Medical missions team arrives in Okahandja
A medical missions team from Apex Community Church in Dayton, Ohio has arrived in Okahandja, Namibia. The team, made up of medical professionals, will make three stops on a tour around southern Africa to survey the current approaches to and opportunities available in treating illnesses in communities where HIV/AIDS is prevalent. The first stop is in Okahandja, Namibia, where the team will stay at the CHI International Training Center, visit the Ark, and minister to the local community. The second stop is Manzini, Swaziland, and the third stop is Nelspurit, South Arica. You can follow their day to day activities via their blog, and join in praying for them.
Team B: Live from Jo-Burg
We are now safetly through the very first (and easiest) leg of our journey home. We are sitting in Jo-Burg, South Africa. Everyone is doing well and in good spirits. Travelling is stressful at times, but everyone seems to be in eager anticipation of returning to friends and family. From a few conversations it appears that closure and contentment are surrounding us as a team. We are excited about what the Lord has done, but are content with where He now has us.
As a quick update if no word has already been passed along, Mike, Kendall, & Josh are all doing well. Kendall has a bit of a sore throat and Josh has some sinus stuff but they were in great spirits when we left today. It was bittersweet saying "see you later" to them this morning, but we are so comforted knowing that there is someone to carry on for us as we come home. Please continue to pray for them as they will be staying long term and this coming week looks to be very busy with a lot of strategic planning. Mike has several meetings Monday and then on Tuesday he'll be meeting with the principal of Okahandja Secondary, where he'll discuss how we can continue to partner with them and see further students reached with the love of Christ.
That about does it from here...thank you all for your prayers, and we continue to ask for more as we travel.
See many of you tomororow (Sunday),
In Him,
Team B
Team B: Out Last Hooah!
Hey Everyone,
Let me begin by stating, it is Christ's love that compels us and therefore makes us a bunch of people who are out of our minds doing what we have done these past two weeks. As I am writing this, I am staring at a piece of evidence that signifies how God has personally used me here in the last two weeks. The object holds no meaning to anyone who doesn't know the giver but to me it screams of a heart that now belongs to our loving Savior Jesus Christ. Today has been a day of seeing God move extraordinarily (as if He ever moved anything less than that). I don't know how much news has been pasted along the last few days, and I apologize for the lack of correspondence. This past week has been one of intense spiritual combat. We as a team have gone through a lot together. By God's grace I can honestly say we have prevailed, but not us rather Christ that lives in us. It has not been an easy week. We have experienced Satan attempting to do what he can to undermind both our team and effectiveness of our long termers as they begin their work here in Okahandja. But God is faithful. He does not give us more than what we are able to bear! Praise God for that!
We have completed all formalities for the trip, even going through some re-entry prep with both CHI folks and Jimmy D. Everyone is putting their final personal effects in their luggage and are getting ready for bed. Tomorrow we leave for Windhoek at 8am. We will fly out at 12:45pm. This will begin the long road home. We are still very tired and physically worn thin. Our spirits are high though and our hope is alive. Several people are still a little sick. Stephanie F. is coming around a little bit from the flu that she had, but she is still having "issues" so please continue to pray for her as the trip back could be very taxing. I also am still suffering from a cold that seems to be spreading down into my lungs, so not a whole lot of fun. I will say that God has kept me functional through all of it though! Andy M., who came down with a fever yesterday, is doing very well today. He rebounded well and serves as another example of God's provision for us.
This evening we had a Choose To Wait pledge ceremony where we invited students to come and commit before God, family, and friends that they will remain sexually pure until marriage. I must admit this was a very good way to end the trip. It was a lot of work, but well worth it to see the students responding. The totally number of students is still out, but I would guess it was more than 50. God receives all the glory for these decisions.
