Wilson May 2024

The distance and time for Ambassadors Football Club leaders to meet with Rafiki Classical Christian School (RCCS) administrators in Kenya amounted to 7,734 miles—as the crow flies—and 499 days! Ambassadors (or AFC) is an international, non-denominational ministry that spreads the gospel message through the game of soccer. Before catching a flight from Nairobi, the AFC leadership had enough time for a visit to our Rafiki Village. Only God knows the prayers and pathway that led AFC to train coaches from across the continent of Africa right here in our backyard!

AFC founder and son make an impromptu visit to Rafiki Village, Kenya.

The dialogue confirmed common interest in RCCS students participating in a school soccer team which would hone their skills and further tune their hearts to God. This affiliation would also allow them to engage in Christ-centered soccer competitions with other AFC clubs in the vicinity of RCCS. The Lord’s will be done!

A “caucus” to prepare a professional development course for our RCCS teachers: headmaster, RCCS “maestro,” Professor Brady McNeil, Wheaton College principal (center), and music instructor of RICE.

As we prepared ourselves and the faculty for Term 2, we began a week of long-range planning and training with our teachers before the students returned. Some sessions were fun (team-building!), but a lot of the work was mentally intense. Teachers reviewed lessons and planned their alignment of the two curricula—Rafiki’s and the (mandated) Kenyan—that each would be covering as the year progressed.

Teachers assemble for Training Week between terms

Another focus was on modeling and igniting in the students a fresh wonder and joy for learning in the classical Christian classroom. This is not a new pedagogy, but it does require review to maintain a focus on the ultimate “lesson plan” God has for His children.

In Philippians 4:8-9, the Apostle Paul wrote, “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

This passage hit home even more as teachers went through a session on how one’s identity can affect classroom outcomes. Our purpose as educators is not merely to inform but to enlighten, inspire, and point to the truth of God in our lives and lesson plans. The course of our dedicated staff members remains steadfast to this end. Thankfully, they all identify themselves as children of the King!

After our team building/teacher training was over, everyone was excited to start the second term of the school year. However, the nimbostratus clouds that began to form at the conclusion of the week made it clear that school was going to be delayed. In fact, Kenyan President William Ruto days later would officially suspend the start of school “indefinitely.”

To provide some context, there are two seasons in Kenya: the dry season and the wet season. But the two are actually comprised of four distinct weather patterns.

• A cold, dry season runs from June to August. It is called “Kipupwe.”
• The “Vuli”—a period of short rains—lasts from September to November.
• The hot, dry season from December to February is called “Kiangazi.”
• And while these three seasons are familiar to us, the “Masika” (or long, rainy season) that we encountered this year was not! It could only be compared to the “monsoon” rains of the Orient. The Masika of 2024 has had a devastating effect on the country within the last two weeks. The flooding caused by high volumes of rain was unprecedented. Across the country, 169 people lost their lives in the rushing flood waters. Crop damage and soil erosion has been heightened as well.

The view of a fallen acacia tree, from the roots (foreground) to the branches (background).

The nimbostratus clouds no longer cover the sky like a dark canopy now. The last few days have seen more normal rainfall levels. The government recently announced that school will resume next week. A “holiday” was even declared to plant trees, with the intention of abating the widespread erosion.

While the rains and thunderstorms were intense, they did not result in any damage to our cottages or classrooms—including the falling of five mighty acacia trees. This was nothing less than a miracle! We have so much to be grateful for, including Crystal getting to celebrate her “second birthday” on this beautiful African continent.

In the midst of the heavy rains, Crystal was showered with love by our fellow missionaries as she celebrated her second birthday in Africa!

Praises

• God’s grace, His rainbow in the sky, and the safety of all in the Village during the recent storms.
• Prayerful support of faithful believers which have covered us.
• Leaders are emerging from the current Form 4 students (the senior class of RCCS).

Prayer Requests

• The Kenyan people can rebuild and recover from the national flooding and its aftermath quickly
• The preparations for our Parent-Teacher Fellowship (PTF) being launched in Term 2 to be successful
• An increase in donors and/or contributions for this year, so that we can continue to serve the school

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