Kropf June 2021

“For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

Del and I send our greetings to you. We hope you are doing well. We are thankful for each of you and pray for God’s blessings to be on you. We have been here in Rafiki Village Kenya about five months. Our days are full, and we miss you all, yet we are continually reminded that God has called us here and He has “work” for us to do. God has been faithful to supply strength, encouragement, and pleasure daily as we serve. God has been teaching us both to surrender and be willing to do whatever “work” He has called us too. It has been a source of joy for us both. We believe your prayers and support have played a big part in this. Thank you!

Some of the projects Del has been working on are replacing the Village water tank, deep cleaning the dining hall, converting a cottage to a classroom, fixing lawn mowers and other equipment, and repairing electrical issues. Del wears many hats and he brings a variety of skills to the needs here. I oversee the art classes here in Rafiki Village Kenya, I am presently teaching art to grade eight and nine, doing some tutoring in the primary school, overseeing the Rafiki Widows Program (RWP), and teaching art to some of the teachers. It has been a joy to revisit my love of art and use that to promote creative thinking in others.

In this newsletter, we would like to highlight the Rafiki Widows Program here in Nairobi. We currently work with eight widows groups from different church partner denominations. Each group averages around three to eight ladies that meet together. One goal of the RWP is to provide income for widows of the church by allowing them to earn money making a handicraft/product that can be sold by Rafiki both online, and in the Rafiki Exchange stores located at the Home Office and in Mt. Dora, Florida. Different groups make different products. Anica Pederson (a fellow Rafiki Missionary) and I have been meeting with the groups to fellowship, encourage, and observe them making the items. We have also been helping them come up with new product ideas. It has been a joy getting to know these ladies and work with them. One widow shared with us that she was able to purchase her home in Kibera from her landlord because of the money she earned from selling products to us. This is a praise! We also give the groups orders sent from the Home Office, receive the products here at the Village after they are made, and then oversee the shipping of the products to the Home Office in Florida. If you are interested in seeing or purchasing any of these products go to Rafikifoundation.org and select shop from the menu. We also offer these groups access to the Rafiki Bible Study (RBS). Many of these groups use the RBS to study God’s Word together.

Meeting with the Kibera widows

Widow carving a gourd ornament

Thank you again for your prayers and support. Del and I both feel so supported by you all and want you to know God has been answering your prayers!

Praises:

• Our house in the U.S. sold! God provided a young family who bought it full price within a few short days!

• Our immigration paperwork has gone through! We are now officially immigrants to Kenya.

• We have many new Rafiki Widows Program product ideas.

Prayer requests:

• Continued prayer for thirty new students to enroll in the Rafiki Institute of Classical Education (RICE).

• As we wrap up the 2020 school year and begin the 2021 school year, pray for the students’ and teachers’ strength, perseverance, and joy.

• That the widows groups would grow to know God through daily Bible teaching using the Rafiki Bible Study, and that the Rafiki Widows Program would provide income for these ladies through making handicrafts.

Del unloading the container from Home Office 2021

To donate or sign up for our newsletters, go to www.rafikifoundation.org and select “Support a Missionary” from the drop down menu. To donate by check, send to Rafiki Home Office at PO Box 1988, Eustis, FL 32727, with our name and missionary number (251) in the memo line.

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