Today, though incredibly full and very busy, especially with all the "see you laters" and tears and hugs, was so wonderful. It was truly the way God intended for our team to end our time here in Namibia. I do believe a renewed sense of purpose, that being in the compelling love of Christ, has taken hold. This is a very big answer to prayer. Thank you all who where praying for us through this past week. Because of your prayers, God interceded on our behalf time and again.
I haven't written a letter using "first person" till this time, as I wanted to capture the voice of the entire team. Tonight I felt it was necessary to say that I have been given an wonderful and blessed opportunity to lead fourteen other people into a foreign land and see them minister to people whom they may never see again. Their passion for our Savior astounds me. Every person on this team has taught me something about what it means to love the Lord so much that it radiates with every word and every action. I will be walking away from this trip knowing that God has changed me probably more so through the lives of the team members, than possibly those in the community. With that, I want to give you an idea of how God has used each person to minister to me. May it encourage your hearts to know that your loved ones are serving the Lord in ways that you may never understand, yet our heavenly Father knows.
Neil R. - Neil has taught me what it means to be passionate about the presentation of the Word. His desire for worship through music, which is huge, is superceded on every account by his longing to see lives changed through hearing and understanding the Bible.
Amy R. - Amy has been a constant support, a point of encouragement, balance and sensitivity. She has been invaluable in leading the ladies on this trip through her strength and quiet diligence. She was truly an asset in helping to resolve problems in a caring way that only she can.
Dennis M. - His heart for serving without complaining and without request has been unmatched. Dennis has a heart of gold and yet he rarely demonstrates it through words. His actions speak much louder than words, and I am so blessed to have watched this man of God in action as he led his family to a foreign country based on the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Lindsey P. - She loves kids! There's not much else that I can say. She has shown a love and compassion for kids whom the world has forgotten. She stepped up the plate time after time in Kid's Club, always with a smile and a heart of joy. She also talks a lot of trash about being good at UNO...I have yet to see proper evidence of this.
Buddy B. - This guy has is one of a kind. He is so passionate about everything he does, but when it's time to focus on a specific task or ministry, 120% is poured out with the nthusiasm of about 10 or more people. He has demonstrated Christ's compassion and yet been someone who I could lean on to take the initiative and run with it from start to finish.
Andy M. - Andy has been a ton of fun on this trip. It has been so wonderful to see a fourteen year old change before my very eyes into a young man desiring God's perfect plan. He ran hard and was run ragged, and yet even after having a fever and feeling ill, tonight he was back at it with all the energy that a typical teenager has. The exeception is that he is channelling that energy directly back to the Lord.
Rachel H. - Rachel has been a source of laughter. She brings joy to any room where she spends time. What Rachel has meant to this trip is unspeakable. Her testimony, her honesty, and her sincerity have gone far beyond what most people show their entire lives. Students connected with her in a real way, because she was real with them.
Jimmy D. - What can I say here? This guy is something else. He has been a vital asset to us but in ways which none of us could have expected. There's a side of Jim that most of you will never see that is absolutely hysterical. He has provided some of the funniest one liners we could ever hope to hear, that leave the team just laughing our heads off. Laughter was needed and he was a great source. Beyond that, Jim has taught me much about what it means to disciple others (even if he does talk about QUADS too much) and to get excited about the potential in young men, when they are presented with truth. He has been a blessing beyond words.
Stephanie F. - In the midst of a very rough week that knocked her out of normal day to day activities, Stephanie has always maintained a smile. She jokingly talks about how she's doing and somehow makes light of a situation that could easily be looked at in a negative way. This has been encouraging to me and to others as well.
Tammy M. - Tammy has demonstrated a quiet mother like persona this entire week. She doesn't say much, but when she does it has always been a comfort. There is just a peace that pours out of her that has been so relaxing to watch. She also has been such a blessing through her heart of service.
Jeff K. - Jeff is systematic. Systematic in everything from how he teaches, which was so needed in the environment where God placed him, but also in his lack of sleep -- he doesn't just not sleep one night, he was systematic the entire trip! Jeff has been a blessing to many of us also in his quiet and willing service to the team, but also in the wisdom, discernment and insight he has brought to the team. The team would not be the same without him.
