Arandis, Namibia

Thank You Again for All Who Donated

2010-04-11T10:37:00.002-04:00

To those of you who were able to donate to the ministry before or while I was there - on the behalf of the ministry and the children you helped - THANK YOU!

Your donations helped:

purchase sixteen sweaters for the middle school children who had none, for this upcoming winter season.

purchase shoes for two children who had outgrown the ones they had, but were still wearing them because they had nothing else.

make a child smile simply by getting a "brand new" shirt and not a hand-me-down.

with school tuition for one particularly bright 19-year old who aspires to be a doctor and is hoping to get into a college here in the U.S.

purchase school supplies for the Talitha-Kumi Christian Academy

Your generosity has gone a long way; more than you will ever imagine.

Yes, we did make it home.

2010-04-05T19:45:00.004-04:00

We arrived back on U.S. soil on Saturday afternoon and arrived home somewhere between 2 and 3. All flights were great, we gathered all our luggage and had no incidences with Customs. Yes, all is good.

It was great to see many family members the following day, for Easter. I must admit, though, that the amount of food available to me was sort of not what I had been used to over the last four weeks. And, its abundance was noticeably apparent to me. Yes, we are truly blessed here.

My body, as expected, has yet to sync back up with the time here in the U.S. I've been venturing off to bed anytime between 6:30 and 7:30 PM and waking up around 1 AM, only to force myself back to sleep for at least another hour. Currently we are nearing 8 PM and I am hoping to last until about 9 PM.

So with trip #5 being over and done with, it was my best trip ever and I would gladly do it all over again.

Your prayers, however, are still needed in order to find a permanent mommie or couple to be the permanent mommie to Angela, Riaan, Ismael, Smithley, Queen and Memory. I hope to call them this week to see how they are doing and will keep you posted.

Until Next Time

2010-04-01T19:26:00.002-04:00

Back in 2006, when leaving Arandis for the first time, not truly knowing if I would ever be back was truly hard for me to do. I mean, let's be real about this, how many times in one's life does one think they will visit Africa, let alone return? Yet here it is, my fifth trip now coming to an end. With every trip that I have returned, leaving seems to have been easier, or at least not as hard as the first time. I guess that's a good thing. Or maybe a God thing?

But leaving is not without its paining.

Paining is what people here seem to use in place of hurts, or hurting. Many times we heard the children say, my head is paining, my stomach is paining. Yes, leaving here is paining. Leaving behind someone you are trying to help is not easy to do. There are a couple of children here that I truly feel bad about leaving; that I cannot be here to continue to support them on a daily basis because that is what is needed. Yes, one of the children is Chandre. Please keep her and many of the older children in your prayers as they cope with the pressures of coming into their teenage years. Issues of acceptance with oneself, with peers, sexual pressures, and alchohol are no different here than at home, with one exception; I believe the children here have a higher chance of falling to these temptations and urges simply because of the culture here.

Many people may ask what I miss most when I am here for such a long time. My only answer is Karen, the girls, other family and friends. There is absolutely nothing else that I miss from my life / lifestyle in the U.S. Okay, well maybe Frankie [our dog]... but I guess I would be chastised if I did not include him as part of the family. [Our concept of pets, and particularly the money we spend on them, really blows the minds of Africans here. And rightly so. But that's another discussion for another day.]

I know that for one or two weeks, my body's clock will be messed up beyond what you can imagine. Yet, what bewilders me is that whenever I come here, I am not messed up at all. I can arrive one day and feel normal the following morning.

I know that after having lived a meager lifestyle while here, I will question why I have all that I have, that I really don't need, back home.

I know that I will likely gain back the 10+ pounds I have lost while being here; which is, in some respects, testimony to all of the 'extras' I am blessed with back home.

I know that after having been here for a month, and not done the things I might normally do, why I end up getting drawn back into life as it is in the U.S.

I know that even after having completed this, my fifth trip, that there will be a sixth trip. When? Who knows. But I know there is a promise that it will happen.

So here is it, well after 1AM, Friday. No longer is it the night before, but it is now the day we leave. It is the start of a a 4-day weekend. Music and voices can be heard throughout the town; most likely originating from one of the shabeens [bars] here in town. I think I can expect this for at least another couple of hours; or at least it was not until after 3 AM that the music and voices subsided last night.

Thanks for following along and while I would like to promise or suggest there will be more posts, I would hate to disappoint [again] and not have any. So, there will be no such promises.

Until next time, goodnight from Namibia.

The last night before the last day

2010-03-31T16:57:00.006-04:00

Well, the children are back at their home with their new temporary auntie. Candice is her name and she is 30 years old. She appears to have a heart for children and, as she takes on this awesome responsibility on her own, please keep her and Angela, Riaan, Ismael, Smithley, Queen and Memory, in your prayers during this [yet another] transition period.

Already it seems different knowing they are not here. As I begin to write this entry, it is well before their bedtime, yet it is quiet here. Normally at this time we are trying to settle them down for bed after having them bathe. It would have been their reading time now with lights out by 8PM.

But there's nothing. No sounds except for any activity outside.

Now, after being here for 26 days, try as I might, it's seems hard to imagine how this trip would have been WITHOUT having had the children to care for. No doubt I would have spent more time in the school, helping with the computer lab, teaching keyboarding perhaps. Maybe the two websites I had planned on completing, one new and one redesign, would actually have been completed.

It would have been different.

Jackie was telling me of the conversation she had with our next door neighbor, who is also a teacher at Talitha Kumi Christian Academy, where five of the children attend school. She has a heart for these children and often tears up when talking about them. However, yesterday, she said to Jackie that not only did we help the children, but we also were an inspiration to her - just by watching us simply get off a plane from America and take on the responsibility of six children and do all of the things we did - without having any prior knowledge of these plans.

One of the unexpected ripples.

So, what's on tap for tomorrow, our last day? We will most likely take advantage of our reduced responsibilities and begin our family visits to say our goodbyes. We still need to be available to make have the children for lunch since Candice will be heading in to Swakopmund with the other mommies to do their monthly grocery shopping. The children arrive home from school around 1:30 and these shopping trips typically take a bit longer. Yes, 7-8 mommies will pack into a mini van with a small trailer in tow to go shopping for the month. I've been on one of those shopping days during another visit here and it is interesting to see how it is all coordinated as not everyone shops at the same place.

I guess packing is also on tap, though I believe I will be able to condense two suitcases of 50 pounds each, one computer bag and one [20+ pound backpack] into one suitcase and a backpack that is more reasonable [much less than 20 pounds] in weight. Going home is always so much 'lighter' not having all of the supplies that we bring down. There will be a first, however, on this return trip for I will be bringing back a laptop that is not working, to see if I can get it fixed and then transported back by others who will be visiting later on this summer.

I think we will also get some time to talk with Brenda about how these past four weeks have gone and how we can continue to help out at the ministry here and prepare for our return trip. What could be next? How can being foster mom and dad to 6 children be topped? Well, some of the families here have 8-9 children and maybe one of those mommies needs some time off.

Wouldn't that be nice...

The last Sunday

2010-03-28T02:52:00.004-04:00

So here we are, in the morning of our last Sunday. Waiting here to head on over to the 10 AM Mass with Auntie Kassie and Auntie Jeanette. It's Palm Sunday and I am anxious to see just how it is celebrated here in Arandis; albeit in the Damara and Afrikaans languages.

Today we also need to make sure we finish getting photographs of the children and families for the website and deliver the tubs of Marshmallow Fluff that I brought down for them. If there is one thing that is consistent about this trip, as all of the others, it is the feeling I get towards the end; the feeling of so much to do and so little time.

Yesterday we had a great time at Moon City. It is sort of a private park where you can go and have a braai (cookout) and swim in a large brackish-water pool. The children had a wonderful time, as did the adults. A chance to simply unwind, laugh, talk and watch the children be children.

We topped the day off by making popcorn for the kids and heading to the edge of the desert and watching the sun set; something I had not yet done despite having been here 3 weeks.

I've begun to try to process how this trip has been for me. A trip in which the only thing I feel I planned or had a hand in was physically purchasing the plane tickets.

But the countdown has begun.

On Friday, April 2nd, as I am lifted off Namibian soil, how will I feel? How will I perceive this 5th trip here? As mission accomplished? But whose mission? Certainly not mine for I never could have planned this mission.

But is it ever really completed? When it comes to caring for children, how can it be? No, it's not mission complete, but chapter complete.

So what about this chapter? Only time will tell. No doubt it will be long after I have left, not just Namibia, but maybe this world, that the ripples I may have had a hand in creating will reach their outermost edges.

I can only hope that they've created other ripples... along the way.

Happy Birthday Toivo

2010-03-23T16:36:00.002-04:00

Toivo is here in Arandis visiting. He is a shining example of what some of the ministry children can do as the result of the backing they get from ministry sponsors. He is currently in his last year at Windhoek International and hopes to continue on to college and become a surgeon.

Starving for attention and understanding... in a controlling sort of way.

2010-03-21T16:07:00.003-04:00

For an hour and a half, or so, while five of the six were watching a movie, one of the six had been sent to her room before the movie started. Unhappy that she was sent to her room for displaying a 'bit of attitude' and not doing what she had been asked to do, she simply wailed and cried for at least half that time. During the movie I caught her near the edge of her open door, trying to catch a glimpse of the movie. Instructing her to get back on her bed, more crying and wailing ensued, as I heard more of, "I want to go home."

Once the movie was finished she was allowed out of her room as long as she stopped crying. All seemed better as she began to work on a puzzle with the others and we all had some cake and ice cream. I showed her how I make a puzzle, one piece at a time and I only pick up the piece I am looking for. And, with each 'challenge piece' I found for her, she would look up and smile.

Earlier tonight, as I was sitting on the sofa listening to some music I had put on for all of us to listen to, watching the other five play games or read, my 9-year old wailer of a few hours ago was sitting next to me, leaning on me, hugging me. We chatted quietly for close to an hour. She listened as I talked about how hard it was to be a parent, how hard it was to be a kid, how lying wasn't nice, how being disrespectful wasn't nice. I tried to explain that yes, I may have raised my voice today but it did not mean I didn't love her. We talked about choices she can make and it was her choice to not do what she was asked and the result was being sent to her room. She asked why Aunt Jackie didn't trust her. I asked if the had given Aunt Jackie any reason NOT to trust her by lying or being disrespectful. She listened as I told my condensed story of the boy who cried wolf.

She asked questions like why do I love children, why did I come to Namibia, and [those who know me best will love this one...] why did I have to do work all the time when I was here. [And believe me, relatively speaking... I'm not]. I told her I come here to help out where I can, that I never know what God is going to ask me to do when I get here. And I said, who knows, maybe I was suppose to come here because He wanted me to spend some time with you, to help you be a better person. Maybe He knew you would need someone to talk with you tonight, someone you would listen to. That maybe the reason He wanted me to come to Namibia this time was so that we could do exactly what we are doing now.

In the end, we made a pinky deal that she would simply think about all I had said tonight, all that we had talked about, remembering all that had happened today; and that she would maybe not all of a sudden be better, because we both knew how hard that would be to do, but our deal was that... she would simply try hard to be better each day.

A Good Day

2010-03-20T16:08:00.012-04:00

Spent part of this morning cleaning the house and doing chores with the children. What is interesting is that it's been rare [to the point that I cannot even pick out an instance] to hear any complaints from them about helping out around here. Whether it's doing the dishes, sweeping, cleaning the bathrooms, washing the floors, dusting, picking up the yard, everyone seems to understand that it is part of what they need to do.

I'm not remembering that I was so cooperative when my sister Pat and I had dish duties when we lived on Tampa Street in Nashua or on those Saturday mornings we used to spend washing the baseboards when we lived on Green Street in Somersworth years ago. Not sure why those two instances stand out so much other than it must have been traumatic for me! And most likely for Pat when I think I happened to drop a big glass bowl on her foot one time.

After we cleaned, the children were rewarded with a some treats they might not have been used to at their previous home, a couple of marshmallows and a movie.

Around noontime, Jackie returned from her ladies morning out to the olive grove with four women who I've decided to call the Arandis Golden Girls. All Americans, two of which are here sort of permanently and two others who graciously spend months here every year, doing what they can to help out the ministry.

Soon, however, I found myself alone as Jackie and Brenda took the six children staying here, Brenda's five children and Elizabeth [who lives with Nan], out on an adventure in the Namib Desert. I chose to stay behind to try and catch up with some of the other children and families that I have yet to really spend time with.

My first stop was to Quail Street, where Chandre lives. Again, for those of you who may not know Chandre, she was one of the first children here in Arandis to capture my heart back in 2006. Back then she was only 9 years old. She will be turning 13 this year and is in seventh grade. Next year she goes on to high school. [Yes, here 8th grade is part of their secondary school.]

I was hoping to get some time in talking with her about all that has gone on these last 6-months or so. She is one of three foster children who needed a new foster family when the one she had been living with decided to leave Arandis and the ministry. Certainly something that was hard for the three who then had to be placed with new families. She is also getting to be of the age when boys start taking more notice, which really bothers me, given the culture here.

So I asked if she wanted to go for a walk and chat but she said she was not really in the mood to go for a walk, but tomorrow she had been planning on coming up to the house to visit. So we'll see... She knows what I want to talk about; how things have been for her, what she is feeling with the new family, school and yes - boys.

Being at that pre-teen age, I am keenly aware of the fact that she might not feel like, as I told her, talking to an old man like me about what's going on in her life or how she's feeling. She chuckled at that and said that wasn't true. So I guess that's a good thing.

From Quail Street I started walking back home and noticed Anna and Zulery were out playing jump rope; with one end tied to a light post. Since I had yet to spend time with them I decided to replace the light post. Soon, Asser and Dennis came out and after a few spins each with the rope, we decided to head out back for a little bit of dodge ball.

It was nice to see that they got tired before I did and wanted to sit down. So, I made that my exit and decided to head on over to visit with Oupa Willem and Ouma Anna. [Oupa and Ouma are grandfather and grandmother in Afrikaans.] Willem is 71 and Anna is 67. They are caring for their four grandchildren; Daniel, Anna-Lee, Lee-Anne and Trevor. With the exception of Anna-Lee, whose mother Lorraine also lives with them, the others have either no living parents (offspring of Willem and Anna) or parents who may not have the means or the desire to care for them. Lorraine has some medical issues and is not really able to live on her own or care for her daughter Anna-Lee on her own.

So often is the case here in Arandis, that grandparents are caring for their grandchildren due to the death of the parent(s) or the / a parent's lack of interest in caring for their own children. The sense of duty that this older generation has is simply incredible.

I had a very nice chat with Willem about the struggles he is having with his age and trying to raise his grandchildren; for them to know right from wrong and not head down any one of life's many wrong paths. I assured him that he was not alone in some of what he was feeling or going through; that as parents and caregivers we all have challenges that we face when raising children. We exchanged a few stories and I think he felt a little better about things when I left; that he was not alone.

While I enjoy being with the six children entrusted to us for four weeks, they are not part of the "Original 11". Five of the six staying here arrived at the ministry prior to my visits in 2008. The sixth, Angela, I had met for the first time when we found out they would be staying here.

It was nice to continue the relationships with others that I have come to know and look forward to seeing during each visit. Yes, I cherish my time with the original 11 ministry children who have been here since my first visit in 2006. And, I think what makes my time with them more special is that the ministry here has gotten so large, it is unlikely that I will be able to forge similar relationships with the new children who are now here; most of who have been added since my last visit in 2008.

Time will just not allow it.

I also think, that the relationship I am now forming with the six children here will be different still from any of the others, including the original 11.

Differences aside, I will miss being in their lives when I leave here.

Bits and Pieces

2010-03-19T05:26:00.013-04:00

Every Thursday, four of the children who are physically, mentally or could benefit from some upper body strength and posture activities, are taken horseback riding at a horse farm outside of Swakop. This activity is intended to build self confidence for the three who are physically and mentally challenged, as well as help with the posture for one of the children who, at her young age, is showing visible signs of rounding shoulders.

These four children include:

Elizabeth, who is twelve and was born with spina bifida and has no use of her legs. Up until her being taken in by Nan Parker, the principal of Talitha Kumi, simply crawled around for most of her life. Today she has prosthetics and is becoming quite the independent girl.

Stephanus, who is also twelve, was living in another orphan care setting and for most of his life along with his twin brother. They are now under the care of Brenda Johnston, here at the ministry. Both boys, who were labeled as 'unable to be educated' where they had been staying previously, have defied their previous label and are doing remarkably well at Talitha Kumi.

Revival, who is nine years old, was born deaf and with what seems like Fetal Alcohol Syndrome symptoms. She attends weekly speech therapy sessions in Swakop and has been amazing to see progress with her speech.

Chriszelda, who is also nine, was suffering from malnutrition when she and her sisters were taken into the ministry here in Arandis. Although under good care now, she continues to struggle with the effects of her prior lack of nutritional care.

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I was the field trip bus driver again yesterday for the trip to the horse farm. Shortly after we started heading towards the coast, we were overcome by some real, serious dense fog. Now, I've traveled the road to Swakop many times since my first trip here in 2006. And, I've seen the dense fog in the early morning, here in Arandis. So individually, both hold no new surprises. However, when combined it was a very odd feeling. I felt closed in within a setting that I typically new to be wide open. I could easily have believed there was something else on either side of me, other than what I knew to be there, had this been my first trip down this road.

Being fully aware that there was a vast open desert on both sides of me which I could no longer see. I couldn't help but think how sometimes our lives might be the same way. That we sometimes become so overcome by what is happening immediately around us, we lose sight that there is really anything beyond it.

Perhaps we might be having a bad day. Perhaps we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders. Perhaps its an illness or bad news. It's times like this that we need to remember the fog will lift.

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My appreciation for foster parents has grown by leaps and bounds. Being one here, for just two weeks so far, has given me a different perspective on the challenges they face. Yes, I don't think I can any longer say that I 'know' any of these ministry children until I get to live with them and care for them.

There has been laughter, there have been tears. There has been joy and happiness, there has been frustration. One of the younger girls, when being disciplined, says she wants to 'go home'. I wonder, just where home might be for her.

Yes, challenges abound when trying to get into the minds of these children, to better understand what they are feeling. It is not easy to sit down and simply talk with them because they have no idea on how to express themselves.

So they say nothing.

Maybe they're aware, as I am, that it's only been two weeks since we've been caring for them. How can they be expected to act or behave as if we have known them all of their lives.

And in two weeks, we'll be gone.

As we cross the midway point of our stay here, I'm starting to wonder, who will be more affected by our time spent here, us or them.

Catching up

2010-03-15T18:03:00.005-04:00

Sometimes, there is only prayer.

Every Friday the foster parents of the ministry get together to pray in song, discuss particular readings or scripture that may have helped get them through the previous week, or deal with a situation, discuss what might be on their hearts, or simply to discuss administrative details.

Last Friday morning, we attended our first meeting.

After our first week of having six children here, I now have a better understanding of how important this is for these parents. I now have a better understanding of how sometimes it is simply faith and hope that what ever issue they may be facing today, tomorrow will bring a better day. And if, by chance it doesn't, then maybe the next day will.

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These last four days seem to have simply flown by.

I am trying to get as much of my regular work done as I can. Although I had planned on getting a good jump on two websites needed by the ministry; one for the Namibia end and one for the U.S. operations, once again I find that planning for time here is all but impossible. I am also trying to spend as much time as I can with the six children we have here.

Homework has been a challenge on various fronts. Not having a sense of where each child is academically has required me to take a step or two back to try to figure out what it is they might not understand. We've decided that a multiplication-tables boot camp will be starting very soon for all of them.

The weekend itself seems a blur.

Saturday was spent doing some of my own work, working on a laptop for Sylvanus, hanging with the kids and visiting with Anna Lee and Daniel who had stopped by. They are two other ministry children who we had not seen yet since our return. Both are older [ninth grade] and my oh my have they grown and matured.

Sunday, Jackie and Brenda spent the afternoon in Swakopmund and meeting up with a foster mom and her two children. So, between all three families, there were thirteen children who spent the afternoon at the park. Me, I stayed back to try to get some stuff done and to make sure dinner was ready for when everyone came home. The quiet time was not bad either!

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A totally different view

I have been here for 10 days and have yet to see the sunrise or the sunset; something that I marvel at each time I come to Africa. Our living arrangements while here have us in the middle of the town, as opposed to Nan's house which is on the western and northern edge of town. From Nan's house you can see both the sunrise and sunset.

Similarly, there is more ambient light where we are, so the magnificence of the nighttime stars is also not the same from this vantage point. I did, however, get to view the stars on Sunday night when I walked over to Nan's to visit with Boniface.

Hopefully I am not sounding ungrateful for our living arrangements at Steve and Karrie's home. Certainly that is not the case and if it weren't for the availability of their home, at this time, this trip here may not have been possible for me. So, thank you again, Steve and Karrie.

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Taxi!

Later today I will be playing taxi driver and heading in to Swakopmund, which is about 30-40 miles west of Arandis and on the coast. There is one child, Revival, who every Tuesday is taken to into town for her speech therapy. Here is a link to the old site, if you have yet to meet Revival. The other stop will be to bring one of the children we have staying here with us, to an eye specialist. She has had an infection of sorts and the family practioners in Arandis (husband and wife) have treated it but are looking for a more specialized opinion to be on the safe side.

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Today is Jackie's birthday. Lekker verjaar!

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Our official Arandis breadmakers are featured below; Chandre and her sister Ross-Ann. As many of you may already know, Chandre captured my heart back in 2006 during my first trip here. It was fun to watch them, bake two batches of different types of bread without reading any recipes or really measuring.

If Not Here, Then Where?

2010-03-11T16:19:00.002-05:00

Earlier this afternoon, as I was sitting here, trying to get some work done I was enjoyably distracted by the sounds of the children outside, singing one of their clapping and dancing games. I stopped to think how instead of being out on the streets they are happily playing, waiting for their dinner to be ready.

I've heard the stories about what life could be like for these children if it were not for a group like His Promise. I've heard stories about how life WAS like for some of the 60 children who are part of this ministry. Of how life IS like for those children whose parents have abandoned them, despite still being under the same roof. Or, for those children whose caregivers are a mockery.

Still I wonder, where would these particular children, the nine that were right outside my window, be right now, this very minute? What would they be doing? Would they be laughing and playing... or afraid and crying; trying to avoid any sexual or physical abuse? Would they be friendly and gracious... or hardened and contemptuous? Would they be waiting for their dinner... or hungry and searching for food?

One of the six children we have is a thirteen year old girl who, prior to the efforts of Steve and Karrie Graham, was living in a household of ten siblings without any adults. The other five, all related, I'm told spent a good part of their lives in a 'volunteer home'. Where the caregivers came and went.

I'm praying that a set of good foster parents can be found before we leave.

Our (Well, the Graham's) Highly Trained Guard Dogs

2010-03-10T07:18:00.001-05:00

Arandis Express

2010-03-10T07:15:00.001-05:00

Incredible Talking Namibian Washing Machine

2010-03-09T15:03:00.003-05:00

And Then There Were Eight

2010-03-08T14:29:00.003-05:00

So, perhaps I should fill you in.

