Wilson November 2026

“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3).

Although “Thanksgiving” is not a part of the official Kenyan calendar, believers in this country are grateful (throughout the year) for God’s presence, provision, and power in their lives. Hearing our young teachers pray so fervently during a Bible lesson, a training, or as they intercede for one another, is a beautiful reminder that, regardless of age, gender, tribe, or location, God “has put eternity into man’s heart.”

Our October letter concluded with us in South Dakota, exhibiting at the STEER Conference.

Additional highlights of our time there were:

• Meeting “Dr. Kelly” (a Christian psychologist) in the hotel lobby. After hearing about Rafiki, she took time to pray over us, before going in to give her plenary talk!
• Making a slight detour on our way to the airport after the conference concluded, in order to see the Mt. Rushmore monument. It was iconic!

Visiting an iconic monument

We met Dr. Kelly in the hotel lobby. She prayed for us, before leaving to give her plenary talk.

The second half of our U.S. trip took place in Texas. We got to worship and fellowship with prayer partners and pastors at our home church outside of Houston, prior to the start of the second conference in Ft. Worth. However, as we traveled the three and a half hours north on I-45 from Houston to Fort Worth, we got a stark reminder of how fragile and finite human life can be. About twenty minutes from our intended destination, we barely escaped what would certainly have been a fatal car crash. A semitruck was broken down in the far right lane of the highway. I (Theo) was not speeding and was already mentally preparing to take evasive action when I saw the reflective triangles that were placed behind the truck. I needed to transition into the left lane, but the driver in the left lane kept matching my speed. Although I continued to slow down, he remained parallel to our car, making it impossible to get in front of him or behind him. I was running out of space and out of time and we both braced for impact. With about five feet of space to spare, the other car finally moved ahead enough for us to transition into the left lane.

The whole incident (which probably lasted two minutes) seemed to unfold in slow motion. What could have ended as “another highway fatality” was abated by the grace of God. Although we were shaken up, the experience also served as a spiritual wakeup call! We spent the rest of our drive to Fort Worth and our time at the Missionary Conference booth praising the Lord for His mercy and protection and feeling grateful for the intercessory prayer of others. The goal of this three-day conference was “to inspire and educate local churches to better follow the Great Commission.” The importance of this goal became all the more vital when we learned that “eighty-three percent of American churchgoers have no idea what the Great Commission is.” We had many great exchanges with the attendees.

Our flight back to Kenya was long and uneventful. We had only one transfer, flying from Dallas to Doha, then Doha to Nairobi. We returned in time to: lead the graduation ceremony for our senior class; witness the well-rehearsed recitations of students in kindergarten and lower primary; and participate in the joy of the all-school Fun Day, which closed the school year.

Our 2026 Graduates

While the days in the Midwest, Northwest, and Southwest of America were relatively cool, comfortable, and dry, when we arrived back in the Southern Hemisphere the climate had changed. The “short rains” (called Vuli) soon began and will traditionally continue through the month of December. So, rather than a chilly, “white Christmas” we will have a warm and wet one! Beyond this unique November climate, the exotic carols of the local bird population were a clear reminder that we had returned to an eastern coastal country on the continent of Africa.

Young talent spotlight

(In the words of “Maestro” Felix, our gifted music teacher)

“The 29th of October was a special evening at the Muthaiga Country Club in Nairobi. A concert featuring the acclaimed Red Fourth Chorus, led by prominent Kenyan opera singer Philip Tuju, introduced a promising young talent to the stage—Kirk Ongubo. From the first note, Kirk captivated the audience. He played with remarkable virtuosity, beautiful tone, and deep musical feeling, turning a technically demanding solo into a profoundly moving meditation. For a young artist sharing the stage with such an established ensemble, his confidence and artistry were outstanding. It was a proud moment for those of us who have watched this Rafiki orphan grow and develop, and a glimpse into a very bright future for this young Kenyan violinist.”

With former resident/Rafiki graduate Kirk, who returned to Nairobi for a solo violin performance at a recent concert.

In this month of America’s Thanksgiving celebration, we can do no less than to express our thanks to God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us in the last month:

We praise God for

• Safe air travel to and from Kenya, and highway travel across the South and the Midwest
• numerous young people who visited our booth, because their hearts were drawn to learn more about missionary service
• the missionary trailblazers whose stories continue to inspire and challenge us
• the opportunity to interact with so many ministry organizations that share the same heart for the Kingdom

Welcoming Daniel (second from the left). After meeting him at the Missionary Conference only weeks before, he stopped in Kenya for some meetings before heading to his mission assignment in S. Sudan.

• the warm hospitality of fellow believers in several U.S. states

Meeting members of Burr Oak Church, during their 150th anniversary celebration

• the memorable graduation ceremony for our seniors, upon our return to Kenya
• students from the Logic School who proposed a new after school club because they wanted to “be more intentional about encouraging one another and making sure that none of their peers felt lonely or left out.” (The “Barnabas Club” will kick off on Mondays after school in the new school year.)

The Barnabas Club founding members

• intercessory prayer and financial support of our ministry partners TRULY makes all our work possible

Please join us in prayer for

• positive results for our seniors, who are completing a month of national exam papers and practicals
• a safe and restful break for all our school families
• a productive in-service session (November to mid-December) with our teaching staff
• wisdom for us, as we work to fill some staff positions for 2027
• twenty new long-term missionaries to join Rafiki’s work
• all Rafiki students to be fully sponsored

Utukufu wa Mungu pekee (To the Glory of God Alone).

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.

Listen to our podcast for current discussions on Rafiki’s work in Africa.

truenorth.fm/show/the-rafiki-foundation-podcast/

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