Angie M. - Angie is a ball of excitement. She is always excited about what the Lord is doing and what she says, though she may not think it, has always been profound and ministering to my heart. Her love for the Lord is something that causes me to examine my heart and check to see that I too have that passion flowing out of me. Her involvement with C&C is also something that has left a mark on the hearts of those suffering from AIDS.
Kristi T. - Our teacher. She is a pillar (though short) to lean on. She was always ready with a lesson, no matter how scattered we were at CTW. She always has the energy necessary to convey our lessons to teenagers in a way that God gifts only certain people. It has been such an honor to return to Namibia with her on my team.
Brigid K. - Brigid is soft spoken, yet extremely compassionate. She has been an asset to Jeff in the classrooms, especially in the sense of showing the relationship of a husband and wife. Her support of Jeff throughout this trip has been exceptional and something that has caught the eye of many on the team. She always has a smile on her face, even when physical fatigue is present.
There you have it. These 14 people are living examples of Christ in action. I am truly blessed. These words do not begin describe the ministry they unknowingly had towards me.
My God receive all the glory; may His name be the renown of our hearts!
In Him & only because of Him,
Joel O.
Team B
Team B: Etosha Recap
Greetings everyone,
We have safetly arrived back into Okahandja around 11:30am Monday morning, as planned. It is now around 6pm Monday. We are all doing very well and happy to no longer be confined to the four metal walls of the vans. Etosha was great. We were greeted by two lions upon entering the gate (within 2 minutes inside Etosha). That was a good way to kick off the trip. We arrived in Okakueijo (spelled wrong for sure), and there went to the watering hole just as a herd of 29 elephants marched to the watering hole in a perfect line. It was scene right out of jungle book, except in Africa, and not as cartoonish. It was so wonderful to see all these elephants in their natural habitat.
We spent all of Saturday pushing through to Halali where we stayed one night. At the Moringa watering hole (at Halali) we saw another heard of about 14 elephants (cows and babies). It was truly wonderful to see. Giraffes, springbok, wildebeast, red hartebeast, kudu, black-faced impala, and more elephants helped make our journey through Etosha a wonderful time. The first night in Halali everyone just rested. It was good. Sunday morning we kicked off the day with a time of devotion, similar to Refuge, and just worshipped together under open blue skies, nice cool breeze, and all in the midst of God's glorious creation. The second night in Numantoni was also good. There all the letters that people wrote for encouragement, where passed out. Lets just say that they were a big hit. Thank you all who contributed to that. It really seemed to go straight to the heart. For example, and this captures just about everyone's reaction, Lindsey P. made the comment as soon as you she received her letters, "That one on the top is from my Dad!!!"
We left Numantoni early this morning (around 6:45am) and headed back. Some of the team went to Kid's Club this afternoon, and others went to the wood carver's market. Those of us who were really smart, went to sleep!
The teams' highlights from this past weekend: 1) elephants at the waterhole, 2) sky full of stars at night where we could see part of the Milky Way (we think), 3) laughing uncontrolaby at the tower in Numantoni, 4) see God's beautiful creation in a way that only few ever see it, and 5) realzing how unimportant it makes the rests of life seem when you put things into perspective with the Almighty Lord of all Creation!
This week will go by entirely to fast for most of us. We are excited to get back to work, but at the same time we are indeed beginning the process of looking beyond this week. For some this will be very tough, others it is just becoming increasingly more exciting. Regardless of the person, we are in need of your prayers. We specifically ask that you would pray for discernment, clarity of heart and mind, and continued energy for each of the ministries where we are planted. There is so much to do, we would love prayer for how we can be the most effective in the few days remaining.
