The year 1995 found Sara and Lowell Kafer packing up their Michigan home to embark on a spirit-led journey—one so fulfilling, they are still on it today! “We are willing to share the Africa University story with anyone who asks,” says Dr. Kafer. People hearing of their work and travels to the university always want to know more.
Upon their retirement, the Kafers served as Volunteers in Mission at Africa University. When they heard news of the university’s groundbreaking, they wanted to be a part of what they consider is “the most exciting venture of the United Methodist Church.”
With experiences in teaching school-age children, counseling women, and in higher education administration, Dr. Kafer helped organize a faculty committee to establish the Faculty of Education, and Mrs. Kafer taught English to students from non-English speaking countries.
The couple celebrates the blessings of making life-long connections with students and volunteers to work for the common purpose of establishing university programs. Two years after the completion of their assignment, they returned to evaluate the students who had gone through the program and found them all performing well in their educational goals for transforming Africa.
Nearly 30 years after their first travels through Christmas Pass and the sight of the jacaranda tree-lined streets of Mutare, the Kafers are proud that Africa University has “exceeded anything we ever thought would happen.” As Legacy Society members, they are committed to the next 30 years and beyond, confident that the university will continue to grow and have a greater influence around the world.
Andra M. Stevens, Director, Communications, Africa University Development Office
A World Service Special Gift is a designated financial contribution made by an individual, local church, organization, district or annual conference to a project authorized as such by the Connectional Table. Current World Service Special Gifts projects include the Africa University Endowment Fund, the Leonard Perryman Communications Scholarship for Ethnic Minority Students, the Methodist Global Education Fund, the National Anti-Gambling Project and the Lay Missionary Planting Network.
