. What would be teaching our children and our grandchildren if we didn’t answer God’s call? We must not put anything or anyone before the Sovereign Lord.

ERICA ROBERTSONHEADMASTER—JOS, NIGERIA

Praise God that the abundant work to do among the Jews did not keep Paul from going out to the Gentiles! There is much to do in the U.S., but not at the expense of God’s people around the world. After all, God loves His people in Africa just as much as His people in the U.S. I have served in Africa for seven years and have seen Africans experience poverty and scarcity of educational resources that I could not fathom. If we have the ability to teach African children to read, fill their empty tummies, and put God’s Word in their hands, should we count them less worthy of that privilege than our countrymen?

YEEN-LAN LAMVILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR—KAMPALA, UGANDA

I have been on the field since 30 January 1999. That is a total of 19 years 3 months now. There is plenty of work to do in Singapore, my home country. The biggest difference with working in Africa is this—the work God does in changing me. It is God’s great gift to me that He sent me to Africa. Oh, the joy of being a co-worker with God in worthy labor. I see my work with Rafiki in Africa as a sacred trust from God.

BARBARA EDWARDSRICE DEAN—LUSAKA, ZAMBIA

Retirement is definitely a word people used when they heard that I was going to Zambia in 2014. From 2000-2014 I had gone as a short-term missionary to several Rafiki Villages. Those were short trips of 3-6 weeks, so those were “OK” with people. . .an African Safari Adventure with a little mission work included. But to go to Africa where there are Ebola, poverty, dangerous animals, lack of power, and contaminated water? “NO WAY!” My reply, and I intentionally tried to be kind and understanding with my words and expression as I asked, “Where do you find that teaching in the Bible? I don’t see the word ‘retirement.’” This reminds me of the time when my husband was going through treatment of pancreatic cancer, when he knew that he was soon to die at age 55. He wrote some words for me to share with friends and family at his funeral, and one of those phrases was, “Serve God now because we don’t know our future. And this world and this life is not about us!” I am now 73 years old and have been here in Zambia since the fall of 2014.

MACIA AND PAUL FULLERCHILDCARE ADMINISTRATOR AND PLANT

MANAGER—MODJO, ETHIOPIA

We have been at Rafiki Village Ethiopia for four months of a year’s commitment. It is our first ever missionary assignment. Paul celebrated his 72nd birthday last month surrounded by 52 Rafiki orphans, their Mamas and Village staff. I am looking forward to celebrating my 71st birthday in June with as much joy as he had.

Paul and I both are retired and grandparents. Being here in Ethiopia on the mission field has been the best “me” time that we could have ever imagined. We thank our LORD for the strength to be active and the privilege of being able to share in His work. There are always challenges but the blessing and joy of experiencing our LORD’s enabling makes them as nothing.

What about marriage?

How will I raise my children? Am I not too old?

Does Africa still need missionaries?Who will influence my grandchildren?

QUESTIONSROSEMARY JENSENFOUNDER AND PRESIDENT—

THE RAFIKI FOUNDATION

Dear Friends,

It gives me much joy to write to you some personal thoughts. I am now 87 years old even if I don’t feel it and hopefully don’t look it! What am I doing? Well, I am still working part-time at Rafiki and asking God to help me finish the work he has called me to do there. One of my favorite verses is Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

One of the “unfinished” works that I undertook about four years ago is the establishment of the Rafiki Institute of Classical Education (RICE). RICE is a three-year teacher training school for those who want to teach either in Rafiki’s Christian classical schools or in schools belonging to our Partner Denominations. RICE is a part of the education system that Rafiki conducts in order to raise the standard of living for Africans and to help them know God. The other parts of the system are the Rafiki schools for our orphan residents and day student program that brings into our schools many poor community children.

I am grateful for all God has done to bring Rafiki’s education system this far, but I am asking him to be gracious to me and let me see the RICE Program fully established in my lifetime. I do not know how long this will take but two-thirds of the curriculum is written and seven of the ten RICE buildings are done. Besides three more buildings we still need more furnishings, more computers, and lots of library books. All this will take money, and each day I look to see how much God has put in the Education Fund so that I can thank Him.

I look forward to each day to see how He wants me to walk in the works that He has prepared for me beforehand. May God bless you as you seek to walk in the works He has prepared for you.

Rosemary Jensen

Rosemary Jensen with RICE student