Please continue to lift of the hearts of the people of Okahandja. They are dear to our hearts and we long to see this town changed for His glory. May His true light penetrate the hearts and minds of this group of beautiful people. Also, please continue to lift up Mike, Kendal, and Josh, as they travel here to Namibia. They should arrive sometime tomorrow afternoon. We are looking forward to a very fun and very important reunion that kicks off another phase of what the Lord is doing here. Hein & Nadine are doing well but definitely continue to lift them up as life continues to change and they have many decisions to make. Hein & Jimmy D. are heading down to Kitmanshoop (again probably spelled wrong) tomorrow for Jim to conduct some discipleship training for 2 days. It's a 7-hr drive so pray for their travels.
Thank you all for your continued diligence in prayer.
Until we write again,
Team B
Team B: Weekend Review
Hey Everyone,
"Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say rejoice!" If there's anything that can be said as we end a Friday night, our first week of ministry, is this exact phrase. The Lord has richly and specifically answered our's and your prayers. He has totally moved in our hearts and in the hearts of those whom He has prepared for a long time. We just finished our evening devotion time and it was such a wonderful time of sharing. We dedicated this evening to encouragement of one another by individuals sharing about other people on the team who have encouraged them through their service this week. Everyone jumped right in and began to share how others had ministered to their spirits. Everyone kept sharing and sharing. For an hour we edified each other (the body) as we talked how the Lord has used others to teach us new lessons. It was truly a blessed time of fellowship and team bonding.
Today sums up the entire week well. Teaching CTW, Kid's Club, after school Bible studies, laundry, packing for Etosha, and laughter all were included. God has brought our team through a lot this week that has really stretched us and allowed us to see the heaviness that Okahandja contains, but through it brought our lives close together and to Him through joyful praise and laughter. Jimmy D. and Amy continue to bring the humor, in very unique ways...as only Jimmy D. and Amy can do.
We have been truly blessed by the hearts of the people of Okahandja. They have taught us so much. We have been encouraged by the words and service of our team members. God has been the center of all we do, and He has shown Himself faithful by keeping us healthy and allowing us private time to journal and study His word. So our quiet times have been preserved for His glory, which is a huge answer to prayer. It is becoming very clear that our quiet times are directly proportional to how much we are able to pour out to the people to whom we speak.
Care & Compassion went really well today. Dennis, Angie, & Jimmy D went out and experienced just joy and fellowship with AIDS patients. Neil forgot the guitar in the van, when we arrived at the school, but this proved to be blessing for Angie who found it in the van later and used it at C&C to sing and play for the patients. What an awesome opportunity!
A huge answer to prayer came today! If you didn't hear about this in an earlier report, a boy named Williams from Okahandja Secondary, who has been a friend to many of us over all our trips, got into a fight at school. He was sent home and threatened with expulsion. Joel, who connected with him back in February, "happened" to be at the school grounds early on Wednesday for a Bible study, found him crying off to one side. Joel prayed with him and spent some time encouraging him to trust the Lord for His plan through all of this. The team spent time praying for him Wednesday night and spoke again with him on Thursday. He reported that the department head would make his decision after speaking with Williams mom on Friday. We prayed again last night (Thursday) for God to intervene on behalf of Williams. Today (Friday), Joel saw Williams prior to speaking with the dept. head and even met his mom. After they met with the dept. head, Williams came out to the "quad" and told Joel that he was not going to be expelled. He was so thankful for our prayers and for Jesus answering them. It was so great to see the change in his composure.
It is 11:24pm here and we are all getting ready to head off to Etosha tomorrow morning bright and early at 6:30am. The team is doing exceptionally well and everyone is so excited to be able to take a bit of a break and see some of God's wonderful creation. He is doing mighty things within us, and this weekend will definitely be a time of drawing closer together in the presence of our great and mighty Savior and Creator. Please continue to lift the hearts of those that we will talk to this coming week. Also, we selfishly ask that you be praying for safe travels up to Etosha tomorrow and for our times of bonding together as one body with Christ as our head! This has been a huge lesson for us this week as we have seen the body of Christ in motion. It has revealed much to our hearts and minds about our role in service before our Savior.
