Nelson Sep 2018

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

Dear friends and family,
Fellowship and rest are a couple of the main words which come to mind as we look back on our furlough in the U.S. in part of June and July. We enjoyed spending time with our church family in Kennewick, celebrating Scott’s mom’s 90th birthday with the whole family in South Dakota, and visiting with Andrea’s parents surrounded by the beauty of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado Springs. At the end of July, we returned to begin our fourth year of service at the Rafiki Village. Please thank God with us for His faithfulness in providing us with needed rest and a desire to continue the work He’s prepared for us here at Rafiki Village Ghana.
As a Village, we have been studying the Book of Romans for several months. After wading through many theologically deep chapters, we have reached the practical application chapters where we are being reminded of how to love one another the way God loves us.
In a recent Rafiki Mother’s Bible Study, one of the mothers shared that she had a neighbor outside the Village who she had decided she would never talk to again. Throughout her study of Romans 12, the woman kept coming to mind over and over until she couldn’t ignore God’s urging anymore. She reached out to the woman and they are now talking through their differences. I love Rafiki’s slogan—God’s Word at Work. His Word IS at work here in the lives of the employees, resident orphans, day students, and even us missionaries! Please thank God with us that we have the opportunity to study His word together, and that He uses His Word to change us.
Character development was chosen as a theme in the school and cottages this year. With God’s help, we are seeing some fruit in this area. We’ve identified eleven young people who are leading the way in demonstrating godly character in the home, at school, and around the Village. They are not the only ones, but they are more consistently exhibiting these attributes. So, it’s not surprising that five of those eleven also decided recently to profess their faith in Christ and be baptized. On August 5, after working through preparatory lessons they made a public declaration of their commitment to God and were baptized at their church in Accra. Please thank God with us that He is moving in the hearts of the young people in our care. Please also pray that all our young people will have a living faith in Christ which will shape their character.
Our own children, Grace and Ian, go through the Rafiki Bible Study with Andrea daily during the week. We trust that God will be doing His work in their hearts, too. We pray that they are good examples around the Village. Out of the blue recently, Ian commented that he was kind of stuck. When Andrea asked what he meant, he responded that when he’s in the U.S. he kind of misses Ghana, and when he’s in Ghana he misses the U.S. Right after furlough this feeling of living between two homes is more acute. And at times, it is difficult, but we thank God for the privilege to be part of His work and the opportunity to be used by Him in the lives of these precious ones. Please join us in thanking God that He is working in this Village and that we have the privilege of having two homes in this life and an eternal home with Him someday.