Gozé July 2026

Hello from Liberia!

I safely arrived in Monrovia, Liberia on Friday, June 10. I woke up on June 11 to large white—and—black pied crows scratching the metal roof above me and motorcycles with colorful umbrellas beeping down the road outside my window. Anica, Christie, and Peter, the missionaries here, were quick to welcome me to Liberia and fellowship with me over a warm meal and cold water as I settled in.

The market in Boys Town

I arrived at Rafiki Village Liberia during the Village’s last week of school before three weeks of break. I had the opportunity to observe students finishing up exams, to join the seniors for their senior trip to a farm close by, to visit one of the boy resident’s cottages for Bible study, and to assist the library by imputing books into an online system. It is a sweet experience to be introduced to the Village and realize how much Rafiki means to the residents and students who attend it.

The senior boys pose on a carriage

Bible study at Bunyan cottage

Stacks of library books to log

Recitation day

We are now finishing the last week of break. I am helping teachers prepare for the school year by leading a couple training sessions on how to lead a Socratic discussion and what makes a classical educator. This year, I get to come alongside the teachers at the Village to encourage them in their pursuits of classical education techniques in the classroom. In addition to this, I will help with some administrative tasks, and I will get to know the staff and students better through sharing meals and daily Bible study.

There is a lot of excitement in living in another country, but there is also a challenge in adjusting to a different culture. I remember a moment from the first Sunday that I was here. The church choir sang a welcome song while making noise with a beaded gourd. I stood listening to the song and smiling at the beauty of it. At the same time, I found myself adjusting to a very different worship experience. The music was much louder than I was accustomed to, and the strong Liberian accents made it difficult for me to understand the words of the songs. It took time to become comfortable in this new setting, and there were moments when I longed for the familiarity of home. Yet the Lord faithfully sustained me through the adjustment, and today I am grateful to still be here and to continue worshiping alongside my Liberian brothers and sisters. There is something wonderful and complex in how the Lord allows me to experience the unity of worship with believers from another nation while that the same time I struggle in my desire for the familiar.

A beautiful Liberian sunset over the Village

As we prepare for this next school year, pray for the students and teachers at Rafiki Village Liberia. Pray that the teachers will be able to guide their students well in learning, obeying the rules, doing their homework, and being willing to participate in discussions. Pray also for the teachers to have patience to learn new curriculum and be an example of virtue to the students. Pray that the students will honor the teachers and be eager to learn.

Pray also that the Lord will teach me to spend time with Him in prayer and to encourage me as I wait to see how the Lord will shape me.

Learn more about Rafiki’s expanding opportunities.

Visit our newly designed website RafikiFoundation.org to learn how to:

Purchase the Rafiki Bible Study for small groups for your church or neighborhood
Serve as a missionary with Rafiki
Sponsor a child with the Rafiki Foundation to bring God’s Word and the best education in the world to some of the neediest children in the world in Africa.

Explore the Rafiki Foundation YouTube channel.

Visit (youtube.com/@RafikiFoundation) for videos from Rafiki children, teaching at our annual Enrichment conferences, and the teaching at our African classical Christian conferences.