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Rafiki Foundation  |  God's Word at Work
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Honegger September 2021

Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV).

I am writing to you from suburban Chicago as I prepare to return to Ethiopia, though I am unsure when that will be. I returned for a visit to the U.S.A. four weeks ago and have been reconnecting with friends and family, fundraising, and resting after twenty months in Africa (I had only been planning on six)! I had plans to return to Ethiopia this weekend, but I am still waiting for my passport to be renewed and returned to me. Please pray that I will receive my passport soon.

Though I have been away from the Village this past month, I have continued to pray for my colleagues and students in light of Rafiki’s mission to “train Africans to transform Africa for Christ.” At a Rafiki Village, this occurs through students’ daily life activities including Bible study and classical Christian education. Additionally, I have been working closely with six of our oldest residents as a Student Leader team.


Student Leader team: Mehiret, Hana, Tizeta, Ms. Esther, Nahom, Biruk, and Gadissa

Our goal is to grow in godliness and train to become godly leaders. We have been studying traits of godly leaders such as humility, patience, wisdom, and servanthood with Biblical examples. The students then have a weekly challenge to practice what they learned and live as ministers of reconciliation to their peers at school and in their cottages (2 Corinthians 5:20). Though it can be difficult for any teenager to resist peer pressure and make godly choices, these six students are shining their light as they rely on Christ and take joy in the privilege of partnering with Him in the ministry of helping others know and love Jesus.

Before I left for my visit to the U.S.A., I gave the Student Leaders some assignments for the time I was gone. One was to think of a way to bless the Rafiki Mothers and resident children and work together as a team to make it happen. They planned a multi-day game competition, divided the residents into teams, facilitated activities, and prepared a prize for the winners. As my coworker Sarah filled me in later, I was delighted to hear how the Student Leaders took initiative and gave of their time and talents to spark joy in others, all with minimal missionary involvement. See the pictures on the next page of the fun activities they planned.


Game competition planned by Student Leaders, with activities such as sack races, charades, and card games.

I praise God for the opportunity to be a part of training children and youth to glorify Him with their lives, and for the growth I have seen in many of them over the past year and a half. Training for godliness requires perseverance, and I am grateful that “ His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness ” (2 Peter 1:3, NIV).

Please pray about joining me in cultivating godly contributors in Africa. I still need to raise $2,000 in monthly support for my next year in Ethiopia, and would appreciate your financial partnership. Please also pray for all of the missionaries, staff, and students at Rafiki Village Ethiopia to continue to train for godliness by making choices that glorify God.

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