"The kingdom of God is like yeast that a women used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast into three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough."
Matt 13:33
In 2002 David and I met on the YWAM base here in Namibia. He was in the middle of a church plant in the North, and after the DTS school we both attended I went up to the North with him to help establish that ministry. It was during that time that I felt called to missions in Africa, and that David and I fell in love and realized we had the same goals. In 2005 we finally made it to Bible college to prepare ourselves better for a life in ministry, specifically cross cultural ministry. We graduated with top honors in 2009.
In 2010 we finally made it back to Namibia to begin the work we had felt called to do in 2002. But they don't just hand out visas for anyone who wants to come and work in Namibia. So we agreed to spend two years (those two years will be coming to an end at the end of April) working with John and Suzanne at Community Hope School while getting a new ministry in the works and in return they would let us use CHS for visa purposes.
The last two years have been fun, exciting, trying, exhausting, and a million other things. I think that perhaps we felt at times that the two years were dragging by as we were chomping at the bit to begin the ministry we had been working towards. But as I look back now I know that these last two years have been invaluable. We have grown and learned more than I could put down here. God has used these last two years as a time to refine us as people, and as a family. We have had some very rough and sad times, but we have also celebrated great victories, including new births!
He has also used this time to bring the plan and work He has for us here into focus. And above all we have had two years immersed in the community that we will be reaching out to, under the covering of another ministry. This has given us an opportunity to get to know the people, make mistakes, learn, and make relationships without having our names on the line. Does that make sense? If we had just jumped in with our own thing without this knowledge and relationships we would have fallen flat on our faces :)
So now in 2012, exactly ten years after we met and felt the call, we are ready to announce and start a new ministry here in Namibia.It is an amazing feeling to be at the point we have been working towards!
Brian and Pam Kinghorn, the directors of YWAM Namibia, have welcomed us with open arms. So we will be working under the covering of YWAM. YWAM currently has two main ministries in Namibia. CHS and Beautiful kids (BK). CHS you know about, Beautiful kids is an outreach to preschool aged kids primarily, but they also have youth programs, after school programs, teacher training, classes on how to be a good parent, and they have a sewing project that is creating jobs for women in the community. Our ministry will come along side these two and complement what they are doing. Our ministry will have two parts.
Bear with me, I know this post is getting long...
The first part of the ministry will be focused in Katutura, for now we will be working out of the BK offices.
Our ministry is based on the verse at the start of this post. We believe that if the Kingdom of God is present in a community it's reach is unlimited. It should not only transform a part of that community. But it reaches into every aspect of the community, the physical, the social and the spiritual. We are calling those three parts of society the three measure, and that will also be the name of our ministry! Three measures will exist to bring change to the physical, social, and spiritual lives of people in Katutura Namibia. We will begin with cell groups in people's homes, skills training so people can get jobs, and activities for the men of the community especially. You can read more about the specifics in the ministry tab on the left hand side.
The second part of our ministry will be in the North of Namibia. This is where David worked when he was here before in 2002. We will be going up to the rural village areas of the country to train local Christian leaders. We will spend 2-3 weeks in the area three times a year doing what we are calling "Restoration Seminars." You can also read more about those in the 3Measures tab on the left hand side.
Our official launch date is August 2012, we will be in the USA for a furlough and support raising trip from May through July.
God is great, and He is so good to us. Join with us in prayer and celebration as we end our time with CHS and launch a brand new ministry.
Showing posts with label ministry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ministry. Show all posts
3.10.2012
3.05.2012
Prayer!
What are some of your prayer requests? We are going to spend some time in the coming weeks in prayer for the next step in our ministry, and would love to pray for you too.
2.21.2012
Have grace today.
I want to share a story with you. A story to illustrate what grace is.
A few weeks ago Reese was going for daily blood draws. Being that he was a brand new baby they would make a small cut on his heel and then milk it for blood. This seemed as painful as it sounds. It had gotten to the point where Reese would give a pitiful little cry when anyone would touch his little feet. He had bandaids and little cuts in different stages of healing all over his feet. It was a difficult time for us to go through. (Even now we are not done with the whole Jaundice thing. Reese had blood drawn from his neck last week to check his liver function since he is still a buttery shade of yellow, please be in prayer for that)
When he was 6 days old we were told that he was in the all clear and that he would not need another blood draw, but when we went to the dr. for out post postpartum check up the dr. decided that he was still too yellow and we would need ANOTHER blood draw.
We packed him in the car and as he sat there content and unaware of the coming pain I just felt so lost. I was still in a lot of pain from the c-section, and David and I were both exhausted from our first week with a new born. Seeing that Reese was also a preemie, we were told to not have anyone near him for at least 8 weeks because his immune system was non-existent. This in itself caused a lot of stress. I would stay up at night to make sure that his lungs stayed open, I was terrified they would relapse and he would need to go back to the NICU and back on the CPAPP machine. I also knew that the outcome of this blood draw may mean that Reese would be admitted in the hospital again. That was my biggest fear.
