Needham Sep 2018

As I ended my last newsletter, I was on my way to the U.S. for medical tests. I was there for a little more than six weeks before heading back to Nigeria on the 4th of July. Though it was a somewhat confusing time (because I was not sure what the Lord was doing), I am glad to report that all my medical check-ups revealed nothing new or significant. However, while I was there, I found a house and bought it. I have been praying now for a while for God to allow me to have a place of my own again and He answered most bountifully. Now when my time in Nigeria is over, I have a home once more in Amarillo, Texas. My refuge is always in the Lord and He is my provider. However, I am blessed in this new development.

Still, my place for the time being is back here at the Rafiki Village Nigeria. There have been no dull moments since my return and I will share a few with you. The first major event was the graduation of the nine students whose formal education ended in December 2017 but who have been here at the Village studying for and then taking national exams. It was a joyful and momentous occasion and all the work we did paid off. The graduation was beautiful and memorable, full of goodness and beauty and glorifying God. Additionally, the hard work these young people had done also paid off in that their first test scores qualified all of them for university and were the best yet at Rafiki Village Nigeria. Pray for these young people to always take refuge in the Lord.
Shortly thereafter, we had a visit from the Home Office team. Our Executive Director, Karen Elliott, led a team of five people who came to see the work here and move it forward. We saw God work in astonishing ways concerning the Teacher Training College and in moving our church partners forward in the vision we have for their church schools to become Christian and classical in nature. Our Teacher Training College is now officially affiliated with a partner denomination university and the students who attend will now be awarded certificates, diplomas, and even bachelors degrees depending on the length and focus of their course of study. This has been our hope and plan in all of our countries and God made the way possible here in Nigeria. It was also a good reunion for one Home Office team member, Erica Robertson, who had served here as Headmaster before going to work at the Home Office. Obviously, we were so encouraged with what the team saw and with outcomes that were answers to prayer. Pray that all the details can be worked out as we trust in God but work with men.