And you thought Chicago was the Windy City...

The wind started Monday night. Only the kind of wind that you find in a flat desert. Gusts that almost knock you over as you're walking and kick up sand in your face. It blew loudly all through the night and morning, but fortunately it began to let up in the afternoon. As I mentioned most of our days will look very similar. On Day 2, Meegan and Anna were back in the schools, Jenn was with Revival and the others were helping the Bandas with fundraising projects for their building program. The severe wind put a damper on the brick making, but they continued working on beading, Bobbi sewed

a lovely bag, and Kyle was working on a wire car. In the afternoons we returned to the homes where we spent Monday afternoon. We helped with homework and studying for exams. One had an exam in Damara (their tribal language) on Wednesday so she studied by giving us some Damara lessons. Some of us also went out on walks and had the children show us around town. One of the sights included this old dump truck that they used to use in the nearby uranium mine. It became obsolete because it was too small!

Another project that we were asked to do is to teach music classes at the Talitha Kumi Primary School. They have no one locally who knows about music in order to teach a class, so they are putting some of our musical people to good work. We teach a half-hour class with the 1st & 2nd graders, and then a half-hour class with the 3rd & 4th graders. We've split the week up so one person teaches each day on a different musical genre. On Monday Josh taught about Jazz. The kids loved how he said, "Smooooth jazz." On Tuesday Kyle taught about hip-hop including a rap lesson and learning how to write poetry. He rhymed words like 'heard,' and 'bird,' and 'thrid' (maybe the primary schoolers could help him with his spelling). Later this week Bobbi will teach about Classical, Fred about Country/Western, and I'll teach about good old Rock n Roll.

Evenings continue to be team-time. Dinner was really good - chicken and rice - very American! Anna lead worship music to kickoff our debrief time. We all shared about God moments we saw throughout the day. Then everybody sat around the table and played some games. It was an early to bed night because everyone has been exhausted from such full days of active ministry, but that's what we're here for. It's exciting to see everyone so willing to jump in and help out even when they're tired. Please continue to pray for sound rest, health, and strength!

First Day of Ministry

If Sunday was our day of rest and worship, Monday was without a doubt our first day of work. Our schedule for the week will be about the same so the run down of Monday will give you a pretty good idea of what we'll be up to. His Promise Ministries Namibia (HPMN) has been looking for an opportunity to hold a training seminar for their foster mommies. The problem has been that all of those mommies have other responsibilities to fill during the week. So one of our major tasks will be helping fill in for the mommies while they are at a week long training seminar with Sylvia Beukes, the HPMN National Director. Anna and Meegan put their teaching skills to work filling in for one of the mommies who teaches at Talitha Kumi Preschool (a ministry of His Promise Ministries Namibia). This week their theme is 'eggs' so they spent the afternoon brainstorming about all the different topics and ways they can teach their preschoolers about eggs! Jenn has taken on a special project for the week, being a one-on-one aid for Revival! Revival is a young HPMN girl who is mostly deaf and has some speech and learning difficulties. That said, she has no lack of energy! Jenn was excited about the opportunity since she remembered Revival from a previous trip. She has already mentioned how much developmental progress Revival has made since they last met.

The training goes until 4:00 each afternoon, but the children arrive home from school between 12:15-1:00. So our team split up amongst the houses in groups of three to help watch the kids for the afternoon. We got them lunch, then started in on homework. Next week is the end of the second trimester of their school year so all the students have exams they are preparing for. Hopefully our study sessions will help them all pass with flying colors. After homework time we had a great time playing games with them, learning some of their games, and simply giving them the love and attention that children here desperately need.

