Introducing Rachel

One of the biggest blessings in being able to serve here at African Bible College (ABC) is developing relationships with the college students.  We interact with them on many levels – in the classroom, at sports events, walking on campus and having them visit us in our home. 

One of the students we would like to introduce to you is Rachel Pinifolo.  Rachel was born and grew up in Blantyre, Malawi (one of the country’s biggest cities).  She is the oldest child in her family and has a younger brother and sister.  When not at college, Rachel lives with her mom and her stepdad.  Rachel has never met her biological dad. Rachel has a beautiful voice and sings in the choir here on campus.  Her hobbies include listening to worship music, playing with children (who love her), and taking walks.  Rachel has a boyfriend, Peter who she has been in a relationship with for over two years.  Peter is also here at ABC as a freshman and is in Bruce’s Christian Ethics class. 

Rachel is a junior at ABC and is a communications major.  Upon graduation, Rachel is hoping to use her degree in communications to tell young people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  She believes that using technology and media will be an effective medium to connect with the young people of Malawi.  Rachel is a very hardworking and conscientious student with very good grades.  Her favorite thing about ABC is attending the morning chapel service because it encourages her to start the day with a time of prayer and a message from Scripture and it keeps her on track in her Christian walk. 

We have been blessed to get to know Rachel over the past three months.  Rachel babysits our girls on a weekly basis, washes our dinner dishes and helps us all learn Chichewa (the local language).  We also get together once a week for “baking” lessons.  So far Rachel has learned how to make a chocolate cake, pizza, bread and apple pie.  She is well on her way to become a wonderful baker and cook.  She is a joyful and loving person and we love spending time with her. 

With your support we have been able to pay down a little of Rachel’s school fees.  Her stepfather is a local businessman whose business is suffering due to the economy here.  As a result, Rachel has been struggling to pay her school debt for over a year.  She currently owes $2,128 which includes last year’s balance and this year’s tuition.  It is only because we have stepped forward to help her out that she hasn’t been dismissed from the school due to her excessive bill.  If you would consider contributing to Rachel’s school bill please send it to ABC as you would send our support and simply shoot us an email letting us know the amount you have contributed.  Any amount would be hugely helpful in enabling Rachel to continue to stay here at ABC and finish off her schooling.   At the close of the semester (mid December) we will make sure that all gifts are transferred from our ABC account into Rachel’s student account. 

Thank you for your continued partnership with us in serving and loving the students here at ABC.