Thank you all for your prayers. We have been praying for you all in our times of devotions.
Till we return from Etosha on Monday...
Team B
Team B: Rocking and Rollin
Hey Friends & Family,
We are having a blast here in Namibia. Jimmy D. has been making us roar. His sense of humor is ridiculous! Laughter has carried us through today. The CTW team woke up this morning laughing about the stories from the day before. We entered the schools laughing and enjoying each other companies. Today has truly been a day of rejoicing, fun, and of course laughter. Are you seeing a theme? One really funny story to tell is from CTW today at Okahandja Secondary. Jimmy D. came to observe the teaching and the students. After about five periods of hearing us discuss sex and God's plan, he said he needed a break. We asked him why, and his immediate reply was, "I'm tired of sex."
It was such a blessing to talk to some folks back home on the phone yesterday to give them an update. Hopefully someone was able to post yesterdays events, as they were good!
Okahandja Secondary is turning into a great field of ministry. Today we experienced three salvations (young students who Amy and Rachel prayed with), and Neil being able to play worship at Scripture Union, then being blown away by the voices of fifteen students singing their hearts out. He said that it blew the singing at Refuge out of the water. Kristi was able to take the day off from CTW to focus on the afternoon Youth Club teaching. This was good in that she has been our fearless leader for CTW and was experiencing a little fatigue from it all. So she has recovered well. Jeff & Brigid took Stephanie F. to JG today to teach CTW. They said it was a great time. Their after class Bible study has been growing and taking longer, but they are excited about the ownership God has given them there and how they are seeing hearts and minds opened up. Lindsay was able to go with us to Okahandja Secondary today. She expressed excitement about being involved and seeing the responsiveness from the students.
After talking with Buddy, he said that things are going so well with Kid's Clubs. Honestly, there is almost nothing negative to report, it has all be good news about the Good News! The Youth Club went very well and Kristi taught on "bitterness". This is often a big problem with the people of Okahandja. There is much hurt and pain and bitterness is easy to follow. Kristi had the students write something that had hurt them or someone who had caused them pain, and then tear the piece of paper up and throw it at the foot of a cross. This demonstration seemed to move many of the students and one girl came away with a burden lifted from her shoulders, as revealed in her eyes.
Joel went back to Okahandja Secondary today to continue the Bible study of Philippians that he and Neil began yesterday (Wednesday). There were four young men from the school that met with him today (Romeo, John, Tuley, & Ailene -- if that is spelled correctly). The study is going well and brings up a lot of questions. They are so hungry for truth, and to be honest Ailene is a powerhouse of the Word. A future leader for sure. So continue to pray for these young men, that God would continue to mature them in their faith and that their hunger for His word would continue to be met and exceeded.
Jimmy D. (as we affectionately call him now) met with Urbanus again today in a one on one time of discipleship. Urbanus is Jesse's, the head boy at Okahandja Secondary, brother. God is opening up huge doors for leadership development and truly bringing a sampling of what He is doing before us. It is so encouraging to everyone. Christiaan continues to grow and ask questions. Jimmy D. spent some time at the school today talking to him and to Mr. Manze (who is a Christian english teacher at the school). Other teachers are expressing openness to our presence in the schools and asking questions and genuinely welcoming to what we share. Friendships are being built that will hopefully lead to more salvations in the future.
Care & Compassion is rocking Buddy's, Angie's, and Jimmy D's worlds. Danny, who oversees C&C has touched their hearts like none other. They have all expressed that he is truly an example of how Christ would interact with the sick, disregarded, dying, and forgotten. They asked that you pray for Danny cause he does this ministry alone when there are not teams here to help. The burden, though he has joy, is obvious. From reports from both Jim and Buddy, Angie is fitting in right at home with these people. They can see God shaping her and molding her in this work and she is growing so quickly because of it.