As you all know, we arrived on Friday. What you do not know is that [unfortunately] we arrived into a critical situation here at the ministry. Not wishing to get into any of the details surrounding the situation, Jackie and I have six of the ministry children (3 boys and 3 girls) staying with us. We will be caring for them while we are here, at the Graham's home, or until such time that another foster mommie can be found, prior to our departure April 2nd.

It was with open hearts that we agreed to take on this responsibility. Both having the sense that our appearance here, now, at this time, under these circumstances, is a story that not just anybody could have scripted or planned.

We have had the children here since our first night. With the exception of the oldest girl, we are quite familiar with the other five. We have with us: Angelika, Riaan, Queen, Memory, Ishmael and Smithley. Riaan and Ishmael are brothers, Queen and Memory are sisters, and with the exception of Angelika, all are cousins. The youngest is 10 (Smithley and Memory) and the oldest is 13 (Angelika). The five youngest ones attend Talitha Kumi Christian Academy and Angelika attends the public middle school. [Incidentally, either Jackie or I will need to attend our first parent's night on Thursday at Talitha Kumi!]

Our new family will definitely make this trip to Namibia a different one. One of our challenges will be to live a Namibian lifestyle that would be within the budget of what this family would typically have been provided for their monthly stipend. Most of the 'monthly shopping' had already been done and any food purchased has been brought here from the house they had been living at.

However, there will still be bread, milk, maybe some juice, or other things not typically purchased in advance for an entire month, that will need to be purchased. We do have some of the remaining stipend available to us. However, for two Americans, who are used to planning and providing for well balanced and seemingly sufficient meals for themselves and their own children, who must now plan for the more modest and seemingly insufficient meals that most of the children and families have here in Arandis, will be culturally challenging.

The food stipend for what was once a family of eight was $2,800 per month, oh, that's Namibian dollars. The U.S dollar equivalent is somewhere around $375 per month.

Yes, one warm meal per day is typical. Some porridge in the morning and some bread or rolls at night. Milk? Maybe one glass per day, if there is any. Water with cereal is not uncommon here. Meat is typically not included on a daily basis. Fruit, juices, both peanut butter AND jelly on the same slice of bread, all a luxury.

Though we might have the means to provide for more, what justice would that be to these children to seem to 'have more' for a month, then have to settle for less once again. So, we will be trying to give them consistency in what their daily lives have been.

This actually has been a personal struggle for me to think about; to not be able to make things better for these children, even for such a short time. That I need to be ever aware of the culture here. That I need to, as best I can, help maintain this culture since it is what they have been used to, and what they will return to once we are gone.

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As I sit here writing this, it is about 9PM, on a school night. I can still here young / school aged children on the streets, who knows if they even attend school or have a home to go to. But, such is Arandis. 'Our kids' have been in bed since 7:30 PM. It was an early night for them since they took so long to get to sleep last night... with all the talking and fooling around, we told them they obviously needed an earlier bedtime, in order to accommodate all of the fooling around time.

Still, even after only two days / nights of having Namibian children to care for, I'm seeing that these kids are kids. The same as kids that might be found anywhere in this world. But as I look around this place, what is different is that not all kids have someone to watch over them, who care enough about them to make rules and boundaries.

Day One

2010-03-06T14:29:00.004-05:00

Despite being my fifth trip here each has been different. And within hours of hitting the ground, there are indications that this trip will be among the most interesting of them all; certainly not one that could ever have been scripted or planned by just anyone.

Even after not having been here for over a year and a half, the children who did know me were once again excited that I had returned and provided me with not just smiles but with real tight hugs. And, though only 24 hours have passed, there is a certain promise in the air that I will truly get to know some of them even more this trip.

Today we got to visit with some of the families that we know and meet a few we didn't. There are still more new ones to meet and I cannot believe the number of new children. It's the weekend, so we have yet to meld into the weekday activities but that will come soon enough. Tomorrow is Sunday and I will be attending Mass at St. Johannes with Kassie, one of the foster mommies. I think Jackie will be opting for a more African atmosphere with our friends at the Arandis Christian Center.

Despite how some of you might think a Catholic Mass is long at about an hour's length, Jackie's service will be starting at 9:00 AM and I'll be meeting her at around 11:30 or so. Though it might be longer than I am used to, I always enjoy taking part in the ACC services as well and try to attend at least one of them while I am here. Their message, their music and singing are truly an experience that I enjoy and remember long after I am gone from here.

What else...

Many of you may have heard that I did sleep on the plane. Yes, it is true and I must say it made the trip over the pond a tad shorter. Fighting the back end of a cold, long days and nights for 3-4 prior to the leaving for the trip as I tried to get some work done that I did not wish to take with me, and not having slept the prior 30+ hours, was all it seemed to take.

Flying into Walvis Bay instead of Windhoek seemed easier all around. Even getting through Customs seemed less of an issue as we were able to get our passports stamped, grab our luggage and head out the door without having to pass by anyone who might even look at you as International smugglers.

We are staying at the home of Steve and Karrie Graham who, with their family, are back in the U.S. I think our presence here is also a blessing to Happy and Napoleon, their two dogs. Who [and Karen you'll appreciate this one] need baths very week or so! Jackie said that was my job.

Well, it is 11:05 PM here, got a few other things to do before I call it day. Hope to have a few pictures and maybe a video clip or two up for you tomorrow.

In closing, there have been an incredible amount of changes since I was here last. It is not the same Arandis Town that I first experienced back in 2006 where I could count the families on one hand and I knew the name and face of every child. What I think about is how when I leave, I might need two hands to count the families and I doubt that I will be able to come to know the names and faces of every child now, even after a month's time.

We've Arrived Safe and Sound

2010-03-05T10:09:00.003-05:00

Just a quick note to let everyone back home know that we have made it to Arandis, all luggage as well. Will hopefully be able to add more later.

Lots of changes here, as expected and new challenges coming in daily.

Welcome back to Africa!

T-Minus... oh I don't know... but it'll be happening soon

2010-03-03T07:06:00.001-05:00

This will be my fifth trip to Namibia and my longest. Man am I blessed and in so many ways. It is my hope that I can be a blessing to the children and families of Arandis, and Rehoboth if we do get there. And something is telling me we just might. I think Jackie might have another international speaking engagement to attend.

Anyway, today I will be picking away at my checklist of things to do before I go. It's beginning to seem real... again.

oh, and lest I forget, Happy Birthday Mom!

Surprised to see something new here?

2010-02-28T14:10:00.018-05:00

Less than 4 days...

As typical for me when I am back here in the States, saying there is always a dearth of blog posts is quite the understatement. I guess I need to stop promising that there will be more posts, each time I return from Namibia.

It just doesn't seem to happen. Maybe I need to resign myself to the fact that I am a traveling blogger and leave it at that.

So, those of you who have continued to frequent this place, in hopes of reading something new, thank you for not giving up. Your wait is over.

As many of you may already know, I leave for Namibia on March 4th. Traveling with me, again, will be Jackie Livsey. We had been on a group trip together in 2006 and she and I had traveled back on our own in 2008.

I must admit [many will have their own thoughts and conjecture about this, or as to why] I have been slow in getting my head back into the fact that I will be spending 4 weeks in Namibia. I really am excited and blessed to be going back.

Mentally, however, I think life [as it often times does for me] has gotten in the way of me being able to simply sit back, be still, not do something related to work... and just think about what spending 4 weeks in Namibia will be like.

I am hopeful that during these next few days, I will find the time for reflection upon past trips and that with an open heart I am able and willing to do whatever is needed to help during this upcoming trip.

To many of you who will be watching and following, your thoughts and prayers throughout our trip are greatly appreciated. If you haven't yet seen the short film by Amy Montalvo and OnePass Productions, be sure to take a look at it.

To those of you who found you could donate towards supplies we will be bringing, a heartfelt Thank You!

To those of you who may have wanted to help with the cost of supplies, or maybe even help with a portion of the monthly costs to sponsor a child, I will be graciously and humbly accepting donations while I am there. Email me at dbrthium@comcast.net to make arrangements.

To Karen, thanks for understanding why I go. I love you and will be missing you.

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Our itinerary

We leave Jackie's house around 3:30 AM on Thursday, March 4th to catch a 6:00 AM flight from Logan to JFK. We leave JFK at 10:30 AM and by the time most of of you might be starting your day Friday morning, we will be arriving at Walvis Bay, Namibia at 1:45PM [7:45AM EST]. I am looking forward to seeing what the Namib desert, and those giant red sand dunes against the shores of the South Atlantic, look like from the air.

Brenda Johnston will be picking us up, we'll do a bit of grocery shopping as we pass through Swakopmund and then head inland for our short trip to Arandis. This will be the first time we do not fly from Johannesburg into Windhoek. It actually saves us [or someone] from making the 2-3 hour drive between Windhoek and Arandis.

At this time, we are choosing to stay and help the ministry in Arandis for our entire stay. Of course, once we get on African soil, as many of you who have been there can attest to, all bets are off on any prior plans. I will do my best to keep you all filled in, and not being in the States, my track record for blog entries is significantly better than when I am State-side.

So, welcome [back] both here and soon... to Africa.

News from my friend Boniface

2009-01-15T11:23:00.004-05:00

Yes, it has been a while. I'm sorry. I will not even try to excuse or explain why I have been away for so long...other than the mood or need to write has just not been there. That doesn't mean the thoughts are not there. I guess it's just the willingness to open my thoughts up to the world - or the small portion of it who frequents this blog anyway - has not been there.

But today I feel the need. Here is the email I just received from Boniface. The message is clear. If you feel you would like to help, please email me at dbrthium@comcast.net.

Blessings

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Dear Don!

I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the peace of God that surpasses all understanding guard your heart and mind in Jesus Christ. I write this letter to you so that you may understand my heart but not my needs.

As you know, I am doing a ministry here in Arandis since 2006. I started working with Pastor Banda (of Arandis Eagle Christian Centre) as his associate by running Bible studies, church services as well as the prayer meetings. One year latter, I was given the task of running the youth ministry. In the community of Arandis, I am the volunteer of Scripture Union that operates at two primary schools as well as the high school. God has been good to me in all of these past two years where I am serving Him. He has shown Himself faithful in my life and the ministry.

Furthermore, this is the voluntarily work that I do both at schools as well as at church.

But now, I believe I am ready for a future family. Some of you know that I had a 5 year relationship with Angelique. At the end, just few months before the wedding, God did not allow it to happen because His plans and ways are higher than ours. I have to admit that it was hard to accept it but, praise God, I had no reason to ask Him why did this happen. I reasoned that I will start with another relationship after 2 years, but God had prepared someone better that I did not expect: her name is Penina. She serves the Lord as a youth leader and a singer in the choir in Tanzania. She loves the Lord with her family. God confirmed her when one day I phoned her father before he died last year in November. He had assurance that it was God?s will that I should marry his daughter. Before he died he even blessed me and left a written notebook of what God put on his heart about our future family. I remember her when I was in Tanzania two years ago in the prayer meeting. I remember when I was teaching her with her youth group. God has confirmed it in many ways and I have peace about it that it?s God?s will that we marry. We communicate regularly on the phone, though it?s difficult where she stays.

Indeed, Penina stays in the refugee camp in Tanzania whereby periodically the Tanzanian government puts pressure on the camp to go back to Burundi. Because of these threats, many are choosing to leave Tanzania. If she decides to repatriate, it will cost me three even four times to get her here. After her father died, her grand father has come to collect her siblings. Her mother stayed behind, just in waiting for my arrival.

However, Burundi still remains unsafe in many ways. There is a fear that war will break out again at any time.

I have been asked to run Scripture Union throughout the whole region consisting of 7 towns: Omaruru, Karibib, Usakos, Arandis, Walvisbay, Swakopmund and Hentiesbay. I am prayerfully ready for it and truly need a suitable helper who will support me in this ministry. I believe the Lord has provided Penina to be my wife partner.

There are many things involved when we travel in Africa. There is of course transport but also visas, housing, etc. Penina, as she lives in the refugee camp, she will need clothes and other materials. Being in the refugee camp, they hardly afford all of decent things seeing that at the same time the bread winner died recently. The wedding will be in the refugee camp just a small ceremony and then we will come straight to Namibia.

You might ask why a Burundian lady, but not a Namibian? Well, I live here as a refugee and hope that one day I will go back to my mother country. God has put on my heart, serving Him there in schools as well as starting a ministry with orphans and widows. Nan Parker knows my heart for these people, she is my witness.

The only support that I have is that, currently, my spiritual mother (Nan Parker) has accommodated me and tried to find some support via MVI (Missionary Venture International). But with even this support, which I am grateful to God, I cannot afford going to Tanzania and bringing her here. It will cost me US$2500. That?s why I am searching for support everywhere.

Therefore, after you have read my heart, I plead with you to support me.

I promise to report to you, with pictures, the blessings of our wedding. At the same time, Nan Parker, Steve Graham and Pastor Tresford Banda are my witnesses.

May He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you are going to sow and increase the fruit of your righteousness. May God make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. Amen

BONIFACE

Safely Home

2008-08-14T06:42:00.002-04:00

6:45 AM
Thursday, August 14th

We arrived safely home, both intact and with all luggage. Thanks for following along and the prayers while we were away. For Kat, school starts in 2 weeks, and for me, well, I've already started laundry and have begun to process the transition to life here. I am hopeful that there will be more posts, more stories, more pictures of our trip.

Thanks again for coming along for the ride.

I Can't Believe 2 Old Ladies Tried to Snag My Luggage

2008-08-13T03:21:00.004-04:00

8:21 AM
Wednesday, August 13th

It was an odd feeling. I had seen both of my pieces of luggage coming down the conveyer belt but when it turned they turned the corner to come around to the other side, my larger suitcase was gone! I know I had seen it so I quickly went around to the other side and started looking for it. Not seeing it anywhere, or seeing anyone with it, I went back to Kat who was still waiting for hers to come out.

Feeling uneasy about this entire situation, I once again went over to the other side, scoping out the people, trying to find my bag. It seemingly had disappeared, or someone snagged it and walked away quickly.

On my third attempt to scout the area, I noticed this large motorized cart sitting there with two old ladies in it. Figuring it wouldn't hurt to check out their luggage... I SAW MINE! After running over to them, tackling both of them out of their seats, we had quite the scuffle as I attempted to rip my bag away from the back of their buggy. One of them clocked me real good up-side of the head with her purse, heavily laden with medication no doubt. However, I was victorious in getting my luggage.

Okay...so there was no struggle. We are bored and wanted to liven things up here. Seriously, they did have my bag and I simply walked up to them and said..."Excuse me, but that's my bag." Both had a surprised look on their face and said, "It is?" I quickly pointed out the bright yellow Arandis/Rehoboth tag and said yes, see.

We made it safely to London, switched airports and are at Heathrow waiting for the U.S. Airways desk to show up....ooohhh...they just did.

Chat later...

Homeward Bound

2008-08-12T00:21:00.007-04:00

5:20 AM
Tuesday, August 12th

In a little more than 12 hours, we will be arriving at the airport in Windhoek to begin our journey home. Our flight leaves here at 7:40PM and we will be arriving in London about 10 hours later, before 6 AM on Wednesday. From London, our flight leaves around 1PM, arriving in Philadelphia around 4PM. No, it's not just a 3 hour flight, we lose 5 hours heading back over the pond. Then our final leg of the journey has us leaving Philadelphia and arriving in Manchester after 10PM.

Today, we are planning on visiting the woodcarvers market, the Hope's Promise shop they have here in Okahandja, and spending a few more hours with the children the Ark. By 4PM we will need to leave and head into Windhoek for our flight.

Most of our short time here was spent visiting the Ark on Sunday, and many of Joan's preschools within Nau Aib on Monday. Joan is involved with about 24 different pre-schools in the area, mostly within the squatters camp Nau Aib. There are only 36 teachers in all, for the 700+ children who attend these pre-schools.

We also spent some time at the new resource center in Vyf Rand. It's not open yet, but it does consist of a library and computer center. We discussed their ideas and technological needs. There is much that needs to be accomplished before it can open. However, they remain steadfast in their vision and pray that the time will come.

Monday afternoon, Mike, Kat and I went to Okapuka, a ranch/game reserve located about a half-hour south of Okahandja. I'm guessing you will be seeing some of Mike's photography which I guarantee will be spectacular. He could just about reach out and touch one of the five white rhinos that were hanging around the Land Rover. While there is some wild game which you would not want to get this close and personal with, these rhinos seemed to like the food the guide provides for them daily.

After the game drive, we attended a lion feeding. Unlike the openness of viewing the rhinos, we were behind a wall, with open ports for viewing. And it's a good thing, these lions are nasty when it comes to raw red meat! Mike took, oh I don't know...almost 300 pictures in the 15-20 minute feeding span. I've got some video footage of a small argument for one of the last pieces of game that had been thrown in.

Onward to Okahandja

2008-08-10T00:03:00.004-04:00

5:00 AM
Sunday, August 10

Four days without an entry and you would expect I might have so much to say. Fact is, words have been difficult to come by for this trip; sorting out my thoughts has been tough for me to do.

And, although Kat and I will be leaving Arandis in less than three hours, and will be getting on a plane for our trip home Tuesday evening, the trip and experience here is not over yet. Our next stop is Okahandja; only three hours away, yet seemingly still a different world than Rehoboth and Arandis.

After taking all of yesterday to make our rounds to see the families, I am never sure what to say anymore. Do I say goodbye? Do I say see you later? Do I say see you next time? Many have expectantly asked, so when will you be back; as if it is a foregone conclusion that I will be. For many, the expectation IS that I will be.

That's quite an expectation in a world I do not have absolute control over future events.

Being here with Kat, and trying to see this trip through her eyes, continues to be a great experience. One that I will reflect and think back on for years to come. Now, instead of hearing me talk about it, she has experienced it herself and I'm sure her reality was different than her expectations based upon my accounts of the people and place, or the accounts of others she has talked with.

What she will soon see and feel for herself, however, is that the experience really never ends. You bring it back with you. Like any experience, it now becomes part of your life, in what you think, say or do. I am anxious to watch and listen.

A Different Trip and the Beginning of the End

2008-08-06T02:07:00.006-04:00

7:00 AM
Wednesday, August 6

"This isn't quite how I expected Africa to be."

- Marlene (after looking around the room as she was using Mike's laptop, and seeing Mike and Nan using Nan's laptop, Kat and me using mine, and Boni watching 'Independence Day'.)

As my time in Arandis begins to wind down, I've realized that I have not had, or taken, as much time to reflect on the day's events or the people I may have interacted with. Not working in the primary school has taken me out of the loop for interacting with some of the younger children. And, with some of the older teens, many have been preoccupied with exams or other things to be able to spend time with them. Being here when school is in session makes it harder to also spend time with them. Though I am up late at night, it really is not possible to visit with the families much after 5 or 6 PM as they have their own routines.

Yet, I have attempted to spend time with as many as I can, children, teen or adult. But I realize my time is truly limited. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit envious of those who are here longer, or for a more indefinite period. I cannot tell you how many times I have been called, 'Uncle Steve', since the children here are now used to seeing and interacting with Steve Graham on a daily basis. They quickly realize their mistake, laugh or chuckle, roll their eyes in annoyance with themselves that they keep doing it, and then address me as 'Uncle Don'. It's fun to watch! I actually got one comment from Jessica, "ugh...you Americans all look alike!" That one made my day!

This will have been my fourth trip here and only during my January 2007 trip did I come alone. For my first trip in 2006, I came with a larger group. My second trip, in January 2007, was the aforementioned solo trip. This past Feb/March I was accompanied by Jackie Livsey (who had also made the group trip in 2006). And this trip, I was accompanied by my niece Katherine. By default, each trip allowed for certain dynamics to occur - or not occur; merely an observation, and should not be construed as any form of complaint. Even the places where I've stayed, and the other people who may have also been staying at the same place, have all impacted the experience; an experience that, as much as I may have tried to map out, plan or think about how I expected or was hoping it would play out, it never really does resemble anything I could have ever planned.

As I lay in bed this morning, waiting to get up and thinking about what I was hoping to do today, I once again was drawn to wondering, what is it about this place that brings me back. What is the purpose? What is my purpose? Are they the same? I know I have touched many lives and many lives have touched mine. But it really extends beyond me and any one individual here. These personal experiences ripple out to others. I then think about, how many more people know about Namibia, or a person or a condition here as a result of the effects of this ripple.

An example of this ripple effect was a conversation I had with Robin Smick, someone I work with, before I left. Over lunch, we were discussing the HPOM children and their education here at Talitha Kumi Christian Center and their plans to expand to include grade 12. She then asked about college for these children. Her question made me stop and realize that none of the 26+ children who actually depend upon HPOM for their survival, in addition to the 12+ natural children of the HPOM foster homes, have actually had to make that step yet. While there may only be a handful of teens now, who are currently in 8th grade or high school, there is a much larger group on their heals. The closest would be Caroline, the natural daughter of Likki, one of the foster mommies here. She will just be finishing up her required courses and exams to move ahead to the next level, university or college.

So Robin's question, what about college, really got me thinking and wondering. We talked about it a bit more and thought how great it would be to secure adequate funding to set up a type of college fund now and on an ongoing basis, that would provide the monies for any of the children who were fortunate enough to have the grades to get through high school and who wanted to pursue higher learning, when the time came. I presented the idea to both Sylvia and Brenda and they thought it would be a wonderful idea and such a blessing since HPOM continues to take in younger children and they struggle now to secure adequate sponsorship.

Will anything come about as a result of "this ripple". I hope so. I hope to have more specific information, relative to what it might cost to attend college or university here. According to Brenda, however, some of the children would likely qualify for grants or monies from a number of colleges or universities in the United States. But research to identify which schools would be required.

That being said, I'll even go so far as to request now, that if there is anyone who knows of different ways to do this, setup and/or manage such a fund, let me know. And, anyone who would like to be contacted when this fund is created to help finance the fund, I would also be interested in hearing from you.

Dune 7

2008-08-03T17:30:00.002-04:00

10:30 PM
Sunday, August 3

Saturday, after spending the morning at Richard and Julianna's and playing outdoor games with Chandre, Jamie-Lee, Ishmael and Smithley, we decided to spend the afternoon along the coast which is about 60 kilometers west of Arandis. We invited Elaine and Bradley, two of the older teens, and drove towards Walvis Bay and Dune 7. Now I had climbed one or two of the dunes here before, but not Dune 7. Driving up to the dune, it seemed a bit larger and a bit more vertical than the ones I had sauntered up before. This one here was definitely not a dune one just saunters up.

I found it odd, a day or two before, when I heard many of my generation here say, "Dune 7, yes, I've done that once and that's all I need to do." So naturally I was curious as to what Dune 7 was like. Now with it looming in front of me, I think I understood. After making the wise decision to take off my sneakers and socks, we headed towards the dune to begin our ascent. If I were better at angles, I might be able to better describe the relationship of my body relative to the incline of the dune that I was attempting to climb. Ankle, and sometimes seemingly calf, deep in sand you would typically find at the beach at home we climbed. After far too many breaks than I would like to admit (Note to those snickering: I don't believe there was a person there, young or old, that made the climb without stopping), we made it to the top.

