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