Ekstrom July 2018

Dear friends and family, 

I am so excited to get to let you know that I have been commissioned to serve in Mzuzu, Malawi, Africa with The Rafiki Foundation. I will serve as the Athletic Manager and the Assistant RICE Dean. My projected date of departure is February 2019 and I will go for two years. Before I go, I will graduate with my Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Minnesota in December 2018. 

The Rafiki Village Malawi is home to 97 orphans. It also hosts 166 students from the community who come to the Village for school every day. The country of Malawi has one of the largest lakes in the world, Lake Malawi. It is an extremely poor country with over fifty percent of the population living below the poverty line. Since 2002 Malawi has faced both drought and famine. It is one of the least developed countries in the world. 

The Rafiki Foundation, http://www. rafikifoundation.org, is very effective in their response to such poverty. Founded in 1985, the Rafiki Foundation has training Villages in ten different countries in Africa. Their mission—to train Africans to transform Africa for Christ—is one that I strongly agree with. Rafiki operates five different programs to accomplish that mission: Orphan Care, Christian Classical Education, Rafiki Bible Study, Teacher Training, and the Widows Program. 

For me, God has put missionary work on my heart for a long time. Each of the mission trips I  have done throughout high school and college have developed in my soul a desire to answer God’s call to love others (John 13:34) and care for widows and orphans (James 1:27). I am specifically called to Africa through the Holy Spirit. Last summer when I was on a mission trip to Zambia, Africa, God made it clear that he needed me to do work on that continent through the outpouring of peace that washed over me while I was there. I was flooded with so much peace that I knew I needed to respond to it. Since then I have prayed and considered the call. I am left with nothing else but, “Lord, I am willing and able. Please send me.”  

I cannot do this mission alone. If you would join me, there are two BIG ways you can help. First, I am raising financial support to cover the cost of serving in Africa. If you would like to support me, the funds would go to airfare, clean water, WiFi, electricity and other living expenses. Secondly, and more than anything, I deeply crave your prayers. Please pray for the country of Malawi, for the safety of myself and the children, and that my relationship with Jesus would grow stronger than I ever imagined. If you want to know more about this mission or if you have questions I am more than willing to talk with you. Thank you in advance for your time, consideration, and prayers.