Namibia Journal - November 25th
November 25th
Williams came by the Center to visit and brought his friend Jeremiah. We talked about how they go to a Roman Catholic church (of which I didn't know there was one in town) and what they want to do with their lives. Williams is in grade 8 and has some time to think about it but says he might want to become a pastor in the Baptist church. Jeremiah is in grade 11 and wants to be a teacher. Today, they wanted to learn about computers so I showed them some of the basics of Windows. We also played a game of chess. Apparently that is one of the things Mike & Josh have been doing to connect with the guys here. They even had a chess tournament a little while ago that Christiaan won. The guys were around for a while playing basketball and such while a lot of things were going on. Many youth were there with Jenny preparing their dances for the concert on Saturday night. Matthew and some other guys were there also.
I got to read a lot today. I'm reading “The Organic Church” by Neil Cole and Second Chronicles in the Bible. I'm not really prepared to give the notes yet, but I will say I am becoming more and more focused on the fact that it's simply not the church if Jesus is not there. We've got to have more than the simple knowledge of that. We've got to dwell there, on the point that without Jesus, it's not the church. If He's not there, we're just playing church-- We're not being the church. A body needs its head to be alive. All a body really needs to be alive is its living and active head. It's a simplistic principle and all of the real improvements on that should simply and only go along with what the head wants anyway. We've got to dwell on that first point--the body simply must have its head to live.
Second Chronicles is awesome. The first eight chapters are about the life of Solomon and his accomplishments under God.
“2 Chronicles 9:17-19 The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold. The throne had six steps and a footstool of gold, which were attached to the throne, and on each side of the seat were arm rests and two lions standing beside the arm rests, while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. Nothing like it was ever made for any kingdom.”
Today was our first Namibian-American Thanksgiving :) Erin and Kendall worked a whole lot yesterday and almost all day today preparing the food for us (the team, some CHI volunteers, and some Namibian guests). We had a special time of communion and giving thanks before we ate. We also had a Thanksgiving Day quiz to give to the non-Americans for some fun. There was no Thanksgiving turkey and no cranberries but we were very grateful for everything we did have and all of our new brothers and sisters in Christ.
It's been a great eight days so far in Okahandja. We're going to be obedient. We've got to be humble. We've got to go with the process of the vision He gives us. It's a great thing just to be here, having to trust him, getting to serve with the strength that He supplies so that He gets the glory (1 Peter 4:11), doing missions when dying and everything is gain.
Namibia Journal - November 24th
November 24th
We were on the Okahandja Secondary School campus today. I recognized some people from before. One of the guys was Garrett. When I met him last year I knew God was working on him. He was part of the “Scripture Union” weekly lunchtime Bible study, and part of an older guy's evening Bible study in the hostel. For their study, they had an English Bible and the closest thing they could find to an Afrikaans language Bible—the “New World Translation” also known as the Jehovah's Witness' translation. I was visiting the hostel with Mike Ewald from Apex when they showed it to us. I wasn't sure at first because it was totally in Afrikaans but I had Garrett translate to me John 1:1. Sure enough, it read, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was like a God.” I took it away from them, not knowing for sure that I'd be able to find a real Afrikaans translation to replace it with, but if there was one in town, I was going to get it. Praise God, the local grocery store “Spar” carries multiple different translations so I found one there and then I think Mike Ewald bought them out :) I found out from Garrett that Wilson, the student leader of the Bible study and Scripture Union has since graduated and is studying in Windhoek to be a pastor. Garrett is one of the students the team is taking to camp in December.
Next, I met the young guy who is at the end of the “Namibia DVD” that Jeff Long from the February Apex team shot. He's the guy who says, 'I want to tell the whole church, Namibia is such a nice place. God is good all the time. Come and enjoy the day with us.' or something like that. It was actually right when I was standing there wondering if I would see him and then turned to my left and he was standing there! His name is Williams and he was excited to see Erin and me because Jodi (from the first team who went back again this year) told him about our wedding(?) -not sure the whole story on that yet. Anyway, he is going to come over and see our wedding pictures sometime. I haven't gotten a chance to talk with the team and see if he has been a part of any of their studies yet.
There were a couple of other students who recognized us but I'm not sure if we recognized them. Even the ones we did recognize had obviously grown and matured and look significantly different now.
Later, back at the Center, I met Matthew again who was one of the guys I tried to spend time with here before. He lives in 5 Rand and is going to be performing some dances with a large number of students and young people from the Ark on Saturday as a fundraiser for camp which is only a couple weeks away now. I don't know why but he isn't one of the students we're taking.
We had our second house church in Namibia tonight at Mike & Josh's again. Given (that's his name) from the Ark was there and his is an interesting story. When we came to Namibia in June 2004, Given and his sisters were in a really tough spot. They were just about to lose the new house they had moved into with money promised from one of the parents that wasn't around any more. Well, that money didn't come so they were being kicked out with no place to go. We found out that the cost for housing (room + board) at the Okahandja Secondary School hostel was relatively really reasonable so my then future mother-in-law (Rhonda Sheets) paid the money it would take to get them into the hostel for the next year. Given and his sisters are doing very well now. Given is one of the thirty students selected to go to camp and he says he has been doing well on his exams.