When we got Pathcare a car stopped at the same time as us and an elderly couple got out. I could tell the lady was having trouble walking, she seemed to be in a lot of pain. I am not proud of this, but instead of helping them, or letting them go ahead of us, I raced to the door to be first. This is not at all how I would normally act. After we were checked in we sat down to wait and the old lady was checked in. She told the nurse in broken English that standing up from sitting was excruciating for her so they needed to let her sit in the waiting room and the person would come out to draw her blood.
When I was our turn they took Reese and started to rub his foot, I ran from the room. I ran all the way outside where I stood and cried like a fool. When I turned around this old lady was standing behind me. She followed me out. She was German, so I have no idea what she was saying but she was talking to me in German, and she embraced me. I needed that hug, that comfort on that day more than ever. She had no idea what we were going through. That I was in pain, exhausted and all that. All she knew about me wast that I was the rude person who made sure to jump in front of her. But she had grace with me. She stood up from her chair, even thought it hurt her, (and I did not deserve it!) to come and comfort me.
We know from the New Testament that grace from God is the blessings, love and forgiveness He gives us even though we don't deserve it. Have grace with people today, you never know what they are going through.
A few weeks ago Reese was going for daily blood draws. Being that he was a brand new baby they would make a small cut on his heel and then milk it for blood. This seemed as painful as it sounds. It had gotten to the point where Reese would give a pitiful little cry when anyone would touch his little feet. He had bandaids and little cuts in different stages of healing all over his feet. It was a difficult time for us to go through. (Even now we are not done with the whole Jaundice thing. Reese had blood drawn from his neck last week to check his liver function since he is still a buttery shade of yellow, please be in prayer for that)
When he was 6 days old we were told that he was in the all clear and that he would not need another blood draw, but when we went to the dr. for out post postpartum check up the dr. decided that he was still too yellow and we would need ANOTHER blood draw.
We packed him in the car and as he sat there content and unaware of the coming pain I just felt so lost. I was still in a lot of pain from the c-section, and David and I were both exhausted from our first week with a new born. Seeing that Reese was also a preemie, we were told to not have anyone near him for at least 8 weeks because his immune system was non-existent. This in itself caused a lot of stress. I would stay up at night to make sure that his lungs stayed open, I was terrified they would relapse and he would need to go back to the NICU and back on the CPAPP machine. I also knew that the outcome of this blood draw may mean that Reese would be admitted in the hospital again. That was my biggest fear.
When we got Pathcare a car stopped at the same time as us and an elderly couple got out. I could tell the lady was having trouble walking, she seemed to be in a lot of pain. I am not proud of this, but instead of helping them, or letting them go ahead of us, I raced to the door to be first. This is not at all how I would normally act. After we were checked in we sat down to wait and the old lady was checked in. She told the nurse in broken English that standing up from sitting was excruciating for her so they needed to let her sit in the waiting room and the person would come out to draw her blood.
When I was our turn they took Reese and started to rub his foot, I ran from the room. I ran all the way outside where I stood and cried like a fool. When I turned around this old lady was standing behind me. She followed me out. She was German, so I have no idea what she was saying but she was talking to me in German, and she embraced me. I needed that hug, that comfort on that day more than ever. She had no idea what we were going through. That I was in pain, exhausted and all that. All she knew about me wast that I was the rude person who made sure to jump in front of her. But she had grace with me. She stood up from her chair, even thought it hurt her, (and I did not deserve it!) to come and comfort me.
We know from the New Testament that grace from God is the blessings, love and forgiveness He gives us even though we don't deserve it. Have grace with people today, you never know what they are going through.
2.13.2012
What we are up to.
Forgive me for not updating sooner. Mark pointed out yesterday that we have not posted pictures of any bugs in a while so before I give an update on where we are now I would like to point you to THIS post so you can remember the creepy crawlies we have here in Nam.
Now I will give you a minute to get over the shock...
....
....
Now what we have been up to!
I have been staying home with Reese. I never thought I would be a stay at home mother, but I am finding that being a mother is something I was born to do. I love spending time with Reese. I feel like I am still in some kind of honeymoon phase with him. Everything he does amazes me. I look at him sleeping next to me right now and I am again overwhelmed with the huge blessing that he is. I get out of the house on Sunday for church, on Tuesday for a YWAM family meeting and Wednesday nights we attend a cell group. We try to have a date night on Thursdays too. I also try to keep up with anything I can do from home to help with what goes on outside of the house :)
David spent the first part of January hiring new teachers and staff members for CHS. A big part of that was searching for someone to replace him. He found that person a few weeks ago and he has been spending the last two weeks training her. He also is getting things at school in order so that our transition out of there and into our own ministry will be smooth. So lots of paper work and meetings!
In other news we are busy getting everything together for my visa application so that we can visit the USA in May-July this year. We will have limited time in Colorado and Missouri, but if you would like to visit with us we would love to see you, just let us know! A huge part of our furlough this year will be raising support and spreading the news on our ministry here in Namibia. We will also be looking for potential recruits to join our team out here. Look for more info on here, and in our upcoming newsletter. If you don't get the newsletter then you can just leave a comment on here and we will get that straightened out!
