LAST LESSONS #231 — MORE BIBLES

At what Rafiki calls “Enrichment” for Rafiki’s missionaries (and others) one of our speakers this year was Fredrick Shoo, the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania. He brought his wife Janet with him. Of course, I love them because I have known them for so long. They have helped Rafiki for many years. Fredrick gave two great talks at Enrichment, all about his country, the church in Tanzania, and the needs of Tanzania. At the end of the talks there was a Q&A of which I was a part. I asked Fredrick about Tanzania’s schools and whether they are now all in English. In the past they taught only in Swahili. Fredrick said that all the Lutheran schools were now in English. So I asked him how many primary schools his diocese now has, and he said twenty. Then he asked me if the ROSEMARY JENSEN BIBLE FOUNDATION (RJBF) could give his school children Bibles. I asked him, “How many?” He said, “Ten thousand!” As the Lord had arranged (!!), Crossway (the publisher of HOLY BIBLE FOR KIDS) was attending the session. So I asked Crossway if the RJBF could get those Bibles right away and they said yes! How fun is that?!

The RJBF has sent out many thousands of these Bibles because I can get them at a big discount and because so many donors have made it possible. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to God for allowing me to start the RJBF in 2017 and for the many thousands of Bibles we have been able to send to Africa. Now ten thousand more will go out as God provides the donors. If you want to know more, contact me at RMJ@rafikifoundation.org.

This is one thing that God has let me do in my old age!

LAST LESSONS #230 — POEM FOR 40th ANNIVERSARY

This is fun! It’s a poem written by Chris Moyer. Chris lives in Illinois with his wife Sandy. They have both been helping Rafiki for many years. When we were beginning to build Rafiki Villages, I asked Chris if he would draw the plans for the first buildings. Chris had recently retired from the University of Illinois as the Head of the Department of Fine Arts. Chris has designed every building (300 of them!) for Rafiki—free of charge! He is definitely a talented man—but not only in architecture but in writing poems. I usually get one on every birthday. But this one is special. Chris read it to the Enrichment attendees last week.  He agreed that I could share it with you.

RAFIKI’S 40^th ANNIVERARY

Four decades have passed since the Rafiki phenomenon was conceived.

Health and opportunity thousands of Africans have received.

 

To this endeavor other thousands have lent their hand, But the. Jensen family started it all when on a ship they left our land.

 

The Rafiki Foundation became a reality by the inspiration of the founding board, And soon the first medical missionaries were sent out with a nod from the Lord.

 

A query to a bishop in Tanzania was revealing.

Vocational training for young women would cause much healing.

 

So, in many parts of the world Young Women’s Centers would be created,

Making jewelry, soap, baskets, leather dolls, needlework and all things related.

 

This was good and many women found hope and much needed support, 

But a new plea for help can from First Ladies with many orphans to report.

 

What could Rafiki do with so little money for such an undertaking?

As Rosemary stepped down from the reins of BSF, they saw something great in the making.

 

Cottages, dining halls, schools and ROS residences were poised on the drawing board

And with money from BSF, concrete in the first Village in Ghana was about to be poured.

 

Nearly every year from that time on, a dedication plaque was placed on nine more walls.

Rafiki staff, donors, consultants, missionaries, local churches all responded to God’s calls.

 

Over three hundred buildings and counting have been nestled into African soil.

They protect children, facilitate learning, and give missionaries a place to rest from toil.

 

Getting to ten African countries takes something of an airline stew.

GambiaBird, Bellview, Arik, Rwandair, Delta, and KLM to name a few.

 

San Antonio was where it all began, a place where you were bound to develop a drawl

That was about to change as Rafiki is headed to Florida…but they also say “Y’All”.

 

These facilities in the woods of Eustis would unleash an even greater array of fruit.

Curricula, printing, shipping, the Exchange, even a classical Christian school to boot.

 

So, this is to Rosemary, founder and leader for so many of these 40 years,

And to Karen and staff, the Board, missionaries, donors and volunteers.

 

To God be the glory, Great things He has done.

Happy birthday, Rafiki. You’ve only just begun.