Our updated info

Hello from our new home in Vancouver, Washington.

We have a new home phone number:
360 750-8800.

Our new address is:
5416 NE 54th Ave
Vancouver, WA 98661

Bev's cell phone:
404 791-3624

Ken's cell phone:
404 791-3584

We received our things from our storage unit in Maine so Bev has the house looking more like a home. Now we are waiting on our shipment from Africa with most of our dishes, kitchen pots and pans, my tools and some clothes.

This seems to be a very nice neighborhood and have already met some of the folks living around us. Last night was Halloween we had many, many trick or treaters. I wish we had kept a count, there must have been close to a hundred. Had a large bucket of candy, that I thought we would never get rid of, so I was giving out a hand fulls to all the first little ghosts, goblins and fairy princesses. When that got down low we went to giving one piece each, then dug into the pantry for the little boxes of juice drinks, fiber bars, boxes of rasins and ended up in the fruit dish, which was not a big hit, (had a few "no thank you") and ("that was weird") as they walked away.

It is very nice to be close to family again. Our granddaughter Audrey is, of course an absolute delight.

We would love to see you if your ever in the Portland, OR / Vancouver, WA area. The coffee pot is always on and we'll leave the light on for ya.

We thank you all for your prayers and support over the past 4 years. You may never know the blessing you were to us and to the children of Rwanda until you reach your reward in Heaven. May the Lord truly bless each one of you and may you joy in the knowledge of His salvation and love.

God bless,
Ken & Bev

Zambia info

ZAMBIA INFO

Seasons

There are two main seasons, the rainy season (November to April) corresponding to summer, and the dry season (May to October/November), corresponding to winter. The dry season is subdivided into the cool dry season (May to August), and the hot dry season (September to October/November). The modifying influence of altitude gives the country pleasant subtropical weather rather than tropical conditions for most of the year.

Rainy season

Rainfall varies over a range of 500 to 1,400 mm (19.7 to 55.1 in) per year (most areas fall into the range 700 to 1,200 mm/27.6 to 47.2 in). The distinction between rainy and dry seasons is marked, with no rain at all falling in June, July and August. Much of the economic, cultural and social life of the country is dominated by the onset and end of the rainy season, and the amount of rain it brings. Failure of the rains causes famine from time to time.

The rains are brought by the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and are characterised by thunderstorms, occasionally severe, with much lightning and sometimes hail. The ITCZ is located north of Zambia in the dry season. It moves southwards in the second half of the year, and northwards in the first half of the year. In some years, it moves south of Zambia, leading to a "little dry season" in the north of the country for three or four weeks in December.

The highest rainfall is in the north, especially the north-west and the north-east, decreasing towards the south; the driest areas are in the far south west and the Luangwa River and middle Zambezi River valleys, parts of which are considered semi-arid. None of the country is considered arid or to be desert.

Flooding is an annual event on floodplains, to which people and wildlife are adapted. Flash floods after unusually heavy rain cause damage when they occur in places that do not experience annual floods. Erosion and the washing out of roads and bridges are common. Crops are frequently damaged by flooding and hail. Too much rain when the maize crop is flowering, or late in the season when it should be drying off prior to harvest can be very damaging and promotes rotting of stored grain.

Dry season

Plant and animal adaptations

Deciduous trees which lose leaves in the dry season to conserve water predominate over evergreens which have waxy leaf cuticles for the same purpose. The deciduous trees usually produce fresh green or reddish leaves just before the rainy season. Grasses and some other herbaceous plants dry up above ground but regenerate quickly with the onset of rains from roots and tubers, etc.

Except for those living in areas of permanent freshwater, animals are adapted to the long dry season, as seen in migration and breeding patterns.

Bushfires

In the middle to late dry season, bushfires are prevalent, and smoke is noticeable by smell and as a haze. The fires are ignited by villagers hunting, burning crop residue, and preparing chitemene gardens; or by lightning in the early rainy season. Because such fires happen annually, there is no great build up of dry fuel in the bush, and so the fires are not usually devastating. They may kill animals, and damage crops if the rains end early and fires happen before harvest. The presence of fire-adapted plants and palaeoecological studies indicate that such fires have happened for millennia.

