Kropf Feb 2020

“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you’ ” (John 20:21).

We send our greetings and would like to update you on how preparations are going for our service with the Rafiki Foundation.

The first two weeks of February were spent at the Rafiki Home Office in Eustis, Florida attending “Survival Camp.” This was a full two weeks of preparations for our service in Rafiki Village Kenya. Each morning we attended a Rafiki Bible Study with the Home Office staff. What an encouragement it was to see their love for God and for the missionaries each day. We would then receive training by different staff members on various topics. During our two weeks there, we also prepared and served lunch and supper to different staff members each day. We were given food supplies that would be typical for Africa. This was a great way for us to spend time with the Home Office staff and for us all to get to know each other better. The afternoons were spent doing various work projects around the complex. One area we helped out in was the warehouse where donated books are sorted and packaged to be sent to the ten different Rafiki Villages for their libraries.

One of the highlights of our time at the Rafiki Home Office was attending the 2020 Missions Festival at Saint Andrews Chapel in Sanford, Florida. Rafiki had a display at the festival and we were able to help man the table. The guest speaker was Dr. O. Palmer Robertson. Dr. Robertson and his wife Joanna served in Africa for twenty-seven years. He followed his call to missions at the age of fifty-five. Hearing his and Joanna’s talks were so encouraging to us as we continue to follow God’s call.

While at Survival Camp we received our assignments. Del will be serving as the plant manager; this means he will oversee and direct all maintenance needed at the Village. He will also help do some of the bookkeeping and finances. Lisa will be helping with Orphan Care. This involves helping with the children who live in the Village, and working with the Rafiki Mothers. Lisa will also be serving in the Rafiki Institute of Classical Education (RICE) helping with the activities conducted in the Art Department. RICE is a teacher training college at the Kenya campus that trains teachers in classical Christian education. She will also be helping with the Widows Program there. We are both excited for these assignments and are eager to go and serve.

Rafiki Home Office front gate

So… now we are trained, commissioned, and ready to go!
Together with Rafiki Executive Director Karen Elliott just after our commissioning.

The Home Office would like us to leave by the first of May. We need to sell our house and get the rest of our support raised. A big thanks to those who have already given to support us. We are at twenty-six percent so far. We have several upcoming speaking engagements where we will be presenting the Rafiki Foundation and what our work will be there. We would be delighted to come and do a presentation to you or to any group or church at your convince. The vision and mission that Rafiki has for the training of Africans to transform Africa for Christ is an exciting thing to be a part of. Email us and we can get a date on the calendar. One specific engagement is scheduled for March 21, at Maple City Chapel in Goshen, Indiana at 6 p.m. with supper being served.

Please join us in praying for:

• Continued wisdom and guidance as we make decisions in preparation to go.

• That we will be fully funded and ready to go by the first of May.

Thanks so much for partnering, praying, and supporting us as we prepare for this journey.

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