After lunch, we were able to meet a very short-term team that has come to Rehoboth for a few weeks. There are six members (4 female, 2 male) between the ages of 20 and 27 that have come for a few weeks this summer. Alex, Amy, Bethany, Jason, Natasha, and Tricia- we are so excited you’re here! We talked to them about some available ministry opportunities, and they seemed enthusiastic to serve. We are so excited to get to know them better!
Friday night, there was a joint braai (barbeque) for Josh, Catherine, and Tracey (Catherine’s former host mom) who all had birthdays this week. Namibians love meat, and even though I couldn’t eat it, the smell was so amazing I wanted some sort of way to film it or package it so I could share it with you!
They made roasted bread over the fire- it is definitely my favorite Namibian treat.
The Birthday Boy
The gorgeous fire.
The Birthday Triplets
There were a ton of people, and it was a great time. We were blessed to be able to meet another AIM missionary from Windhoek, who we are always hearing about, but have never met. We also met another American who is here with the Peace Corps.
On our way home, we once again witnessed some of the terrible violence that is so common in Rehoboth. We passed a group of people hanging around a truck, and saw one begin a fight by going after another with a broken bottle. These people were all obviously drunk, and everyone seemed to think this was perfectly acceptable. The next morning we found out that the police had been called to the scene, and that there was blood everywhere (this has serious complications when HIV/AIDS is so common). Josh and I really struggle in knowing what to do in these situations. Although there is some [undeserved but nonetheless helpful] credibility and respect given to white people in Windhoek and around Namibia, that is not true in Rehoboth. In fact, it seems as if the opposite is true. Basters tend to have lighter skin (since they are part European), and it is a source of great pride to them. Many of them seem to resent being around white people, because then they seem “less white,” relatively speaking. It is very difficult for Americans to grasp this concept, but once we consider the racial tensions present in the area, we can began to approximate an understanding. Josh and I wish we could do something when we see violence here, but to step in and say anything could very well be a death sentence. We have found prayer to be the most powerful force against aggression here, but it is still a struggle.
Please keep the children here in your prayers. Although this is Africa, it can get very cold here during the night because we are in the desert, which means there is no humidity to hold the heat of the day. Buildings here have no insulation or heat, and it can get chilly! Many children don’t have appropriate cold-weather clothing because their families can only afford one set of clothes, and the vast majority of the time the weather here is very hot. We are going to try to collect some gloves (new or used) from home that we will be able to pass out to kids. I am especially concerned for the kids in the farm schools up in the mountains, as it can get quite a lot colder there. Please pray for this project.
On Monday we traveled to Windhoek to hang out with Steve, because it was his last day in Namibia. This means the team that was once 10 people is down to 4. We went to see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in the theater (is it even out in the states yet?). It was entertaining, although I wouldn’t recommend it for children. It was so weird to go to a theater…Windhoek is a completely different world from the rest of Namibia. We are sad to see Steve leave, but we know he has many important things to accomplish back home. He has left a big hole to be filled. We are praying for you, Steve.
We have had a significant improvement in the youth center during the last week. The only door on it is a large graded gate that lets in so much dust, you would clean one day, and everything would be covered in dust the next. It was extremely frustrating. Now, Steve and Josh have attached corrugated tin to the inside of the gate, meaning there will be significantly less opportunity for dust to come in. This will go a long way towards helping to make the youth center a clean and safe environment for the kids of Rehoboth
Next week, our new teammate Kitty will arrive. She will be here for 6 months, and we are so excited to have her. It will be she and the 6 members of the summer team who have to keep things going while we are away. We are praying God will give them guidance and grace as they jump into this new role.
Prayer Requests:
1. Steve’s transition back home
2. The children in the cold
3. Our business trip to Arandis next week.
4. Health and energy
5. Kitty
6. Victory over the enemy
7. Family and friends at home.
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