Sanders February 2026

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2).

We have been in Ethiopia for three months now, but it seems much longer—in a positive way. Most days are full and long yet rewarding. Monday through Friday, our day begins early with the Rafiki Bible Study (RBS) together with the teachers, followed by a second RBS with our national staff that Marty attends. Our teachers leave their group study and then lead Bible studies using the RBS by grade levels for our 377 students. On any given day in the Village, over four hundred people are engaged in an intentional Bible study, everyone studying the same thing (right now we are studying Psalms 45-72).

Teacher Bible study

The impact of the Rafiki Bible Study is not limited to the Village either. Our students take what they are learning into their homes, and the gospel is shared with moms, dads, and grandparents. One of our early childhood students, around four years old and living with her grandmother (who cannot read), took her RBS home. The grandmother was so impressed with the child’s improved behavior that she invited a neighbor to come read what her granddaughter had brought home. The result is that the grandmother and the neighbor are now hearing and being affected by the gospel.

First grade Bible study

After Bible study, the day begins—then anything, and sometimes everything, happens. But what we are learning is that Bible study finds its way into conversations throughout the day and week. We are in one of our resident cottages every week leading a study on being a godly man and woman. Once a month, Marty leads a devotion looking at the Apostle’s Creed, exhorting our residents to have a personal faith and conviction about the central truths of Scripture. We share meals with school children and our residents and often the conversations become about spiritual things. Nearly every day we find ourselves in discipleship conversations.

Marty and graduates

We also get to enjoy the fruits of others’ labors who came before us. On Saturday January 10, all thirteen of our resident girls and one resident boy were baptized and were received as members into their church. It was a meaningful and impactful day. That event has led them to deeper conversations about the Christian life.

Baptism one

Baptism two

Praise

We both now have our resident IDs.
We are enjoying good health.
We are blessed daily as we experience the fruit of God’s Word in the lives of the staff and young people here.

Prayer Requests

Some of our resident young people deal with health issues. Pray for wisdom as we seek the help they need in a place that does not always have the resources we are accustomed to.
Pray for wisdom as Jan begins trying to help a few first graders who are struggling with reading.
Pray for wisdom for Marty as he deals with student behavior issues.
We will be back in the U.S. in March. We have appointments with doctors, family visits, restocking of supplies, and meetings at the Home Office. Please pray for strength, health, and safety in our travels.
Twenty new long-term missionaries to go out and serve with Rafiki.
All Rafiki children to be fully sponsored.

There is much more to share, but please know that whatever is happening here, you are a part of it. Your prayers and support bear fruit in Ethiopia, and we are most grateful.