We're also working together with Pastor Tresford & Fabiola Banda from Arandis Christian Center. The church is in the midst of a building project. They have always rented space in the Town Hall for their services which is not always as reliable as it may sound. Furthermore, they are overcrowded with anywhere from 80-150 kids in Sunday School that they hold in the Banda's house. So you can imagine their excitement about the possibilities of having their own building space. Monday morning, Fred, Kyle, and Josh helped Tresford collect some sand and start mixing the cement for making bricks (good manly work!). Lindsay, Bobbi, Brook, and Kayleen were making bead jewelry for the church to sell at an upcoming bazaar to help raise money for the project.

Kayleen and Katie were also brainstorming some t-shirt designs that the church can print and sell at the bazaar. Katie was a little nervous about the design project because she doesn't have her laptop and all the programs and tools she typically uses. But she was overjoyed to discover that Tresford had the latest version of INDesign on his computer, the very program she uses at home! It's amazing how God provides even the little things.

After our first day of ministry the whole team is excited for what the rest of the week will hold. Bobbi mentioned how great it was to be playing with the kids because we're finally doing what we came her to do. From my perspective, it's been incredible to see a team from all over the U.S. come together to form a family. Everyone has a great servant's attitude being willing to jump right in and do anything they're asked. Thanks for your continued prayers and be sure to check out the latest pics in the Photo Album!

Arrival

We've arrived in Arandis.  We've seen God providing and directing all the way here, providing and protecting through delayed flights, a lost passport, and a lost boarding pass.  And the God sightings continued!  At immigration in Windhoek, Bobbi's electronic passport didn't work, and the agent was not exactly sure what to do about it.  The agent next to her walked her through the manual admission process and after the paperwork got re-done in pen, they finally allowed Bobbi to enter the country.  That did it, we were all legally into the country!

At baggage claim, we were amazed that ALL (yes, ALL) our bags made it through - none damaged, none lost - I think this is a FIRST for our travels here.  But then, we thought we were for sure in trouble when the customs agent asked the fateful question - "Do you have any gifts you are bringing into the country?".  Well of course, we had to say "Yes.".  That was all she needed to send us from the "Nothing to declare" line over to the "Goods to declare" line.  We were planning to open all of our 24 bags to have then examined in painful detail.  But, God was there again.  When she (the same customs agent) came over to that station, she waved us through, with NO inspection at all!

Jenn and Kyle were waiting, and the whole team was complete.  Next, the process of loading the Kombis, and heading off to Arandis.  After the 5 hour drive, we settled into our quarters for our first night.  Morning came too soon for some, but worship in church was great.  We're looking forward to see what God has in store for us next.

Three down, one to go

We were welcomed to South Africa with a brisk morning temperature of 40 degrees Farenheit. It felt great to finally touch down after 15 long hours from NYC to Joburg. Now we find ourselves with a few hours to peruse the shops at the airport and update the blog. It's nice that our final flight to Windhoek will be the first flight we don't have to run to to catch...but that I must explain.

God continues to give us opportunities to rely on Him completely. Some may call it coincidence, but we know it's Providence. The North Carolina crew met up with the Portland contingent at our gate in Dulles airport. We discovered they didn't have boarding passes with about 10 minutes until we started boarding. But that was minor and was solved rather quickly. After a short, uneventful flight to New York we took the airport train around to our departure terminal. Amidst the transition, we realized Anna had dropped her passport on the train. She couldn't get her board pass or board the plane. This could have been serious trouble. But after a few phone calls we learned it had been found and turned into security at another terminal. With only 20 minutes before boarding we got back on the train to the other terminal to collect her passport. We breezed through security and made it to our gate with only a few minutes to spare. In discussing the situation with her afterward it reminded me how prideful we can be about making little mistakes like that. We want to be perfect and know that we can handle things on our own. But then I got to thinking, if we never make mistakes, then we never learn to rely on God. If we never sin, then we never need Christ. Little lessons from a missing passport.

The rest of the flight was long but uneventful. Most of us got plenty of sleep which will help with jet lag once we arrive. Meegan also wanted me to mention that we had personal entertainment screens on each of our seats so we could play games or watch movies as we desired. All in all the team is in good shape, glad to finally be in Africa, and looking forward to our last short flight to Namibia!