Water sources in the dry season

Most rivers, lakes and swamps, except in the far south and south-west, are permanent. In addition, dambos (grasslands which become marshy in the rainy season) are prevalent in most of the country and water is usually available in them from springs or shallow wells. Dambos also release groundwater to streams and rivers towards the end of the dry season, keeping them flowing permanently. Small earth dams are often constructed in dambos as a source of water and as fishponds.

For the human population, the location of rural settlements is determined by access to water in the dry season (though boreholes are now commonly used to augment supplies). Traditionally, people have also migrated in the drier areas where rivers dambos are not prevalent. In Barotseland, people move with their livestock, grazing them on the Barotse Floodplain in the dry season and moving to higher ground at the margins during the rainy season.

The ability to grow enough food in the rainy season to last the long dry season is also a factor in population distribution. Traditionally some communities have divided the year into farming in the rainy season, and fishing and hunting in the dry season, when herbivores can be found more easily as they visit sources of water, and fires can be set to expose them or drive them into traps.

Temperature

The elevation of the great plateau on which Zambia is located, typically between 1,000 and 1,300 metres (3,281 and 4,265 ft), modifies temperatures, which are lower than for coastal areas at the same latitude, and pleasant for much of the year. On the plateau (covering about 80% of the country) temperature ranges, depending on location are:

▪ June (cool dry season): 6–12 °C (42.8–53.6 °F) (mean daily minimum) to 21–26 °C (69.8–78.8 °F) (mean daily maximum)

▪ October (hot dry season): 17–22 °C (62.6–71.6 °F) (mean daily minimum) to 28–35 °C (82.4–95 °F) (mean daily maximum)

▪ February (rainy season): 14–19 °C (57.2–66.2 °F) (mean daily minimum) to 25–30 °C (77–86 °F) (mean daily maximum)

Most of the country is frost-free but in some years ground frost occurs. This is restricted to the highest exposed hills, or more widely in the lower humidity areas of the southernmost parts of the country.

Temperatures are higher at lower elevations, such as the Luapula-Mweru and Mweru Wantipa/Tanganyika valleys in the north, and highest in the lower Luangwa and Zambezi valleys in the south, typically experiencing 40 °C (104 °F) in October, with rising humidity making for uncomfortable conditions.

During the rainy season months of November to April or May some days may be humid, but daily maximum temperatures are usually a little lower than in the hot dry season. The rain can be cooling, unlike in the humid tropics.

Wind

Prevailing winds in the dry season are generally moderate but occasionally more severe and may bring cool dust-laden air from distant arid regions. Whirlwinds are very common but not usually destructive; waterspouts can be seen over lakes.

In the rainy season, winds are localised with thunderstorms and may be destructive but usually confined to small areas, such as blowing roofs off buildings. The country does not suffer tornadoes or cyclones of widespread destructive force.

Languages of Zambia

The official language of Zambia is English, which is used to conduct official business and is the medium of instruction in schools. The main local language, especially in Lusaka, is Nyanja. However, Bemba and Nyanja are spoken in the urban areas in addition to other indigenous languages which are commonly spoken in Zambia. These are: Ambo, Aushi, Bisa, Chikunda, Cishinga, Cokwe, Gova, Ila, Inamwanga, Iwa, Kabende, Kaonde, Kosa, Kunda, Kwandi, Kwandu, Kwangwa, Lala, Lamba, Lenje, Leya, Lima, Liyuwa, Lozi, Luano, Lucazi, Lumbu, Lunda, Lundwe, Lungu, Luunda, Luvale, Makoma, Mambwe, Mashasha, Mashi, Mbowe, Mbukushu, Mbumi, Mbunda, Mbwela, Mukulu, Mulonga, Ndembu, Ng'umbo, Nkoya, Nsenga, Nyengo, Nyiha, Sala, Seba, Senga, Shanjo, Shila, Simaa, Soli, Subiya, Swaka, Tabwa, Tambo, Toka, Tonga, Totela, Tumbuka, Twa, Unga, Wandya and Yombe. Estimates of the total number of languages spoken in Zambia add up to 72,[20] thirteen (13) dialects are counted as languages in their own right which brings this number to 85.