We had a good time at house church. We began by talking about how we can't come to house church with a lot of expectations that things are just going to happen. That doesn't mean we make them happen either... It means we are totally dependent on Jesus showing up for anything to happen at all. We need Him, or we're not the church. There's no amount of anything we can do or put together that will make us the church. In a sense, we can expect Him to come to us, when we gather in His name, but we have to be humble. We have to keep in mind that there's nothing we can do to merit His arrival, His blessing, His presence, His peace, His joy, His love, His discipline. It is by grace we are the church. And by the grace of God we took that focus into our opening prayer time.
The texts we looked at as the Holy Spirit led us were John 15 (1-17) (which happened to be one of our catalyst passages in the Dayton house church) and Philippians 2 (12-17). The texts resounded with and drove discussion about being satisfied in God, what it is that brings us to God, what brings us to do His work, and what satisfies our souls. We sang a song, read some psalms, and had a good long prayer time.
It was a beautiful evening. Before the sun eventually set in the west behind an ashy rain-storm of dusty clouds and pieces of rainbow, the eastern sky was pure neon electric blue. Between those two skies was a single mass of bright white cloud, one like I've never seen before.
Psalm 24:8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!
Namibia Journal - November 23rd
November 23rd
I read a lot of the last book Jim Duddleston from Apex gave me before leaving America. It's called “Organic Church.” This section from page 53 was one of many things that blew me away:
“In Acts, chapter 1, all five of the qualities I have mentioned that make up a church according to my seminary's definition were present [elders, sacraments, regular gathering, defined beliefs, considers itself a church]. Many scholars believe, however, that the true Church didn't really begin until chapter 2. What is the difference between the groups in chapter 1 and chapter 2 of Acts? God came upon them with the presence of the Holy Spirit filling the believers, and what a difference that made. Without Jesus in the very core of our understanding of church, we are no different from any other religious group, Kiwanis Club, or the Moose Lodge.
“We have a saying in our movement: the church must be conceived in heaven before it is born on earth. It must first be a glimmer in our Father's eyes. Church is spiritual and must start in the spiritual realm first and foremost.
“The heavenly ingredient is so much more significant than the earthly ones. In fact, the heavenly ingredient gives the earthly ingredients their significance. If we minimize or even eliminate the heavenly from our definition, we end up with a church that is more like a computer without a power source, or a body without a circulatory system—dead.
“In our organic church movement we have come to understand church as this: the presence of Jesus among His people called out as a spiritual family to pursue His mission on this planet.”
The author goes on with a bit of a disclaimer that he knows this definition of the church is a little broad but he gives a lot of reasons for liking and supporting such a broad definition.
Now, since first beginning this entry five days ago, I have read a lot more of the book and still like it a lot but there are definitely sections that I do not like at all, so I say read with caution (as always).
The author is obviously a synergist from many statements in the book but he is another very Biblical and consistent one when focused on the practice of ministry like the author of Firm Foundations. An appropriate filter should be used by anyone reading this book. For instance, his underlying theology in his exposition of the parable of the four soils is off, but his application is very enlightening. He helped me see that those for whom the seeds are planted in thorny and shallow soils don't actually leave the church! They stay there being unfruitful. He gives an illustration about the reality of the 100, 60, and 30 fold increases and hits hard the idea of investing in those impressively fruitful, by the grace of God, few.
Erin helped bake a ton of cookies today for the camp coming up. They are cooking a lot of things ahead of time to lighten the load of cooking for so many everyday for a week.
We ran a lot of errands today, picking up some necessities and comparing prices everywhere. There are at least 5 grocery stores of decent size within close walking distance to the center. Everyone has his or her own opinion on which one is best. Most stuff is priced very close but there are significant savings on some things at some places... We are trying to practice good stewardship :)
Tonight was the first time I got to join Mike, Josh, and Christiaan for their Wednesday night men's Bible study. We started out talking about the terms “punishment” “condemnation” and “discipline” and how/why these relate to us in our relationships with God. We talked about condemnation from Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Some people have tried to narrow this condemnation down to just one sense or application. The fact is that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus in any sense. For verse 2 says, “For the law of the spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” That is real from the point of the second birth, at the point of salvation, and goes on forever. We talked about how discipline is one of the best things God does in a believer's life. Here are some verses on that:
“Heb 12:7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?”
“Heb 12:8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”
“Heb 12:11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
“Rev 3:19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” (The words of Jesus.)