P.S. Meegan says, "Happy Birthday Mom! I love you!"

P.S.S. Katie says, "Mom and Dad, don't worry. We're all safe and sound."

First Answered Prayer

The convergence has begun. This morning I drove from Charlotte over to Raleigh to join up with Linda. Kayleen and Anna are on their way up to Sanford to join up with the Maine contingent. Fred and Katie are on their way from Chicago and Milwaukee respectively, down to Raleigh...and that's where our travel itinerary ran into it's first hitch. Fred randomly (read "Providentially") checked the status of Katie's flight out of Milwaukee and discovered that it had been delayed. With that delay she would've had only 20 minutes to make her connecting flight in Detroit which was the last flight to Raleigh for the night. If her Milwaukee flight were to be delayed any further then she wouldn't make her connecting flight and we would have some serious problems. The standard procedure would be for the airline to put her up overnight and have her fly out the next morning. But our flight from Raleigh leaves at 6am so she would never make it in time.

Calls went out and prayers went up. Fred was on the phone with the airline discussing options. Katie and Jadon, her fiancée, were at the ticket counter in Milwaukee discussing options. When I finally got the phone call from Jadon, they had managed to put Katie on a bus to Chicago where she would then catch a non-stop flight on a competitors airline and make it to Raleigh only 19 minutes after she was originally scheduled to arrive. This near-miraculous break from airline procedure and finding a plan that would work for her to arrive in Raleigh tonight goes to show that God truly has this trip in His hands and He is indeed sovereign over powers and principalities. He is the God who sees our trials and circumstances and answers our prayers. What a way to start the trip!

Tomorrow morning, Fred, Linda, Katie and myself will fly out bright and early from Raleigh; Anna, Kayleen, Meegan, Bobbi, Lindsay, and Josh will fly out bright and early from Portsmouth; the two halves will meet for the first time at Dulles Airport in Washington D.C. where we'll then head to NYC. Then...finally...after a long, tenuous deliberation...stretching back to November of last year, we will leave American soil for the next two weeks to meet up with the last of our team, Kyle and Jenn, at the Windhoek International Airport in Namibia, Africa!!

A word from Kyle & Jenn

Hello from Namibia!!! We arrived safely last night (Tuesday). We had great flights. They were long, but we're happy to be here now. :) There is a saying; if you ask God for patience, then He will give you situations in which you can be patient. This was true for us on our flights. We were both anxious to arrive in Namibia, but God gave us peace even when we had to spend an entire day in an airport.

We have enjoyed our first day in Okahandja with Joan and Dieter [pictured below]. It is such a blessing to reconnect with old friends!! They have welcomed us, taken care of us, fed us, and it feels great to finally sleep horizontal. We helped Joan prepare for her upcoming outreach trip to the Northern part of Namibia. We made color activities for the preschoolers where Joan will be working. After lunch, one of Jenn's close friends, Isabella, invited us to join her for a kids program in 5-Rand [a squatter's camp near Okahandja, pictured above]. This being Kyle's first time in an extreme poverty area, he though it was surreal to witness. Surreal meaning, extremely thankful for what we have in America. The shelters are literally made of metal sheets, sticks, and plastic. Garbage was everywhere, goats roam free, and tons of children in ripped up clothes without shoes. Surreal.  To actually see it was heartbreaking! He jumped into the program as if the surroundings were normal. The kids were such a joy to his heart.  God has been changing his heart about a lot of things such as: patience, this mission ministry, not being concerned with what time it is, and just enjoying every situation. He can't wait for what God has in store for him during the rest of this trip. He already loves it so much.

