Has God been tugging on your heart regarding the orphan population in Africa? Do you enjoy teaching and playing with children who really like the attention? Or are you good at maintenance work? If so, Rafiki MiniMission work may be God’s good plan for you too.
Rafiki assisted BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) in sending out personnel to work in Rafiki projects and teach the Bible. I learned of it when I started volunteering at BSF Headquarters in 2003. I couldn’t help but be impressed with Rafiki’s vision and their commitment to raise African orphans and train them through Christian education to become godly contributors in their country.
In 2006 I felt led by the Lord to sign on as a Rafiki MiniMissionary for two weeks. I traveled to Rafiki Village Uganda outside of Kampala. It was fun to play with, tutor, and read to Rafiki orphans and interact with the ROS, local staff, and Rafiki Mamas. And, because I am a retired librarian, I was delighted when I was assigned to work in their school library. After I returned to the US, I started sponsoring one of the Rafiki Uganda girls and my commitment to Rafiki deepened. I signed up to return to Rafiki Uganda in 2007 and branched out to Rafiki Nigeria in 2008.
In 2010 I felt led again by the Lord to travel to Africa—to two of the newer Rafiki Villages—Rafiki Village Tanzania and Rafiki Village Rwanda. Their school libraries were new and the books needed subject headings so students and teachers could find them easily. I knew that I would be interacting with the children as well, and I looked forward with anticipation to again entering into Rafiki Village life. I was not disappointed.
Because I have seen firsthand the poverty of Africa and the excellent work of Rafiki, I have chosen to sponsor Rafiki children. Three of my sponsored children live in Tanzania (Clinton) and Rwanda (Mediatrice and Mahoro). How wonderful it was to have special one-on-one time with each of them when I was there this summer. It will always remain as a special memory. I brought a birthday gift of a book (what else would a librarian bring?), and it was Clinton’s first present ever. The look on his face was priceless when he realized that the book was for him. As always, this summer I was so impressed with the African people I have met, both those in the Rafiki Villages and those in town. I have found them to be a gentle, kind, and courteous people. I also know that if Rafiki hadn’t made the commitment to raise these precious Rafiki children, they would now either be in extreme poverty or dead. Rafiki does God’s work there in the challenging arena of Africa caring for “the least of these.” I have chosen to affiliate with Rafiki in my small way. And I have been enormously blessed.
Sandy