After catching our breath, I continued to sit at the top with Elaine trying to get a conversation going. Kat decided to follow along to the next higher dune by walking along the ridge, as did Bradley. While it certainly was no Mt. Washington, it did offer a splendid view of the desert and other dunes. Surprisingly, the trek down was quick and painless; much easier than the hike up. We then headed back towards Swakopmund, stopping first at an area along the South Atlantic for Kat to at least dip her toes into the cold water. As I waited for Kat, Elaine and Bradley to finish shell hunting, I looked around and was once again amazed at the site of desert dunes meeting the ocean.

Today was spent at the church service this morning with more home visits in the afternoon, to take more photographs to update the HPOM website. Then, I brought Kat and Marlena to the youth group service/meeting that Boniface runs over at Pastor Tresford's house. During that time, I was able to get some conversation time with Tresford and Fabiola.

Tomorrow begins our final full week here in Namibia. I think I am scheduled to head into Swakopmund with Mike Dunne and bring the mommies for their monthly grocery shopping. We also need a bit more food here to finish out the week. I continue to work on updating the HPOM website, which was to be one of my focuses for my time here. I might even need to get into a little bit of computer maintenance as well toward mid-week.

All in all, it's been another good trip, though we still have many days left. Kat seems to be enjoying her time here and it is my hope that she will be able to take away a few things that she will hold on to for a lifetime.

A Busy Day

2008-08-01T16:19:00.006-04:00

9:20PM
Friday, August 1

I seems that the more I come here, to Arandis, the more challenging it becomes to maintain each of the relationships, all in one visit.

This morning, after doing a bit of work, I heading over to the primary school for the children's play break, then I went across the street and popped my head in at the library to check on Pearl [keep her in your prayers, that she does well], who is studying to take write one of her exams, I got to spend a couple of hours talking with Chrizelda, who will be delivering her [hopefully a boy] baby this month. This afternoon I had the opportunity to spend some time with Brenda, as we drove into Swakopmund, and waited, to have some work done on her car. When we arrived back, I finally got the chance to see Kassie, but only for a short time. Before dinner, Kat and I also spent some time playing and hanging with Revival, Nanasha [a new HPOM child] and eventually Salome for a little bit. We made a quick trip to Richard and Julianna's house for a short visit there as well.

Those who have been here with know that it doesn't take me long to start comparing the things I feel I want or need to do, and the people I want to make sure I see, with the number of days left. On the other side of that, I am often reminded to just enjoy each day and not to worry about the rest; to take each opportunity to talk and interact as each presents itself.

And besides, you really can't plan here anyway.

There continue to be many things to be aware of and learn; cultural nuances that, if not considered, quickly reveal one's American identity based purely upon mannerisms. Greeting, addressing, being sure to say goodbye, or how you word something are just a few examples. These were among the topics of conversation and discussions I had with some of the people here today.

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Kat has been busy this week working at the primary school in the library, helping with the new catalogue system they are trying to get in place. She also has had the opportunity to spend quality time with many of the Hope's Promise children in that setting.

Greetings from Arandis

2008-07-30T00:31:00.002-04:00

5:30 AM
Wednesday July 30

Yes, we arrived in Arandis on Monday and once again it was like coming back to a very familiar place. However, as I've found with previous trips here, each ends up being slightly different when it comes to the interactions and dynamics that take place. There are new missionaries here from the States, with the Graham family, and with Mike Dunne; who have taken up a somewhat indefinite residency here in Arandis. While having met the Graham family briefly the on the very day we left last March, this trip would provide an opportunity to get to know them better and what they have been doing here since their arrival. I can see and hear, even within these first two days, the Grahams and Mike have begun to have an impact on the community and have been a big help.

On Tuesday we were able to make our initial visits to each of the families. However, we have yet to really see or sit with Kassie who has been ill with the flu since this past weekend. We have stopped in at the house numerous times, but each time she has been in bed. Please keep her in your prayers for a speedy recovery.

After expressing a little concern and disappointment Monday evening, Kat has already begun planning her next, month-long, trip here to Arandis. Her day yesterday was more in line with descriptions she has heard me talk about many times; something that I had assured her would likely happen and that she needed to continue to have an open heart and open mind. It seems the first day here didn't quite play up to what her expectations were. Something, I think, that might happen to anyone visiting here for the first time accompanied by someone who has been here numerous times before. As friendly and wanting for love as the children are, they are still children when it comes to meeting someone for the first time. Kat's subsequent interactions with the children have now all been preceded by huge smiles and big hugs. Welcome to Arandis Kat!

As many may have read from Kat's blog she has begun helping out at the primary school; something that I had done during my last few trips here. It's a great place to be because you get to interact with most of the younger Hope's Promise children. As for me, my morning and day was filled with most of what I had planned or hoped to accomplish. In addition to spending time doing a bit of work for myself, I spent a few minutes talking with Brenda Johnston, who is the Arandis coordinator for Hope's Promise here in Arandis. She brought me up-to-date, more or less on what's been happening. And, I'm sure we will be chatting more during our time here. Her main goal for me is to be able to update the Hope's Promise website. Unfortunately, that was part of my "planned day" that I never did get to. It was shortly after my first trip here in 2007, when I realized that my time, personally, is much better spent building relationships, taking the time to have the short or long conversations with the people here as opposed to working on websites, blogs, or things that do not involve the people here. Having the ability to function on 4-5 hours sleep, I've found there to be ample time to get the web work/blogging done either in the solitude of the early hours of the day (like now) or in the late evening, when others are sleeping.

Yesterday I was able to sit with Pearl and try to map out a plan of attack with her, to get back on track with her studies. Pearl is home schooled and, as I suspected, has been spending too much time doing the things she likes to do instead of her school work. So, I am happy to say that we have set some goals for her and have set up a way for her to treat her homeschooling in a more disciplined fashion. It is our hope that she will be able to sit for 2 of her 6 remaining exams before we leave here; another the following week, then the final three by October 31st. Please keep her in your prayers that she can follow this plan and maintain her focus.

After finally visiting William and Anna's family and Lina's, Kat and I ended up at the pre-primary school where Karrie Graham was working with/tutoring some of the junior and high school teens here. It is exam time and each day this week and most of next, there are daily exams on the different courses and subjects; much like mid-terms at home. We decided to help and lend a hand to both Karrie and Marlena (a college student from Germany who arrived last week and is her for two months.). Jolene, Raymond, Bradley, Charmaine and Elaine were there. While I will elect not to go into some of the dynamics, here in print, suffice to say that working with a couple of these teens in the past has been challenging for me. After our short time there yesterday, I can see that from 2:30 to 4:30 I will be there to help Karrie for whatever duration I am here because I can understand how difficult it may have been for her trying to do this on her own. Once again, your prayers are asked, this time for each of these teens to do well in their exams. And in doing so, realize that sometimes it is such prayer that helps get them through it all, because they may not be able to do it on their own.

Next Stop - Arandis

2008-07-27T17:03:00.011-04:00

10:03 PM
Sunday July 27

Today was our last full day in Rehoboth. Our stay with Richard, Sylvia and Cathlo has been a good one; such gracious hosts they are. Tomorrow Sylvia, Friedell, Kat and I will head out to Arandis, leaving here around 6:45AM. We will also be dropping Cathlo off in Windhoek, so she can attend her class. Hopefully, we will be able to make a short stop in Okahandja, to drop some things off with Joan and Dieter Morsbach. Plans are to return to Okahandja for the last two days of our trip where we will stay and visit with Joan, Dieter and Mike Knight. As you may recall, Mike is from Christ's Church of Amherst and is here until November.

These last two days were spent trying to update Sylvia's desktop with the latest XP updates, etc. in preparation for the installation of a new accounting system for Hope's Promise. Unfortunately the process was to take over 9 hours in all. In fact, I still need to stop in at the office before we leave town tomorrow to make sure everything was completed.

For me, one of the highlights about this trip to Rehoboth was being able to locate and spend some time with Maderyna and her daughter Memory. After having found her yesterday and visiting briefly, I thought that might be it for this trip. However, last night and this morning, Sylvia noted that I seemed bothered by something. After talking a bit, she suggested that I spend more time with Maderyna and that Friedell would go and pick her up and bring her back to the office. Then we could visit more while I finished updating Sylvia's system.

Perhaps I might use another post to write about some of the thoughts I was having, after I return home. Suffice to say that realization of finding her living in Block E, in a tin-shack, with her mother and her mother's boyfriend was a bit unsettling for me. Today's visit was a good one and I got to watch a young 17-year old girl be a mother to her 1-year old daughter. As I think back to 2005, when I randomly selected her photograph to use in my blog; a photograph of a 13-year old, Hope's Promise child, who seemed so filled with gratitude and without a care in the world, I can only shake my head thinking, my how things have changed in such a short period of time. Please keep her and her daughter in your prayers.

I've had some good conversations with Richard and Sylvia and I've also spent much time just listening; trying to better understand the dynamics that exist here and in all that takes place. It's not easy and I can see how frustration levels might sometime near the point of giving up. But they don't. With conviction in their beliefs, they use the power of prayer and keep forging ahead. Please keep them in your prayers as well that they can remain strong and focused in their vision.

Rehoboth - Day 2

2008-07-26T00:49:00.007-04:00

5:49 AM
Saturday, July 26

Having come to Rehoboth on the front end of the trip has been different. For previous trips, visting here was at the end of the trip, after having already been to Arandis. It's different in that instead of being able to reflect on the trip, I still look with anticipation towards Monday when we will make our way to Arandis. Rehoboth is different than Arandis, mainly because it only includes one HPOM family and child, Adisha. We hope to be able to visit with them today but what makes it a bit harder is that Adisha doesn't speak English. Nonetheless, that big smile of hers lets us know that she understands and is happy to see us. The others that I hope to see include Maderyna and her daughter Memory. I did not see them my last trip here, and I have yet to meet her daugther Memory, who is just over a year old.

To quickly recap, yesterday was spent mostly at the Beads of Promise shop where Katherine took up beading for the day. (Yes, Brenda and Tim, your daughter does have patience and she woke up just fine!) The bracelet she started in on was quite challenging, I must say and I've posted a link to a video of her patiently beading-away below. Also at the shop were some 'trainees' who had been there for the week, learning how to create some of the different patterns of jewelry sold by BOP. This was their last day and, in gratitude, they wanted to sing a song. According to Sylvia the song was one of gratefulness for Rehoboth, for BOP and for Sylvia for providing this opportunity for them. You can view the movie here.

Around mid-afternoon, Richard took us through Block E, where some of the lower-end housing is located. I say lower end instead of poorer because according to Richard, some of the people here can actually afford better homes but simply choose not to. However, most people are without jobs as the unemployment rate nears 45% here in Rehoboth. And, a section of the block does include a squatters camp, for those who really have nothing. He then took us through Block F and into Block G where there exists a locally funded program that provides potential homeowners with $35,000 (Namibian) to purchase a plot for $5,000 and then use the remainder for the construction of the home as well as other living expenses. Most of these homes are made of concrete block, as opposed to many of the tin-shacks that make up most of Block E. Nonetheless, these "Blocks" are simply different parts of town that were the result of segregating blacks, browns/coloreds and whites.

Rehoboth - Day 1

2008-07-25T01:33:00.007-04:00

6:34 AM
Friday 25 July

Good morning from Rehoboth, Namibia.

We arrived safely yesterday morning with all luggage, around 9:15AM. As we were heading towards the "nothing to declare" exit, the tiny male official quietly pointed his pencil towards the "something to declare" exit, so that is where we headed. We then proceeded into another room where we met up with one of the "beefy chicks" that my buddy Darin Shaw has aptly warned us about when passing through the Windhoek Customs area. After asking a few questions and asking me to pull out a few things I had for Hope's Promise, I did get her to smile during the inquisition and we were allowed to proceed with all contents intact and were greeted on the other side by Sylvia and Friedell.

A bit tired from the travel and flights but ready nonetheless to run a few necessary errands, meet with someone I had done a website for previously and get the Internet access squared away. Our last errand was to the Spar to pick up a few items and head back to Sylvia's. We got here sometime after 4PM.

Most of the conversation yesterday was trying to catch up on things and get updated on things here and in Arandis, relative to Hope's Promise. A prior meeting with Francis, Sylvia's sister, resulted in learning about a vision that Francis has with using her guest lodge for something similar to what a half-way house would be here, for those who suffer from addictions. The focus would be for teens or young adults who struggle with substance abuse and are already incarcerated. This woman has quite the passion and has asked me to assist in helping her formulate a plan. Why me? I have no idea but I guess I'm willing to learn more and give it some thought. Who knows what will come of it.

In an hour or so, we will be heading to the Beads of Promise shop where I will begin working on a few computer systems and Kat will help out with beading some of the jewelry that will eventually be sold from the store or its outlets. But for now, it's time to wake up Kat!

A Good Day in England

2008-07-23T15:52:00.004-04:00

We've arrived back at Gatwick awaiting our 9:30PM flight to Windhoek. We spent the better part of our time here visiting with a friend of mine, Mark Thompson. Mark lives about 15 miles away and came to pick us up this morning. We spent time at his house, with his wife Mich and two sons, Joshua & Eden. Poor Kat woke up this morning hearing me greeting/talking with someone I obviously knew. Not expecting to meet up with someone I knew here, and being a bit disoriented after waking up, she told me later that she thought we were in Namibia and that she had slept through the entire plane ride down. Not sure if the surprise for her backfired as she was sort of disappointed that she did not sleep through the plane ride, that we were not in Namibia, and that we still had 10 hours or so to be on a plane. Sorry Kat!

The day was enjoyable, however. I had not seen Mark since 2004, since meeting him in Maryland. We've kept in touch and it was nice to get to catch up. He also treated me to something he claims I had been missing out my entire life, a true English ale at a proper english pub.

Well, in a just a few hours we will be boarding Air Namibia for our final leg of this part of our journey. Once again, I am amazed at just how largely connected and small this world continues to be.

Hmm...no Philly Cheesesteak Here

2008-07-22T19:01:00.004-04:00

We are now waiting for our flight to London. After searching around a bit, and having our taste buds set for a Philly Steak (yes, it would have been an airport one...but it would not have been any worst than McDonalds), we came up empty and had a quick dinner at Le Petite Bistro. After, as we walked around a bit more trying to find a good Internet connection, I was praying that we wouldn't come across one after we had eaten. Our flight is not until 10:45PM so we are working on our "hanging around the airport" routine. The flight from Manchester was uneventful though a bit bumpy at times.

It's always interesting for me to look ahead and try to envision what this trip might be like, and then compare what I thought, with how things actually went, on the way home. Fact is, they are never the same. I guess I really shouldn't be too surprised at that.

Will try to get on at our next layover at Gatwick in London.

****

Kat has a blog too. (Kat's Blog) Stop by and say hi!

We Leave In Less Than 10 Hours

2008-07-22T05:45:00.002-04:00

I'm about two weeks into not getting a full night's sleep, as my mind whirls and turns about the Namibia trip. There is so much to think about, so much to make sure is in place; both here while I'm gone and when we arrive at our various destinations along the way...and there.

I must say that for me, this trip is already shaping up to be a different one from the previous three. Quite frankly, the difference will be the responsibility that would have been entrusted to me...in bringing my niece Katherine with me. In previous trips, I was basically responsible for only myself. This time, it isn't just me but I must also be responsible for the well being of Katherine. Now don't misconstrue my lack of sleep with reasons to be worried when traveling to Namibia. That is totally not my concern. It's just the notion of being responsible for someone else's well being that I place a high upon my list of priorities.

Part of what my mind wanders to during my restless nights is the fact that there are many mothers and fathers in many parts of this world, not just Namibia, who might not give a second thought to the well being of their own son or daughter, let alone a niece. That entire notion is so unfathomable to me.

I've been kidding with Katherine that I will have "ownership of her" after the guardianship papers are signed. But all kidding aside, part of what I think about most IS the responsibility for her. Helping her work through any difficulties she might have in the differences between life there and here; watching, experiencing the trip through the eyes of a fifteen year old.

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

We leave Manchester at around 3:30PM and fly to Philadelphia. From there, we leave for London at 10:45PM, arriving there around 11:05AM (London time) on Wednesday. We then get to partake in some of the British hospitality until our flight departs for Namibia at 9:30PM, finally arriving in Windhoek at 7:45AM (Namibia time) on Thursday morning.

They leave in two days

2008-06-29T16:41:00.008-04:00

Christ's Church of Amherst has another team leaving for Namibia on Tuesday. They total 27 and with Mike Knight, who is already here, it will total 28. But really, if you include Toivo Thomas, there will be 29. All will begin their journey in Okahandja, at Joan and Dieter Morsbach's. Then a few will head north, a few will remain in Okahandja for a few more days, then the majority of them will head for Arandis. The few staying behind in Okahandja will head on over to Arandis as well. There is another small group of dancers who will be among those traveling to Arandis, to continue the dance program that was basically started with the 2005 trip. Please feel free to travel along with them via their blog iNam Namibia 2008 where there are expected to be postings of the group's journey which will may also include multimedia. Please pray for them as they travel to and from Namibia, but especially for when they are there.

As for me and Kat, we anxiously await our turn to head on down. This team that travels Tuesday, will actually be back on July 18th, four days before Kat and I depart. I am hoping to be able to catch up with either Darin Shaw (pastor of CCA) and Jackie Livsey (my travel partner from this past Feb/Mar - yeah, she is going back for the 4th time as well....) on the day before we leave. I will actually be in Florida, at a dance competition that Adria (my daughter) is in until the 20th, so I will basically only have a single day to catch up with either of them before we head out. I am anxious to get a 'heads up' on what is transpiring there and what we can expect.

In the meantime, prayers and Godspeed for each and everyone one of you who will be stepping out of your world, and into the world that is Namibia and its people.

Returning again

2008-06-26T21:30:00.004-04:00

July 22 through Aug 13

Yes, I'm heading back. This time I will be accompanied by my niece Katherine (Kat). She has been wanting to go for the last two years and now, at the age of 15, things have worked out so that she will be going. I'm anxious to see things through her eyes. I know that after my two daughters returned in 2005, their experiences were often times used as material for projects/discussions or topics for papers in school. It's definately something that stays with you. I'm really anxious to see the excitement in the eyes of some of the other teens there who will likely be standing in line to braid her long blond hair! She actually shares the same birthdate as Elaine and, as we realized tonight, her half-birthday falls on Pearl's birthday. Over these last few weeks I've been trying to think about what it is I will be doing this time, how will I be helping out. It's Africa, so one cannot plan that much.

I expect things will be different.

I've had the benefit, since I returned last March, of being able keep up with things in Namibia via two blogs. Mike Knight's African Travel Blog has provided more insight than I could ever thank him for. Having been to Namibia to help out before, but still not being totally familiar with what 'a day in the life' is really like, I have throughly enjoyed Mike speaking from his heart as a 'longer-term' missionary. Mike has spent most of his time in Okahandja and has experienced life in Namibia. And it is literally through his lens and candid posts, about his feelings and observations, that he has provided a source of inspiration for me. I encourage all of you, if you have not yet visited his site, go and be prepared to laugh, smile, get angry and maybe even cry a little. You will be amazed at the photography as well.

The other blog, Reach Namibia, belongs to Steve and Karrie Graham and their family. As we were leaving Arandis last March, they were just getting in. They are long term missionaries who are residing in Arandis and are helping out with not just Hope's Promise Orphan Ministries but they are fast becoming a great help to others in town as well. Steve and Karrie have four children. Their site has offered many familiar pictures of people and places, stories and updates.

So we leave here on the 22nd and arrive in Namibia on the 24th. I think we'll be heading to Rehoboth first were I will likely take some time to finally update the HPOM website with new photographs, stories and information. Kat will likely be helping out with Bead's of Promise, and creating beaded jewelry that will be sold from the storefront they have there. I am hoping to catch up with Maderyna and her baby, Memory, who is a little over a year old now. I never did see her last Feb/Mar when I was there. Most of our time will likely be spent in Arandis and our trip will likely end with a few days in Okahandja.

We'll see what happens.

Pearl Is Home!

2008-04-09T19:29:00.008-04:00

Yes, she is home but she still does not know what was causing the pain she was having. Hopefully the tests that were done this past Tuesday will shed more light. I had the chance to exchange a few text messages with her today and, once again, she is grateful for all of your prayers and thoughts. Now she can hopefully get back on track with her home schooling and dance program, which by the way, seemed to have run relatively smoothly under the direction of her sister and one of her lead dancers. They actually performed at the church service this past Sunday. And, it is my understanding that she is getting back to her normal routines.

The next big event that I know she is really involved with will be the Bizaare that the church is having to help raise funds for their new building; instead of having to hold services at the town hall or at the outdoor amphitheatre. I believe a downpayment was made on a lot in town when I was there in March. Last I heard, plans are to have a slab and foundation poured and then perhaps have some type of portable structure over the foundation. We'll just have to wait and see waht happens. Below is a picture of the lot where the church will be.

Getting Better .....

2008-04-03T19:12:00.015-04:00

But keep the prayers for Pearl coming...she's not home yet...

4-6 7:15AM - I just got off the phone with Pearl and, once again she sounded great. She said she has not felt any pain, or other symptoms, for 2-3 days now. She is currently on anti-biotics, hopefully the right ones. I remember she had been on anti-biotics last week, when she first went to get checked, only to have things seemingly get better and then have the pain return. Nonetheless, on Tuesday she is still scheduled to be examined more closely by the surgeon in the theater - yes operating room - but she does not believe there will be any surgery involved. Still, there has yet to be a firm diagnosis. Hopefully that will come soon, as will the assurance that any infection has cleared and the symptoms will not return. Once again she wanted me to thank everyone who has kept her in their prayers.

4-5 8AM - from Fabiola...Pearl is doing much better since yesterday. The surgeon came to her this morning and on Tuesday she goes to the theatre* so that they examine more on the cause of the sickness. I will go to arandis this afternoon and come back on monday....we just went to visit the children and the babies in the hospital. I will come with story books on monday and the two of us will read to the children. Greetings to all...fabiola and pearl.

*we suspect she means exploratory surgery, or something like that. Will try to learn more today.

After reading that text message I couldn't help but smile. If you knew Fabiola and Pearl you would understand why. Despite what ever is going on in their life...the pain, the inconvenience, the waiting to find out what is wrong, etc...they choose to put all that aside and continue to do what they can and find a way to help, encourage, be of service to others in their path...and along the way...don

4-4 Just got off the phone with Pearl. She sounds in good spirits. As the text below says, the pain has subsided...for now. Still, they must wait at the hospital for the surgeon to come. She thanks everyone for their prayers.

4-4 10AM - from Fabiola...We are still waiting for the surgeon. We don't have any idea when he will come to see Pearl. The nurse says maybe today, tomorrow or next week. We are not on medical aid, that's why things go a bit slow. The pain has calmed down for a while. We pray that she will be healed. We miss home.

4-4 6AM - just got another text from fabiola..."the specialists came and checked on her. now they said they are calling a surgeon to examine her..."

