Nealey January 2023

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:2-3).

I am happy to announce that I have finished the vetting process and I am a commissioned missionary with the Rafiki Foundation. I am assigned to the country of Malawi in the city of Mzuzu. I will be the ChildCare Administrator (CCA) in the Rafiki Village there.

At my commissioning to be a Rafiki Missionary with Karen Elliott, Rafiki Executive Director

As the CCA I will be responsible for the well-being of the 98 children who live in the Village. There is also a teacher’s college and classical Christian school there. My mission at the Rafiki Village is to see that the 98 residents located there are cared for and are educated with a quality Christian education leading to a vocation or further study.

There’s an old African proverb that says it takes a village to raise a child and that is just what the Rafiki Villages are designed to do. The residents are divided into groups of 6 to 10 people. Each group lives in a designated cottage with a Rafiki mother who oversees the group. She does everything a traditional mother does from nurturing to disciplining to helping with homework and seeing to the mental and physical needs of each child under her care. As the CCA, I will function as a lead person for the mothers, as well as being responsible for the well-being of the residents and the upkeep of the cottages. If the residents do not have extended family living close by, they are assigned uncles and aunts to stay with during school vacation (home-stays) days if necessary.

The relationship does not stop once the child finishes high school. The CCA continues to manage the well-being of the graduates after high school graduation. This means arranging scholarships for further study or vocational school. The graduates are required to make contact monthly with the CCA. The CCA even plans for the Villagers to attend graduations, weddings, and other major social events of the former residents. Once college or vocation school is completed, they may even receive a seed to start a business or finance the equipment needed to implement vocational training.

An excellent teacher always involves the student in active learning!

The Rafiki Foundation is designed to give the child the same support as a child raised in a family with parents. Going back to the proverb, I consider my role to be the grandmother. It is a big job but with the help of our family and friends we can help these children know God and raise the standard of living of the whole community.

Malawi Class of 2022 and their Rafiki Mothers

Family and friends, you are part of the Village and as such I pray you will send me off like the church of Antioch sent Barnabas and Saul. When the Lord calls, He also equips. I am writing to you because I believe that He has also called you to help my campaign to raise funds for this mission. If you feel that calling, then please join my pledge campaign. I am asking 400 people to pledge $10.30 a month for 12 months. Will you join me in this endeavor? There are two ways that you can do this.

Option one, which is the easiest way, is with a credit card or e-check.

• Go to RafikiFoundation.org
• Click on menu
• Select support a missionary
• Scroll down and select page 3
• My picture will pop up with an amount button underneath. You can then enter $10.30 (or any amount you wish to pledge) in the box and follow the prompts to enter your credit card or bank account number and select recurring payments. You can also support me with one time donations in the same way.

Option two is to donate by mail. Just send your one time or recurring donation through the mail.

Mail to:
May Nealey#259
C/O Rafiki Foundation
PO Box 1988
Eustis, Florida, 32727

Another way to support is to be a prayer partner. Thank you very much for whichever way(s) you choose to support the mission. Remember what our Lord Jesus instructed in Matthew 6:19-21 “ Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ”

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