As mentioned before, the team is doing so well. Everyone is growing through their various ministries, and even beginning to cross over to check out and experiencing the other ministries. This is being done, not because we are overloaded or under staffed, it is because everything has fallen into line so perfectly that we are able to breathe easy resting in the fact that it is not because of anything we can do, but because of what Christ is doing in and through us. If anything, the entire team would probably say that next Saturday's return will be entirely too soon. Continue to pray for the team as there will definitely be those who will be returning to Namibia very soon, as God is calling hearts even as this email is typed.
Thank you again for your prayers. Continue to pray for those whom we will reach, also for our trip to Etosha this coming weekend. We will be staying two nights there, but it will be an awesome opportunity to enjoy God's creation and to grow as a team in our service to our Lord!
All this is for HIM!
Team B
Team B: Fully Immersed
Hey Everyone,
We are now just rounding out Day 2 of our ministries here in Okahandja, Namibia. It has been such a huge blessing to each one of us to experience the great things God is doing. When we last communicated, we mentioned that we would be having our devotion and debrief time. That evening turned into a wonderful and very special time of worship before God. Bardian, who is in charge of counseling for CHI, addressed us on how to handle the needs of counseling that we find in the community, from students, adults, etc. It was much more than a lecture on the proper procedures and methods. It became very clear to us all that our hearts must demonstrate Christ. Our actions must be as though Christ Himself was performing them. Living as Christ is how the hurt and dying (spiritually) of Namibia, will begin to open up, sharing those difficult things to us. Following this we had a time of sharing one word adjectives that described how each of us were feeling. There was excitement, brokenness, joy, hurt, sorrow, and freedom through this exercise. It was such a great way for the entire team to just briefly state how each of us was taking in and processing what we've experienced. After this time, we spent a few minutes in prayer, closing with a special time of praying over Rob, who as some may know, wasn't able to leave with the team due to passport issues. We just committed that complication to God, asking for His direction and peace through it all. It was so wonderful to be lifting our pastor before God in his own personal time of need. Truly what the body is about. One thing that Dennis M. mentioned is a huge need that has been waying on his heart is that for the men of Namibia. He said his heart has been breaking (and it was evident in how he spoke) every time he sees a man just walking along the road. He felt that there is an intense need for us to begin reaching them, meeting them where they are at and pouring into them.
Today was just another wonderful day of ministry in the schools, kids clubs and at the Ark (orphanage). At Okahandja Secondary we spent time talking to Grade 10 students about choices they make to be a virgin, celibate, or sexually active. We could tell that they were paying very close attention, and asking very good questions. Brigid & Jeff K. have been at JG and will probably be working closely there the next two weeks. They have been sharing the gospel and answering a lot of questions about being "born again" which has been a point of confusion because of all the mixed theology and messages these students have been exposed to. They've had several opportunities to answer some very deep and personal questions from kids who've had parents going through divorice. Jeff & Brigid have also begun an after school Bible study with a few of the students who are really hungry. At Okahandja Secondary, we are extremely happy to report that 11 students (7 boys, 4 girls) accepted Christ today. Probably even more encouraging to us is that the students are paying attention and walking away very introspective. They are truly beginning to think over these issues of premarital sex and salvation. It's been so wonderful. Two Bible studies are beginning at Okahandja Secondary as well. A girls study, being led by Kristi T., Amy R., & Rachel H. will be held just about every day right after classes. Joel & Neil are working closely with several students (Romeo, Armandu, & Jon + some others) to begin a Bible study of the book of James. These guys are serious about their walk and they need poured into.