4-4 3AM - received text from fabiola....both she and pearl rested comfortably last night. However, Pearl is still having symptoms and waiting to see specialists to determine the cause...

4-3 update.

Prayers Please for Pearl

2008-03-27T15:38:00.003-04:00

I just received a text message from Pearl. Evidently she is in alot of pain and, after talking with the doctors via telephone, they fear it could be appendicitis. As I type this, she is on her way to Swakopmund. Swakopmund is about a half-hour away from Arandis. She has asked me for prayers...so now I ask you.

I will keep you posted.

Indescribable Images and Sounds

2008-03-24T21:20:00.004-04:00

As some of you may have already noticed, I've been busy updating the video gallery and I've also included a slide show in the photo gallery.

First, the slide show. Every since my first trip to Namibia in 2006, I have come back wanting to create something that I would have here to remind me of the children and the families there. I always imagined it to also be done to the song "Indescribable" because, quite simply, it is. I cannot put into words what it's like and most times, I do not even try.

This trip, I decided I would try to assemble something although I knew it would not be anything like the slide show that I still have tucked away in my head somewhere. Nonetheless, each time I watch it, it brings a smile to my face and a blur to these eyes.

Second, the youth group videos. I'm sure many of you there will likely not hear what I hear or see what I see when you view these videos. These videos were taken at two separate teen youth/prayer meetings. What I hear are distinct voices, each with their own personality. The sounds I hear and what I see may not be perfect to the vast majority, but what hear and see reminds me how God doesn't ask for perfection. He doesn't require the best voices and harmonies, the perfect chords and notes. He wants you and you alone, as you are, as you sound, as you look. All He wants is a little of your undivided time and attention. Take a look around (when I pan the room) as you watch the video...watch the teens as they forget that this interloper is there during their time of worship. With eyes closed, hands raised they continue to worship.

I know first hand that many of these teens, however, are struggling with many of the issues that teens here have to deal with; alcohol, sex, staying out late, trying to come of age in an environment that, for many, has been painful and traumatic. For some, this connection with this youth group that Boniface has organized could be the key to keeping them heading down the right path.

And as for Mike Knight...many here who know him, miss him very much. Hopefully these clips will give you your own opportunity to worship with him, as you've done in the past, when he was involved with the youth ministry and with the worship team at Christ's Church. Thanks Mike!

Perhaps you might keep them all in your prayers as you listen to them pray...in song.

Lastly, the Crusade videos. It's always incredible to sit, listen and partake in another culture's worship services. As much as they are not what I am accustomed to, they are nonetheless worship services. We all serve the same God and it is just another example of how God simply wants us to give Him time, no matter how you decide to do it.

Peace

Happy Easter

2008-03-22T21:01:00.005-04:00

“For those who believe, no words are necessary.
For those who do not believe, no words are possible.”

As I was looking at photographs I have from Namibia, and given that it is Easter, I was hoping to find something that seemed to fit the occasion. I came across a photograph of a cross on a hillside overlooking Rehoboth that Jackie had taken which I thought would do nicely. Then, as I was looking through some others, I came across a sunset that Mike had taken in Arandis.

Then I got the feeling that I should try to combine them and…well you can see the outcome.

For those of you who might be interested...I've updated the Video Gallery.

Storylines

2008-03-19T07:19:00.010-04:00

This past trip, most of my mornings in Arandis I would be helping out with the second grade class at the Talitha-Kumi Christian Academy. Doors open at 7:40, with arrivals of the students typically around 7:45. Getting there early, and on time, always ensured that I would get a hug from many of the children as they walked through the door.

Between 7:50 and 8:00 would be Worship and Praise time for the entire school. During this time singing and dancing would be included as well as the reading and a discussion of a Scripture passage. After Worship and Praise, the classes would begin splitting off into separate classes, starting with 4th & 5th grade class. The rest of the children remained in the center area for calendar time and alphabet time until 8:20, when the final split occurred and all the children were in their respective leveled classes. For the 2nd grade, this meant the start of reading/phonics segment from 8:20 to 9:10 and mathematics from 9:10 to 10:00. Break followed from 10:00 to 10:20 and it was after break that I would venture on over to the pre-primary and kindergarten to help out there.

I must admit that trying to explain or teach the material to the children was sometimes a challenge in the way the material was presented. What was particularly difficult was trying to explain what a word meant, or what an object was, for something they may not be used to or get to experience as part of their culture. The teaching material was clearly American based, and as Mike pointed out one day…even the months used earlier during calendar time had American seasons and holidays attached to them; like snow scenes in December or summer scenes and our Independence Day in July. I wondered it the children ever really noticed or have ever questioned the material.

The other issue I encountered was similar to when I would help my daughters with their math homework and it was presented in a manner that I did not learn back in my day. Granted its only 2nd grade math but having to teach or show a concept so that it is understood by all was challenging at times. Developmentally, many of these children were clearly at different levels. And, noticeably, the girls in the class seemed to get things faster than the boys.

What I found rewarding, as I suspect most teachers do, is when you see the child using and employing the teaching methods or aids that they learned. But for me, it went beyond that inherent sense of personal satisfaction that I had done something helpful; that I possibly was able to forever impact the life of any one of these children.

For me, at that time and in that place, seeing that happen provided me another glimpse of why I was there and where, in His story – God’s story – I was appearing.

I am awestruck.

What If You Couldn't Visit Someone

2008-03-13T06:07:00.007-04:00

One of the first faces of the children I got to see in Arandis was Chandre's. I remember her smiling face as she peeked out from behind the curtain, through the window, as she unlocked the door. Now, as I sit hear thinking about it, I wonder if it was by design or by happenstance that she be the first to greet me. Either way it was welcoming and assuring and it was great being able to just pick her up and give her a hug after not having been able to do so for over a year.

Everyone in the family was there to greet Jackie, Mike and me. We did not stay long at that initial visit since it was getting late and we had hoped to make our rounds at the three Hope's Promise homes, side-by-side on Quail Street, and at the Banda's home a couple of streets away. But I do remember the feeling of being able to say, "I'll see you tomorrow..." and knowing that for the next twelve days I would once again be waking up in Arandis.

With each successive home we visited that night, we were met with not just "social hugs" but strong hugs and, in many instances, tears of joy that we did return. Here we were thousands of miles from home, in another part of the world, continuing a relationship that, in all reality, the people here could not continue on their own in this same fashion. Sure, there was always the ability to maintain the relationship via correspondence but when it came to maintaining the physical relationship, no matter how hard they might try or want to, the reality is that they might never be afforded the opportunity.

I wonder how that feels? Is there any comparison for me here?

Does the knowledge of not being able to reciprocate and come to the U.S. to visit us have an impact on how they perceive our relationship? How much more precious does this relationship become to them? Is there an extra sense of loss when we leave knowing that if we do not return, the physical relationship will end? Or, does a glimmer of hope exist that someday they too will be able to come and visit us?

I have been blessed with many things but how much do I take for granted the ability and where-with-all to more or less come and go easily; to be able to leave here and visit other people and places and not be dependant upon someone else to maintain or sustain such a physical relationship? Do we all, who are as fortunate, take it for granted?

Another Safe Journey

2008-03-11T17:06:00.002-04:00

11 March 2008

Just a quick post to let you know that we have returned safe and sound, including all luggage. Look for more posts and pictures these upcoming weeks, and maybe even a video or two. Thanks for coming along for the ride, your thoughts and your prayers.

Homeward Bound

2008-03-10T10:10:00.003-04:00

10 March 2008 (not sure what time....)

Currently in Johannesburg, South Africa. Our flight to Washington has been delayed one hour. I'm hoping that Jackie isn't the reason for the almost 24-hour delay in Paris the last time she was traveling back from Namibia. We shall soon see.

We also learned that our flight home includes a little stop in Dakar, Senegal. I landed there for about an hour the last time that I traveled to Namibia in 2007. I am assuming that it will be a similar short stop tonight. Nonetheless, Jackie is not excited about the unadvertised "up and down". Oh well....

During my flight from Namibia to South Africa, I began the process of going over these last three weeks. Perhaps one of the biggest questions I will be asking myself will be, "Is anything clearer for me?" I continue to wonder why, at this time, has Namibia entered into my life and why does it keep calling. I'm sure there is at least one person who will be reading this who might be quick to offer his version of the story at hand.

Jackie and I talked a bit about these last three weeks and she asked what my highlights were. After thinking about it, I told her it was seeing the children and being able to, once again, be a part of their daily life. Then, after thinking more about it, I told her that meeting William and Anna Charles, and their family, is also weighing in as a highlight. As you may recall, they are one of the two new HPOM families in Arandis. I'm not quite sure why, but I feel that there is more in store for me and them.

And so the story continues....

Long Days That Went By Fast

2008-03-09T16:20:00.002-04:00

9 March 2008 10:20 PM

Our flight leaves at 1:45 PM Monday afternoon. If all goes as planned, we arrive in Boston on Tuesday around 9:30 A.M. and I will be having lunch, at home. The world seems so small when thinking about it on those terms, yet the U.S. and Namibia are worlds apart.

As I close out another chapter in this story that I find myself in, I can't help but wonder what lies ahead. For me, I know that it will take the better part of a week for my body to get back into synch with American time. During the times that I should be sleeping, but will not be able to, I will likely begin to process these last three weeks. I will play back the events of my time here. I will think about the conversations I've had and the observations I've made. What have I learned about myself? Could I have done something differently? Would I do something differently the next time? The next time...yes, I am hopeful that there will be.

I've met new people and new families. One of the new families includes a grandmother & grandfather caring for an epileptic daughter, four grandchildren, as well as a HPOM child. Two people who have toiled their entire life and, by right, should be enjoying what little pension they have. Instead they are trying to provide the best life they can for the children in their care. It's awesome to think that our lives will forever be entwined by the interactions we had here.

The other new family is Lina, her three natural children and three HPOM children. I remembered Lina from when she was in Rehoboth. She used to work at the Beads of Promise / Seeds of Hope store. At that time, she only had her own children. It wasn't until the need for additional HPOM families that she agreed to take on the responsibility of caring for and raising three more children and move to Arandis. In addition to the two new families, two children were added to the existing families. Zuelery is now living with Likkie and John, Kassie's nephew, is now in her care.

New families, however, was not limited to HPOM families. We got the chance to meet and talk with Steve and Karrie Graham, a missionary family from Virginia who have taken up residence in Arandis, to help out with Hope's Promise. Unfortunately, our meeting and conversation was brief since they had just arrived a day or to before we were leaving and the only chance we had with them was on the day we were leaving Arandis. From the brief conversation and interaction we had, I am anxious to keep up with their new life in Arandis through their blog. It will be good to continue to get updates on life in Arandis through their experiences. I wish them the best.

We've had the opportunity to have good conversations with our friends Joan and Dieter Morsbach, Nan Parker, Brenda Johnston, Richard and Sylvia Beukes, and many others involved in various ministries here. We also got to spend time three weekends with Mike Knight, from Christ's Church, who is here for a year as a distributed youth pastor. Mike has been working mostly in Okahandja with the youth there and hopes to spend time in Arandis and maybe Rehoboth.

I have been blessed to have been able to be here for the third time. Once again, the long and busy days resulted in time that just seemed to pass by quickly. And, while leaving is not easy, I know that I must return home to a family who has allowed me this incredible opportunity; to resume the responsibilities that I have there.

Good night Namibia.

Winding Down

2008-03-08T00:39:00.010-05:00

7 March 2008 11:10 PM

It's raining, thundering and lightning again this evening here in Rehoboth. I believe that the average annual rainfall has already been surpassed in each of the areas we have visited. Rain here is a blessing and its welcome is a bit different than how we tend to feel at home. I must admit that all blessings aside, after watching the distant lightening getting closer and closer, as we traveled last night from Windhoek to Rehoboth (approx 60 miles), once we hit the driving rains about 12 miles outside of Rehoboth, we were blessed at having making it through it all. Nighttime driving in Namibia is a challenge in dry weather, ever on the lookout for wildlife passing in front of you. The addition of torrential rains make it all the more difficult to see through the now bug-smeared windshield. Without the benefit of any breakdown lanes, you can't simply stop in the middle of the road and wait for the rain to subside. You must continue on.

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Today concluded with a dinner of pizza prepared by Jackie and Cath-lo followed by some good conversation with Sylvia and Richard Beukes, our hosts here in Rehoboth. Mike Knight, who is also here with, is doing a bit of research and preparing information for cross-cultural training. Discussions about differences between American and African customs and traditions lasted for a couple of hours. Included was additional conversations about our time in Arandis and interactions with the mommies and families. We learned more about some of the children and families, their circumstances and struggles.

The majority of my day today was spent working on computer systems at the HPOM offices. We did get to visit with the only HPOM family here in Rehoboth, Beuhla and Frank have four children of their own and Adisha, a 7 year old HPOM child. What a beautiful family. Beuhla also helps out with some of the beading at the Beads of Promise operations here. You will be able to read more about this family and all of the others, including updated photographs of the children and families, once I get back to the States. One of the hightlights of my day here to day was finally being able to give Franco, a teenager I met last year in Arandis who loves the WWF and Triple H, an autographed photograph addressed 'To Franco' from Triple H himself. He was very grateful and couldn't wait to show off his new prize to his friends.

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Today I also spent almost an hour listening to and chatting with Friedell, who works in the office of HPOM here in Rehoboth. She told me of her family, children and worries and dreams. One son, who really was a foster son; a boy she took in as a refugee from Angola, is currently awaiting trial for attempting to smuggle cocaine out of Brazil by swallowing little bags of it. She told me how he watch his wife die in the process; overdosing as a result of a plan gone wrong. She told me of how she could only wonder if part of her son's plight was because of something that she had done wrong as a mother. We talked about parenting and I assured her that I too have many of the same concerns she has with respect to the safety and well being of our children; how, despite mistakes they may make in life we may not condone their actions but continue to love them. Tonight, as I type this I find it such a contrast to countless number of children who have no one to care about them or who would continue to love them after some of the mistakes they will inevitably make during their lives.

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Thursday we left Okahandja after another evening at Joan and Dieter's. Unfortunately Dieter was not able to join us but we continued to learn more about their ministry. What a passion they have for the children, selflessly giving of themselves day after day, feeling that there is absolutely no other place on God's Earth that they would rather be. Dieter did call and both Jackie and I had the chance to talk with him before we left. We also went to say our goodbyes to Tiago, Innocent and Sylvia at the woodcarvers market. During our ride into Windhoek, I drove as Mike wanted to take photographs along the way of the very rare, green landscape.

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When we first arrived in Windhoek, I needed to try to get to a bank to try to find a way to get in touch with VISA credit fraud department. Not that anything happened here, but despite having notified my bank that I was going to be in Namibia and using my card, Karen still received a call from VISA wanting to talk to me directly. First, there was no toll free number listed for Namibia and the toll free number for South Africa was not working, either from my cell phone or a land line. I was hoping a VISA affiliated bank would be able to assist, but the South African number that they gave me also did not work. Of course, I did attempt to use the 'reverse-charge' U.S. phone number but before I could ask to reverse any charges, I was caught up in our typical U.S. automated answering systems. Nonetheless, I have have yet to contact VISA and have not yet decided whether I will attempt to use the card again. We were also here to meet up with Toivo Thomas, a HPOM child and student at the International School in Windhoek.

Now Windhoek is Namibia's largest city and even has buildings that are taller than those in Nashua along its main downtown areas. We were amazed that during our short time in Windhoek that we would run into four people we knew. We first saw Cath-lo Beukes, who is attending school in Windhoek. Shortly after that, and in a different area, we happened to come across her mom and sister, Sylvia and Francey. Then, as we were browsing in a mall bookstore, who sees us from the outside and pops in, but Thelma, Joan and Dieter's daughter.

We spent the afternoon with Toivo. He really looks great and is turning out to be quite the young man. He fondly refers to Jackie as his 'white American mom'. After sharing many laughs roaming the streets of the city, we ended our time in Windhoek having an enjoyable dinner, dropped Toivo off at home and then headed for Rehoboth.

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Saturday will find me trying to tie up loose ends with computers here, compiling a DVD of photographs for Brenda Johnston, and Jackie giving being among the keynote speakers at the International Women's Day event. After that, and because it is Richard's birthday and his and Sylvia's anniversary, they will be having the entire family here Saturday night for a braai (barbecue). Although Maderyna is supposedly here in Rehoboth and knows we are here, she has yet to stop by Sylvia's house or the Hope's Promise shop. I am hopeful that she will, but have left it in God's hands to decide if her life and mine will continue to crosspaths. Sunday I hope to be able to sit with Sylvia and discuss the Hope's Promise website. Monday, before we head to the airport, I will also be meeting with Sylvia's sister in order to discuss two websites she would like to have developed; one for her travel agency and another for the lodge/guesthouse that she and her husband wish to open.

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I apologize for not getting on or posting more often but we continue to be at the mercy of the Internet here. It appears that the heavy rains and thunderstorms continue to raise havoc with their systems here. I am hopeful to get at least one more post in before we leave. Thanks for coming along on our journey.

Once Again, All Good Things Must Come To An End

2008-03-03T18:05:00.002-05:00

4 March 2008 1:00 AM

Well, this is it, our last full day in Arandis. Wednesday morning we leave and return to Okahandja for one night and then our travels will lead us to Rehoboth for Thursday through Sunday. Monday morning we depart Windhoek for our journey home.

These last few days have been hectic and quite interesting, particularly the weather. During Monday's early hours (1:30 AM) we had quite the rain, wind and lightning storm which lasted for well over a half-hour; feeling almost like what I've heard a tropical storm might be like. Later during the day and into the evening one could still see puddles (some quite large) from the storm; an oddity here in Arandis. Mike was here again this past weekend and return to Okahandja yesterday. He made sure to send a text to Jackie, telling her that on our way back, we needed to be sure to stop along the side of the road to marvel and photograph the greenery that is rarely seen here.

Last evening I was walking and chatting with Chriszelda, one of the pre-school teachers at Talitha-Kumi, along the "back road" which hugs the desert here. We stopped in awe at the red and orange sunset in the west and the two or three different rain storms to northwest, in the distance horizon. The weather, for the most part, has been warm and a total contrast to the mess which I have been following and keeping track of back home. I can honestly say that I am not anxious to return home on account of the weather.

Pictures and videos...yes I have some but have not been inclined to post them from here due to Internet costs. I will take the the time to post them once I return home. I personally have not taken as many as I normally do but will have access to Jackie's and Mike's photos. Actually, if you want to see one of my new favorite pictures, check out Mike's recent "picture of the day". What a cutie she is and my how she has grown! I will also be updating the HPOM website, upon my return home, with new photographs of the children and families, including the two new HPOM families here in Arandis.

Steve and Karrie Graham and their family finally arrived last night. They have moved here, from Virginia, are here to help out with Hope's Promise. I am hoping to meet them today, or at least before we leave on Wednesday. Please be sure to keep them in your prayers as they begin a new chapter of their lives here. Welcome Steve and Karrie!

In terms of a successful trip here to Arandis, I would say that it was. I did get done many or most of the things I had hoped to. Of course, what I began to cram in towards the end was spending more time with individual and families. I continue to sort out the reflections I might have on my time here and of the interactions I have had and the observations I have made. And, as I may have noted in a prior post, some of the revelations do not occur until well after I have returned home.

One reality that I can share now is that with each of my return trips, despite their relative brevity, the relationships with the children and their families continue to grow and expand. It's incredible to experience the hospitality of even the newest of the HPOM families like Willem and Anna. They are grandparents who are the caretakers of their grandchildren and Gino, a HPOM child from Rehoboth. Grandparents caring for their grandchildren is all-too-often a common situation here. They are doing a remarkable job. They are one of the 8 homes or so that are located "outside of town" near the train station at the entrance to the town from the B2 highway. To get to their homes, you literally get off the main road into Arandis and follow one of many different trails across the desert sand. The children walk to school from here, leaving their homes around 6:30 AM to make it in time for the 7:30 AM start to classes.

I think that out of the three from the U.S. who were here, namely Mike, Jackie and myself, I had been the one most attached to Arandis and the HPOM families here. It has been interesting to watch and listen how both Mike and Jackie have also come to know the children and their families more intimately. Jackie is already looking forward to her return trip this coming July and Mike has already made promises that he will be back soon.

Yes, it has been an interesting trip, from the extremely Pentacostal Crusade weekend that was here last Thursday, Friday and Saturday night to the invasion of bugs (Nan says due to the rains...). I literally walked into my bedroom Sunday night and thought I had entered a moth farm. Unfortunately, our moth eradicator (nan's vacuum) was in her bedroom and no one dared try to retrieve it at 10:30 PM. There has been many laughs and stories. We got to talk, via Skype, to the Christ's Church team who will be coming down here the first two weeks of July. Nan, Pearl and Boniface also got their chance to talk to the team.

My next post will likely be from Rehoboth, unless I get inspired during my short, one-night stay at Joan and Dieter's Wednesday night. Until then..

P.S. As a reminder, be sure to visit Mike's blog, Jackie's blog and the Graham's blog

Just Some Random Thoughts

2008-02-28T23:58:00.009-05:00

28 February, 2008 7 AM

This trip continues to be different than the others. Not that I should be surprised, I'm not. It's just a matter of trying to pinpoint exactly what that difference is. Perhaps I'll figure it out after I leave here. Perhaps it will be one, two or three months from now.
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Since Tuesday, I have been helping to teach the 2nd grade at Talitha Kumi Christian Academy. I have been doing the reading/phonics and mathematics sections all week and will continue to do so until I leave Arandis this coming Wednesday. The Namibia teachers here aren't quite up to the standards which we, as Americans, might expect. They also seem to lack, what Nan calls, a basic common sense when it comes to teaching children. As the Principal of the school she is constantly trying to lead by, or offer examples. Nan brings with her 38 years of experience teaching in Florida, including time as an assistant principal and principal. She has her work cut out for her here. Ferris, the current 2nd grade "teacher" is actually in the process of getting his teaching credentials. He is currently a pastor, though I am not sure where. Today after class, he asked me if I was a math teacher back at home and thanked me for helping him understand better methods for teaching.

Now don't misunderstand, though I have not chatted personally with each of the teachers here, I have the belief that they are doing the best they can, with what they know. It's just that what they know is not what you or I would settle for with our children.
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Helping with homework seems to be one of my ongoing duties, particularly with 3 Hope's Promise students who are in the 8th grade and in the public high school. I must admit that there is a bit of satisfaction when seeing "the light come on" after explaining and walking through some of the problems they are having; particularly with math and accounting. One of the 8th graders that I will be helping this weekend is a boy who just turned 17. He already failed 8th grade once and if he fails it again, he cannot return. Then there is the story of Caroline. Last year Caroline was a Senior and was among the top 12 in her class, getting high grades and seemingly not having any difficulties. However, upon taking the exam she needed to take in order to graduate, that was administered by a board outside of the high school, she failed. Thus, she failed her Senior year. She is now enrolled in a school in Windhoek and trying to make up the credits she needs. The other sad part to this story was that she did not find out herself, that she had failed, until her name was published in the local newspaper, which listed all the seniors who had failed the exam. She was devastated. How do you suppose an 18-year old American girl would react to that?
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This afternoon, I set up my laptop with a projector to view the a copy of the Melissa Hoffman Dance Center 2008 Make-A-Wish DVD that David Smith so graciously let me borrow. Pearl's dance group is great to watch. She has done a fabulous job of coming up with choreography for the group of 35-40 dancers that she now has. Once again, this is a credit to the Melissa Hoffman Dance Center, each member of that first 2005 Dance Team who came down, as well as those girls who have continued to come back to Namibia since that time and those who weren't here in 2005 but came in 2006 or 2007. It is certainly a testimony of a positive and lasting effect of a group of teenage girls giving up two weeks of their summer to come to a place like Namibia, to give themselves. They will never know just how much of an impact they had until they see for themselves how the seeds they planted have blossomed and continue to flourish. Our girls who came down touched and changed the lives of these children here. Awesome to think about...