Newsletter 7/21/10

Dear Family and Friends,

As the beautiful Rwandan sun sets on our time at Rafiki Village Rwanda we look back and praise God for the privilege and blessings the Lord has given us in knowing and loving these wonderful Rwandan people. We will miss many dear friends as well as our dear mama's and precious children here at Rafiki Village Rwanda.

As difficult as it is to leave Rwanda we so look forward to a new village, new friends and new children in Zambia. Those we are leaving and those we will soon meet will ever be in our prayers. It does not matter so much the physical place we are located as long as we are where the Lord desires us to be...."not my will but thine O Lord." We know God works all things for good to those who love him.

We thank God for each of you who have partnered with us here in Rwanda. You are vital to this ministry, our support team and to us and we pray you will make the transition to Zambia with us. We trust God that our hearts are big enough to love another village full of wonderful mama's, children and ROS teammates.

We ask for your continued prayers as we travel to Zambia and adjust to life there. May we continue to witness the wonders of the Lord's love, His work and His provision as He equips us to serve with joy unspeakable. Also please pray with us for the new team in Rwanda as they settle in to a new village, new language and learning many new things. And for these children as God continues to work great things in their lives.

Here are some photos from the past couple months here in Rwanda.

Ken & Bev with all the Rafiki Rwanda children, Mama’s, Aunties and the New Team members.

Kitchen staff that Ken has been working with.

Mufasha and Bebito, they are siblings and two of our newest children.

Bev with Juliet and Jen. Juliet was our house helper and is now working as a teacher’s aid in the school. Jen is Juliet’s sister.

Sam is the assistant to the village director and nearly like a son to us.

Thank you for your continued support and may God bless you. Much love,

Ken & Bev

May Newsletter

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:19)

Dear Family and Friends,

What a delight to see how God’s children have developed over the past year. It hardly seems possible that it was nearly a year ago when our first children came to call Rafiki Village Rwanda home. We are so blessed to have the privilege of being a small part of their lives.

Bev’s teaching of the eleven children in the Three Year Old Class and the Kindergarteners has been the delight of her heart. In our last newsletter the Three’s Class were learning to use binoculars. The Kindergarten lesson in April included memorizing the poem “Grandmother’s Glasses” for an In-School Recitation held on April 28th. It was simply amazing how much better you can see to read when wearing spectacles!

Ken and Sam have made many trips to the villages in Bugesera District doing background inquiries on possible new children coming to Rafiki. After weeks of interviews, paperwork and medical exams nine children will be coming to live at Rafiki on May 10^th. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

As part of personnel restructuring Ken has taken on the kitchen oversight duties. Only God knew that Ken’s Culinary Arts training back in the 60’s would come into use 40 years later. New equipment has been added to the kitchen, thanks to a generous donor, which will make life a little easier for the kitchen staff to be able to put out more meals in less time.

Special thanks for the generous donations for playground equipment. Very soon the children were having an absolute wonderful time learning to slide and swing for the very first time. Also we thank the donors for funding earmarked for the drilling of a well for the village.

One last news item is we are being transferred from Rwanda to Rafiki Village Zambia. We are sad to leave these dear children and the friends we have made in Rwanda, but as we pack for this move we are looking forward to the new challenges God has for us in Zambia. If God has touched your heart with a burden for these Rafiki orphans and you would like to help keep us on the field please contact the Rafiki Home Office with your donation or pledge. Our name and ROS # 176 has to be on the paperwork for pledges and donations to be appropriately credited to our account. We are ever grateful to God for your love, prayers and support, which undergird as we serve the Lord with Rafiki.

Pray for-

· Mama’s and children as they adjust to a new team of ROS.

· Sam, Ken’s Assistant, as he encourages the new village director and team.

· Nationals to continue to work well, mindful of safety and with integrity of heart.

· Each ROS transitioning, those who leave and those who come to Rwanda.

· As we prepare to hand-off our responsibilities here in Rwanda.

· As we adjust to a new village and new responsibilities in Zambia.

·
All who are preparing to come to Rwanda will be excited and blessed of God.

Praise God for-

· The time for overlap of ROS to afford a smooth transition

· He is the Blessed Controller of all things, His will and His ways are perfect.

