Be The Moon… Reflect The Son

“Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?” November 21, 2008

The first few days were really rough… especially for Nate. The poor guy could just barely get out of bed. Jesse wasn’t as bad… although there were a couple days that were quite rough. A big part of my responsibilities were to cook for the team (which you know I LOVE to do). My stove was a propane bottle with a burner on top and the utensils were limited, but I figured out pretty quickly how to cook for 10-16+ people with one pot. I really enjoyed the challenge.

Sunday we went to Buddy & Julia’s church at the Apex Centre. It was great to finally meet a couple that I had only heard about. In the evening they came back to the plot for dinner. As we sat around the fire they told us about their weddings (yes, I said weddings) and talked about what it was like to be married to someone that has a completely different cultural background. We ended the night with a hardcore game of Apples to Apples Namibian style.  

Jesse talked a bit around the fire about what the next day looked like. In the morning half the team was going to paint the big hall across from the kitchen area and half would go to the soup kitchen. The afternoon would be divided with the soup kitchen, after school bible study at the high school and a visit to the Ark (a children’s home in town). Monday morning Jesse & I had a conversation about how we should divvy up the team for the different projects. I assured Jesse that I am up for whatever he needs. Jesse asked me to take the team to the soup kitchen and I was excited to have the opportunity to go there since I had never been before.

At the soup kitchen they provide two meals a day for approximately 400 children. The morning meal is a sandwich consisting of bread, butter & jam or butter & peanut butter. The afternoon meal is a hot meal and varied everyday and consisted of meat and a starch (potatoes, meali-pap, noodles or rice).

From what I learned from Joan Morsbach, this was the first project that she had seen that was actually WORKING. It started out with about 60 kids and quickly grew. When the children first come into the program they are examined by a doctor. If after 10 days they are not thriving, the doctor will test further to discover why. The people that give their hearts to the soup kitchen are an amazing bunch and I can not wait to tell you more about them.

To be continued…

“I was thinking… over thinking” November 20, 2008

I’ve been struggling for the past three months trying to decide what to write in order to share my trip. It’s been quite difficult to express the way that I have been feeling this time around. I’ve been to Namibia seven times, I know what to expect… I am aware of the poverty… I am aware of the living conditions… I know and love many of the people. I am no longer shocked by what I see, yet each time my heart breaks a little bit more and more. There is always somethings that make me want to burst at the seems… bolt for the door and bawl.

The coolest part about this trip was how clear I was that God had called me to go. Even when things seemed dicey & I entertained the possibility of me not going… I knew better. People generously gave and prayed for me to be on this journey and those prayers were indeed felt. All the money I suddenly needed to raise for the trip came in AND some of you do not realize that Nate & I were charged an additional $350 EACH for our tickets… we were not informed this until just before we left. God supplied that money too. I am so greatful for each and everyone of you. No matter which part you played whether financially and/or praying, you were an intricate part of our journey.

My mind set this time around was completely different than the past. I had no agenda… none. In the past as much as I tried to go without one, I always had something in the back of my mind. This time was different. I wanted to focus and do anything that I was needed to do. I was excited about my small team, we were an ecclectic bunch and the majority had never been before. We had two strong leaders with completely different personalities, there were four teens and three ladies (including myself). We had no idea what we were to do before we arrived. Rumor had it that there may be some painting and work on the property. We may go into the preschools or whatever else was needed.

The first couple of days before the other teams went their separate ways were a little rough for our team. Both leaders, Nate and Jesse, were sick and the rest of the team felt like outsiders compared to the other groups. The coolest part about the first full day was that the kids and Jan had a full afternoon to hang out and get to know one another. It was so awesome for me to see their interactions… and every moment my love for the team grew more and more. Within a couple days the larger group left and we all began to live as one.

To be continued…