As we viewed the DVD, I just looked around the room, at the faces of these kids as they watched the American dancers. Some never seemed to blink or peel their eyes away from the wall that I was projecting on. Some were moving to the beat of the music, perhaps trying to be part of the choreography from where they were sitting. Where I could, I pointed out some of the dancers that the children might know. I tried to imagine what their thoughts may have been. Last Tuesday, as I watched Pearl practice with the group and watched the different "leaders" go through the dance numbers in smaller groups, I know some of these dancers would be outstanding if given the ability to take lessons and learn more about dance and its discipline. Despite their potential, the sad fact is that this potential will likely never be realized. But then again, who am I to foretell how their story goes...
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The children. They have grown. The dynamics is noticeably different between me, Chandre and Elaine. It's not a bad thing, just different. They are two years older than when I first met them. Then there are all of the others. So many more than when I was here in 2007. I've found that helping out in the school has allowed me the chance to get to know them better. Leaving in less than a week might not be so easy...again. I guess what bothers me the most is not being able to watch them grow up or be a part of their daily life, as I am when I am here. One night last week, as I was walking home from "Quail Street" (the location of three of the six families), I couldn't help but wonder what my relationship with them will be 5 years from now. I'm not sure why I chose 5 years. Perhaps because someone like Elaine would be turning 18 and Chandre 15. What would their life be like then? It wondered what the future holds for them, or any of the other children?
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As my time in Arandis winds down, I have begun to think more about what Rehoboth has in store for me. I am hopeful that I will be able to spend time with Maderyna and her daughter, Memory. For those of you reading this who might not know who I am speaking about, Maderyna is one of the reasons I first came down to Namibia in 2006. We never did meet in 2006 but we did meet in 2007. There are various posts from 2007 that you can check out to learn more about just who she is.
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Pastor Tresford and Fabiola Banda were able to finally put a downpayment on a plot, in their plans to construct a church for the Arandis Christian Center. It is their intention to construct the foundation and get the slab poured, then erect a large tent as soon as funds become available. I remember exchanging emails about Tresford's hopes for acquiring this plot back in 2006. It has finally happened and they are very prayerful and hopeful that they will continue to be blessed with the things they need; realizing that it might not be received in their time, but in God's. Now they are turning to us to help in ideas for fundraising and going beyond the tithes received from their congregation.
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Thanks to everyone for their continued thoughts and prayers. We will likely be leaving Arandis on Wednesday, March 5th and head back to Okahandja for one night. I am hopeful that we can get back to the Ark once again to visit with the children there. Then it is off to Windhoek on Thursday where we will hopefully be able to spend some time with Toivo. After that, we will head down to Rehoboth and be the guests of Sylvia and Richard Beukes; returning to Windhoek on Monday, February 10th for our journey home.

What a Story This Is Indeed

2008-02-25T17:02:00.006-05:00

26 February 2008 12:05 AM

As Brenda, Jackie and I were riding out to Walvis Bay, and as the car made its way between the sand dunes on the left and the South Atlantic on the right, my mind wandered back to 2006; when I made my way down this same roadway in July of 2006 for the first time. Here, some 2 1/2+ years later, and in Namibia for the third time, I found myself riding down the same road. My amazement with the situation wasn't so much the fact of where I was or what I was seeing, but rather the story that I was now finding myself in.

If you've been keeping up with things on Jackie's blog, you may have read how I've already begun thinking about how limited our time here, in Arandis, is. Even though it will be the longest I have been here, I can't help but look around and see all that needs to be done and wonder if there will be enough time to even make a dent in it. My days have been filled with tightening door knobs, gate latches, installing printer drivers, computer repairs and updates. We have visited and spent a little time with five of the six families here in Arandis. I have spent time helping with homework, playing ball tag and watching Ben10 (cartoon of a boy who can turn himself into 10 monsters to help fight evil). Today Jackie and I also visited the C.H.A.I.N School in Swakopmund, hoping to catch up with Armando and his mom Justine. Armando was not there today but we did take the time to kick a soccer ball around with four of the ten other children who are enrolled there to get the special assistance they need. Embarrassingly, I must admit that I was a bit apprehensive on how to interact with these (as I risk not being politically correct...) moderately to severely handicapped children; something that I really have never done before. Yet, we kicked the ball around a circle as best we could, sometimes holding the ball at the feet of a couple of the children so they could attempt to kick or push the ball themselves.

Driving home from Swakopmund, the conversation turned to what impact do we, as short-term visitors, volunteers or missionaries have upon these people, these children? Is there a sense of loss when we leave, or are have they become immune to the comings of goings of teams and volunteers over the years? At what point or under what circumstances would there be a sense of loss? Are we helpful or harmful in that respect? I remember in 2006 that a big concern that I had in deciding to come here for the first time was, "Would I be able to finish what I would be starting?" I did not want to step into the lives of the children and families here, only to just step out.

Already I feel that I have spent more time listening to the stories and circumstances of the children, parents and foster parents, as well as those dedicated individuals involved with the various efforts and organizations, both here in Arandis and in Okahandja. Efforts and organizations that attempt to provide a better, Christian way of life for so many.

What a story this is indeed.

What's ahead? We will begin to help out in the schools tomorrow. Nan will have Jackie and I working one-on-one with some of the children of Talitha Kumi Christian Academy, in the first through fifth grade, who are in need of additional and more personal help and assistance with their learning. We will also be helping out at the pre-primary school. I will continue to have computers to repair; systems that I had worked on last year that have since developed issues and are not running properly. Smithly, one of the younger children, soon after my arrival commented to me that he was glad I was back so I could fix their computer.

It is my understanding that Richard Beukes was transporting the playground from Rehoboth to Arandis this week so perhaps its reconstruction here might also be on our agenda. And, I know of a tree which needs to be cut up behind the primary school. I hope to also continue helping with homework where I can.

For now though, it is 1:45 AM and time for my nap. I have school tomorrow.

(Don't forget to check out Mike Knight's blog.)

Just Like Family

2008-02-23T18:57:00.003-05:00

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...

Plans? What plans?

2008-02-22T09:16:00.003-05:00

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.

2008-02-21T07:53:00.003-05:00

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.

In Johannesburg, South Africa

2008-02-20T09:24:00.001-05:00

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.

Four Days and Counting

2008-02-15T07:44:00.006-05:00

First, thank you to those of you who have contributed donations to be used towards the needs of Hope's Promise Orphan Ministry. With your help, last night Jackie, Karen and I did some shopping and were able to replenish part of their supply of children and adult medicines and school supplies; some of which they were entirely out of. There are so many things there that seem much more expensive, of lesser quality, or not even available. Many I've spoken to about the trip, who have extended their thoughts and prayers have asked, "Is it too late to donate or contribute since you will be leaving soon?" Absolutely not. It is never too late to help. As I stated in a previous post, you can send a check in my name to Karen (6 Bible Way, Nashua 03063), she will deposit it here, and I can retrieve your contribution using an ATM in Namibia!

So, four days and counting. I have been running around here the last week or so, trying to get things done and prepare for my time in Namibia. However, I have found it difficult to clear my head of all that is included in what I do here, and to begin focusing on my transition to a different way of life for the upcoming three weeks. A way of life where one simply cannot assume that they can or should act as they do here; that there are some things that may not be acceptable or might likely be misunderstood there. I need to be aware so as to not be unintentionally hurtful to my friends and hosts there.

When in Namibia, I need to remember that I am stepping into their world. I need to be ever mindful and respective of their perspective; of how will they perceive what I say or do. It's the cultural transition that my friend Darin Shaw and the group at Christ's Church, who have made so many more trips to Namibia, talk about when they take a group over. I am hopeful that in these next few days I can begin to focus in on this. If anything, as I tend to not sleep on airplanes, I should have time to reflect on this during the 13+ hour flight from Washington to Johannesburg.

Thank you all for your continued thoughts and prayers.

Two Weeks Away

2008-02-04T23:02:00.000-05:00

I think the tentative schedule once we arrive in Namibia on Feb 20th is to have Mike Knight pick us up at the airport in Windhoek. Then we will head back to Okahandja and spend the night there with Dieter and Joan as our hosts, and pick up our rental car in the morning.

We will likely then head out to Arandis on the 21st, as Mike has offered to help out with a conference that Pastor Tresford Banda is holding over the weekend. But it could also be that we head out there early on the 22nd. The program starts Friday night. Then it will be almost two weeks in Arandis, at Nan's house, where I stayed last year. I'm assuming we will be making 4-5 trips out to Swakopmund, on the coast, as that is where most of our shopping will be accomplished. Hopefully we can also bring some of the children on a little field trip out there and go to the dunes or the beach.

On the 4th or 5th of March, we will head back to Okahandja for another night or two. While in Okahandja, we hope to visit with the children at the Ark, another orphanage. With any luck, Mike will still have access to a vehicle so we can turn in our rental and save a few dollars on daily rent and mileage.

Our final destination will be Rehoboth. During our time here we will be staying at Sylvia's house. Here I will be working on 3-4 computer systems that I did not get to during my last trip. We will also help dismantle a playground that will eventually be transported from Rehoboth to Arandis. Hopefully I can get some pictures and video of the Beads of Promise/Seeds of Hope beading operation so I can build a website and help promote the sale of the beads here in the States. I will also be making a trip back into Windhoek with Sylvia to meet her sister and discuss a couple of web sites she might like me to build for her.

[REVISED]

On Saturday, March 8th, we will also be witnessing the renewal of marriage vows between Sylvia and Richard and we will be attending the International Women's Day festivities where Jackie will be the guest "International" speaker. [How could I have forgotten that!]

On Monday the 10th, Mike will drop us off back at the airport for our flight back home to arrive on the 11th.

Getting Ready....To See New Faces

2008-02-02T09:55:00.001-05:00

Since my last trip to Nambia, things have changed somewhat between Rehoboth and Arandis. Two families have been added to Arandis, either as a transplant from Rehoboth or as a new HPOM foster family. Where there were four families with eleven children just one year ago, today there are six families and twenty-four Hope's children now in Arandis. Unfortunately, this increase in families and children did not occur with a commensurate level of staff, resources or facilities. They are in dire need of a new school building for the kindergarten and pre-primary; one of the projects that I hope I am able to help out with when I am there. The construction of the new school will free up one of the homes. Additional housing is needed for the Graham family, from America, who will be living and ministering in Arandis. You can read more about Steve, Karrie, Kailey, Ashlan, Jessa and Josiah Graham, and keep up with their life in Nambia, at their blog - Reach Namibia. I am hoping they will be arriving around the time I am there so I can meet them and spend some time with them and their children.

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

I know that the last time I went to Namibia, I had sent out letters requesting donations for Hope's Promise to friends and family. Your generous donations went a long way. This time around, I decided not to specifically request donations using individual mailings. However, if you feel in your heart that you would like to contribute, or contribute again, your donation will be graciously accepted. Per your instructions it will either be forwarded to Namibia for use there, or used to purchase items here, that we bring there. Donations can be sent to: Don Berthiaume, 6 Bible Way, Nashua, NH 03063. I will be purchasing things here before I leave on February 19th, or giving what ever donations I receive to Hope's Promise. If you do send a donation, please be sure to have the check made out to me, in my name. As I did last year, I will deposit your donations into an account here (or Karen will if it arrives after I leave) and simply go to an ATM while in Namibia and pull out your donations in Namibian dollars and give the money to Brenda.

I know my list of things to bring currently includes:

children's cough/cold and flu medicine

adult cough/cold and flu medicince

antibiotic cream

over the counter medication for ringworms and styes

ibuprofen for adults

gauze and bandages

I also know that there is likely a list of things for the school that they are in need of, though Brenda has yet to get me that list. So before I leave I will be making my trips to either Sam's or BJ's to purchase what I can and bring down for them.

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

As before, your prayers and thoughts are needed for our preparation, our travel to and from, and our time in Namibia.

And You Wonder Who You Are, Under Who You Are

2008-02-01T23:16:00.000-05:00

That thought is part of the lyrics from one of the songs on Peter Mayer's latest compilation, Still in one Peace. The song is called Waterfall. As I prepare to return to Namibia, after a year, I've been trying to remember how it is I felt after I returned home last time. I say "try to remember" because I find I no longer feel as I felt for those first days, weeks or months of understanding where I had been and why. Peter's thoughts about wondering who you are, under who you sort of brings me back to those days after returning home, trying to sort things out.

While in Namibia, I was different. I was different because my environment was different. For two weeks (or so) I had stepped out of my world. My daily routine that I had become accustomed to, didn't exist there.

As I return, I wonder again how things will be, who will I be under who I am? What will coming home be like after, once again, stepping out of my world here, and this time for three weeks?

It Truly Is All About The Relationship

2008-01-15T00:26:00.000-05:00

I attended the information meeting on January 6 for the summer trip to Namibia that Christ's Church is hoping to take. The question arose regarding the best use of the money that the trip would cost. In other words, if the trip costs $2,000 per person and there are 30 people going, couldn't the people of Namibia make better use of the $60,000 instead of having 30 people fly down for a couple of weeks?"

It's a good question. The very one that I asked Brenda Johnston (HPOM - Arandis) back in 2006, during my first trip to Namibia. We were standing in the vacant lot that I had been running around kicking a soccer ball with the children (yes, I was taking a break...). Her answer went something like this, "Don, while the money obviously helps, it's really not the money the people here want. What they want is you to come down and be a part of their life, if only for a week. They want to know someone cares enough to come down."

They want the relationship.

This morning I received an email from my housemate Boniface Ndagijimana. He is the one I stayed with while in Namibia when I went on my own just about a year ago in 2007. In his email, he let me know that he had made it back to Arandis after having gone home (Burundi) and that he and his fiance Angelique were now ready for their wedding on July 12th. Here is the rest of the email in his words...

"If you are coming this summer, let me know so that I may give the full programme and where you can fit. I miss you and your wisdom. I believe you will be of great help for me."

I sent him a text message tonight telling him we could talk about it in 5 weeks or so when I am back down there. I'm excited to hear of his plans. I hope I can make the wedding!

It's Official - Namibia Feb 19 - Mar 11

2008-01-12T14:31:00.000-05:00

Well, after almost a year since my last trip, I made plane reservations this morning to make another trip to Namibia. This time, I will not be heading down alone. Jackie Livsey (Ms. Lippy's Blog) will be coming with me. Her daughter Steph first went to Namibia with my daughters as part of the dance team in 2005. Jackie and I then went as part of a group from Christ's Church in 2006. Then, Jackie was fortunate enough to go back this past summer with both of her daughters on another Christ's Church trip.

Luckily, South African Air was having a 2 for 1 special and we took advantage of it. The savings on air fare really helped and was too good to pass up.

What's on tap this time? More computer updating, teaching classes to grades 1-5, perhaps some construction. I am also going to try to actually do some of my own web work for clients I have here at home and, at the same time, offer some instruction or classes to those who might be interested in how web pages are built or how the Internet works.

Who knows what else...

I'll be sure to keep you updated.

Okay, so I'm envious of Mike...and other ramblings

2007-12-11T21:50:00.000-05:00

Mike who? Mike Knight. On December 3rd he left his comfort zone here in the good old US of A to be a Distributed Pastor for Christ's Church Amherst...in Okahandja, Namibia - for a year. Well, hopefully a year. The way things work down there is that you can only stay less than 3 months (90 days?) without having the appropriate work visa. He is hoping that his visa comes through before his 3 months is up. Let's all pray that will happen.

I never got the chance to catch up with him before he left. I hope he knows that I wish him well and all the best and will be doing all that I can to meet up with him at some point during these next 12 months.

He has a blog that you really need to bookmark and check out often...maybe even share your thoughts on his posts or pictures. Mike's African Travel Blog

I can't believe it's about one month shy of a year since I've been back to Namibia. What I'm thinking about alot lately is that I was hoping to have gone back by now....but life here somehow got in the way. Often times I feel guilty for wanting to be there...instead of here. As I read Mike's blog, I'm there with him as he writes about people I know, places I've been, things that I have seen....

...in Africa.

That notion still literally blows my mind, as I sit here amidst all of the material things that I have been blessed with, but somehow feel I can do without.

In Case You've Ever Wondered, This Is Why...

2007-08-19T21:44:00.000-04:00

Thanks again to Amanda for making my day! I received this small video clip from her tonight.

I Need to Keep Reminding Myself...This Isn't a Rehersal.

2007-08-18T20:40:00.000-04:00

I guess all I can say is that I have allowed myself to merge back on over into the passing lane "that is" America. How and why I allow myself to fall back into the rat race here is probably a good topic for another discussion. It's been 3 months since my last post. Despite coming back to this blog every so often, wondering what I could write about, nothing was there.

No urge to write.

Empty thoughts.

Numb?

I know that I haven't really given myself time to be quiet and think this summer, or to reflect on my time in Namibia. In fact, it was just now that I realized it was seven months ago today that I had my layover in Johannesburg and it will be seven months tomorrow that I arrived in back in Namibia.

Interesting timing...no?

I also received this picture today. It is a picture I have been hoping that I would get to see. As you may be able to tell, it's Chandre, Memory, and Maderyna. It was taken by Amanda Lafave when she was in Arandis this past July. Thank you Amanda! Jackie Livsey sent it to me. Thanks Jackie! Jackie also got to go back to Namibia this year, this time with her two daughters. If I can scrounge up some photo links, I'll post them here. I've included the link to Amanda's blog. It's well worth the read. Amanda, great song! I've printed it out and I think it might help the numbness wear off :-)

So perhaps with the coming together of all of things Namibian today, who knows what will happen. I may even post again before the next three months go by...

Welcome To The World Memory

2007-05-17T19:38:00.000-04:00

17 May 2007

Memory weighed in at 3.5kg (7.7 lbs) when she was brought into this world. I hear Maderyna is still in Rehoboth and will not be heading to the farm in Kalkrand, which is about 100km (62 miles or so) south of Rehoboth, until the early part of June. Although this mother and daughter are doing fine, the other mother and daughter combination still continues to have its issues. Ricky (from HPOM) referred to the relationship between Maderyna and her mother as being a bit "deurmekaar". Using my trusty Afrikaans translating machine, deurmekaar means "dazed, perplexed, upset"

Maderyna turns 16 tomorrow. Babies having babies.

Prayer is all anybody from here can offer. And I hope you keep all three in your prayers. It's not in our hands, but His.

Faith is the daring of the soul to go farther than it can see.
- William Newton Clark

Faith notwithstanding, this is one soul who still wishes he had a stronger pair of binoculars.

Happy Birthday Chandre, Maderyna & Elaine

2007-05-17T18:30:00.000-04:00

17 May 2007

Chandre turns 10 today. Her sister, Maderyna turns 16 tomorrow, and Elaine turns 13 on Saturday.

I'm not sure how big an event like a birthday is in Arandis. While I was there, I do remember one of the children had a birthday. I don't think she was a "HPOM child", but a daughter of Julianna and Richard; one of the HPOM families. Anyway, I don't recall anything special being done. It's just something else to think about I guess. Here, as children, many of us had the opportunity to have birthday parties with friends; there would be cake, ice cream, balloons, games and gifts.

I wonder what the impression of a child from Arandis would be if, for once, they got to experience a birthday celebration - American style.

I wonder what the impression of a child from America would be if, for once, they got to experience a birthday celebration - Arandis style.

Mother and Daughter are doing fine!

2007-05-09T10:41:00.000-04:00

9 May 2007

I just received word from Ricky at Hope's Promise in Rehoboth that Maderyna's aunt had been in touch with them and said that Maderyna and her new daughter were doing fine. The baby arrived yesterday. Ricky has not spoken with or seen Maderyna directly but hopes to visit with her at the hospital later today or tomorrow.

25 April - Update on Maderyna

2007-04-24T09:33:00.000-04:00

25 April 2007

Rather than enter a new post, I thought I would simply add to this one.

I just got off the telephone with Sylvia. Although Maderyna was scheduled for her c-section today, as a precautionary measure the doctors took another ultrasound first and decided it was too early as she is only 35 weeks along. So they have reschedule it for May 8th. She will be released from the hospital tomorrow.

Also for those, like me, who may have been concerned with the reasons why the decision to perform a c-section were made, Sylvia confirmed that there were no health or medical related issues; that at her young age, it was being done as a precautionary measure and to make things less harder and painful for her.

I will keep you posted as I learn more.

24 April 2007

I just received an email from Cath-lo, Sylvia's daughter, who tells me that Maderyna will be having a cesarian-section on Thursday. Please keep her in your prayers.

Cath-lo also wanted me to say "Hello" to all of her friends here in New Hampshire. As some of you may know, she will be leaving for Germany soon to spend some time there.

What You Will Not See in Arandis

2007-04-23T22:07:00.000-04:00

23 April 2007

The ice cream truck! The ice cream truck!

You remember shouting these words as a child, don't you? As I was having dinner tonight, I heard the unmistakable (and most repetitative) tune of the local ice cream truck beginning to make its way through the neighborhood for the first time this year. And, after all these years of hearing it, tonight as I sat and listened to it, only one thought came to mind, oh how I wish I could drive through Arandis with that same little truck.

All I can do is smile as I imagine the look upon the children's faces...and so many children! And, I think this is one of those scenes where you really need to have walked those same streets to truly understand, or picture the scene of an ice cream truck driving around the streets of Arandis. It would be so out of the ordinary. In thinking about it, even some of the poor neighborhoods here still get to see the ice cream man come by. But not there.

Remember, as children, how excited we were to first hear this thing on another street and then finally have it come down our street? We would all run to our respective houses, unless of course we were lucky enough to have the change in our pockets already, to buy our favorite treat. Mine was the orange sherbert rocket thing, the cylindrical tube with that push up stick and the surprise plastic figure hidden beneath the ice cream.

Now, what a contrast. Typically towards the middle to end of the summer, I'll admit that at some times, I have become easily annoyed with hearing the music coming from that truck. Perhaps it's because I don't run out anymore, nor are my children around to do the same. It's lost its magic. Maybe this year my attitude will be different. Maybe, each time I hear the ice cream truck, I'll remember the children in Arandis who will likely never get to experience the excitement of having the ice cream man come around, let alone having the money to purchase an ice cream.

Once again, it is just something among the many things that realize I take for granted; something as simple as buying an ice cream from the ice cream truck.