So there you have it, a vintage bug and news on us. We cannot wait to see you all in the summer!
Now I will give you a minute to get over the shock...
....
....
Now what we have been up to!
I have been staying home with Reese. I never thought I would be a stay at home mother, but I am finding that being a mother is something I was born to do. I love spending time with Reese. I feel like I am still in some kind of honeymoon phase with him. Everything he does amazes me. I look at him sleeping next to me right now and I am again overwhelmed with the huge blessing that he is. I get out of the house on Sunday for church, on Tuesday for a YWAM family meeting and Wednesday nights we attend a cell group. We try to have a date night on Thursdays too. I also try to keep up with anything I can do from home to help with what goes on outside of the house :)
David spent the first part of January hiring new teachers and staff members for CHS. A big part of that was searching for someone to replace him. He found that person a few weeks ago and he has been spending the last two weeks training her. He also is getting things at school in order so that our transition out of there and into our own ministry will be smooth. So lots of paper work and meetings!
In other news we are busy getting everything together for my visa application so that we can visit the USA in May-July this year. We will have limited time in Colorado and Missouri, but if you would like to visit with us we would love to see you, just let us know! A huge part of our furlough this year will be raising support and spreading the news on our ministry here in Namibia. We will also be looking for potential recruits to join our team out here. Look for more info on here, and in our upcoming newsletter. If you don't get the newsletter then you can just leave a comment on here and we will get that straightened out!
So there you have it, a vintage bug and news on us. We cannot wait to see you all in the summer!
11.07.2011
Missions and loneliness.
I have to confess the loneliness that comes with living in a foreign country. It could be that now that I am going through something that usually bring gatherings of friends and family, I am feeling this separation more acutely. I woke up feeling sad today. Sad that we are so far away from home. Sad that I left my home country over eight years ago, and with that I have missed out on eight years of life with my parents, my brothers, my childhood friends.
Something I learned very quickly when we decided to become missionaries, is that friends and relationships are, for lack of a better word, "transitional." We were missions majors in college so many of our class mates are scattered around the globe. People come and go. We throw ourselves into making significant relationships with people, knowing that soon we will be saying goodbye. Of course in today's world we can skype and email. It's not like I have to wait for a slow boat to China for news from home. But still in the day to day being without the familiarity of the smell of your mother's hug, or the reassurance of your father's smile, or the comfort of your best friend's acceptance can just make you feel homesick.
When I decided to become a missionary almost ten years ago, I was in the North of Namibia staying with Peter and Ursula De Villiers, they have been working in the North for many many years. I was thinking about everything they had left behind, and I was wondering how they could do it. I was reminded of Matthew 19:2
Something I learned very quickly when we decided to become missionaries, is that friends and relationships are, for lack of a better word, "transitional." We were missions majors in college so many of our class mates are scattered around the globe. People come and go. We throw ourselves into making significant relationships with people, knowing that soon we will be saying goodbye. Of course in today's world we can skype and email. It's not like I have to wait for a slow boat to China for news from home. But still in the day to day being without the familiarity of the smell of your mother's hug, or the reassurance of your father's smile, or the comfort of your best friend's acceptance can just make you feel homesick.
When I decided to become a missionary almost ten years ago, I was in the North of Namibia staying with Peter and Ursula De Villiers, they have been working in the North for many many years. I was thinking about everything they had left behind, and I was wondering how they could do it. I was reminded of Matthew 19:2
"And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life."
So today while I was sitting here feeling sorry for myself, I turned on some music. A song by Chris Rice called "tell me the story again" came on. This song is about the story of Christ. The good news. THE good news. The reason we are here. The reason we left things and people again. It is as though I could feel God reminding me of why we are here. There is a story that needs to be told so people can be saved. Plain and simple. So the long winded point I am getting to is that today I feel encouraged and challenged. God is good, and His plans for us are good!
Today I also want to mention and ask for prayers for some of our class mates. The Walton family is leaving for Ireland today. They have spent much time raising support and preparing and their day to leave for the mission field is finally here. Please pray for safe travels for them, and keep them in your prayers as they are about to embark on their mission in Ireland. You can head over to their blog here to read more about what they have done to prepare, and what they are hoping to do in Ireland!
And just so this post is extra long, take a moment and listen to this Chris Rice song, I pray that you will be comforted and encouraged as you hear the story of Christ again.
11.01.2011
Encouragement.
There seems to be a problem at school. The kids like to tease each other all the time. I think perhaps it used to be fun teasing, but it has gotten to the point where kids are tearing each other down. They are quick to point out flaws and problems. This has left some of the classes in a bad place, especially the older class. It seems the kids have become experts at hurting one another. David decided to focus his discipleship classes on encouragement and love. In the first week he asked the kids what their ideal class would be like, what it would look like to love one another. The kids came up with great answers, but the challenge is to get them to take it to heart and to act out on what they are saying. He challenged them to come up with a few encouraging things to say about their class mates. There were some rules though, they were not allowed to just say "Joe is nice" "Jane is pretty" they had to really think about it. This was last week. He said that is went ok, but that it seemed that some kids really were getting it.
Yesterday he came home from school with a great report. When he he walked into class he asked them how their week had been, and EVERY single student in the class gushed about a single boy who had gone out of his way to encourage everyone in the class. This boy is a known trouble maker, he likes to point out thing other kids are doing wrong to get them in trouble. But the kids could not stop saying how this week he had encouraged each and every one of them. He is helping to turn this class around. David said that many of the other kids now feel like they also want to be like Roberto.
I think it is important for us as adults, and especially as Christians to hold each other up, and to go out of our way to encourage one another. It is such a simple and basic principle, but it is easy to get caught up in our own issues and to forget that there are people around us who need to be encouraged.
Not being at school has been difficult for me, but hearing things like this makes my heart happy. It is amazing to see how one child can make a difference just by pointing out the good rather than the bad. David is doing an amazing job with those kids. Please pray for him, and them. There is only four weeks left in this school year. Next year some of the kids in this class will move on to new schools. And David will not be teaching discipleship next year. This is his last few weeks to really make an impact on these boys and girls. Pray that they will catch a hold of the things that he is teaching them, and that this encouragement bug will bite all of them!
Yesterday he came home from school with a great report. When he he walked into class he asked them how their week had been, and EVERY single student in the class gushed about a single boy who had gone out of his way to encourage everyone in the class. This boy is a known trouble maker, he likes to point out thing other kids are doing wrong to get them in trouble. But the kids could not stop saying how this week he had encouraged each and every one of them. He is helping to turn this class around. David said that many of the other kids now feel like they also want to be like Roberto.
I think it is important for us as adults, and especially as Christians to hold each other up, and to go out of our way to encourage one another. It is such a simple and basic principle, but it is easy to get caught up in our own issues and to forget that there are people around us who need to be encouraged.
Not being at school has been difficult for me, but hearing things like this makes my heart happy. It is amazing to see how one child can make a difference just by pointing out the good rather than the bad. David is doing an amazing job with those kids. Please pray for him, and them. There is only four weeks left in this school year. Next year some of the kids in this class will move on to new schools. And David will not be teaching discipleship next year. This is his last few weeks to really make an impact on these boys and girls. Pray that they will catch a hold of the things that he is teaching them, and that this encouragement bug will bite all of them!
10.20.2011
Acts 2:47
Acts 2:47 is my favorite verse. It is a non-traditional "favorite verse" in a sense. It doesn't talk about being comforted, or being filled with joy. It is not a declaration of love or a promise for believers.
It is a simple statement that changed the course of history, the course of my life.
It is a simple statement that changed the course of history, the course of my life.
"And the Lord was adding to their number
day by day
those who were being saved."
When I first came across that verse while in college I was struck that I was one of those numbers. Something that God started on the day of Pentecost is still going on with me. I was humbled and amazed at seeing how from that day God has been adding people to that number. The number of people being saved.
And it is one of the verses that compelled us to become missionaries. Yes we are here to help a community grow economically, and develop physically. We hope that when we are done here more people in Katutura will be better off financially and socially. But above all we are here to add to that number in Acts. That number of people being saved.
10.17.2011
Paul.
Paul was a missionary.
Paul preached the gospel all over the early world.
Paul was not held back by lack of things.
If Paul did not have a camel, Paul walked.
Paul was not stopped by threat of death,
threat of bodily harm,
threat of imprinsonmetn.
Paul was not stopped by
beatings,
verbal assaults,
threats,
jailings,
presecution,
hunger,
sickness,
exhaustion,
ship wrecks or
snake bites.
I feel challenged today.
Paul preached the gospel all over the early world.
Paul was not held back by lack of things.
If Paul did not have a camel, Paul walked.
Paul was not stopped by threat of death,
threat of bodily harm,
threat of imprinsonmetn.
Paul was not stopped by
beatings,
verbal assaults,
threats,
jailings,
presecution,
hunger,
sickness,
exhaustion,
ship wrecks or
snake bites.
I feel challenged today.
10.01.2011
Bed rest again?! Why yes!
Another pregnancy blog! Sorry, I really am not trying to turn this into a pregnancy blog... On Thursday after a particularly stressful day I had a bleeding scare. At around 11pm there was blood on the tp, so after freaking out, sitting in the bathroom crying and praying we rushed to the ER. Our last experience at the Medi-clinic ER was not too great so we decided to go the the catholic hospital. When we walked in they took one look at me and said, yes this is a quote: "Please, no. Please go somewhere else." We have heard they are the best hospital in town. Clearly we heard wrong.
So back to Medi clinic we went. When we got there they put me in a wheel chair. How horrifyingly embarrassing! Then they wheeled us to Labour and Delivery. The whole time I could feel Reese kicking, I think this helps me to stay calm, as I have to keep my stuff together for him now. They put me in a room with a lady who was sleeping, I felt bad for her. They turned the lights on and started their battery of tests. By this time there was no more blood, so I could breath a sigh of relief, but then they said it was a bloody show which usually shows up right before labour. Hello! This baby still needs to cook for at least 16 weeks!
I tested positive for a UTI too, they said since the bleeding stopped they think the infection caused the blood and that I needed to see my OBGYN. Most deliveries in Namibia are C-sections so you would be hard pressed to find a half-alive OB at midnight anywhere. We were sent home on orders to rest and see our dr asap.
On Friday our dr was fully booked so we had to go sit in the waiting room and hope that someone was miraculously healed and did therefore not come to their appointment.
If you are keeping tract this is the THIRD time seeing the dr in a week. Another horrifying embarrassing thing to me. David does not get why it embarrasses me. He did another ultrasound, our baby boy is measuring two, TWO, weeks ahead! Everything else looked fine and like it should.
He did put me on an antibiotic for the infection. Here is where I want to ask for prayers, I am allergic to almost all antibiotics. So the ones that are safe during pregnancy are not safe for me. So I am on one that is "not ideal" as our dr. put it. This made me bawl. It is terrifying to take a little pill that may hurt my baby. But an untreated infection is worse. I am also on a pretty high dose of magnesium for a few days to keep my uterus relaxed. And I am on lovely bed rest. My bed and I are becoming close friends.
Please pray for us. Please. We need this infection to clear up, and for things to stay on track. Thanks for sticking with us on this journey to our baby boy!!
So back to Medi clinic we went. When we got there they put me in a wheel chair. How horrifyingly embarrassing! Then they wheeled us to Labour and Delivery. The whole time I could feel Reese kicking, I think this helps me to stay calm, as I have to keep my stuff together for him now. They put me in a room with a lady who was sleeping, I felt bad for her. They turned the lights on and started their battery of tests. By this time there was no more blood, so I could breath a sigh of relief, but then they said it was a bloody show which usually shows up right before labour. Hello! This baby still needs to cook for at least 16 weeks!
I tested positive for a UTI too, they said since the bleeding stopped they think the infection caused the blood and that I needed to see my OBGYN. Most deliveries in Namibia are C-sections so you would be hard pressed to find a half-alive OB at midnight anywhere. We were sent home on orders to rest and see our dr asap.
On Friday our dr was fully booked so we had to go sit in the waiting room and hope that someone was miraculously healed and did therefore not come to their appointment.
If you are keeping tract this is the THIRD time seeing the dr in a week. Another horrifying embarrassing thing to me. David does not get why it embarrasses me. He did another ultrasound, our baby boy is measuring two, TWO, weeks ahead! Everything else looked fine and like it should.
He did put me on an antibiotic for the infection. Here is where I want to ask for prayers, I am allergic to almost all antibiotics. So the ones that are safe during pregnancy are not safe for me. So I am on one that is "not ideal" as our dr. put it. This made me bawl. It is terrifying to take a little pill that may hurt my baby. But an untreated infection is worse. I am also on a pretty high dose of magnesium for a few days to keep my uterus relaxed. And I am on lovely bed rest. My bed and I are becoming close friends.
Please pray for us. Please. We need this infection to clear up, and for things to stay on track. Thanks for sticking with us on this journey to our baby boy!!
9.24.2011
Ricardo in America!
One of our students, Ricardo, has left Namibia for the USA. He has needed an eye surgery for the last few years now. He needs a partial eye transplant, as his left eye is slowly losing sight. An American donor had said that he would pay for the surgery to be done in Namibia, but it has taken almost two years of going in circles trying to find a dr. who could do the surgery. Finally it was decided that it would be easier to just take him to America and have it done there. After the surgery he will be staying with the Miller family in Boston, they visited CHS earlier this year, and he will be going to school with their boys.
We had a small farewell party for him at the YWAM base with the rest of his class. The kids seemed happy and excited for him, but also sad. Especially Chris seemed like he did not know how to deal with the fact that his best friend was leaving. Pray for him as he goes on this journey, and for the Miller family, and also for the kids that have been left behind.
9.14.2011
Cross Cultural Guesstures :)
Today David played Guesstures in his Discipleship class. It was pretty funny, but also very interesting. It is amazing to see how the kids act out the words on the cards. At first I thought is was going to be a disaster when I saw how the kids were acting out the words. It seemed like "physical gibberish" to me, but the kids were getting it! It was interesting to see the Namibian culture come through so strong on such a simple game. To my eyes "cat" looked like a dying chicken, "eating" looked like rapid face punching, "monkey" looked like a chicken dance, but "pound" was one of my favorites. The kid acting out "pound" was acting like he was pounding maize with a wooden maize pounder Of course here pound does not mean weight but making dinner. I would have failed if I was trying to mime pound.
