Nealey July 2024

It has been over three months since I arrived at the Rafiki Village in Mzuzu, Malawi. I am gradually getting acclimated to the weather here. Much of the time the temperature is in the mid-fifties, so I have had to adjust my summertime body to the climate. Here it is July, and I am layering up. The weather is pretty mild compared to most situations. The high is usually around seventy degrees. I am not complaining about the weather, I just was not expecting it.

I have really managed to get immersed in the Village affairs. As the ChildCare Administrator, I come into contact with almost everyone here in the Village. We have thirty-two residents, and I have enjoyed getting to know them and become involved in their day to day lives. They are divided into five cottages with seven Rafiki Mothers (Mamas) as either heads of household or as substitute Mamas when needed. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know and love these people. I marvel at all the things they have accomplished despite all the residents being full time students. The Mamas are very skilled, and they are sharing their expertise with the residents. There are many gardens in the Village, and they grow maize, yams, and mustard greens as well as beautiful flowers in their yards. On top of all of that, they raise, slaughter, prepare, cook, and eat their own chickens. These residents are amazingly skilled and know how to survive. They are also learning at the Rafiki Classical Christian School which is considered to be one of the best if not the best school in Mzuzu.

On top of all the harvesting that the residents and Mamas have managed to do, the residents have been really busy in school. We have day students as well and they have all been busy preparing for the end of this school term which happens at the end of July. The eighth through eleventh graders were very busy taking grade level tests which are national exams. Our graduates will also take national exams (MSCE) next week. These are very important exams because they determine which career paths are available to them. The students are preparing themselves for these exams and looking forward to graduation in July. This is a bittersweet and exciting time for our seniors, since they will be leaving the Village behind and starting their new adult lives post-graduation.

The highlight of my day is getting a chance to interact with all the people who belong to the Village in the dining hall. Everyone eats lunch in the dining hall which includes the residents, day students, teachers, and all the national staff. Our kitchen staff does an excellent job of getting everyone fed so that they are happy and healthy. I want to give a special shout out to the kitchen staff as well as the primary teacher aids who keep everything in order and moving along so that everyone gets served.

The dining hall crew

Martha is the ChildCare Administrator Assistant and she has guided me in my new position. I am so thankful to her. She is invaluable to this Village both inside and outside. One of Martha’s jobs is to take care of our graduates after graduation. Rafiki equips all its graduates with scholarships to traditional universities as well as training in survival skills, such as welding and car mechanics. Martha is the one who makes these things happen, whether you want to be a nurse or an automobile mechanic, she can make it happen. She is busy now getting our previous graduates ready for their next term. Some are working on degrees, while others are looking for certificates. Rafiki’s goal is to equip the students with either. They teach a survival skill so they can strive as they pursue a degree program.

Please pray that I continue to develop relationships with my team members, national staff, and children that promote fellowship which evolves into unity and trust. Pray that I will thank God every day for the work He has given me to do as a Rafiki missionary and strive to do everything with excellence and integrity. Pray that I trust the Lord to give me the wisdom and courage that I need. Above all pray that everything I do is with excellence and integrity. I also request that you pray for our graduates. They are taking a very important exam that can affect the rest of their lives. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will bring all they have learned in school to their minds as well as strength and stamina for the long week ahead.

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