In 2009, Julie McKeighen of Pierceton began to raise support to head to the Rafiki Village in Liberia for two years. It has now been more than four years since she first stepped foot in the country, where is she is principal over 128 children, including 69 Liberian orphans. (Photo provided)

Nearly five years ago, Julie McKeighen sought an opportunity to serve others overseas. As a retired music teacher and widow, humanitarian work seemed like an ideal way to fill a void.

“My husband went to be with the Lord in 2001 after a battle with leukemia. We were young, mid-40s,” said McKeighen, who is from Pierceton. “When you face such loss, it is sometimes hard to see beyond that loss. But God always has a plan for our lives and he will bring it about when we wait on him.”

Thanks to a presentation on missionary opportunities, McKeighen learned about the Rafiki Foundation, a non-profit that has established 10 villages in Africa providing living, educational and medical facilities to orphans.

“I have a heart for orphans, so I was interested,” said McKeighen, whose youngest daughter, now grown, was orphaned before being adopted by the McKeighen family.

In 2008, McKeighen headed to Uganda for a three-week mission trip with Rafiki. Following that life-changing experience, she began to raise support to head to the Rafiki Village in Liberia for two years. However, it has been more than four years since she first stepped foot in Liberia.

The Rafiki Foundation is a non-profit that has established 10 villages in Africa providing living, educational and medical facilities to orphans. “I would love to see the children mature, go through high school, college, develop a trade and have productive lives in Liberia,” said Julie McKeighen, principal of the Rafiki Village in Liberia. “I’ll stay here until the Lord tells me otherwise.” (Photo provided)

“I’ve stayed this long because I love the children. I see the need and I want to be that someone who meets that need.”

McKeighen originally joined the village as a teacher, but is now principal of the school of 69 orphans and 59 children from surrounding villages. She is also currently filling in as administrator of the village.

“I run the school, hire and train teachers, and oversee discipline,” she explained. “I oversee a staff of 50.”

Much of the week is spent within the Rafiki village, which is set up like a small community. The children stay 10 to a cottage with one native mother. McKeighen, her staff and students do venture into the surrounding countryside to attend church and buy supplies, however. The country experienced a civil war in the early 2000s and is still recovering.

“Poverty is everywhere — I see that all the time — and the education system is very poor. During the civil war, there was no schooling and no working, so there is an entire population still learning what a work ethic is,” she explained. “The government is stable now, but there is always a chance it may become volatile. I don’t feel unsafe. Rafiki is respected in the community, but it is rough.”

McKeighen is able to travel back to America once a year to visit her three grown children and four grandchildren. Her youngest son, Mike, lives in Pierceton and has been taking care of her home during her time in Africa.

“I do miss the order of things when I return home, how people stand in lines for instance,” said McKeighen, who was the choir director at Pierceton Presbyterian Church.

As long as her health allows, McKeighen foresees staying in Liberia for several more years.

“I would love to see the children mature, go through high school, college, develop a trade and have productive lives in Liberia,” she said. “I’ll stay here until the Lord tells me otherwise.”

Although some may look at short-term, overseas mission trips as under-productive, McKeighen sees them as enriching and a huge blessing.

“I’d like for people to know there is an opportunity to serve either short-term or long-term. Those who come for short-term mission trips are huge blessings to my village. They bring good energy, joy and help. It’s much bigger than what you imagine.”

For more information about the Rafiki Foundation and serving overseas, go to www.rafikifoundation.org.