David and I did each take a turn. It was not pretty. I mimed "mail box" but the kids stared at me with confused faces. Afterwards I realized it is because they don't have mail service here, only PO boxes. I bet most of our kids have never even seen a mail box, or received a letter. And I know that they have never sent a letter. It seemed to take the kids much longer to guess words we were miming, if at all.
I learned today how important it is to understand a culture to properly communicate a message. I was not able to communicate mailbox as it is not part of the kids lives. In the same way we are here to communicate the love of a heavenly Father to people who have mostly not even known they fathers, and most of them who have know fathers know them as violent drunks.
9.12.2011
First day of the last term.
Today has been full! We got up early this morning to meet with Brian and Pam Kinghorn, the directors of YWAM Namibia, to discuss our future in Namibia. I know I keep giving hints as to what that will be, but I don't want to announce anything before we know for sure, so sorry but soon!
We then came over to the school where I have spent the day doing little things that come up on the first day of school, including first aid :) David has been teaching P.E non stop today. From 10 until 2:30 he has back to back P.E classes. I do not envy him! It is so hot outside, and as it is the first day of school the kids have been quite, um, energetic.
We will have a staff meeting at the end of the school day, that usually lasts until 4 or 5pm and then we have to make a mad dash to the ministry of education to pick up some paper work. (Apparently all our teachers have to take a state wide English test tomorrow.) And yes, we were only told this today, it is a 3 hour exam, so now we are scrambling to try and find something to do with a 100 kids while their teachers are being tested. All and all a normal day around the school.
Reese has been kicking a lot today, I think he likes me being a little more active. Also a lady in the community when seeing my baby bump jumped up and down, giggled, and then ran over and kissed my belly. She is known to have a drinking problem, but I think she was quite sober today. It has been fun to see how people react to the news of us having a baby. I am already praying for God to use Reese as a way to open doors in the community and in the hearts of the people here.
I left my camera at home today, oops, so no pictures, but at least you have some idea of what we have done today.
As always we need and appreciate your constant prayers!
We then came over to the school where I have spent the day doing little things that come up on the first day of school, including first aid :) David has been teaching P.E non stop today. From 10 until 2:30 he has back to back P.E classes. I do not envy him! It is so hot outside, and as it is the first day of school the kids have been quite, um, energetic.
We will have a staff meeting at the end of the school day, that usually lasts until 4 or 5pm and then we have to make a mad dash to the ministry of education to pick up some paper work. (Apparently all our teachers have to take a state wide English test tomorrow.) And yes, we were only told this today, it is a 3 hour exam, so now we are scrambling to try and find something to do with a 100 kids while their teachers are being tested. All and all a normal day around the school.
Reese has been kicking a lot today, I think he likes me being a little more active. Also a lady in the community when seeing my baby bump jumped up and down, giggled, and then ran over and kissed my belly. She is known to have a drinking problem, but I think she was quite sober today. It has been fun to see how people react to the news of us having a baby. I am already praying for God to use Reese as a way to open doors in the community and in the hearts of the people here.
I left my camera at home today, oops, so no pictures, but at least you have some idea of what we have done today.
As always we need and appreciate your constant prayers!
7.08.2011
Like a lump of yeast.
The kingdom of God is like a lump of yeast. The yeast permeates all the dough, not just a small part of it. The entire lump of dough is changed and affected. That is what the kingdom of God is like. When we come to a place to teach about the kingdom of God we have to remember this verse in Luke 13:18-21. Tonight we were talking about this principle.
When bringing the kingdom of God to a place, like we are trying to do with CHS, we have to do it in such a way that the community is affected and changed as a whole. This means spiritually, physically, economically, socially and so on.
It was good to remember that tonight, that we are here to hopefully make a real difference, not just to convert people and then leave them in the poverty and sickness that they find themselves in.
Remember, the kingdom of God is like a lump of yeast, it permeates the whole batch of dough!
When bringing the kingdom of God to a place, like we are trying to do with CHS, we have to do it in such a way that the community is affected and changed as a whole. This means spiritually, physically, economically, socially and so on.
It was good to remember that tonight, that we are here to hopefully make a real difference, not just to convert people and then leave them in the poverty and sickness that they find themselves in.
Remember, the kingdom of God is like a lump of yeast, it permeates the whole batch of dough!
7.05.2011
What David did today.
Since I am home on bed rest, I can live vicariously through David, and that way you can still get updates on what is happening out there. Today David worked with a short term team to move Martha's kaya. A kaya is a tin structure, like a shack I guess. Martha has finally saved up the money and with the help of the Hunters is building herself a brick house! They had to move her shack back out of the way so the house can be built. She will still stay in the shack while her home is being built, so David said they had to tear it down carefully, and tomorrow they will be rebuilding it.
I think David really enjoyed himself today, with the school there is a lot of office work, and sitting inside. David was made to be outside, so he really put his heart into it. He kept sending me updates all day saying how much he was enjoying what he was doing. Pray that they get it done quickly and that the new structure they build will be strong enough to stand until her brick home is finished.
Thanks to everyone for your congratulations and messages about our pregnancy. We can feel your love and prayers surround us. At first going public with our infertility struggles was difficult, but I am happy I did as now most people know what an amazing miracle it is for us to be having a child, and it was reflected in the messages that we received. So again, thank you everyone!
While you are here go on over to the little poll on the right hand side ---------------> and vote on whether you think baby Echols is a boy or a girl!
I think David really enjoyed himself today, with the school there is a lot of office work, and sitting inside. David was made to be outside, so he really put his heart into it. He kept sending me updates all day saying how much he was enjoying what he was doing. Pray that they get it done quickly and that the new structure they build will be strong enough to stand until her brick home is finished.
Thanks to everyone for your congratulations and messages about our pregnancy. We can feel your love and prayers surround us. At first going public with our infertility struggles was difficult, but I am happy I did as now most people know what an amazing miracle it is for us to be having a child, and it was reflected in the messages that we received. So again, thank you everyone!
While you are here go on over to the little poll on the right hand side ---------------> and vote on whether you think baby Echols is a boy or a girl!
6.16.2011
Day of the African child.
Has it really been ten days since my last update? Yikes!
Today is a public holiday, the day of the African child. So we are having some African children over, we are planning on playing games and just spending some time visiting with them. The boys that are coming over are in the seventh grade, that means that this is their last year at CHS. Only six months left of seeing them almost every day, this is an important time for the seventh graders!! One of the boys coming over has also expressed that he would like to become a Christian, so it is a great opportunity to disciple him a little more!
I also had my birthday this past weekend, it was a lovely day. I spent the morning shopping with Marye and later in the afternoon some people cam over for cake. It was very low key, I am still trying to get over the flu. But it was a fun day. Adam had all the kids in grade 2 make some birthday cards for me, it was great! I will post some pictures of my favorites :)
Today is a public holiday, the day of the African child. So we are having some African children over, we are planning on playing games and just spending some time visiting with them. The boys that are coming over are in the seventh grade, that means that this is their last year at CHS. Only six months left of seeing them almost every day, this is an important time for the seventh graders!! One of the boys coming over has also expressed that he would like to become a Christian, so it is a great opportunity to disciple him a little more!
I also had my birthday this past weekend, it was a lovely day. I spent the morning shopping with Marye and later in the afternoon some people cam over for cake. It was very low key, I am still trying to get over the flu. But it was a fun day. Adam had all the kids in grade 2 make some birthday cards for me, it was great! I will post some pictures of my favorites :)
Andila's card has an interesting "bite out" design. I think he used scissors, but he could also have just taken a bite out of it. The kids love to bite things, in fact Donevan's desk has bite marks all over it. More interesting than that is the note that Andila wrote on the inside. We have an issue with Andila just looking around the room and just writing down whatever word he sees or that pops into his head. So here is his birthday message to me:
"From Andila: HAPPY BINTDAY Mrs. Echols. Grabe2 miss you Mrs. Echols feel back to Grabe 2 come will kind to day Mrs. Echols will just in to Love is Mrs. Echols and Jesus love you Mrs Echols Andila love you Mrs. Echols Saturday your happy bintday Mrs. Echol and nams of Grabe 2 classa nams and Andila and Jesus and God.
From Andila."
I had to include Ladiwa's beautiful cupcake card.
This card is from Otniel, a quirky smart little boy who really lives on his own little planet! His card warmed my heart, he talked about a day when we gave him a ride home, and he got to share his sister's ice cream cone.
" I miss you and happy Birthday mirs Echols do you have a bad time or good time Thank you for your time t6hat you have ben bot me in your car and it was a good time. That Rosa came back to kids camp and eat ice cream in the car. It was vare good and you just make me happy i love you. Thank you."
Revival's card had a simple message: "Is from Revival." Quick and to the point, and some brightly colored art work. Perfect for a birthday card, or should I say bintday card.
This card made me laugh and laugh and laugh. Shaun is a little boy who likes to day dream in class, sometimes it seems like he is actually asleep. There are times when he surprises me with facts that I gave to the class a while back, he really seems to like Science and Geography. Anyway this card is hilarious, as all is says is: "Shaun." I think he spent most of his card making time drawing lines for a long message, and then he ran out of time. Too funny.
Please keep the kids in your thoughts and prayers, it is winter now and the mornings are freezing cold! We are doing well at CHS, forgive me for slacking in updates! :)
6.06.2011
Quick update..
In case you haven't noticed, it is June, as in half of this year is gone! We are barreling through 2011, and racing towards 2012. It is true that the older one gets the quicker time goes by. I turn 28 in a few days, I think that is probably why I am surprised that it is already June again. There is not much to update on right now. I have been sick with a nasty bout of the flu. I have stayed home from school for 5 days now, and will stay home tomorrow. Hopefully I can kick this soon! Samantha, the Wright's daughter is also sick with flu right now, pray that she gets better soon too.
At school it has been interesting, I have been off so Adam and other teaches have graciously filled my spot. As you know Jan was denied a work permit, and another teacher decided to take a post in Zimbabwe. If you are keeping score then you know we are hurting for staff right now. I don't even know what the kids are thinking! David has been coming home from school exhausted, he has a lot of things to deal with as the school administrator.
This past weekend we were privileged to be able to "attend" and speak at three services at Pike's Peak Christian Church. Mark who visited us a while back set it all up, we Skyped straight into the services! On Saturday night we got up at 2am, we think everything we said was coherent :)
It was a privilege. It is always amazing to see people who are invested in what we are doing here. We are so far away it would be easy to forget about us, but with PPCC we have never felt like that.
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as our team gets over the flu of 2011 and as the school tries to find the right staff to fill the school's need.
At school it has been interesting, I have been off so Adam and other teaches have graciously filled my spot. As you know Jan was denied a work permit, and another teacher decided to take a post in Zimbabwe. If you are keeping score then you know we are hurting for staff right now. I don't even know what the kids are thinking! David has been coming home from school exhausted, he has a lot of things to deal with as the school administrator.
This past weekend we were privileged to be able to "attend" and speak at three services at Pike's Peak Christian Church. Mark who visited us a while back set it all up, we Skyped straight into the services! On Saturday night we got up at 2am, we think everything we said was coherent :)
It was a privilege. It is always amazing to see people who are invested in what we are doing here. We are so far away it would be easy to forget about us, but with PPCC we have never felt like that.
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as our team gets over the flu of 2011 and as the school tries to find the right staff to fill the school's need.
5.24.2011
Pray.
Yesterday Jan's work permit was rejected. He has seven days to get out of Namibia. This prayer request is for a new teacher to fill his spot. It would be best if it were a national teacher. Home affairs is beginning to push the school to hire more Namibians. So we are SCRAMBLING to try and cover our bases now. We only just got all of Ray's classes covered. The money is there right now to hire new teachers, we just need to find them!
Please be in prayer for this, and for the students too, this is really hard on them too.
Please be in prayer for this, and for the students too, this is really hard on them too.
5.19.2011
5.17.2011
Back to school!
The new term is here! This morning all the staff, teachers, and students arrived. Some bright eyed, some bleary eyed. David and I have worked at CHS for one year now, it has flown by!
The kids were absolutely excited to be back at school, and we were quite happy to see them all again. It is amazing how fast they are growing up! This morning was spent hugging and laughing and talking about the past break.
Surprisingly it was quite cold this morning too, I think the rain has finally passed and now winter is moving in. Just last week it was still hot, but today I had to break out my winter coat.
I should be blogging regularly again now that we are back on a schedule.
Thanks for the prayers, Asser is out of the hospital and doing great!
Lots of love.
The Echols
The kids were absolutely excited to be back at school, and we were quite happy to see them all again. It is amazing how fast they are growing up! This morning was spent hugging and laughing and talking about the past break.
Surprisingly it was quite cold this morning too, I think the rain has finally passed and now winter is moving in. Just last week it was still hot, but today I had to break out my winter coat.
I should be blogging regularly again now that we are back on a schedule.
Thanks for the prayers, Asser is out of the hospital and doing great!
Lots of love.
The Echols
5.10.2011
We are still here!
The blog has been quiet because we have been too! We have been spending time reading and relaxing. We also went on a camping trip this weekend. All in all it has been a great and much needed break.
We do have some prayer requests, please pray for Asser, the pastor in the north, he is in the hospital right now with severe diarrhea. It is pretty scary! He lives up in the village with his wife and two children. Pray that he gets better very soon!
Secondly, David and I will be beginning a new fund raising campaign soon please pray that we can get back up to our minimum needed budget. Please also pray for our supporters, some of them have fallen on hard times and have therefore had to stop supporting us.
And finally be in prayer for our future here in Namibia. We have reached out one year mark with Community Hope School and we will be dropping to part time soon so that we can focus on the future. We are looking into starting a Bible study in the city with the possibility of a church plant, but we are also looking further, to the North of Namibia. We hope to be able to do some kind of ministry there if not move there after our first furlough. So as you can see we have a lot to think about and pray about!
We hope you all are having a great week!
We do have some prayer requests, please pray for Asser, the pastor in the north, he is in the hospital right now with severe diarrhea. It is pretty scary! He lives up in the village with his wife and two children. Pray that he gets better very soon!
Secondly, David and I will be beginning a new fund raising campaign soon please pray that we can get back up to our minimum needed budget. Please also pray for our supporters, some of them have fallen on hard times and have therefore had to stop supporting us.
And finally be in prayer for our future here in Namibia. We have reached out one year mark with Community Hope School and we will be dropping to part time soon so that we can focus on the future. We are looking into starting a Bible study in the city with the possibility of a church plant, but we are also looking further, to the North of Namibia. We hope to be able to do some kind of ministry there if not move there after our first furlough. So as you can see we have a lot to think about and pray about!
We hope you all are having a great week!
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