This past June, 13 students, along with a parent and two VSA teachers, served on a mission trip to the Rafiki Foundation in Kenya.

The Rafiki Foundation is a Christian nonprofit organization that operates Rafiki Training Villages in ten African countries, including Kenya. In Nairobi, their work is centered at the Rafiki Training Village Kenya, which is unique for being the former weekend residence of Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta. This village, situated in the Ruaraka area, focuses on transforming lives through a combination of education, orphan care, and spiritual development. Specifically, they focus their efforts on orphan care, classical Christian education, Bible study, teacher training, widows programs, and local outreach.

The Rafiki Training Village Kenya operates on at least 50 acres and includes facilities like a children’s home, school, teacher training college, soccer field, guesthouse for volunteers, missionary housing, and a farm. It’s a holistic setup designed to address both immediate needs (like food and shelter) and long-term growth (through education and faith).

The Veritas Mission Team…

• Assisted in classrooms and libraries - reading with students, assisting with games in PE, Latin recitation, proctoring exams for the upper school, and helping with preschool childcare

• Established a template for Rafiki students to begin a school newspaper

• Helped start the first Rafiki Debate Team

• Organized outreach materials (Bible Study and Classical Education Curriculum) to be shared with other Kenyan schools and churches

• Landscaping

Quotes from Mission Trip Members!

Elisa, Student

(I hope this isn't too long- there's just so much to say!) Many people are familiar with mission trips to Africa. It seems like a fairly common idea: you fly to Africa, visit an orphanage, do some work, and then fly home. It seems simple enough and rather stereotypical. We all have an image in our minds of what a mission trip to Africa might look like. But the Veritas mission trip to the Rafiki Village in Kenya was anything but stereotypical. It was a time of immense spiritual growth, the formation of deep relationships, and a testament to the incredible work that God is doing in Africa. To summarize this mission trip is practically impossible because it's something that you have to experience for yourself. But, I'll try my best to describe some of it- just know it doesn't do it justice.

Working with the Rafiki Foundation was a cool experience in and of itself. When do you get to go to Kenya, to a classical Christian school, and teach adorable and precious African children as a teenager? Getting to read to and teach the students was probably one of my favorite experiences. To see all their shining faces with beautiful eyes staring up at you while deep diving into God's Word and other classical literature was beyond incredible. Each person on our team attended devotions with different grade levels every morning, building relationships with those students while encouraging them in God's Word and participating in the lessons. Not only that, but for hours on end, the Lord allowed us to play with the school children and give them lots of love. To hear your name be called out by a little voice with a strong African accent then turning around to see a little toddler running towards you and jumping into your arms, or to have your hair and skin constantly played with out of fascination for what it looks like- are unforgettable moments. Something that the Lord has opened my eyes to is that if we have willing spirits to bless others, the Lord blesses us through them in return. While the Veritas group went to Rafiki to be a blessing, we were all so very blessed by the people in Kenya. God works in amazing ways, and He gives such good gifts to those with open hearts and hands.

Something else that stood out to me, and is important to mention, was the way the Lord showed us the stark contrast between good and evil, sin and righteousness, light and darkness. One particularly eye-opening experience was when we drove through the wild streets of Nairobi through slums, urban areas, markets, and trash dumps. We were in a large, high-up bus, so all of us students had the windows open and were waving at every person we saw. Seeing their faces light up as they waved back brought an unexplainable joy to my heart. However, at the same time, there were also more interesting interactions —interactions that revealed the depravity of the human soul. Looking back, it makes me think of the most prominent theme we see in the Omnibus courses- the theme of the City of God and the City of Man. We read a wide range of books in Omnibus. Each one shows the difference between God's world and our human perspective on it. In those stories, we see God's goodness and man's sinfulness. However, while this theme can be observed in America, driving through Nairobi clearly highlighted the stark contrast between God and man. Even then, while those streets revealed the darkness of humanity, they also showed the light of salvation brought about through the blood of Christ. In each Kenyan’s face, I better understood and saw God's hope and mercy for the human race.

There are a million more experiences I wish I could share. However, this mission trip was amazing, and it stood as an incredible testimony to our Lord Jesus Christ. I encourage everyone to take a step of faith and go to Africa on a not-so-stereotypical mission trip. Maybe even with Veritas and Rafiki if the opportunity arises again. It is an experience that will prove fruitful for both you and others. God commands us to go and make disciples of all nations. This was a tiny moment of fulfilling that calling in Scripture that God has placed on each and every one of us. Getting to go to Africa, specifically to the Rafiki Village in Kenya, to teach about Christ in a school, and grow relationships with other Veritas students, as well as the Kenyan people, is an unforgettable experience. To God be the glory!

Angie Henriksen, VSA Faculty

Probably the most meaningful part of the trip were the relationships made between Veritas students and Rafiki students. Rafiki has 14 high school age orphans who live at the Village (the rest are day students). It was especially fun (and unusual!) for them to have our group of teens there to build relationships with. We shared devotions together daily, ate meals together, played gym and outdoor games together. The culmination of our time together was the first annual Veritas vs. Rafiki Games. We spent an entire day competing in debate, volleyball, chess, kickball, and tug-of-war. (I believe the result was an overall tie—ask Corey for verification of this!).