Kid's Clubs are going extremely well. Stephanie F. reported today that it becomes increasingly more fun and even easy as they become familiar with the lessons and how the kids learn. The reports are all good. Dennis M. mentioned that they love taking photos of the kids and how it allows them to just reach out and hug them afterwards and create bonds with the kids. Dancing has been a huge topic of laughter among them as they realize how horrible they [the team] are at dancing [compared to the kids], and still they continue. The Kid's Club crew went over to the Ark today and spent time with the orphans and redecorating the Ark. Based on all reports this crew has it down and they are rolling with it. God is blessing their times and they are learning so much about the joy of the Lord. One funny story is that Jim D. made the comment (after going to Kid's Club for the experience) that, there were lots of kids, lots of noise, and lots of dust. All in all, he, in his typical Jimmy D. way, said it wasn't for him!
The team is doing exceptionally well. We've stuck with our original plan of keeping the teams seperate in and focused on their areas of ministry. This has worked really well and allowed each team to really take ownership of Kid's Club, CTW, C&C, etc. Everyone is healthy. Everyone is excited. We are all tired at times, but God is providing rest. The pace is good. God has really blessed us in that. We are moving at a pace that is seeing great things happening, and yet it is moving at a rate where we feel that burnout will be avoided. Please continue to pray for all of these areas, but more importantly, and the team has expressed this, please pray that the community of Okahandja would begin to experience God and His glory. That they would begin to awaken out of their sleep in darkness, and begin move towards His light. Pray especially for the men of Okahandja, both young men and the older ones. There is such a need to see them transformed by the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:2 has been a big theme verse for us lately). So basically, we covet your prayers for us, but we ask that you pray more specifically for the people of Namibia. We are willing, but God needs to begin opening their ears, eyes, hearts and minds.
Thank you so much for lifting us up. Hopefully we'll be able to update daily from here on out (except while at Etosha this weekend).
Blessings,
Team B
Team B Update (Finally!)
Hey Everyone,
After a very busy weekend and some technical difficulties and lost emails, we are now updating you all. As you might suspect, we are safetly in Okahandja, Namibia. The team arrived on Saturday afternoon without any problems getting through customs. Everyone's luggage made it through customs without being searched. This is just a huge answer to prayer. God is continually answering prayer as we have seen so evidently.
The reunion with Team A on Saturday was wonderful. The evening was spent swapping stories and just sharing in the excitement of all being in Namibia at the same time. Later that evening we spent time in prayer as a team, dedicating this trip to the Lord. Sunday morning found us waking up bright and early for a time of trading info with Team A so that we could get off the ground effectively with the hand off. Sunday afternoon, after lunch, we all went out to the Multi-purpose Center property to see the building and have the dedication. The building currently consists of steam support beams, a metal roof and a concrete floor (half-way completed). Even though only rough in construction, it was so amazing to actually be worshipping with both teams, members of CHI and about a dozen people from the community. One of the greatest parts of the day happened when Joel was able to baptize Christiaan, the teacher from Okahandja Secondary School. This was a surprise to the entire team upon our arrival, and what a great way to start off our trip here in Namibia.
Sunday evening continued with Team A going into processing and "pre-re-entry" prep. Team B gathered together to have a time of prayer, devotion and refresher on talking about the gospel to others. It was a great time of team connecting and discussion, challenging many of us who have walked with the Lord for many years and those who have only recently made Christ their center. Preparation followed into the night. Followed by a good nights rest (except that Buddy snores like a machine!).
Today saw our first day of Choose to Wait, Kid's Club, Care & Compassion and a special assembly at a primary school north of town. Boy did we kick off with a bang! We will be having our evening debriefing and devotion time to discuss all that has happened. The early reports are that everyone experienced God is some very unique and special ways. He is truly amongst us and teaching us new things through everyone on this team.
Team A (for everyone wondering) got off the ground this morning on time and without hassle. Please continue to pray for them as they are on the hardest part of their journey in that they are going through withdraw and separation from this great town and its people.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. We are feeling them. Most of us are doing well with sleep and currently feeling a good pace setting in. We are in anticipation of what God is doing and preparing for us. He is good!
We'll update again when the time (and technology allows),
In Him alone!
Team B