Jenn is so happy just to be back in Namibia.  She did not realize how much time had lapsed since she was last here. She was thrilled about today, because she saw so many friends!! We got to see Bella and Nghidipo today! We met Nghidipo's wife and child, Henri!!!! He is soooooooo freaking CUTE!!!!!!!!!  It just warms Jenn's heart to be here. It's also a joy for her to see how Kyle is reacting to Namibia.  He is loving the outdoors here!!! He also saw 5-Rand for the first time today! He was shocked.  He really loved the kids well while we were with them. We played duck duck goose and he said the words in Oshivombu even when all the kids were laughing at his accent!!! (they laughed at mine right after!!) ;) We sang "There's no other way, there's no other way... only Jesus!!" It was so great to hear the kids sing! She feels so blessed to be staying with Dieter and Joan! They are amazing people and they are just encouraging!

We are super excited to have the rest of our team come over and join us! It's only been one day, but the trip feels too short and we want to stay for longer!!

Much Love,
Kyle and Jenn

We are both amazed by the stars... They are just so beautiful.  They take your breath away.  We are reminded of the verse: Psalm 19:1, 2, 14 "The heavens declare the GLORY of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. ... May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, Oh Lord my rock and my redeemer."

And They're Off

Right about now two of our team members, Jenn and Kyle, are the first of our team departing for Namibia. They're likely sitting in their seats on the airport tarmac waiting for permission to take off on their long and arduous journey. After stops in Germany, Egypt, and South Africa, they will finally arrive at the Windhoek airport Tuesday evening. I'm sure they would appreciate all your prayers for safety in travel, no equipment issues, smooth transitions during their layovers, ease of communication, and patience with each other. During their extra few days Jenn and Kyle will be visiting with some friends Jenn has made on her previous trips to Namibia. They'll also be picking up our team kombies and meeting us at the airport when the rest of us arrive.

Packing Tips

If you haven't started thinking about packing yet, then you probably should. Your first order of business should be to check out the packing list which was posted earlier, but just a list doesn't answer all your questions. In general, the best packing tip I could give you is this - if you have to think about it, leave it at home. But with under a week to go here's a list of other packing tips which I hope you'll find helpful as you consider what to throw in the bag and what to leave behind.

• Each passenger is only allowed two pieces of checked luggage, no more than 50 pounds each. That is a strict limit, so get out the scale and weigh your bags. But that doesn't mean it has to be 50 pounds. You'll be the one carrying it so do yourself a favor and pack light.
• Each passenger is also allowed a carry-on and a personal item. Your carry-on is typically back-pack sized, enough to fit a change of clothes and a few essentials. Your personal item is typically something like a small purse, laptop bag, or guitar.
• Lost luggage is a common affair. That is why it’s always safe to bring an extra set of clothes in your carry-on bag. Also, if you’re traveling with someone else, you might consider putting a set of your clothes in each others bag in hopes that at least one of them will make it. If your bag doesn’t arrive with us, it will usually show up within the next few days.
• Laundry facilities will be available, so pack less and wash more. Also remember it’s OK to wear clothes more than once without washing them…in fact, get used to it.
•  If you are having trouble with space, try sealing your clothes in large Ziploc bags. You can suck out the air and save some space, though you might have to deal with more wrinkles when you take them out on the other side.

• If you are worried about having space for souvenirs on the ride home, take clothes and other items you plan to leave behind. Even things like sleeping bags and air mattresses can be left for our ministry partners.
• If you are bringing items to be donated to our partner ministries it is a good idea to split them up amongst your bags. Imagine what customs officials would think if a grown adult had a suitcase full of baby clothes or hundreds of bottles of pills.
• Speaking of pills, make sure all medications are packaged in their original bottle. All prescription medications should be in the bottle with the pharmaceutical label on it.
• Notice you should bring two sets of prescription medications. Most pharmacies will only fill one month’s prescription at a time unless you explain your special circumstances. Include one set in your carry-on bag so if your checked bag gets lost you’ll still have your meds.
• Make sure you bring a good, warm sleeping bag. Between being in the desert and travelling during their winter months, temperatures do drop quite a bit at night. So if you’re struggling for space, don’t skimp on the sleeping bag.