Our students were impacted by the fact that kids and teens are the same in Kenya as they are in the US (and the little ones are super adorable!). They saw the extreme poverty that much of the world lives in. They were astonished at the living conditions of the teachers and students of the Rafiki School (quite poor). It was really cool to see students in Kenya engaging in the same classical style of education as we have here at Veritas, but without most of the resources (books, supplies, technology, etc.) that we have. We were overwhelmed by the joy and smiles that greeted us each day.

One final point that struck me was the Biblical literacy of all of the students at Rafiki — from preschool through high school. They really know the Word. Every day begins with a 30-45 min. Bible study in each classroom. Overall, this was an amazing trip. Our students hated to leave and are already talking abut when they can go back. :)

Corey Piper, VSA Faculty

For me, [the most impactful part of the trip] was getting to know the administrators and teachers and to better understand the school and their needs, along with hearing the personal stories of several of the resident students. The residents are orphans who have been at the school for almost their entire lives, and their stories are heartbreaking and inspiring.

Claire Hahs, Student

It was a fantastic experience. One of the things that really stood out to me was the VSA-ers going. We had a solid group of students who attended, all of whom brought something unique to the trip. It was so much fun to hang out with them. I have made friends with multiple people there because of that. I couldn't have asked for a better group of teenagers.

Something else that really stood out to me was the community and the love that the Rafiki student residents had. Not just for each other, but for us as well. They were kind and welcoming, even if we didn't really know what was going on. The Bible studies at the end of the day often became the highlight of my day. They were interested in us and we in them, and they continued to make us feel at home. The community of the residents there was also inspiring. And then they let us become a part of that as well.

Africa is beautiful! And while we were in poverty, it was particularly amazing to see God at work there. Many people waved or smiled at us as we drove by. Even on the dirt roads and amidst the beeping cars, I could see Jesus working through the hearts of these people, especially with Rafiki. Rafiki has helped many children in Africa, spreading the Gospel of Christ throughout the continent. You could see the difference in the lives of the students in the classroom. See their love for learning and their teachers. Their love for Rafiki itself. It has changed the lives of many people there, and I hope that I have made a difference.

This mission trip was a fantastic opportunity. I'm so thankful that I was able to go and see with my own eyes the beauty of Africa and God's people there. Rafiki is continuing to do good work there and spreading throughout the nation.

Anna Buczynski, Student

Going to Kenya was an experience I’ll never forget. Whether it was playing at recess with the kids or sitting down at lunch to get to know them, it was so evident how the Lord is working at Rafiki. I also loved how our team was able to bond with the residents. From swinging on the swings, sharing dinner, and an impromptu water fight, to spending time together during devotions, we formed real friendships.

The way the trip was structured was phenomenal. There was time to serve and work, but also plenty of time to just hang out as a team. That time together helped us form friendships and get to know one another, especially since many of us hadn’t met before the trip.

Visiting Nairobi and seeing the city firsthand was a humbling and powerful experience. On the safari, we got to see elephants, giraffes, and rhinos, which was so awe-inspiring.

When we went to church, it was so amazing to see how the Lord is so present in Kenya. The church members were praising the Lord, no matter their circumstances, which was such a witness to me!

How can you get involved?

Sponsor a student! Students from local neighborhoods who are not orphans make up the majority of the student body, but their tuition does not cover all the school's expenses. Rafiki needs help covering the difference. Their mission is to proclaim Christ through a classical Christian education, and it is having an impact.

Also, the Rafiki Foundation is seeking long-term and short-term missionaries to assist with their villages. To learn more about these opportunities or to donate to their cause, visit https://rafikifoundation.org/

To learn more, listen to our podcast with Karen Elliott, the Executive Director of the Rafiki Foundation.

“Thank you, Veritas Scholars Academy, for sharing some of your students with us this summer! With a Christ-centered mission very similar to Rafiki, the Veritas programs of study (and your partnering parents) have produced intelligent, winsome, and well-balanced young people who were eager to serve others. What a wonderful example they provided for the Rafiki student body!

During their visit, the students helped to inventory and shelve books in our Lower School library. They read aloud to our Grammar School students at Library time and assisted with P.E. lessons outside. They did quite a ‘remodeling’ job in our Grammar school curriculum room (moving shelves, organizing and labelling all of the supplies and curriculum books.

They helped in Preschool through Grade 6 classrooms, with piano lessons before and after school, and even in the village kitchen, which prepares meals for 500 people each day. They engaged with students at recess and with preschoolers in After School Care. The student skills list which was provided proved to be very helpful in placing the students in areas of their gifting and interest.

They were extremely well-mannered and engaged easily with the adults while on outings to the Anglican cathedral for church, lunch, and attending the dramatic play entitled "The Trial of Dedan Kimathi" at the Kenya National Theatre.

Over the course of their 9-day visit, cross-cultural friendships were forged, and fond memories were made. By the time of their departure, many tears were also shed.

Lastly, we were also thankful for the engagement of the three chaperones: teachers Cory and Angie, and parent Brandi. They managed the students effectively and provided additional “eyes” to observe the work going on throughout the village. It was hard to believe that they had only met the students in person when traveling to Kenya!”- Rafiki Village Kenya