Just What is “Rafiki?”

March 30, 2019

Just What is “Rafiki?”

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”*

Sixteen years ago, Bob and Susan Hegel made a life changing decision. Close friends of theirs had just pulled up roots and moved to Africa as missionaries with the Rafiki Foundation. The Hegels were interested in learning more about it and decided to go to Kampala, Uganda, where their friends were helping build a Rafiki village for orphaned children. Those three weeks spent in Uganda, not only observing but also working alongside their friends, turned out to be the first of many adventures in Africa.

Rosemary Jensen, former missionary to Tanzania and founder of the Bible Study Fellowship, began the Rafiki Foundation to help meet the needs of orphaned children in Africa. “Rafiki” is Swahili for “friendship,” expressing Jensen’s vision to provide a Christian upbringing and education for orphans through individual sponsors. At present the organization has constructed Rafiki villages in ten African countries.

Prior to the Hegels arrival in Uganda in 2003, four little boys were living in a cottage under the care of a full time house mother. They had arrived without any record of their names or ages and were first of many who would come from local agencies to make their home at the village.

It was a safe place for the children, a home where they would receive love, attention and care. Starting with preschool, they would have a wonderful Christian education with a strong emphasis on the Bible and also classic literature. It was a place where they could grow up and thrive, learn skills and become strong contributing members of society.

While Bob and Susan were in Uganda, Bob helped with construction, solved electrical problems and put his skills at fixing things to good use. Susan created cloth interactive books for preschool aged children to teach them basic skills. After three weeks, they returned home feeling very blessed and excited about their time at the village.

In less than a year, the Hegels returned to Uganda on another “mini-mission” trip to assist their missionary friends. During their absence, the village had grown to include nineteen children, with six cottages completed that could house up to 60 kids. Several teen-aged girls from the community were also attending day school at a new Girl’s center and also learning a trade. Bob fixed looms and treadle sewing machines among other things at the center; and Susan taught the girls how to sew.

Two babies arrived at the village around the same time as Bob and Susan. One of them had come from a Ugandan Babies’ home because she was not eating. While the Hegels were there, she began eating again, started walking and seemed to blossom in the loving environment. The original four boys were bigger, stronger and were learning English in their preschool. Amazing changes!

That was just the beginning for the Hegels, who began filling in for missionaries several weeks at a time. After four years, they traveled from village to village where Bob’s valuable skills in engineering were put to use in opening new facilities, installing water systems and generators, and in fixing all kinds of things. Susan, a nurse, worked at clinics, taught Bible at the village schools and transformed miles of fabric into pajamas, school uniforms, dresses and curtains on her sewing machine.

In 2010, they spent two full years at the Rafiki village in Malawi where Bob was the director and Susan the health and child care manager for the village. During those years, they worked alongside many other missionaries and national staff to care for, educate and nurture 90 children, ranging in age from 10 to 2 years old.

When that commitment ended, they returned home...but not for long! Since that time, they have continued to return to various Rafiki villages as mini-missionaries. Through the years, the Hegels have been privileged to watch the children grow up and the villages expand. Their own sponsored child from Uganda is now 18 years old, has graduated from secondary school and will be going to the University. What joy they have experienced in seeing so many young lives transformed by God’s love in action!

The Hegel’s faith in God and in His promises is inspiring. Thank you Bob and Susan for serving the Lord in this way!

*Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV