Arandis, Namibia: 2008-02-17

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Just Like Family

24 February 2:00 AM

Well, the technical difficulties appear to have been somewhat minimized and will hopefully not interfere with future postings for the rest of our time here. Despite the late hour, I thought I might attempt to summarize the events here thus far.

Today (yesterday - Saturday) was our first full day here in Arandis and so much has gone on. Last night I got to visit with three of the (now six in all) foster homes and Pastor Tresford Banda's family. Though I really shouldn't be surprised, I could not believe how much the children have grown over the last year. Greeted with big hugs from all of them, as well as from the "mommies", it truly felt welcoming to be back in this place. We didn't stay long at each home and found ourselves back at Nan's house around 10PM. Having gotten the Internet connection up and running, I ended up catching up on some emails and putting in a few hours of my regular work.

Saturday morning found me up at my usual early hour as my body's clock really hasn't seemed to have been affected by the travel. The older children (pre-teen and teenagers) were attending a workshop on "Worth Waiting" and though we could have visited with the younger children we decided to hang around Nan's house. After performing various maintenance and technical duties, we did get to visit with another of the foster families. We also spent some time chatting with Brenda, of Hope's Promise, about what has been happening and what the future holds for this little town.

Among the highlights of today was our visit with one of the new foster homes within the Hope's Promise family. It consists of Willem and Anna Charles, a grandmother and grandfather who are raising four of their own grandchildren and Geno - a Hope's Promise child. Geno used to live in Rehoboth but was brought here to Arandis towards the end of last year. It was incredible to be able to see the smile on their faces as we entered their home and introduced ourselves. We spent the better part of an hour chatting with Willem and Anna and getting to know the children. I am hoping to head back over there some time this week to help with homework with two of the older children. We will also be able to interact with the younger children when assisting at the Talitha Kumi primary school this coming week. One of our missions this weeks is to get new photos of the children and families. The arrangement of having Mike, Jackie and I worked out great as Mike was able to catch some great candids of the children as we engaged them in conversation.

We eventually found ourselves back at Nan's and preparing for dinner. During and after dinner we enjoyed more conversations with Nan Parker, our host and the one who is in charge of the curriculum for the Talitha Kumi school. She has been and continues to be involved with many short-term missions and we spent some time discussing how these missions can be detrimental and result in more harm than good. The conversation once again seemed to be centered the willingness to come here with no agenda other than to serve.

After the dinner conversation, we headed on down towards Quail Street, the location of three of the foster homes. Mike and Jackie stopped along the way to get some photographs of the soon-to-be-setting sun across the desert. I continued on down to Julianna and Richard's home, where Chandre, Ishmael, Smithley, Nadine, Jamie Lee and Richard Dean live. As many of you are well aware, Chandre is one of the two children that have a special place in my heart. My time there was not that long as Richard's brother and family had come to pay them a visit. This gave me a chance to go next door and spend some time with Elaine. Elaine lives with Kitty, her Ouma (grandmother). Like Chandre, Elaine is likely one of the two important reasons I keep coming back to Arandis. I was able to spend over an hour with her, talking about school and friends and what her she thought she might want to be later on in life. I am hoping to head on over there later today (Sunday) to help out with her homework as well.

After leaving Elaine's I new where Mike and Jackie would likely be and headed on over to Pastor Tresford's house. Sure enough, they were outside talking with Pearl, Tresford and Fabiola's oldest daughter. Pearl is 16 but has the maturity of someone in their later teens and quite possibly early twenties. Pearl was inspired by the 2005 dance team that came down and has since formed her own dance group; rehearsing two days a week. The group has grown considerably and Elaine, as well as a few other non-Hope's Promise girls have become group leaders and are responsible for some of the choreography for the younger dancers.

I am looking forward to what today will bring...

posted by Don @ 6:57 PM 3 comments

Friday, February 22, 2008

Plans? What plans?

