Kucko Dec 2017

Greetings with MUCH thankfulness to each and everyone of you who support me in so many ways, 

May You Rejoice in the Blessing of Christmas

The Scripture quoted above draws my mind to the birth of the Savior and also takes my mind back to John 3:16, ”God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. Then, the 1 Timothy verse goes on forward with references to Christ’s resurrection, ascension, proclamation amongst the world, and to His being seated at the right hand of God in glory. Can you almost hear the Hallelujah Chorus? 

I am so happy to write this letter to tell you that the shoulder surgery was and is a success and that as of November 30, I am released from therapy and will be returning on  December 2 to the children in Ghana that I have missed so much. Each of you have had a part in this “success story” as you have prayed and encouraged me and given me a goal to keep my mind on when the going was difficult and the body too lazy to do the therapy. Thank you, one and all. 

Question: What does a Rafiki Mother do?

A Rafiki Mother is a woman who is hired to live with and teach and love a cottage full of eight to ten children. She could be a widow, or a younger woman who is not married with a family of her own. She is a firm believer and follower of Jesus Christ and is capable to share the Word with the children in her care. She receives six weeks or more of teaching from Rafiki Manuals, and of theoretical problem solving and of shadowing other mothers to learn by seeing and doing. This mother will not only keep her cottage neat and clean inside and out, she will also instill this into her children and guide them to learn how to also do this as they care for their own bedroom space and help with the chores. The children in her care will learn manners and good behavior and love of one another as they see this in their mother’s life. 

Yes, the life of a cottage mother is much the same as any mother’s—the duties may be different, like teaching how to do laundry with a water bucket and bar soap, but the goals are still to instill honesty, godliness, love and care for one another, and to foster and encourage a desire to learn about God and His love for them through Jesus Christ. 

The cottage mother will also lead her children in morning and evening devotion and worship and prayer. When times of discipline are needed, she will seek to guide the child biblically to an understanding of the error and to times of forgiveness with others involved. There are ongoing weekly reviews and teaching times with the mothers while the children are in school. Also, on certain days, the mothers observe and help in the school so they have an idea of what the children are learning as well as how
they are behaving. Growing some of the food that the whole Village eats is also something the mother herself participates in as well as teaching and guiding her children in this. 

Please pray with us that: 

God will continue to send the women of His choosing to the Village to become Rafiki Mothers and assistant mothers.

Those He is calling to be full-time missionaries in Rafiki Villages will choose to hear and respond positively.

By the time you receive this, I will be back in Ghana and helping with preparations for Christmas. May this be a time of great joy as you and yours focus on God’s sacrificial love.
Thank you again for your part in my being able to serve in this way.