Maybe, like tonight, hearing that repetitive tune will put a smile on my face as I close my eyes and drive through Arandis handing out ice cream to everyone.

News from Rehoboth

2007-04-18T12:24:00.000-04:00

18 April 2007

I had received an email a few days ago from Ricky at Hope's Promise informing me that Maderyna and her mother had returned. Unfortunately, that is all the email said. After a couple unsuccessful attempts, I was finally able to get in touch with Sylvia today to learn more.

Sylvia said that Maderyna is doing fine and is planning on keeping her baby and living on the farm with her mother. I asked about that situation, and about her mother in particular, and Sylvia said that this was the best she has seen Maderyna's mother in a long time. She thought that maybe this time she will be able to keep things going in a positive direction for herself and provide the help and support that Maderyna will be needing. Sylvia sat down with both of them to try to get a sense of what their game plan was, or how they would do this...or that, and she seemed satisfied that Maderyna has thought things out and that they at least have a plan. The bottom line is that if she chooses to keep the baby, as she is planning on, she needs to start taking control of her life.

Her baby is due May 5th. She will be turning 16 on May 18th.

While I have concerns about all that has gone on and all that could happen in the future, I need to realize that it is not in my hands to control. All anyone can do is pray that God watches over her and her new baby. Sylvia leaves on her sabbatical at the end of May and will be checking on Maderyna and the baby a couple of times before she leaves. After that, I'm not sure what will happen and what Maderyna's relationship with Hope's Promise will be. I believe "the farm" where she will be living is outside of Rehoboth so I am not sure how often she would have the opportunity to come to Hope's Promise.

So the story continues...

Virginia Tech

2007-04-17T11:01:00.000-04:00

17 April 2007

I can't begin to fathom being one of the many who awoke today still trapped within a nightmare. Although I do not personally know anybody whose lives were forever altered by yesterday's tragedy at Virginia Tech, I am still affected. It is my world that this happened in; the world I currently live in; the world my children live in; the world we all live in.

What does it all mean?

I know I lack an understanding to many things that happen in this world. Many times all I see and feel are disorder. But I need to believe that, to the One in who's world I live, there is order. I know I need to continue trusting in that. Like many of the parents of those who were killed at Virginia Tech, I am a stranger to the feeling of losing a child through tragedy, let alone one that is senseless. But I know He is not.

So that their lives will not be in vain, perhaps their brevity and sudden loss can be the reminder to all of us who remain here, trying to make sense of this world, that we really are not in control of our lives as much as we might think; that our lives, and the lives of those we love the most, can be taken from us or altered at the blink of His eye.

The fact is, what parent is ever prepared to relinquish the care of the children entrusted to us back to the One who entrusted them to us? We are blessed with children not for an indefinate period of time, but for an unknown period of time. Yet, as parents, what happened yesterday remains and will always be unspeakable. In our way of thinking, our children aren't suppose to die before us; let alone in such a violent way.

I pray for those whose lives have been affected by this tragedy; for the families and friends of the students and faculty of Virginia Tech who were called home yesterday. As for the misguided soul responsible, I know the Christian thing for me to do is to pray for him also; though I've no idea what I will direct these prayers towards. From the accounts beginning to surface, he was deeply disturbed, emotionally troubled, alone and without friends. I can't imagine what his family is going through. How will they cope with not only their grief for losing a son, but also knowing that their son was responsible for the deaths of others?

In memory of those lives lost and shattered at Virginia Tech

GPS Review

2007-04-05T06:30:00.000-04:00

05 April 2007

This Is The Way

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it."
--Isaiah 30:21

This verse is on the travel mug that Pearl gave to me as a gift the night before I left Arandis in January.

When you stop and think about it, I think it's a perfect verse for a travel mug. I have it sitting here on my desk and I read it many times each day. I've decided it's a great GPS, but not like the newer - Global Positioning System - models that seem to be in vogue today. Rather, I think what Isaiah has going on here is one of the original more simple - God's Positioning System - models.

So which GPS is better? One requires you to tell it where you want to go. The other requires faith in where it is telling you to go. Both show you the way to your destinations. However, I think the newer models are only for short trips whereas the original model is designed for the long haul - your final destination. One needs batteries to operate, the other needs prayer.

Thinking back, I'm still amazed at how at home and comfortable Arandis seems. Being there, I never felt as though I was in a strange place. I didn't feel lost and I knew where I was. My GPS had successfully gotten me to this point. Still, as I would walk home at night, from Tresford's or from walking Chriszelda home, I would take the time to stop and look out over the black desert that encircles this tiny little village, turn and look towards the homes through the darkness, then look up at the Southern Cross and stars of the Southern Hemisphere and wonder, in what direction was I heading in my life? Yes, I am here, but now that I'm here, now that I've been down this road, where will it lead me? Where would my GPS take me next?

One night, I remember standing there on the edge of town, knowing that despite the peacefulness of my night, somewhere, someplace nearby, the night's stillness was being shattered by the silent cries of children. Cries no one would hear because no one was there, because no one cared. I wondered, “What hope can I bring to any one of these children who I will likely never meet?” And for those I have met, while I know that my presence here does have an impact, what happens after I leave? When will the next time be? What can possibly be done during such short periods of time that will have a lasting effect on the lives of these children, or anyone I interact with?

I miss seeing the children; the ones I would see almost every day while in Arandis. But then I wonder, “What about the ones I didn't see?” The ones that I know are out there, in and outside of Arandis, the ones I have never met and maybe never will. Does anyone miss them?

I understand that only once in history has any one person helped, saved and changed a world, its people and those who would follow, by His actions. I understand that helping everyone is not what is expected or intended of me. Maybe that is where prayer comes in; praying not only for the people I know, but also taking the time to pray for the people I don't know.

I think I've chosen for myself which GPS I want to use, but I struggle sometimes with not fully understanding what my GPS is telling me. It's frustrating not knowing what the next stop to my final destination will be, or where it is. I just know that it's ahead of me. Sometimes the voice behind me is deafening, other times it is all but muted by life, and I have to listen hard to hear it; I have to remind myself to listen for it.

All in all, though, I think it's the better GPS of the two to use - in the long run.

Which GPS do you use?

Hope's Promise Web Site

2007-03-23T08:25:00.000-04:00

23 March 2007

Greetings, although a day or so late in letting you know, the updated Hope's Promise Orphan Ministries web site is up and running. If you haven't visited their site yet, and are interested in learning more about Hope's Promise, you can check things out.

Also, if you're interested in helping to sponsor a child, or just send a couple of bucks their way, as you can see from the previous post it goes a long way for them, you can donate online. And yes...it's safe!

Thank you.

News from Rehoboth

2007-03-19T09:37:00.000-04:00

19 March 2007

Last Friday, I had heard from Brenda who told me that Maderyna had left Hope's Promise with her mother, to go and visit with her Ouma (grandmother) for a week and that she has yet to return.

I just got off the phone with Sylvia (Country Coordinator for HPOM Namibia) who is in Rehoboth and she confirmed that Maderyna's mother had asked permission to take her to visit with her grandmother but it was with the understanding that it would only be for a week. Well, the week has now turned into three and other than an SMS (text) message to HPOM that Maderyna was okay, they have not heard from her and do not know her exact whereabouts. They are hopeful that she will return and that the reason she is not back yet might be financial in nature, in that they do not have the funds to get back to Rehoboth from where they are.

Please keep this girl, and her mother, in your prayers. When I finally met Maderyna, I gave her three bracelets that had on them, Redeemed, Adopted and Forgiven. She was thankful and put them on her wrist. Within an hour, I noticed one of them was missing so I asked her about it. She said she decided to give one to her mother - the one that said Forgiven. We talked about it briefly and she told me that her mother was trying to get better and change her life around. Once again we see how the bond between a child and mother is strong enough to transcend many things.

Maderyna is due to have her baby in May. She has been having a difficult time since returning to Hope's Promise, coping with the feelings she has; herself wanting to change from the street life that had become familiar to her but yearning for whatever satisfaction that street life gave her.

Please pray that this young girl of fifteen has the willpower and faith to overcome the temptations of returning to a life she wants to escape from.

Another non-coincidence?

2007-03-18T21:53:00.000-04:00

18 March 2007

I'll admit, after having spent time in Namibia and then coming home, I've struggled with a few things. One of my struggles has been trying to put into perspective the things that I have versus the things that they don't have. The things I can purchase and the things they cannot. I do not believe there is anything that I need that I cannot buy and I can also buy many of the things I want, but I don't really need.

In Namibia, oftentimes they cannot buy the things they need.

The fact is, I waste money. There, I said it. Material possessions, I have many. I spend money in ways I do not need to; I buy things I really do not need. Everytime I hear or read Matthew 19:21-22, Mark 10:21-22, or Luke 18:22-23, I think, am I the one in the story who is walking away sad and grieving?

And here's the kicker, not only do I have the ability and tendancy to justify any purchase I make of something I do not need, I can find others who might also help me justify the purchase; to help me convince myself that it was the right decision. Maybe what I really should do is go out and get one of those "What Would Jesus Do" bracelets and as I feel the urge to spend money a certain way, look down at it and wonder?

Some might say I'm taking things to the extreme. Some might say that I shouldn't take things so literally. Perhaps and perhaps. But in the end, it's up to me to decide for me, what it is I should do. We all know that we enter and leave this world with nothing; that what is important is what happened in between those two days.

What do I do? What is the right thing to do? Is it okay to have even just a little of what I want, and don't need, while ignoring the real basic needs of others? Is simply saying a prayer for them my justification that I've fulfilled my selfless obligations; that I've prayed God will do something to help them? Maybe what scares me is that God's answer to that prayer, and all prayers perhaps, can be found when looking in a mirror.

So what's the non-coincidence?

Last week I was having coffee with a friend of mine. Part of the conversation revolved around buying something that cost $40 US. And, although there were many reasons that easily justify its purchase in his eyes and the eyes of others, the fact is, it was something that I did not need and I wondered what that same $40 US might buy in a place like Namibia. Well, on that very day, after I got home from having coffee, I had an email from Brenda Johnston, of Hope's Promise, waiting for me. It was a copy of a brochure that a partner/friend of Hope's Promise had generously donated their time and talent to come up with, to use as a marketing, leave behind piece. And there, on the back panel, staring me in the face, was a list of things that your donations could do for Hope's Promise. And included were two things that $40 could buy. I've included the information on the new Hope's Promise web site which is almost ready to go live. I'll let you know when it does, and I encourage you to take a peek. In the meantime, I'll post here some of what is on that brochure.

Here is what your donation can provide:

$10 - School supplies for one child for 6 months

$20 - Daily fruit for one month for 30 children

$35 - One month of water for a foster family

$40 - School uniform for one child

$40 - One month of electricity for a foster family

$75 - One month of expenses for a child

$100 - One month of rent

$100 - Glasses for a child

$120 - One child's school fees for a month

$150 - One teacher's salary for a month

And these are just a few of the things.

I think about the $10-$20 I might spend at a place like Dunkin Donuts each month, on top of the $14.99 bottle of wine, or the sushi rolls for $5.99.

Now that I know what that money can provide for in a place like Namibia, is it right for me to continuously spend $20 per month at Dunkin Donuts and ignore the fact that if I made the sacrifice, and did not spend the $20 to satisfy my selfish wants, that I could help selflessly satisfy the nutritional needs of 30 children in Namibia?

By somehow finding a way to disguise and justify the things I want as things I need in this life, am I, as the man in the story, turning and walking away sad?

I struggle trying to find the crossover between taking action and non-action. How selfless am I expected to be in my life? Whose expectations are they?

Is the answer in the mirror?

Can I accept the answer?

Buying water

2007-03-09T11:28:00.000-05:00

9 March 2007

I felt it was time for another post so I was going through some of my notes and journal entries that I made while I was in Arandis, in search of a topic or something to write about. This one caught my eye...

As I was walking with Chriszelda one night, talking about different things, the topic of water came up. But not just about water in general, but buying water. She asked, "Why would anyone buy water when they have it already?" Wondering if it was a rhetorical question and remembering the (big) bottle of water I had with me, in the side pocket of my knapsack, I listened as she continued. "Does that mean when you get your paycheck at the end of the month, that you budget and put aside the money you need to buy your water?"

"Um, yes, some people do.", is what I think I replied.

"I just don't see it, buying water." she said, shaking her head.

Then, and only by the Grace of God, we started talking about something else; relieving me of having to explain why I buy bottled water.

Thinking about her words today, I wondered, how would you go about (convincing?) explaining to someone who can't afford water, who doesn't have it in her budget to buy water, and has no other choice but to drink the water that is available to her and her family, that you feel you need to buy water because of what...the taste? Let's face it, isn't that the reason the majority of us buy water; because we do not care for the taste of the water that comes from our taps. That it's necessary because of the taste?

I think about that and chuckle. In theory, water has no taste, right? Or at least it is not supposed to. So who gave it taste? Was it the Madison Avenue marketers working for the high-falutin bottled water companies? Was it the municipal water company who dumps in chlorine as part of the process to make it safe to drink after pumping it from the nearby river? Yes and yes. We could go on and on, back and forth about our need and reason for buying bottled water.

Now I'm not talking about flavored water. That's something entirely different and something that I am really thankful Chriszelda didn't want to talk about. But really, think about all that has been done, all the money that has been spent just to market drinking water. I just did a search on "taste of water" and found this site

http://www.finewaters.com/Water_Food/Tasting_Awards/How_To_Taste_Water.asp
Incredible, simply incredible...or is it nuts?

[Okay, it has only been a couple hours or so since this post. But I just came across this link - Holy Drinking Water. Wow! Sort of reminds me of a quote by Albert Einstein, "What is the difference between genius and stupidity? Genius has limits." I'll let you decide where this one falls.]

I'll admit, I bought water while I was in Arandis. But I also drank the water that came out of the tap when I ran out of the other stuff, or when I was at somebody's home and it was offered to me as a refreshment. I'll also admit that I buy it here, at home. We used to buy the kind that sits in the 'fridge with a little spicket on the bottom. But evidentally, that became inconvenient or something. So now I buy the individual bottles, more for the convienience of being able to just grab one and run. Heck we don't even keep them in the 'fridge, we just have them in the case on the floor. But I buy water nonetheless.

What do you suppose Chriszelda would say if I told her that I've paid $17.50 Namibian dollars ($2.50 US) for a small bottle of water at Lowell Memorial Auditorium? Would she think I was crazy? Wasteful with my money? I buy a case of water here and pay, what, $4.99 or something like that? I paid $20.99 Namibian (about $3.00 US) for a 5 liter jug of water while in Arandis. And that was expensive. Brenda brought me to the place where she buys it and only pays half of that. In reality though, to us here, it doesn't sound like much money. Quite frankly, when I buy water here I don't think twice about it. I don't even specifically budget for it either. Which means I do not put money aside for it when I get my paycheck.

But Chriszelda thinks it is a lot of money and she would have to budget for it. Maybe by her way of thinking it's a lot of money because it is not a necessity. Rather, maybe she sees it as a luxury she cannot afford. I've tried to put myself in her position and, quite honestly, I can't. I don't know how anyone here in America who has abundance, or anyone who has not had to worry about where the next meal might come from, can imagine what it's like for someone that might not be blessed with abundance or who did need to pray about where the next meal would come from.

So once again I find myself amazed at a way of life that is so different than the one I am blessed with here. I think what is most blessed about it, though, is that unlike Chriszelda I have the choice of having luxuries I may not need.

I still don't know how I would explain to her why I need to buy water when it is not necessary to buy. I guess my only answer would be, people may not need to buy water but they do so because they want to and because they are able to.

Anyway, isn't it amazing that what God has given to us freely, we don't feel is good enough; that we pay to have it better meet our satisfaction and expectations? Maybe Chriszelda has the right idea after all, and that her not being able to afford to make what God gave her better is the actual blessing.

Colors of Namibia

2007-02-28T23:25:00.000-05:00

28 February 2006

I was going through the pictures I had taken, trying to decide which one to use with this post and this one, just now, came to mind. First of all, I've been thinking about how to write this post for a while now. And, I’ve sort of been writing it over the last few days. I’ve been thinking about how to not have it misconstrued or twisted into something it wasn’t intended to be. Keep that in mind before jumping to any conclusions…

I had been in Arandis for well over a week and at least for two weekends. I probably had walked all over town, during the day and at night, been to the homes of the foster families, attended church services, purchased items in the little grocery store and would say “hallo” to virtually everyone I passed by; young or old.

One afternoon, as I was walking from the ministry center to one of the homes, I looked ahead and was surprised to see…a white girl, most likely in her late teens but maybe quite possibly in her early twenties, crossing the street a little ways in front of me. For some reason, it struck me as odd that, aside from Brenda, I wasn’t the only other white person in town. She was the first (and ultimately the only one) I had noticed in town on this particular trip; although I think that the owner’s of the little grocery store in town are white but I don’t remember seeing them this trip.

Anyway, I wasn’t close enough to say hello and didn’t feel it would be right or appropriate to yell, whistle or try to get her attention from so far away. As I kept moving forward, I watched as she continued to walk across the street, towards and into the public pool area.

As I continued on my way, I wondered why seeing another white person had suddenly made me aware of my own skin color, that I was very much among the minority in town. I then thought about Tresford’s church service; and how during the church service, I had been the only white person in attendance, well until Brenda would show up anyway.

It’s like it took seeing someone of my own color for me to realize that everyone else around me…was not! Up until that point, I think I can honestly say that I never saw “color”, only people, brothers and sisters in Christ.

Since being home, I think about that often and my mind wanders to the days when the color of your skin really made more of a difference. What was it like there in Arandis years back when apartheid was more prevalent? I won’t be naïve to think that it still doesn’t exist now, but would I have been as comfortable 5, 10 or 15 years ago as I’ve felt when I was there? Would I have been so at ease to walk around town, day or night?

Sylvia Beukes is the director of Hope’s Promise in Namibia. She lives in Rehoboth and works with the ministry center there. Last July when we came down as a group there is one thing I will remember her telling us. She said when you come here to Rehoboth whether you realize it or not, you are affecting change like you can never imagine. And you’re doing it not by dancing, not by talking at the schools, not by helping around the ministry center. While all these things do help, they do not have the same impact as simply hugging a child here; a child who is black or coloured.

Up until Hope’s Promise, or other missionaries, began coming to Namibia, it is quite possible that these children never got the chance to interact with someone who was white. Why would they? How could they? Why would someone who was white come to Rehoboth? Racial barriers, she said, are being shattered to pieces here just by you hugging a child; or allowing a child to hug you, to touch you. By hugging a child here, you are helping an entire generation not feel or see the differences, the injustices, the fear or the rage that their parents or grandparents may have grown up with.

That’s pretty cool to think about.

After struggling with the “What the heck am I doing in Africa? question, I’ve learned to not question it at all. You see, I realize now that maybe it doesn't come down to where we decide to help, but to where we have been called to help. And, did we answer the call.

What about you?

If you look over to the right hand side of this blog, under “What Matters” you will see this quote, “Sometimes it’s not about your ability to do something, but your availability to do it that is more important.”

This sunset was in Arandis. These colors are the types of colors that are most vivid to me when I think about Namibia. These are the colors that, to me, are worth noticing and remembering.

News from Arandis

2007-02-19T17:30:00.000-05:00

19 February 2007

I came home last night after having gone out to dinner after having attended the Make A Wish benefit put on my Melissa Hoffman Dance Center. In my inbox was an email from Boniface. It started out with touching, short notes from two of the children, Nadine and Chandre which really made me smile thinking about them. He wrote another paragraph which addressed something I had written in my last email to him, providing me with some phone numbers I had asked him for. Then my eyes went to the next paragraph, telling me of a rollover that Tresford and Pearl were involved with. I must say that my heart sank as I quickly continued to read his words...

The car overturn 7 times but they was no death. Pastor had a pain on the neck and his back, while Pearl had a shoulder pain.

Praise the Lord that none died.
Boniface

Praise the Lord indeed!

Talk about your rollercoaster of emotions email. High to low in less time than it takes to blink.

Well, this morning I decided I needed to call. I knew Pearl would likely have her cell phone on her and (coincidentally?) she had just given me her cell phone number in an email just last Friday. In that email, she told me that she, Tresford and others were heading to an outreach for the weekend. I reached her on her cell and we chatted for almost 20 minutes. She confirmed the rollover coming home but there seemed to be a chuckle in her voice when she corrected the exaggerated news of rolling 7 times. They only rolled once. I say a chuckle in her voice because she told me of another version...whereby someone was saying they had rolled 10 times.

It was good to hear that familiar chuckle of hers. There was something reassuring to me in hearing it after having had such heartsinking news the night before. Still, rolling a vehicle, even once, is once too many. I've got to believe the good Lord was holding all of them tightly for no one to be seriously injured.

I learned just a few hours ago, from Brenda, that when she had spoken to family in Arandis last Wednesday, they had been talking about this upcoming trip. Supposedly, Julianna - Chandre's foster mom and Nadine's real mom - was going as well. I had not heard from either Boniface or Pearl that she was also in the van. So now I am back to wondering...about someone on the other side of the world - not that there is anything I can do at this point. I've sent off another email to try to find out more. Brenda will be calling on Wednesday, so we'll see what she hears.

(Pictured above are Fabiola, Tresford, Pearl, Licky and Yeshua)

A Matter of Perspective

2007-02-13T21:55:00.000-05:00

13 February 2007

Snow is on its way. Or so they say. Anything less than the ten feet in ten days that the good people of Oswego, NY got is a blessing. Ten feet of snow in ten days. Talk about changing your perspective on life. Imagine having to enter your home - using a second story window. What happens with the single story homes? Buried until spring? And to think I left the mid 90's behind a few weeks ago.

Perspectives.

I've told this story to many people since I've been back but it's one that I have been wanting to post here. On the first Sunday I was in Arandis, after the church service, Daniel (Brenda's "adopted" son) was heading back to the Rossing Mines where he works as a welder. He was going to be picking up his uniform and bringing it home. Brenda knew that I had wanted to take photographs of the facility and even though I would not be able to get inside any of the buildings, at least with Daniel I would be able to get further within the grounds than had I gone alone or with Brenda.

So off we went. He was kind enough to stop at different places along the way to point out different things and to suggest pictures for me to take. When we got to the facility, we pulled up to the building where his locker was and his uniform was stored. After entering, he was quick to come back out. He had forgotten the key to his lock. Now, we weren't that far from home so I figured we would drive home to get the key and come back. Well, not Daniel. He went looking for a bar or something to simply break the lock.

Ah, the impatience of youth, quickly came to my mind. It's the same here as in America. He found a bar, went in, broke the lock and came out with his uniform. Mission accomplished. We returned home.

The next day, Brenda and I were heading into Swakopmund to get various items. We also had Boniface and Franco with us. Now, for someone who said they would not be heading to the coast, I was there three times. And, I am convinced that everytime you have to go to the coast to run errands, it ends up being a 5 hour trip. At least that is what it was each time we went into town. And it is less than a half-hour drive.

So, 4 1/2 hours later, we are on our way out of Swakopmund. Oh, we also had an extra passenger with us as Boniface offered someone a ride to Arandis...as long as it was okay with Brenda. Aye Boniface...shaking her head frustratingly, get in, she said. She would never have said no.

