Wilson July 2025

“For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).

As Christians, we know that we are called to study God’s Word, to obey it, and to teach it in our daily walk and talk with others. That was the gist of Jesus’s Great Commission message before his Ascension. But the Lord also said, “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). In our study of the book of Ezra, we are seeing that God’s people faced great opposition while trying to carry out their God-given tasks. But we can all be encouraged by our faithful God, who acts providentially to fulfill His eternal plan, in spite of life’s conflicts.

Saba Saba is a holiday celebrated in the East African countries of Tanzania and Kenya. The term is Swahili for “seven-seven.” Historians tell us that it was intended to be a time of reflection on the seventh day of the seventh month of the year. In Tanzania, it is celebrated as “International Trade Fair Day,” commemorating the date in 1954 when the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) was founded. This reminds all Tanzanians when the fight for independence from Britain really began in earnest.

During recent years in Kenya, however, Saba Saba has evolved into a day of nationwide protests. Opposition leaders, human rights defenders, and Gen Z activists take to the streets to express their discontent regarding various issues. There was much chatter as the day approached this year, and caution was required when traveling on the streets. In fact, we decided to close the school so that families would not feel compelled to get their students here amidst the numerous road closures.

The seventh of July had a different atmosphere for us since all missionaries were advised to remain within the perimeter of the Village as a precautionary measure. We ended our work day by praying and spending quiet time with the Lord on a long nature walk.

In our Bible study, we have been seeing God’s “divine providence” at work (His complete control, governance, and direction of everything in the universe). So as we took time to appreciate the intricacies of His beautiful creation, we reflected on how He has protected and provided for us through the many seasons of life. And we interceded for our Kenyan neighbors to have the same protection, providence, and peace outside the walls.

Our Daily Audio Bible walk.

At the end of June, we were reinvigorated by the youthful zest of thirteen short-term missionaries who selected Rafiki Kenya as the site for their end-of-year, high school service projects. Veritas Scholars Academy (VSA) is a worldwide online classical Christian school with 10,000 enrolled students, and a Christ-centered mission very similar to ours. The fact that they chose to collaborate with us was both encouraging and humbling. The students were accompanied by adult chaperones—two were parents and two were Veritas teachers. This was the first time for Rafiki to engage with this institution, and it was truly a blessing!

GL3 students with short-term missionary Gracie, a student visiting from Veritas.

During their visit, the students helped to organize our lower and upper school libraries, enthusiastically worked to beautify our gardens, and took inventory of our curriculum and chemistry lab supplies. They read to our grammar school students at Library time and helped coach games in P.E.. While the Rafiki Classical Christian School (RCCS) went on a brief midterm break, our Rhetoric residents competed with VSA students in the first ever Rafiki-Veritas Games. The friendly competitions included a spirited debate, a chess tournament, coed volleyball, kickball, and tug-of-war. 

Rafiki and Veritas students take part in a friendly chess match.

Rafiki and Veritas scholars engage in an international debate competition.

The Veritas scholars visited All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi for Sunday worship. Although All Saints was established as the first Anglican church in the early 1900s, the cathedral was actually completed in 1952 while the country was still under British rule. This influence is clearly seen in the architectural style of the English gothic structure, which is located in the Upper Hills Estates of Nairobi.

After the church service and lunch, the Rafiki residents and Veritas students attended a play entitled “The Trial of Dedan Kimathi” at the Kenya National Theatre. This dramatic play focused on the trial of one of Kenya’s freedom fighters and it was authored by Ngugi wa Thiong’o, one of the nation’s most prolific writers. He wrote literary works in both the Gikuyu and English languages, studied at Leeds University in the United Kingdom, and later became a distinguished professor at the University of California in the United States. The theatrical event began with a moment of silence for Mr. Thiong’o who had passed away at the age of 87 just a week before our group attended the play.

Both the Kenyan and the American students enjoyed the fellowship, worship, and friendly competition they shared after their service projects were completed. Cross-cultural friendships were forged, and many fond memories were made. By the time of their departure, many tears were also shed. In the words of some students though, “It was a blast!”

Praises

• Kirk, an RCCS senior and Rafiki resident, has advanced to the national level of competition in the Kenya Music Festival as both a vocal soloist and a violin soloist! His hard work and determination have been a great example to the younger students in the school.
• The ongoing prayers of supporters have protected the Rafiki families during the Saba Saba protests.
• We welcomed Teachers Mary and Brenda to our teaching staff this term. While their credentials speak for themselves, more importantly, the light of Christ shines brightly in each of them. Both of these Kiswahili teachers understand that biblical worldview integration is a key component of even the national language curriculum. In the School of Rhetoric, they are preparing students for a recitation of Philippians 2:1-11.

Our two new teachers strike a pose with the senior tutor on their first day of work.

Prayer Requests

• Our students will come to trust God completely and see His providential hand in the circumstances of their lives.
• The Veritas partnership will continue in future years. 

Preschool student with letters of the week—H, I, and J.

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