Maggio June 2024
“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven” (11: 3-4).
We thank the Lord for the opportunity to share with you what the Lord is doing here in Zambia with your prayers and material support.
We have been studying the Book of Psalms which covers a wide range of emotions but which ultimately culminates in a declaration of praise and trust in the Lord. How appropriate is Psalm 11 in the current situation which we find our world. It seems that the foundations of society as well as economics and religion may be shaking, but as Christians we can remain at peace knowing the Lord is still on His throne, trusting Him in times of trouble. He sees all and is sovereignly working all things out for His glory.
We had a wonderful trip to the U.S. in March and April. We were able to visit with friends and family in Florida, Texas, Colorado, Oregon, and Maryland. We were encouraged by everyone’s hospitality and interest in Rafiki and helping us enjoy our time while we were away. At the Rafiki Home Office in Florida, we enjoyed the fellowship of the current and retired missionaries and Home Office staff and heard some wonderful Bible teaching by our Rafiki pastors Dennis Johnson and Rick Phillips as well as Rev. Dr. William Zulu who is our friend with the Reformed Church in Zambia.
Super support team in Colorado
Warm friends in cool Colorado
A visit with new and old friends
Tom returned to RICE (Rafiki Institute of Classical Education) just in time to see the five level 3D students complete their last week of training. These students were the first that he enrolled as the Dean of RICE in April of 2021. The students and staff of RICE are busy planning for their graduation which is set for the June 28. Due to the generosity of Rafiki’s donors, five more teachers trained in classical Christian education are ready to serve the next generation of Zambians.
RICE graduates
Another item which we are busy working on at RICE is a formalization of the school policies and a revision of the teacher/student interaction to comply with the standards of the Zambian Higher Education Authority. Our partner university, Justo Mwale University has provided a competent and enthusiastic team of administrators to assist us with the process.
RICE revision team
Since returning to Zambia, Lusubilo has been busy contacting and meeting pastors and her friends to adopt the Rafiki Bible Study and Sunday School lessons in their churches and homes. Rafiki has made available nine different Bible commentaries to help improve the teaching of the lessons.
Regarding the Rafiki children, we love to see some of the graduates attending our church. Two of the male graduates, Emmanuel and Joseph, attend a local trade school and two of the female graduates, Felistas and Grace, attend a local nursing school. Another graduate, Boniface, is attending aircraft maintenance school and seems to bring a new friend with him to church each week. The current Rafiki kids, seventeen girls and seventeen boys get to attend our local church as well and have asked the pastor to give them a new members’ class so they can be baptized and join the church.
The Rafiki School continues to grow with now over 350 day students from preschool through grade twelve. The RICE Program has provided most of the teachers in the preschool through grade six. Since there is a great demand for good schools we are also working to help private schools in the community to adopt the Rafiki School Curriculum.
The people of Zambia continue to experience difficult situations due to the drought and failure of a large part of the nation’s agricultural output. Electrical power has been routinely rationed and the government has begun to distribute food to various parts of the country. It is a time to encourage people to trust in the Lord.
We thank you again for your faithful giving to enable us to serve the people of Zambia for the glory of God.
Praises
- Our safe trip to the U.S. and return to Zambia
- For our faithful supporters
- Supportive assistance from the staff of Justo Mwale University
Prayer Requests
- For God’s continued provision, protection, health and joy in serving God’s people in Zambia.
- For many churches to begin using the Rafiki Sunday School lessons.
- Wisdom for the revision of the RICE Program.
- Pray for more schools to adopt our Rafiki curriculum this year in Zambia.
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