About 10 minutes out of town, Brenda begins to slow down like she is landing a 747 on a short runway, says a few words, rolls her eyes, sighs, shakes her head and moans ... the lock, we forgot to get the lock. She pulls off the roadway, bangs a U-turn and before we know it, we are heading back into Swakopmund.

The lock? We? What lock, I asked. Daniel's lock that he broke on his locker when he was getting his uniform, she said.

Oh, that. You mean yesterday, when I would have done the "adult" thing and driven back home to get the key, I thought to myself. I told Daniel I would buy him a new lock, she said. Then adding, he needs the lock because his uniform will get stolen if it is not locked up. I also thought to myself, it sure would have been easier if Daniel would have just gone home to get the key. Now Brenda has to drive all the way back into town. I wonder how many locks he goes through...?

After spending a good 30-45 minutes and three stores later (the first being a hardware store) trying to find a lock in Swakopmund, we were finally heading back to Arandis. During the ride home, Brenda and I were talking about different things. The issue of the lock came up, and how Daniel just broke it instead of returning home to get the key. I said something like, kids, go figure. She looked at me and asked me what I meant by that. I said something like, well being older (and wiser, I thought), I probably would have opted to not break the lock and returned home for the key.

Aye Don, she exclaimed. Daniel knew that if he would have returned home to get the key and gone back to the mines, there wouldn't have been enough gas to get back into Swakopmund. We likely would have run out along the way. And, as I thought about it, Brenda did do a B-line for the gas station when we arrived into town.

Perspectives.

How often during our daily lives are we quick to come to conclusions about a person, place or situation and maybe not understand everything about the person, place or situation. I was reminded by Darin that during these cross-cultural exchanges, this happens all the time and we need to try to be sensitive and aware of the possibilities of it happening. And, although this was less related to any cultural differences, it did reinforce a couple of situations during my 2006 trip that were cultural in nature. Situations where we, as visitors, may not have fully understood or appreciated the reasons for a few decisions that were made by our hosts. And, without this understanding, some questioned the decisions, or didn't think they were fair...from their perspective.

(Pictured above are Daniel and Vuola, Brenda and Hailey)

Boniface Ndagijimana

2007-02-07T19:12:00.000-05:00

7 February 2007

Boniface "Boni" is a 32 year old, recent seminary graduate and is engaged. He is from the country of Burundi, which is located northeast of Namibia. Currently, he is living at Nan's house and considers Nan to be his spritual mother. Though we never got into how the whole relationship started, Nan has been a big help to him. Right now he is helping Tresford with his Arandis Christian Center ministry. He and Tresford generally share the duties and responsibilities for the Sunday church services. Boniface's goal is to set up his ministry in Okahandja, at Vyf Rand, a squatter's camp. He knew from other conversations we had that I had been to both but he asked if I had ever been inside. I told him I had not and he began to describe how hot and dark they were, the flies, the lack of utitilies, furniture...you just sit on the ground he said. It didn't matter to him though. That is where he wanted to be.

One night, when we were talking about different things, he told me to always remember to "plant the seed" when building relationships with people. That is something he always trys to do. But, he added, when planting the seed try to locate the void, something missing, in the other person's life. Try to provide what is missing, plant your seed there. And, never give up.

I introduced Boniface to quesadilla's. He enjoyed them and said he think's he'll surprise Nan one night and make them. I think that was the night that he had been late getting home from something to do with the church and he was missing his "leadership" series on television. So, I'm thinking something like our PBS here. Well, later on that night, the leadership series he was talking about and had been watching all along was "The Apprentice". I gave him a brief lowdown of Mr. Trump. I guess it's all about perspectives.

I've included a video clip of Boniface and Tresford leading one of the songs at the Sunday service. Distinctly African, this is some of the music that just seems to have me wanting to listen all day long.

A final thank you!

2007-02-06T20:37:00.001-05:00

6 February 2007

Thanks to everyone who provided prayers and support for me during my time away in Namibia, as well as financial support for the children of Hope's Promise. Know that it means a great deal to me to have such a support system in place here and it meant a great deal to the children to have people they don't even know helping and caring enough to help sponsor them.

Although this trip is now officially over, the experience will continue. As I've said many times recently, the work there is not finished.

Prior to going to Namibia for the first time in 2006, one of things that weighed heavily upon my decision to go was the question I posed to myself, "Was I starting something that I would not be prepared to finish?" When deciding to get involved with the lives of the children and people there, I felt I needed to ask myself that question. So many empty promises have been made to these children and people of Namibia. Could I, or would I, simply be just another American who might only be showing up for two weeks to get the warm and fuzzies that I was doing something good, telling them that I cared about them and would pray for them, that I would not forget them, and never follow through?

Was I going for my sake, for my satisfaction or was I going to enter into the lives of these people and truly make a difference in theirs? What about the difference they would make in my life? Was I prepared for that? To accept that?

Yes, I have returned home. But once again, part of me was left behind, to help continue what I've started.

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

For those of you who might be interested, I've posted the working demo of the presentation I did for Brenda. I'm in the process of changing out some of the pictures to include some from Rehoboth, so Sylvia is also able to make use of it. What she was hoping to accomplish with the presentation was to give the people she was talking with an idea of what Namibia is like; what Arandis, Rehoboth & Block E, Vyf Rand are like. I've also included pictures from Swakopmund, its ocean and sand dunes, Windhoek and Etosha. Some you may recognize them from a previous trip, but most of them were taken as part of my recent trip.

Settling in back home

2007-02-05T13:50:00.000-05:00

5 February 2007

I am attempting to settle back into my life here. My internal clock is still halfway between Africa time and US time and I find myself getting sleeping during certain parts of the day and wide awake in the middle of the night. Karen left for Connecticut today for classes and will not return until Thursday. Oh well, we did say hello in passing!

I also went back to some of the previous posts and was successful in finally uploading pictures. So, if you scroll back down, or revisit some of the posts, you will likely see some new photographs. There are more to come, as well as additional videos.

At least JFK has a fast connection

2007-02-02T13:37:00.000-05:00

2 February 2007

I've uploaded two videos into the gallery and trying to upload a 3rd (which is 75 meg in size and I might have to split up in to three different videos.) They're big, so have patience. You might want to save them to your system for better viewing.

Enjoy.

Still trying to get home

2007-02-02T12:41:00.000-05:00

2 February 2007

So if you ever have the choice of Delta or not, go for the or not. Find another airline, take a bus, take a train, take a cab, take a mule, take a boat, don't go. Just don't fly Delta!

Sigh...

Yes, I am still at JFK and I think I might actually have time to catch a flight back to Namibia before these guys get their act together. My 12:45 flight has been postponed until 3:15 due to maintenance issues. I don't believe it.

So, some 20+ hours, three different countries on a different continent later I arrived here at JFK around 7 AM. I figured I made good time...until JFK. Now it seems it will take me the better part of a day to get home, a mere 1 1/2 hour flight or a 4 hour drive. I wonder if I start walking.....?

Anyway, that's my rant. I'm done. Breathe in, breathe out, move on.

Time to go have a cup of coffee.

Back in the USA

2007-02-02T09:54:00.000-05:00

2 February 2007

Currently at JFK waiting for my flight to Manchester. I had been on a flight that was to be leaving around 12:45 PM but rebooked to an earlier 9:25 AM flight. Ya, check that time and you'll see that either I missed the plane or it hasn't taken off yet; the latter being the issue. Maintenance issues have delayed the flight for two hours. Isn't that a nice welcome home! A fellow passenger suggested that I call Delta and at least rebook or reserve a seat on the original 12:45 flight, just in case my currently delayed flight is cancelled, which I've done.

The flight from Johannesburg was quite bumpy due to the winter air-streams heading east and us heading west. I do believe that I was able to catch an hour or two of sleep, something that I am rarely able to do. The flight was quite empty and we were able to secure the middle 3-4 seat sections for sleeping. Brenda seemed to adapt to sleeping across these seats more than me and slept much of the way.

Being awake as I crossed back over the Atlantic gave me much time to ponder and begin to process these last few weeks. My mind kept racing back to Arandis and to Maderyna in Rehoboth. I began to wonder what bits and pieces that I discovered about myself and how my life back here is. What will I adapt or change as a result of these discoveries. What did they teach me about life this time?

Now that the children have working computer systems in their homes and at school, how will their lives change? Even while the computers were freshly installed into each home, I saw the children, mommies and daddies beginning to familiarize themselves with it; including the Solitaire and Pinball games. I wondered how having these computers would change family dynamics? Would it be for the better or for the worse? I pray things will be for the better as they will be able to use the systems for educational purposes as well as for recreational activity. At least the systems are not connected to the Internet....

Still, as I was carrying in a computer system into one of the homes last week, my mind wandered to Vyf Rand or Nau Aib. Here I was setting up a computer and there are still children in these other camps with nothing but a tin shack for a home and no electricity or running water. I talked about this with Brenda during our flight. She reminded me that yes, there still are children who are very worst off than those in Arandis, and always will be. We cannot change the world for everyone here. But she assured me that we are helping some children become better educated and to grow up with the tools and knowledge to help turn things around in their country.

Although I am back in the States, this blog will not be ending. I have many other pictures to post as well as some videos. I also plan on continuing to post entries of my time there, current thoughts, or news that I have received.

The story cannot end here. There is more to tell and more that needs to be done.

AIRPORT ESCAPADE UPDATE:

The "earlier" flight I was currently booked on was just cancelled! So now I am back on my originally scheduled flight home at 12:45 PM. Almost home....

Mission accomplished, homeward bound!

2007-02-01T09:13:00.000-05:00

1 February 2007

Greetings everyone. Brenda and I are now in Johannesburg and awaiting our flight to JFK. I must say that this trip has been outstanding and once again, for me, beyond what words can describe. Our time in Rehoboth was short but great with the opening of the new Beads and Promise store. What a place and a remarkable job Sylvia and Richard have done. Among the attendees was the U.S. Ambassador to Namibia. The opening of the store notwithstanding, it was with great anticipation, hope and pleasure that I was finally able meet Maderyna Goliath. We were able to sneak in some short but good conversations about what has been happening with her, what is happening, where she would like to be and what her future might hold. Amanda - she told me she wants to be at Hope's Promise forever and is very anxious to see you. With God's help, the guidance that Hope's Promise will provide, and her promise to me that she would work hard at learning and helping with the Beads of Promise business I think this could be a turning point in what has been a troubled life. She has come home but is in need of a tremendous amount of prayer, the road ahead will not be easy for her.

My time in Arandis was also remarkable. I did accomplish my goals of computer updating, getting a working demo of a presentation for Brenda to use this coming Tuesday in New York, as well as some very rewarding time with each of the Hope's Promise families. Leaving was with mixed emotions as I have missed my family and friends but feel I am leaving my another family behind, here. However, leaving this time was not as difficult and I do believe it is because I know that I was able to return once already and that it will be possible to return again. There is still much work to do here.

Although I was still hoping to post photos with each post, I am not able to. Last night I was also hoping to post from Rehoboth but an electrical storm and rain kept knocking out power. Perhaps it was my cue to get to bed before 11 PM and get some much needed rest.

I am going to try to post a few pictures in the gallery for now.

Arandis HPOM Children

2007-01-29T23:39:00.000-05:00

30 Jan 2007

My last day in Arandis.

Here are some short bios of the children here. While I wish I could bring them home, they do have loving and caring foster families here, in Arandis and in their home country of Namibia. With the help of HPOM and their foster families, these children will help change and make life in this country better.

This week, amidst my two biggest tasks - the upgrading of computers and Brenda's presentation, I was blessed to be able to spend some time with the children and their families.

I will post their pictures upon my return to the States. For some reason, I am still not able to include them now with my post.

Charmaine
born October 26, 1992

Salome
born December 23, 1997

Chriselda
born July 13, 2000

The same mother has given these three girls life. She and their father, as well as, her current partner excessively abuse alcohol. The girls have spent most of their life on their own with the older ones caring for the younger ones. When the Social Worker stepped in the girls were suffering from malnutrition and lack of care. Through HPOM they have a “new” foster family.

Asser
born March 7, 1997

Anna
born April 14, 2001

These two children have been in and out of the hospital a number of times due to malnutrition. The sisters at the hospital had come to know them and finally brought them to the attention of the Social Worker. The mother suffers from extreme poverty, alcohol abuse, and promiscuity. She gave no attention to her children who have now found a home through HPOM in Arandis.

Chandre May 17, 1997

Chandre's sister was brought to the hospital after she had been sold by her aunt to a neighbor for sex. She had also been raped numerous times by her step-father. The hospital requested the aid of Social Services for Chandre's sister to be placed in a safe home. At that time, Chandre was on a farm with extended family and also being abused. She is now in the care of a HPOM Christian family in Arandis.

Dennis
born August 19, 1998

Dennis was born out of wedlock in 1998 and is one of four siblings. His mother misuses alcohol and his alleged father has never been present. In November 2001 the mother deserted all four of her children with her father and disappeared. Denis was placed in an orphanage at that point. In June 2003 ,through HPOM, he was placed with a Christian family in Arandis with Asser and Anna.

Elaine
born May 19, 1994

Elaine is one of four siblings. The mother has taken no interest in Elaine since she was born. All the children have different fathers. Elaine’s three siblings board and attend school in Rehoboth. They visit with the mother on holidays. Elaine has been living with her grandmother since she was born. She has no contact with her mother and she considers her grandmother, Mom. She and her grandmother are now part of the HPOM family in Arandis.

Smithley
born November 20, 2000

He is the youngest of three children. Both his parents died from AIDS. His extended family including grandparents is already taking care of 22 children of this current generation. Social Services and Smithley’s family decided it was in the best interest of the 5 youngest children to be placed in a foster family. Smithley and Ismael are cousins and are with Hope’s Promise Orphan Ministries together.

Ismael
born September 9, 1999

Ismael is the oldest of two children. The mother is HIV positive and the father is not anywhere to be found. Ismael has tested HIV negative however he does suffer with fetal alcohol syndrome. His mother and Smithley’s mother are sisters. The extended family is unable to care for more than the 22 children they currently are responsible for. Ismael and Smithley have been given a chance in life through their association with HPOM.

Revival
born September 10, 2000

Revival’s beginnings were a bit rocky as she was born deaf and with what seems like Fetal Alcohol Syndrome symptoms. Her mother at the time was living a very permiscuous and dangerous life style. The father disappeared before Revival was born. Revival’s mother came to HPOM and asked for help with her daughter who was living a life in isolation with her grandmother on the farm. Revival has been placed in a foster family and attends the Talitha-Kumi preschool in preparation for one day returning to her family.

Time continues to fly by

2007-01-28T11:12:00.000-05:00

28 Jan 2007

Greetings all.

Yes, I am still here! It's been a great last couple of days as I wind things down here. I still need to complete Brenda's presentation but I think I will be able to do that tonight and tomorrow. Friday's teaching stint went well. School begins at 7:30 AM and ends at 12:30 PM. The first few sessions include both the 1st and 2nd grade and involve prayer and singing time. Pearl handled that portion of the day. My job was to simply go over a review of the previous day and then hand out new papers for the children to work on. I did have to explain the paper and go over things with them first. The challenge was trying to make sure my "accent" or words I chose were understandable to them. The sections I had to cover for the day included Math and Language Arts, so it really wasn't too bad.

Saturday, we did have the first ever HPOM movie fest. We were able to squeeze in a couple of shorter DVD movies and two sing-along’s. There were only about 10 children there but it was still fun. Brenda and I ended up doing the Hokey Pokey with them at the end of one of the tapes. I picked up some cheese puffs and marshmallows so the children seemed to enjoy some of the things they do not get often at home. As I was watching one of the sing-along’s with them, two things struck me. I wondered what each of the children may have been thinking about when the "spaghetti and meatball" song came on and each child in the video was getting a heaping plate full of spaghetti and about 8-10 meatballs on their plate. The second thing that struck me was the egg race game; the one when you carry an egg on your spoon and try not to break it in order to win the race. Perhaps the children never caught on but I’m sure a parent would have. Here in Arandis, no one would even dare waste an egg for a children's game. And, on that note and regarding my and our country's own wastefulness, they reuse Styrofoam cups here.

Last night I went on a short desert walk with Pearl and 6-8 of the children. It was nice to be able to talk with Pearl and to also give the children "attention" at the same time. Pearl and I talked about the things I had thought about earlier in the day and I think she was amazed at all of the "disposable" items we have as Americans. I ended the night at Chandre's home and we played "Take a Fish", or our "Go Fish" with some of the children and Richard (her dad). I showed them the only card trick I knew and amazed one and all! It was funny to see the children try to do the same thing.

Today's church service was once again a keeper. Pearl and four of the girls had been preparing all week to dance at the service. I've got the dances on video, as well as more of the singing, and I really hope to be able to at least provide something on this blog at some point. If not from Africa, once I get home. Brenda had informed me earlier this week that the outdoor pool in town had been fixed up and cleaned. I took that cue and invited all of families, children and parents, to a few hours of swimming. Chriszelda was especially thankful. She is the pre-school teacher I talked about in an earlier post, who was born and grew up in Arandis. This afternoon was the first time she had ever been in that pool. Fearing the African sun and not wanting to ride 15-16 hours in an airplane with a sunburn, I stayed out of the pool, took pictures and videos and was just happy to watch the families enjoy themselves on a hot Namibian day. It also gave me a chance to talk with Kassie, one of the "mommies", who also chose not to venture into the pool. Oh, by the way, I never did make it to a Mass at St. Johannes. But I did promise Kassie that upon my return, I would attend a service with her and her son Bradley.

Oh well, it is about 6 PM here. Boniface will be cooking dinner tonight after their Leadership meeting. Last night I made quesadillas for him. Tomorrow night, it will be shrimp scampi. Boniface is particularly excited because he loves fish, but has never tried shrimp. I will probably head on down to the homes shortly to say goodnight to the children and check with Tresford to see if we might be on for our 1:30 AM (Namibian time) rendezvous with the informational meeting being held tonight at Christ's Church for the possible 2007 trip to Namibia. So for you at CCA who are still wondering if we are planning to be on yet, I'm not quite sure! I'm in Africa and everyone who knows anything about Africa knows that planning is useless.

(Oh, I've been trying to include a picture with the last couple of posts and haven't been able to. Google has taken over Blogger and since the switch over... I can't include a photo....sorry!)

Off to be the substitute for 2nd grade

2007-01-25T23:27:00.000-05:00

26 Jan 2007

Greetings to everyone back home. Things have continued to be busy here. Another half-day into Swakop yesterday for Brenda to get things for her household when she is gone, picking up a DVD/VCR player for the 1st and 2nd grade building (thank you again, Tim & Brenda.) While I have attempted a couple of times to resume blogging, the opportunity arose to be able to spend time with or help some of the people here.

And, despite my hope to use this blog to relay my activities here, somethings just cannot be translated into words properly. Last week my time here did no seem so limited to me. The reality of it is that I do leave next Wednesday morning to go to Rehoboth. And there is still much to do...

I am busy trying to begin and produce the presentation that Brenda and Sylvia so desperately need when talking with sponsors and potential sponsors. Your prayers are requested for my ability to depict Namibia, Hope's Promise, its families and its children through the pictures and video that I will be blending together. All of the computers (10?) here at Nan's house and at the school have been updated. They are in use or ready for use. There are still 4-5 at Tresford's house that I need to tackle.

Yes, as noted within the subject line, this morning I will be leaving here shortly to go and be the "teacher" for the 2nd grade class at the new Christian Academy. It is just another role that I was asked to assumed here, if only for a day.

Know that all of you are not far from my thoughts. I miss everyone.

Two productive days - Part two

2007-01-23T17:33:00.000-05:00

23 Jan 2007

Chriszelda grew up in Arandis with her Ouma (grandmother), went to school here and now works here. But, like many - even back home in the States - she longs for someplace different. We ended up heading back to the house where we sat, talked and watched a little television with Boniface. We started talking about Etosha and she said, you know, I live here in Africa and the only time I have seen any wild animal is on television. She had never been to Etosha. I pulled out my camera (um, yea...the 1 GIG card holds quite a few pics, even from last year's trip....). I walked her home and as we were walking, she was saying, "I can't wait to get my own car, to drive with the windows down, music loud with Beauty and Precious (her two daughters) in the back seat."

One the way home, I thought again at the many things I take for granted.

Before I headed in, I looked up to find the Southern Cross. I had seen it earlier in the morning, as I was waiting for Sammy to do his business. Oh, Sammy...Nan's dog, um...puppy. For any of you who have ever had a puppy you'll be able to read between those lines. He's a cute little dog, but puppy training is not something that I thought I would ever be doing in Africa. (Listen to me....what am I saying, did I think I would EVER be doing anything in Africa?) But hey, I am here to help.

Anyway, I couldn't make out the Southern Cross tonight because the moon was hanging out and there were also a few clouds in the sky. Sorry Jackie!

Plans for the rest of the week.

Once I finish with the school and family computers, Tresford has 4-5 others at his house that I will also probably look at. That will give me time to hopefully have some one-on-one time with Tresford - to talk about his ministry, Fabiola - to talk about the school, and Pearl - just to talk about anything.

I also would like to visit with Justine and Armando at some point. I know Thursday, Chriszelda would like me to help her look and find stuff on the Internet. I also want to video some of the practices, meetings and events that will be happening before I leave. And, I must not forget that I need to start thinking about putting together a presentation for Brenda and Sylvia to use.

Finally, I just hope to be able to hang more with the children.

Good night.

Two productive days - Part one

2007-01-23T16:33:00.001-05:00

23 Jan 2007

It has been a very busy two days here in Arandis. Yesterday, I went to both schools to begin my picture taking for Brenda and HPOM. I also took quite a few video segments. I tried to upload one of my segments (26 megs) this morning before heading out, but realized it would simply take too long. I will try to get some video clips up but at the blazing speed of 49.2 kbps.

Around 11:30 Brenda, Franco, Boniface and I headed into Swakop to run errands. We didn't get back until 4:30 or so. It was quite interesting to think that we had to go to three different stores, the first of which was a hardware store, to try to find a lock for Daniel.

Upon our return, I put my away my groceries and headed to the foster homes to see if I could help out with homework. I ended up helping Elaine with her book covers and then had a few rousing games of tag with some of the children. As per usual, I came home, made a quick dish of pasta and continued updating the computers. I've finally got the routine nailed down:

Insert RAM

wipe hard drive

install windows 2000

install an office suite

install two CDs worth of games

I've completed eight systems and am currently working on number 9 and 10 tonight (though it is currently 9:58 PM so I'm not sure how far I will get.) We have one of the schools 99.9% outfitted. I say not 100% because the last computer I was acting up when I was testing it with one of the games. I've delivered complete systems to two of the four homes that were earmarked for a system.