· Our time in Rwanda, the privilege to know and love these precious children and people.

· The opportunity He has given us to serve here.

· You who uphold, encourage and support these children, this work and us as we serve in the name of Jesus.

Lovingly in Christ,

Ken & Bev

The Journey continues

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NIV

Dear Family and Friends,

There have been many changes come about the past two weeks. Our minds have been in a stir, as have our hearts. We have gone thru all the stages of grief as these changes have affected us deeply. However, as we have sought the Lord in prayer, we see that God’s will is often not our own. Though we may not understand we see this as coming from His hand at this time. Our hearts are deeply rooted in this village and with these dear children and Mama’s. We have come to love the nationals in Rwanda and have developed deep friendships here with them, not just those in the village but also those in the surrounding communities. We assumed the Lord would keep us in Rwanda until He decided to take us home, either to the states or to Heaven. However, that is not His plan.

The restructuring of Rafiki personnel is necessary due to the need of placing training people in specific key areas in Africa. These people will facilitate godly training with the implementation of Rafiki Biblical School Curriculum for use in national, Christian and private schools. This has tremendous possibilities to reach literally millions of people with the Word of God. Praise be to God.

We have been advised that we will be moving to Rafiki Village Zambia. We have not been given a definite time for this move but have been assured it will occur within the next three months.
Our current team members will also be experiencing changes with Cricket Meyer moving to Uganda, Tim & Patty Yoss to Kenya and Annemarie Kelly has chosen to return to Texas.

Please be in prayer for the Mama’s and children as they adjust to an entirely new team of ROS (Rafiki Overseas Staff).

Please pray the nationals with whom we work and know will continue to work well, mindful of safety and with integrity of heart.

Praise the Lord, as there will be time allotted with overlap of ROS to afford a smooth transition of duties and responsibilities.

Please be praying for ASSIMWE Sam, Ken’s Assistant, as he bears a heavy load as he encourages the new village director and team to life in Rwanda with cultural adjustments, language barriers and the management of the village after we leave Rwanda.

May transition be smooth for each ROS, those who leave and those who come, as they adjust to new surroundings, countries, language, co-workers and team mates. And please uphold us in prayer as we prepare to hand-off our responsibilities here to those coming after us being transferred from other Rafiki Villages.

May all who are preparing to come here be well advised, excited and blessed of God. Realizing they too leave a piece of their heart in the village they are leaving.

Prayer for us as we adjust to a new village and new jobs.

We Praise the Lord that He is the Blessed Controller of ALL things and His will and His ways are perfect.

Praise the Lord for our time in Rwanda and the privilege to know and love these precious children, Mama’s and nationals and for the opportunity He has given to serve here.

We Praise the Lord for you who uphold, encourage and support these children, this work and us in so many ways exhibiting the love of Christ Jesus.

Witnesses for Him,
Ken and Bev

February Praise and Prayer Requests

RAFIKI VILLAGE RWANDA

Village

Updates

PTL we have our new additions to the water storage tanks and now have over 80,000 L on hand

when they are full. This helps us with our short-term goals of having adequate water supply.

Construction is continuing on Ephesians and Philippians (Cottages 5 & 6); refurbi

shing Philip (Guest House) from temporary kitchen and dining hall back to a Guest House.

Preparing a playground area and equipment for the children.

Will be moving the school from Galatians (Cottage 4) to the second half of Dining Hall (Elijah).

Praises:

· Continuing construction on cottages 4-5-6, (Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians)

· Completing construction on the second side of Elijah, the Dining Hall. Which will serve as temporary classroom area.

· For the donations to complete the playground equipment for the children.

· Donations that provided for the addition of 2 new 10,000L water tanks. This helps with the short term solution to our village water issues

· For the funds to refurbish Philip, the Guest House

· We are thankful for all those who support Rafiki through prayer and giving. We ask the Lord to mightily bless those who give sacrificially.

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for:

· Unity, health and safety for village team, national workers, teachers, mothers, assistants and ROS, All working together for the glory of God.

· Funding for new primary school and a duplex for additional ROS.

· Funding to drill a borehole for water on our village .