22 February 2008

Just a quick update from the Internet cafe in Swakopmund. We arrived in Arandis this afternoon and came in to Swakopmund to help get the cell phone to use for the Internet connection. Got that done, but their Internet system is down. Currently at an Internet cafe that, I guess, doesn't use that system. Anyway, hope to get service back later today.

posted by Don @ 9:16 AM 0 comments

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Thursday 21 February 2008

We arrived in Namibia on schedule, lesss one of Jackie's suitcases. After filling out the necessary paperwork, we made it out to the airport greeting area and found Mike Knight sitting there patiently, fully knowing that our exit from the customs area well beyond all the others on our flight meant a lost piece of luggage. As far as the suitcase, we sort of knew in Johannesburg that she was missing a suitcase when we did not see it being loaded with all of the others for our flight from Joburg to Windhoek.

After riding back to Dieters, we sat with Mike till midnight or so talking about how life has been here for him, what our plans might be in the upcoming days. We had good conversations about what it means to come here, not as a vacation, but rather, as Mike put it - to serve. There is so much that needs to be done.

It's coming up on 7AM here. We are at the home of Dieter and Joans Morsbach. This place is where many mission teams call home base when coming to help in Okahandja. Rather than sleeping in one of the group quarters they have in the various buildings on their property, they have graciously opened their home to us.

Today's plans appear to be such that we will first head on over to the SPAR to get some groceries for today. Then we will attempt to get Mike and I set up with Internet access. Mike has an 11 o'clock small group bible study that he is leading for about 3-4 people of Okahandja. It takes place, I believe, in town, outside and under some trees next to a woodcarver's market. It is something the he is helping out with during his time here. Later today, we hope to spend some time at the ARK, a children's home, and help out with the children's study time. Later tonight, Jackie and I will be treating Mike, Dieter, Joan and their daughter Thelma to dinner at one of their favorite restaurants in Windhoek.

I am hoping to also get in touch with Sylvia Buekes this morning. Last time we spoke, she was willing to drive up from Rehoboth today, to meet up with us and pick up some of the supplies we have brought down, clothes, medicine, and other things for the upcoming International Women's Day celebration on March 8th.

---------------

3PM

Currently at an Internet cafe checking email as we have yet to get activiation of the other Internet system we will be using here, with the cell phone. We are on our way to the Ark to spend some time helping the children there with their studies.

All is well, hope to post more soon.

posted by Don @ 7:53 AM 3 comments

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

In Johannesburg, South Africa

Wednesday 20-Feb-2008

Less than one hour to go before we land in Johannesburg. The previous 14 1/2 hours of his flight were pleasant. Luckily, the plane was not full and upon checking in, in Washington, the agent suggested that instead of having seats side-by-side (window and aisle) she suggested we take two aisle rows in the middle and have two extra seats between us. And so we did. There is something to be said for additional room to relax while on such a long flight. The good news is that I likely got insufficient sleep the days prior to leaving, that I did catch a couple of naps on the plane. Jackie also was able to get some sleep as well.

We do not have a significant layover in Johannesburg, and our final flight to Windhoek will have us arriving there around 7:30 PM. We are anxious to get out of airport and airline mode. We will likely be staying in Okahandja, with Dieter and Joan Morsbach and Mike Knight tonight and Thursday night. I'm thinking that Thursday will include a trip back into Windhoek, if necessary, to get the cell phones operating to be used as modems. It would also be nice to be able to take Deiter, Joan and Mike out to dinner (yes, at Joe's) and maybe even catch some time with Toivo Thomas. Toivo is 17 years old and attending secondary school (high school) in Windhoek and is a great example of how Hope's Promise has been able to help a child in need. Toivo has aspirations of becoming a doctor and without the help of Hope's Promise, and their sponsors, his dream would not have been possible.

I am hoping that I will be able to get my Internet capabilities up and running as soon as possible. For those of you interested in reading Jackie's point of view, be sure to visit her blog at

http://www.dubedoobydoo.blogspot.com/.

Thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers as we continue our journey.

posted by Don @ 9:24 AM 3 comments

About Me

Name:Don (& Chandre)
Home:Nashua, NH (Arandis, Namibia)