With these late nights, mornings come early; though that is nothing different than home. And, while on the topic of seeming like home, one of the things that I have noticed being here alone and not with a group is that I feel I am closer to experiencing the life here that occurs on a day-to-day basis. Alone, I am better able to blend, or be less noticable. I see more of the frustrations, lack-of-patience and challenges that occur. People don't seem to all of a sudden stop talking if I turn the corner, or discuss daily issues. I also am seeing more of the caring, nurturing and fun times as well as I stop in at the foster homes to visit the children at different times. Yesterday, with all the running around, I almost felt like I was back at home, doing the things I needed to do. I felt I was back in "rush" mode. But oddly enough, we were in "rush mode" to simply find and get things that would have been far easier to find and get back home.

Things I've taken for granted.

Once again I have learned how much I have and how much I take for granted. Just talking with Boniface, Chriszelda, Tresford and Fabiola gives me a different perspective and reminds me of all the things with which I have been blessed.

Today, I started my day out at the Talitha-Kumi Christian Academy where I began working on the three systems there, as well as the spare laptop I brought down. I then strolled over to the Talitha-Kumi Pre-school and Kindergarten for more picture taking. While there, I was also the center of a ring-around-the-rosie and lost all my footraces with the pre-schoolers. After that it was back to the Academy building to try to finish up with the systems there. Oh, today I officially became an Arandis driver! Yeah, I know - for you seasoned Africa drivers out there, it's not much driving around Arandis in Brenda's Arandis Pick-up, but hey, it's a start. I did have to keep reminding myself...LEFT, LEFT as I turned each corner! I have also gotten used to shifting with the left hand.

During the early afternoon, as I was working on systems, I had time to spend with Franco. Franco is staying at Brenda's and is sort of like a handyman around HPOM. He's a great guy and, hey Darin...a lover of Mustangs! I told him about your recent episode and he did wince when I got to the part about the branch falling on your baby. Well, he likes all of the old cars from the 60's and 70's, when cars were cars. Franco was putting the new plugs on the power cords for the computers and monitors; something that, although I have done something like that, would have taken me longer. When he was doing the plug for the laptop, he didn't just cut the end like the others. He started shaving away at the rubber/plastic around the ground of the plug. I watched and asked what he was doing. He said this wire was different than the others and he was checking to see which color wire went to the ground. "Computers are expensive and I don't want to blow one up.", is what he said. Honestly, I don't think I would have thought about doing that!

Sometime after 4 PM I took I took a carload of children, and Pearl, home after their afternoon school session. It was then that I delivered the 2nd home computer. I also pulled out the game of Twister that I brought down and sat back, took pictures and videos and laughed alot.
I took individual and family photo's before I left. The pics should be up soon! I reminded the family to really try to use the computer these next couple of days, to see if anything might go wrong, before I leave. Well, a half-hour later, I had my first computer technician call!

I was supposed to be meeting up with Chriszelda tonight. She is one of the teachers at the pre-school. She came here and we walked over a little after 7 for my tech-call. All seemed to be well with the computer...at that time. I offered the ALT-CTRL-DEL solution to get out of any issue that might arise, but to keep watch of what issues might occur. Chriszelda and I then continued our walk and I listened to her as she talked about how she came to Arandis and what some of her hopes and dreams are.

Sunday morning thoughts

2007-01-21T08:08:00.000-05:00

21 Jan 2007

When you're greeting them for the first time after a long time and talking with them...

You can see it in their eyes as the tears well up with happiness.

You can hear it in their voices through their smiles.

Coming back to see them and to be with them, help them, listen to them; caring enough to want to come back.

Blessed enough to have it happen.

Those are just a few of the thoughts that are racing through my mind as I try to find a little quiet time to "catch up".

I mentioned to Brenda this morning, about how the children were yesterday; more receptive, talkative and loving. And that's all I said. Then, as if she had already read my blog, she said, "It's because you came back." You know, I never got a hug from Chandre last July when saying goodbye. But yesterday she reached up, pulled my head down and gave me a kiss on the cheek as I was leaving. How will things be when I have to leave again? I won't pretend to think it won't be hard, but I sense that in some way, it will be just a little easier. I think that I and the people here realize that coming back is possible, that it did happen and God willing, it will happen again.

When it comes to coming down with a group versus alone, I do understand the fact that it is likely that I might get more attention since there is no one else to share it with. But I can't say that I mind! Still, it is still hard being away from Karen and the girls and other family members. Once again I was asked when I was going to bring my family with me so everyone could meet them. Wouldn't that be great though...

This morning at the church service I guess I experienced my first "waterless" child baptism. A couple and their infant came forward to express their desire and commitment to bring up the child as a Christian. I thought about Tresford's words, that we as parents have to teach our children to be Christians. That this new parents would now have to start singing Christian music and reading scripture to the infant so that when he grows older, and hears something...he may just think he had heard those words before...a long time ago; so that he would be prepared to assume the responsibility on his own, when he was old enough. Then there was the singing and the music. I don't know if it's the different language, the words or the mystique of hearing African-style music and harmonies that seem to bring a smile to my face every time. Perhaps it's a combination of all three, as well as seeing the couple dozen people who attended this morning's service interact, not just with each other, but with God.

After the church service, I went to the local grocery store, picked up some cheese and a can of hot and spicy mixed vegetables. Not sure what I'll do with the vegetables but I'll figure out something. After that, I went to Brenda's house and talked a bit. Daniel ( her "adopted" son ) would be driving me to the Rossing Uranium Mine. He had to get his uniform and I was going to be taking pictures along the way and outside of the facility. Daniel tried to describe, as best as he could, the process; pointing out the various locations. He is a welder there. The link provided will tell you a bit more about the company if you're interested. Arandis was built to house the workers of the mine and as you can see from the header graphic to this page, it really is just "plopped" into a desert. Nan's house, were I am staying is literally the furthest most house in the town. For pinpoint accuracy type in the headings "22 24 40.29S, 14 58 25.50E" in Google Earth. If you zoom in, you just might see me waving!

Brenda.

She is a person of one doing the work of an army. Keep her in your prayers as well, that she is able to rejuvenate some when she comes back to the States with me on February 1st. Don't think that all of her 6-8 weeks away will be a vacation. Although there will be some family time, she will be traveling across the country making presentation and appeals to current and prospective sponsors and partners. Oh, if you want to see what an Arandis pick-up looks like, I posted a picture of blue one in the gallery.

Oh...here's another interesting "coincidence"...

Last August, I think it was either Darin or Jackie that mentioned something about an 20 minute piece that ABC did on "The Children Left Behind" due to AIDS/HIV in Africa. Although they did not discuss Okahandja, Rehoboth or Arandis specifically, one might think it could have been. I ended up ordering the segment on DVD and only received it a week or two before I left, even after having ordered it last August. I had honestly forgotten about it. I brought it for Brenda and gave it to her the evening I first arrived. When I saw her the day after, she was extremely excited about going home now. As some of you may know, she was a former Disney Executive and has ties to ABC in New York. She is hoping to get in touch with her ABC contact, bring the segment along and say hey, this is what I am doing in Arandis and Rehoboth. Come down here and we'll show you more; and that it is a very serious problem. She also hopes to be able to use similar material in her search for sponsors and funds for Hope's Promise Namibia.

Hey Brian Raj, if you're out there, Boniface says hello. I heard him laughing hysterially last night from his room. I gave him the video clips of our trip last July and I think the time I heard him all of a sudden "bust a gut" was when the piece came on with you dancing at the back of hall the night of the band played in Arandis. I will be giving him your email so expect to hear from him.

G - what time is the meeting on the 28th?

Oh well, it's time to get back to work. I know I'll have a few pics to put up. In the meantime, here is one of Boniface, Tresford and Pearl after today's service.

Photo update - 21 Jan

2007-01-21T00:39:00.000-05:00

21 Jan 2007

New photos uploaded this morning. I am hoping to add titles at some point. I just need to get into some routine. Will be leaving soon to go to church. I plan on bringing my camera and video camera to film the choir, etc. No promises...but I will try to post that sometime today or tonight.

I did find the Catholic Church and I've uploaded a picture of it. It is right around the corner from Brenda's office. Not sure when the services are though. Chandre and Elaine think 10 AM. Tresford's service is at 9:30 AM. For various reasons, I feel slightly compelled to attend Tresford's at this point. However, the girls also stated they thought there was a service at St. Johannes on Wednesday nights. I'll have to check into that. I would like to experience / attend a Mass here; to see another side of Arandis.

Still hard to believe I'm back. Karen, everyone is asking when you will be coming down!

Armando has a new doo!

2007-01-20T17:41:00.000-05:00

20 Jan 2007

The beginnings of a busy two weeks seem to be taking shape.

As we were working on Tresford's computer, I had the opportunity to spend 3-4 hours with him and also had a lunch prepared by Fabiola; and we talked more. Keep them in your prayers for their ministry here. Both Tresford and Fabiola feel that in the three years they have been here, much progress has been made, doors have been opened and even the town officials seem more receptive to their requests and plans.

One of Tresford's new endeavors is to offer a men's group and he sees that to be the inroads to helping turn around what life is like for many families. He is optimistic that these meetings will continue to grow in participants and that many of the men in Arandis will start to take responsibility for their family and children as a Christian.

Fabiola and the new Talitha-Kumi Christian Academy has been extremely well received in the town and she has a waiting list. Limited space and qualified teachers are her roadblocks. They recently converted the Ministry Center (Brenda's Office) into the 1st and 2nd grade classes. Another building a block or two away is being used for the daycare and pre-k activities.

However, an uncertain stream of income and not enough of it have been a tremendous burden to the ministry and the family itself. Despite the financial difficulties, they are strengthened by prayer and the evidence that they are making a difference in this town.

Around 4:00 PM I gathered up my camera and video camera and set out to pick up some of the children and stroll around the town, taking pictures, videos, and catching up on these last 7 months. We also had a chance to catch up with Justine & Armando, Chriszelda and Pearl. I must say, it was quite an afternoon. After my first full day here, for the children, it is almost like I never left. What I find interesting is that they are more receptive, talkative, and...loving...since last July. I truly believe that coming back soon, and the children knowing that one of the reasons I came back was to see them, has been a big difference. We walked around until sometime between 6 and 7. I brought them back home and sat down to watch a segment of "America's Funniest Videos" with them. I left sometime after 8 thankful for such a good first day.

Hopefully I can take an hour or two tomorrow for some quiet time, take a deep breath, catch up on this blog and get some pictures uploaded. I would do it tonight, but logging in at 49kbps has its disadvantages; especially when down here, we pay for the Internet by the minute!

Smuggling Mule rules

2007-01-20T01:11:00.000-05:00

20 Jan 2007

Smuggling Mule

Yes, my luggage did all arrive. In fact, my two checked bags which I was looking for in Johannesburg were the 2nd and 3rd one out. Shortly after, the smaller one I also had to check in came around the corner. So, for this part the score was

Smuggling Mule & Hound of Heaven - 1
Lost Luggage & Nasty Customs Inquisitions - 0

Today I've included photos of the myriad of stuff that was packed, in the gallery. After viewing them myself, I'll have to resize them at a better setting. But you’ll get the idea.

Speaking of gallery, today I hope to start taking pictures of some of the people some of you have been waiting to see. Brenda and I took a few pictures and video on the way out to Arandis; the intent of which is to create a presentation of Namibia that she and Sylvia can use to help raise more funds for HPOM as they go out on each of their speaking circuits. So you'll be able to look for some of those soon.

This morning a few of the children are being evaluated to see exactly what grade level they should be in. Given their age and "natural" progression in the Arandis public school, they would be in 3rd & 4th grade. However, HPOM's concern is that they still lack the skills of they should have at that point and might be better off taking a step or two back, and going to the new Arandis Christian Academy, to get back on track.

Okay, I need to work on a computer before I get fired! Oh, for those of you who may not know and might want to, there is a 7 hour time difference between Namibia and the East Coast. The time you see on the posts is East Coast time. Just add 7 hours and that would have been the time I posted from here in Namibia.

NEWS FLASH - PLANS CHANGED!

2007-01-19T16:04:00.000-05:00

19 Jan 2007

Okay, so we didn't go to Rehoboth first. Brenda forgot to tell me until today. The Beads of Promise store will be opening towards the time we leave, so Rehoboth will be on the back end of this trip.

So yes, I am in Arandis. I've visited with Tresford and his family and saw all of the HPOM children at the three foster homes. There were a quite a few smiles and happy faces as they seemed to remember who I was. Chandre couldn't seem to wipe the smile off her face and after a 30 second "staring in disbelief" Elaine finally said hello. It was all pretty priceless - pretty much the Mastercard commercial type.

Everyone says hi to everyone. (Jackie, you were the first one Pearl asked about...) I even saw Toivo today. He was finishing up his holiday and we brought him back to the Ark. Drove through Nau-Aib, which brought back a few more memories from last July. He sends his best to everyone as well.

You'll have to excuse me as I try to catch up. Much of what you will read next, I wrote last night but could post until now.. (So some of the stuff about going to Rehoboth first obviously turned out to be a Namibianism.)

So far so good and I hope to try to recap my time since I left home. As most of you may now know, the Namibian influence struck early, even before I left on the 17th. If you read an earlier post, I talked about how my itinerary had all of a sudden changed and I was not going straight to Arandis, but we would be heading into Rehoboth first, to help out with the opening of the Beads of Promise store. Now, many of you also may know the story about Maderyna, the girl whose picture I had arbitrarily posted on the 2005 blog and whose life would soon intertwine with mine. I was hoping to get to meet her last summer but as plans turned out, I did not get to meet her. However, I did get to meet her younger sister, Chandre. As I was leaving Africa last summer, one of my thoughts was that I knew things weren't over yet with respect to Maderyna. And while I had a sense that I would get to meet her this trip, Brenda's email telling me our change in plans really got me wondering; would it be now, at this time. Then, just two hours before I was to leave to catch my flight, I received an email from Brenda telling me that Maderyna had come home, that she would be helping with the Beads of Promise program and that I would likely be meeting her in Rehoboth, when we arrived there. There were other things she mentioned to me and she also said we would talk more when she picked me up on Friday.

Check in at Logan - uneventful and smooth. Didn't have to pay for overweight luggage.

Check in at JFK - got me on the overweight luggage AND after I had dropped the two checked bags off to send through the x-ray, I realized I either lost, or had not pulled off the connector strap that I was using to piggy-back two suitcases so I could manage pulling three suitcases wherever I had to pull them from. I guess I could have gotten a cart...but that would have meant I had to find one. Anyway, I'll find out tomorrow if that connector strap is dangling from one of those suitcases or if I did lose it.

Check in at JFK at the security gate also went without a hitch, despite the fact I had three laptops with me.

Is I mentioned, in a previous post, my seat partner for the next 15-16 hours was a mortgage broker from Portland, Oregon. She was nice to talk with, personable, about 45-46 years old and I doubt if she had ever been married or had children. She had only been home for a couple of days after having been in Hawaii for two weeks. Oh, her girlfriend had also recently returned from two-weeks in Tahiti. I even heard about the pedicures they got at JFK. Now she and her girlfriend were heading to Zimbabwe to catch up with other friends who had rented a house boat for 3-days on some lake. Then they were going to go to Victoria Falls, a few other places, and then Cape Town. I guess my main reason for bringing all of this up is because, after asking what she was doing, where she was going, etc she filled me in on everything she had planned. Some 25 minutes before we were about to land in Johannesburg, and after applying her make-up right there in the seat, she asked, "I never did ask you what you were going to be doing in Namibia or if this was business or pleasure." I told her I was going to work at an orphanage for two weeks. Oh, that is quite noble she replied. I guess that was all she wanted to know since she didn't ask any more questions. Somehow I got the sense she felt her next two weeks would be better than mine.

I thought about that as we were landing and I know one thing for sure, I don't know whose two weeks will be better, but I would rather be going to were I'm going and doing what I will be doing instead of what she and her girlfriend had planned. But hey, different strokes for different folks. I wished her well as we parted.

Africa, it's amazing to compare my perception and someone else's who comes here for vacation. As we flew over Namibia on our way to Joburg, I looked down at the landscape and started to become anxious to return. To rejoin friends I had left, to uncover new challenges that might await me. Vacation? No, I don't look at it that way. There is too much work to do for it to be called a vacation.

Other highlights:

Flying over Etosha and the Pan.

Maybe actually catching a few winks on a plane...a rare occurrence in deed.

Dove's Nest Guest House...not a 5-star establishment but certainly a homey place and one that I would certainly come back to. The home-cooked dinner was great!

Almost there

2007-01-18T13:31:00.001-05:00

18 Jan 2007

I am currently Johannesburg at the lovely Dove's Nest Guest House. Just had a nice chicken & rice dinner and everything is great. I tried getting on from NY but could not get the wireless to work. I remember we had that problem from the gate last summer and that is where I was trying from. Flights over were uneventful and fine. For you involved in real estate, I sat next to a mortgage broker who deals only with non-conforming loans! What a hoot! The stories we exchanged....

I am not using my laptop at the moment, but rather the hotel's system so this post will likely not include as much as I would like to tell about. However, yes, the news about Maderyna was very good to get just prior to leaving. Brenda had emailed me and informed me she was back. Incredible timing....wouldn't you say? So Jackie, now you know. I must say that I've had this feeling for a while now that this would happen.

Thanks to Karen's quick thinking, what could have been a nightmare worked out well with her idea to redirect my departure to Boston...thanks honey! You're so smart. I also want to thank her for really cramming 4,325 pounds of stuff into two bags so that it looks and weighs only 70 pounds each. As luck would have it (luck?) after all the baggage had been unloaded from the plane, my two were not to be found. But...they tell me that the two bags will meet up with me in Windhoek.

Thanks for all who have posted. This is and will shape up to be an interesting solo trip. Yes, Darin, there have been all sorts of sightings, even before I left home.

Guess that will be in for now. I'll try to post more tomorrow from Rehoboth.

Am I all packed? What kind of question is that?

2007-01-16T22:17:00.000-05:00

16 Jan 2007

Here is it, after 10:30 PM and if I said I "was all packed" I would be lying.

I have sitting in front of me three CDs provided by choreographer extraordinaire, Sandi Duncan. Thank you Sandi! Thank you everyone who has donated money, supplies, and/or prayerful support.

Karen thinks she might be able to squeeze these last minute items into the luggage without tipping the scales any further than I already am. Gosh, I hope so.

In less than 24 hours, I'll be lifting off from JFK and beginning my journey. I was surprised today to find out that many people didn't realize that I was going to Namibia alone, and not as part of a larger group as I did last July, and as my daughters did in 2005. Although I say that I am going alone, my friend Darin reminded me tonight that I will be far from alone. It is reassuring to know that I have family and friends who will be accompanying me in spirit and prayer. I received more calls today and tonight, wishing me well. Thank you everyone. In thanks, it is my hope that I can keep this blog as updated as I hope to. To help lessen the distance and time between us.

I hope to chime in at least one more time before I leave the U.S. and I figure it will be from JFK. For those of you who might be interested, here is what I know of my itinerary at this point:

Leave Manchester sometime after 11 AM, Jan 17 and arrive at JFK sometime after 12:30 PM.

Leave JFK sometime around 5:30 PM and touch down in Dakar, Senagal around 6:00 AM, Jan 18 (I think there is a 5-hour time difference). Reported flight time is 7 hours and 40 minutes. We are in Senegal for an hour (I'm assuming to change crew and drain the port-o-pottie.)

We leave Senegal around 7 AM and arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa around 5:30 PM. Flight time is reported as 8 hours and 20 minutes.

I need to gather all of my 5,245.5 pounds of luggage at this point and go take a nap at the Dove's Nest Guest House. My flight from Johannesburg to Windhoek, Namibia is around 11 AM, Jan 19. The flight to Windhoek is shown as two hours but I think there is another hour time difference in there some where. Anyway, I land in Windhoek, Namibia around 1 PM, Friday, Jan 19th. For those of you back home, I think that would be around 6 AM on Friday (EST). Flight time is reported as 2 hours.

What happens once I hit Namibian soil is anyone's guess. Some of you may notice my use of "sometime" and not an exact time. Such is life with regard to airline travel and much of how time is perceived in Namibia. I'm just preparing myself.

Have I forgotten anything?

2007-01-15T22:59:00.000-05:00

15 Jan 2007

I've been getting a few telephone calls and Instant Messages these last few days from well-wishers. Thank you! As far as being all packed, let's just say I'm 99% there. I think tomorrow night I'll have to set a deadline as to when I will unzip and zip the suitcases one last time. I've emailed the place I will be staying at Thursday night and have emailed Brenda to make sure nothing has changed on her end.

According to one of the online newspapers, it was 40 degrees celcius last weekend in Windhoek. If my handy dandy converter is correct, that equates to about 104 degrees fahrenheit. Hmmm....

People have been asking me if it will be hot there. I had asked Brenda that question a while back and she said I would probably find it to be about the same extremes as last July. Can't remember it getting that warm back then. I better unpack and make sure I've got my sunblock somewhere :-). The lastest weather watch has it ranging from 60 degrees to 95 degrees. That is more like the "range" we had last July, with the exception that the range may have been 40 degrees to 75 degrees. It did get cold!

I'll keep you posted...

T-minus 3 days and counting

2007-01-14T23:06:00.000-05:00

14 Jan 2007

Running around.

That is what I feel I will be doing these next couple of days. I have continued to add to my original list of things to do for a while now. And, as I do each one, I highlight it. But as I wind down these last few days before I leave, the bottom of my list now has things to do for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

I have unpacked my carry on once again, to try to lighten the load and not bring more than I really have to. I am told I will have a washing machine available to me at Nan's house. So I have removed yet more stuff from my carry on.

Once again I ask for your prayers that I can:

Get through with all the overweight baggage that I have - without any issues

Have all the baggage arrive in Namibia when I do

Successfully distribute the contents of my baggage; to those in need and for whom it was intended and transported across the world for.

While I pray for no luggage surprises, I do hope to have a few surprises of my own. For those of you who know me well, you'll not be surprised to know that only four people (in Arandis) are aware that I am heading back. None of the children know. I am hoping to surprise them; especially the ones I have been in contact with since last July, via email ( Chandre, Elaine, & Pearl). I am looking forward to tapping on the door to their home or simply showing up someplace where they will be.

Missed chances

2007-01-13T21:46:00.000-05:00

I was on my way to Penn State today, to bring Diandre back to school. I was listening to a Peter Mayer CD and one of the songs on his Music Box CD contained, as part of its lyrics, the words "missed chances".

My mind then wandered to last July during my first trip to Namibia. How many "missed chances" did I have?

Missed chances?

If you read in an earlier post from 4 Jan 2007, "I'm going where? Alone?", I refer to "things I had hoped to do"; missed chances I felt I had last July. Now, don't misinterpret this to mean that I was not satisfied with my trip last July. My trip last July was by no means unsatisfying. However, in retrospect, many things sometimes take on different meaning. And, in thinking about things once I got home, I felt that I missed out on some things as a result of my own decisions and some of the responsibilities that I accepted.

Looking at things retrospectively allows you to see more of the bigger picture because it inherently allows you to sit back and see how things played out. It allows you to think about what you might do differently "next time". No, I wouldn't trade my experience last July for anything. But my experience last July will be the foundation for whatever I experience this time.

While I am more aware of what my "missed chances" were, more importantly, I am more aware of the chances I hope not to miss this time around.