Dedication

In 1986 my mother Ruth T. Shaffer published her memoirs “Road to Kilimanjaro” (see inset on cover page) about her life-long service in Kenya with my father Roy E. Shaffer. “Shafari” is my memoir. The hybrid title blends the well-known Swahili word for a journey, safari, with my family name, Shaffer. This memoir extends by another generation my parents’ journey of service in Africa. My own life safaris traversed a variety of continents, countries, organizations, cultures and vocations. These Shaffer safaris started, of course with that call to Africa to my parents Roy and Ruth Shaffer. To them this memoir is lovingly and admiringly dedicated.

The vocational heart of SHAFARI is my efforts to help rural communities to be more self-reliant in protecting and preserving their own health with their own means. Or, put more simply, to make medical clinicians less needed. Such improvement, I believe, is enhanced when participants enjoy the liberating experience of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the one who promised “life more abundantly”. My philosophy and practice are detailed in my two booklets “Beyond the Dispensary” and “Community-Balanced Development”.

I am grateful for the help received from Dan, Dave, Todd, Esther, Sandra, Allan, Willy and many others. 


Roy Shaffer
Albuquerque, NM, USA
February 2018