top of page

We're So Happy to Know These Fathers!

Writer's picture: Auntie EmmaAuntie Emma

Habari Marafiki! (Hi Friends)! Having children is not nearly as difficult as rearing them. The mother’s pain in childbirth, and the father’s agony while waiting with her soon pass, but the task of rearing children is an awesome responsibility for which most parents are not fully prepared.

No one would disagree that social, moral, ethical and spiritual hurricanes have swept across the homes over the years. For a home to withstand the howling winds of destruction and change happening, a father becomes a vital figure of authority and order.


Ezra 8:21 “There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.”


Ezra was in captivity in Babylon when he was given permission by Artaxerxes to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. He left with 1,500 men and their families. He had millions of dollars of silver and gold with him at the time. He was a sitting duck for thieves and the journey he was about to take on foot or in wagons was over 1,000 miles long. Ezra did something that every man and father should do. He did not trust his own strength or that of the soldiers. In fact, he did not even take a contingency of troops with him on the journey. He called for prayer and fasting – he was trusting the protection and guidance of God. Note carefully that he told them to pray specifically for the “little ones.” He was extremely concerned for the children that would come along on the long journey.


These were bad times, but Ezra knew that good men and good fathers could make a difference in such times. Fathers who would hold their families together, pray for their children and be the source of encouragement that would be needed over the journey. In the times we are in today, when families are facing different challenges, fathers become very important figures especially in their children’s lives . In My Rafiki Around The World's daily interactions, fathers like Ezra have stood out. We witness men who have stepped up in their children’s lives and provided guidance, moral support, financial support and shelter to their own children. Some of them, fathers and grandfathers, have even gone beyond and embraced children not their own who needed father figures in their lives.

As we celebrate Father’s day this year, we give a special mention and appreciation to some of these amazing father’s and father figures.

As My Rafiki community, we want to celebrate Father’s who not only care, protect and provide for their children, but have also embraced other children who needed father figures in their lives. We have two amazing father’s in Endarasha and Salgaa, Kenya who opened their homes to amazing young men they didn't even know, likewise in Eldoret we a dad who stepped into the role of father (not stepfather or foster dad) to a young boy and teenage girl. You have taken up the father role to these young people and modeled this kind of generosity for your own children. We thank you!

To the two grandfathers in our community who despite their advanced age, have taken up father’s role to another generation, we see you, we honor you, and we appreciate you today.

To the uncles in My Rafiki family who have gone to great lengths to love and support our children in Meru, Nyaharuru and even Lagos, Nigeria, we say, Happy Fathers Day! You, too, have taken up the father's role or stood in to support fathers and grandfathers. We appreciate you.

We admonish all the great Father’s in My Rafiki community who have been a great support to the children in Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and the United States. You are great role models to your children, sticking it out with your families even during the toughest economic seasons. Fathers, you are priests in your households, teaching your children the Word of God, guiding and providing for them and standing as pillars in your community. We all see you as you connect your children to our calls, participate in videos, and update us on your children's well being. Plus, we hear of the wonderful works you're doing in your cities as teachers, mentors, deacons, foster dads, pastors, and men in the neighborhood who fix bikes. We join with others you've blessed in glorifying God because of your good deeds.

Thank you also to the men who have financially supported the children of My Rafiki Around The World. We see your fathering heart.

As Ezra admonished the fathers to pray, we also pray for you and your strength in the Lord on this journey, as well.

Happy Father’s Day!


Sincerely,

Emily Wanja Bonsa (A.k.a. Auntie Emma)

Co-founder, Kenya

Kenya@MyRafikiWorld.com

2 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comentarios


bottom of page