Koepke December 2020

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2).

A 2020 snapshot

Just as was true in the rest of the world, the lockdown in Nigeria closed shops, businesses, and schools. Rafiki was required to send the children home to their extended families.

Fortunately, farming was permitted and since the rainy season was here most people went to work in their fields. Rafiki kids farmed with their families and as shops began to open they helped their families in their business ventures.

Here are some other activities that took place during lockdown. Most of our boys have worked with concrete and learned how to weld at Rafiki and used these skills in their local communities to help their families. Others tutored children in their families. Some used the extra time to read the Bible from front to back, do creative writing, and improve their cooking skills.

When we were permitted to bring our resident kids back to Rafiki, a handful of teachers came in on a daily basis to tutor and prepare our high school seniors to take two required national exams. For those five months, teachers also prepared lessons for day students to reinforce what they had already learned. Family members collected the lessons at the Rafiki gate and helped their children retain what had already been taught. When Nigeria officially reopened schools in October, Rafiki realigned its school year so that children could start where they left off.

The annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony is one of the children’s favorites—lots of songs, poems, scripture readings, and the hanging of Christmas tree ornaments. And the crowning reason to celebrate—snacks!

Susy reading a Christmas story

Beautiful music at the tree lighting ceremony

We celebrated Thanksgiving with friends in Nigeria

Women of Hope quilt

Rafiki has partnered with Women of Hope for many years and 2020 was no exception. Orders were placed and the widows kept busy sewing and providing for their families. One shipment was delivered to the Rafiki Home Office in Florida this past September, and a second shipment will arrive there just in time for Christmas shopping. If you are interested in their products, please visit the Rafiki Exchange online at https://store.rafikifoundation.org/shop.html.

We hope to travel around Easter and celebrate Christ’s resurrection with family and friends.

Merry Christmas to you.

Serving with you at the Rafiki Village in Nigeria.

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