VanKuiken December 2023
“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).
Merry Christmas from the Tokpahs! That certainly has a different, but nice ring to it. We were married on September 16 at the United Methodist Church in Duazon, and the reception was held afterwards in the gym at Rafiki. It was a special blessing that Christie’s mom, sister Dawn, and friend Sandi, could attend in person, along with Peter’s family and the entire Rafiki family. We felt loved through all of the good wishes we received in person, over e-mail, Facebook, and many cards. We are finding out that being married is wonderful, but as we have always heard, it is a relationship that must be worked on daily. We are adjusting to each other and learning to love each other even more through living together.
Christie just submitted her last assignment for her Master’s Degree in Education. What a relief to finally be done! She is looking forward to having more free time for reading and fellowship around the Village now that she is done. As Christie is ending, Peter is picking up the baton and will return to school in January to work on his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He has an associate’s Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, but he desires to delve into the world of finance.
In work-related matters, the teacher’s college is working on the accreditation process and is praying that the government will approve us offering a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 2024. Please pray that the accreditation process will go smoothly . With the accreditation will come additional requirements, one being additional staffing. We are looking for an instructor with a master’s degree in education and a librarian.
Peter is working on the school front with special needs students in the elementary school. Also, he teaches as a substitute when there is not adequate staffing at the school. In addition, he is working in outreach, maintains the materials database, and helps train teachers of schools that have adopted the Rafiki curriculum. He has a desire to be trained as a missionary in 2024.
Recently, we had the privilege once again of traveling to attend the Rafiki sponsored “The New Old Way” conference. This is the second one I have been fortunate enough to attend. This meeting brought together U.S. and African leaders in classical Christian education (CCE) for a time of enrichment, equipping, and fellowship.
Finally, we are happy to have some additional help as we end the year and start the next. The Venemans, former Rafiki missionaries to Liberia, are here for a month. May Nealy has stopped here on her way to Malawi, where she will serve as a missionary. The Cutlers, who faithfully come every January, will be here as usual for a couple of weeks. Another former Rafiki missionary, Doris Adema, will also come in January for a little over a month to help us with the work. There is a great need for more missionary help. Please faithfully lift this need in prayer. There is no greater joy that I (Christie) have had than serving with the Rafiki Foundation in Liberia. Experiencing God’s protection and provision time and again has been my experience and has grown my faith. Please prayerfully consider service with Rafiki for a couple of weeks, a month, or even a couple of years.
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