· That we would find an adequate supply of water with a borehole on the village

· The Lord to send two additional ROS to Rafiki Village Rwanda; Specifically, a teacher and construction manager.

· That the Ministry of Finance will approve Tax-free status for Rafiki Village Rwanda

· The Widows Program will become operational in Rwanda.

· Our workers to maintain a high standard of work performance and loyalty to Rafiki’s goals.

ChildCare/Medical Program:

Updates:

Praises:

· The children are growing physically, spiritually and in their understanding and ability to use English.

· Money for playground equipment was donated. The children are imagining what it will be like to play on slides and swings that up until now they’ve only seen in picture books. Having watched builders and maintenance men climb ladders, the children are eager to have a ladder of their own to climb up the slide.

· God blessed the children with another month of good health.

· Pediatrician, Dr. Elaine Tan, will be here for annual check ups March 1-3.

Prayer requests:

Please pray for:

· The Rafiki children to come to know Jesus as their Savior

· English speaking applicants for additional Rafiki mothers, substitute mothers, mothers’ assistants and kitchen/laundry staff who love the Lord and have hearts for serving Him and His children

· MiniMissionaries to share in the work and the blessings

· Good discipline resulting in joyful obedience

· God’s guidance in choosing the next children to become part of the Rafiki family from the many orphans in Rwanda

· Health, strength and safety for the Rafiki children and staff

· God to be glorified through His Word at Work at Rafiki Village Rwanda

Education Program

Updates

Praises:

· A national teachers’ aide

· Provision of a temporary school

· Our children

· Uniforms for all the children

Requests:

Please pray for:

· That our students will have a clear understanding of the gospel and accept Christ as their Savior

· For wisdom in training our newest national staff member, Patrick

· That Patrick will assimilate quickly and well

· For the means to build a permanent facility for our school

· For wisdom to teach and shepherd our children

· That our children will continue to grow in their understanding and use of English

· That our newest children will learn English quickly

Feb 2010 Newsletter

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you….”John 13:34 (NIV)

Dear Family and Friends,

Here it is the staring of a new year in Rwanda. The year 2010 hardly seems possible, it even sounds strange to say it. We are so blessed to be starting it here in Rwanda, serving the Lord with the Rafiki Foundation.

This New Year has started with a surprising burst of activity. The first half of our new Dining Hall is finished and operating. We serve three meals and a snack each day to twenty four precious gifts from God, along with their Rafiki Mothers and Aunties. As you may remember we have had six children’s cottages started but only three of those finished and operating. Praise the Lord we have received funding to finish the next three cottages, to complete the second half of the dining hall, to outfit our guest house and to build a playground for the children.

Bev is teaching eleven children in our class of three year old Pre-K’s. She is also team teaching the afternoon Kindergarten class with our Education Director, Anne Kelly. The children continue to increase in their knowledge and use of English. We are amazed how fast they learn. Bev is able to acquaint them with many new and wonderful things. Many that we simply take for granted, like the use of binoculars. While out on a nature walk the boys were fascinated that they could see a red bird in a tree far up the hill with their (paper) binoculars. Upon closer visual exam after “adjusting” their binoculars realized it was a man in a red shirt trimming the tree branches. Much discussion ensued. On another such outing little Marie, the youngest, excitedly exclaimed, “Auntie Bev, I found a weef ! I found a weef!” (leaf)

Ken has had many days of chasing paperwork for with the New Year comes the renewing of VISA’s, Work Permits, NGO registrations and Green cards. As always, leading the daily national Bible study is the highlight of his day.

There was also time to take the Kindergarten class for a field trip to the farm. Everyone had a grand time, including Ken.

We have heard God’s call to serve for the next two years in Rwanda with the Rafiki Foundation and we ask for your prayers. We are short of our needed support and are now at 67% of our total for two years. If God has touched your heart with a burden for these Rwandan orphans and you would like to help keep us on the field in Rwanda, please contact the Rafiki Home Office with your donation or pledge. Our ROS # 176 has to be on the paperwork for pledges and donations to be appropriately credited to our account. We are ever grateful to God for your love and prayers which are such encouragement as we serve in Rwanda.

Lovingly in Christ, Ken and Bev