Nealey May 2025

I have been thinking about my time here in Africa as a missionary. I signed up for three years of service in Africa and I have been here for eighteen months, which is the halfway point. First of all, I want to thank you for your generous prayers and donations that made my sojourn here in Africa possible. I count myself blessed to be able to live and work here in Mzuzu. I must admit that my new position as RICE Dean is challenging, but also satisfactory because I am able to build confidence in all I do thanks to the generous help I have been getting from other missionaries. I am especially grateful to Jane Hoadley, a former Rafiki Missionary and RICE Dean, for her guidance. She is back at home in the States now, but she has left me with some valuable knowledge and skills that I use in my new position. Bryan McDaniel, our Village Administrator, also has encouraged me to trust that I am equipped to make good decisions concerning our campus and the people who work here. Anna Leibing, our Rafiki School Headmaster, has graciously helped me navigate some situations that are new and challenging to me. Of course my first step is just going to the Lord in prayer, asking Him to keep my feet from stumbling or being a stumbling block to others because I am a closet perfectionist. When I am collaborating and working as a team with many others, flexibility counts.

I have been given the opportunity to administer the program, and although I find it challenging, the rewards are many. I am especially encouraged by the young men and women who have chosen to attend our RICE Teacher Training College. They look to me for guidance and support in their quest to become classical Christian teachers. As classical Christian educators, they will be carrying out the Great Commission as they teach their students. We in turn are carrying out the Great Commission as we help them prepare for their roles as classical Christian educators. I am humbled when I think of the great work the Lord is allowing us to do. One of my favorite memory verses is Acts 20:24, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” I am so grateful that our Father has allowed me to do this great work and I thank all of you for your part in making it happen.

Being the Dean is a big job, so my duties as ChildCare Administrator are being taken over by our beloved Martha Shaba, the ChildCare Administrator Assistant, who taught me everything I know. I have come to love our residents, graduates, and Rafiki Mothers. I will be gone but not forgotten because we will see each other around the Village every day. I know that Martha is going to do a fantastic job in her new role as ChildCare Administrator. I am so happy that she was promoted.

Me and my friend Martha Shaba

I am also happy to announce that three of our graduates are students here at RICE. They are testimonies to the other students and faculty that classical Christian education works since they graduated from our own school here in the Village. You probably have already met them in a previous newsletter. They are Catherine who is pursuing a bachelors’ degree in primary education, and Queen along with Judith who are pursuing diplomas in primary education. I am so happy to have them here, not only as shining examples for our program, but also because of their diligence in work and their love for the Lord that the Rafiki Foundation desires to see in all of our children. We thank God for showing us that we have been good and faithful servants as we see them living and preparing to pass on all that they gained from growing up at Rafiki. His good work in them is very evident as well as I see them helping their fellow students understand the culture of Rafiki. RICE recently had a visit from University of Livingstonia, our partner university that issues the bachelors degree for the program.

Our three graduates now attending RICE

UNILIA staff (Deputy Vice Chancellor, Registrar, and Director of Quality Assurance), and our first cohort of RICE students, along with our Rafiki Missionary team

Please continue to send up your prayers for us. As missionaries living in close contact with each other, we need to be ready to give each other grace.Pray that we submit to the authorities that God has placed over us. Please pray for our national staff and our children as well. Pray that our new students at RICE are happy, healthy, and successful. As RICE Dean, please pray that everything I do is with excellence and integrity. I also extend a special thank you to my sponsors and prayer partners and I pray that you will continue to sponsor and pray for me.

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