It may hurt for a while, but discipline is awesome. I shared about a time in my life when God was really disciplining me for days going on into weeks and how it just hurt so bad in my heart and I knew it was Him. He was never so real and so constant to me before that time in my walk. God's loving reproof is awesome. It brings about permanent change in our lives. Lastly, with punishment, we talked about how the term probably wasn't actually that different than discipline but it was all about the difference in connotations. Discipline has a connotation of purpose and growth while punishment sounds more like condemnation. For clarity's sake, we should probably not use the term punishment when referring to discipline and when other terms are available.
After the discussion, we watched the same Louie Giglio message that was watched on Sunday. I got to see the whole thing this time and it was very solid. He was preaching from Leviticus 9 about what an amazing thing it was that the people's sacrifice was accepted by God and how they celebrated and fell facedown. He was also drawing a lot from what John Piper talks about in “The Pleasures of God” about the God-centeredness of God. (I mean God in the trinitarian sense.) God is all about God. God is into God. It wouldn't be right for God to be more into anything else but Himself. He's God. And the good news for us is God has grace on us. Without grace, we couldn't see God. We couldn't know God. We couldn't worship God. But God has given us great glimpses of Himself and the knowledge and the love of Him by His grace. So we love Him—we know and enjoy and delight in Him. Praise God for grace and celebrate because it gives us God. The Father has made us a sacrifice acceptable for consumption for Himself in His Son through His Spirit. Praise God that we may see His face and enjoy His face.
“2 Cor 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Pray for an ever-increasing passion for the team and the Okahandjans, that we receive His grace.
While I was with the guys at Mike & Josh's house, Erin was back at the center with several of the ladies. They were in Ruth chapter 4 in the Word and spent some time in prayer together.
Namibia Journal - November 22nd
November 22nd
Today we started out by going out with the team to a nearby dam where there is a huge body of water. I would put it in the category of Caesar's Creek or something back in Ohio. I was so surprised that something like that existed so close to Okahandja. We borrowed a canoe from another local missionary named Deiter that everyone had a ride in. It was very beautiful to see so much water out here. And in and around the water we saw lots of crabs, fish, lizards, birds, and some deer-like animals resting in the shade. I want to take some local Namibians there sometime. Even though it is nearby, if you don't have a car or a good reason, you might not never know it is there as a local person.
This is our sixth day in the country of Namibia this time and I want to be careful to stay on track. God has taken care of a big first thing and given us a place to live for as long as we want starting January 1st. He has taken care of our work permits, having given us permission to stay in the country for at least 1 year. We have been given a big mission, and there is nothing holding us back from starting. We just have to get started now. Our walks around the town and neighborhoods have been good and we are going to continue doing that everyday until something happens. We also have a lot of ideas developing and opportunities being revealed. I think the only hindrances are the breaks God created like sleep, work hours, and when people have to eat. I want to be working through all those things. We need to be immersed into the people by spending time with them, in their families, at their homes, and with them personally. One of the best things Mike & Josh have going is that a lot of the young guys just come over to their house to spend time, talk about life, and do other things. I've been told that simply spending time with young people is one of the biggest ways to impact them. I think that's really true and true also about people of all ages, though with the youth there are simply some things they can't do immediately until they mature into adulthood—things like settling into a job, getting their own place, etc. Those things are good to talk about with adults. One thing you can always talk about is Jesus. I have a feeling, though no confirmation, that a lot of the older guys we see around here would love to just sit back and talk about theology. I'm pretty sure they do talk already and have a lot of beliefs and ideas they'd like to throw around. Of course, that goes well with me and I know it could lead into so many other things. Jesus, the Word, the sword, new life, changed families, new worship, delight in God. The guy I met and wrote about yesterday, Nicodemus, was excited that we were going to be working at the Multi-Purpose Ministry Center. He asked if we were going to start a church there and he thought we should. I asked him if he would come and he said yes. I could tell he was humble and had a genuine excitement, not for himself so I suggested that he could be the pastor :) He said “oh no” but he would like to “sit and listen.” That sounded good to me too so I told him we could do that at our place sometime when he came over and at his place also (thinking house churches beginning). That's when I started asking about his family. I found out he only has a brother in town who owns a shop or something and that he has no family of his own but people do live at his place with him. I said we'd do that at his brother's place too. My prayer to God in regard to Nicodemus is that Jesus would get glory for growing him into a man who walks in a manner worthy of the high callings of being a Christian, husband, father, and leader. He's the first real live Namibian guy I've met and am praying about in regard to discipleship.
We went back to Victory Camp today. Kendall (Apex team), Jenny, and Sara read a story for some of the children. Erin and I met Hendrick, probably the most charismatic resident of Victory Camp. I helped some guys pile some cardboard boxes onto a big pile, not knowing what they were going to do with it, and then they lit it on fire, just to get it out of the way I think, or for fun. Erin and I also spent some time with some children. A lot of extra children who don't live there come and hang out at the Victory Camp. One reason is they know when the missionaries come and another is just because it's a fun place to play. One of the ladies who lives and was playing there is supposedly in her 40s, a rarity.
We rode back to Mike & Josh's and then walked back into town. We started talking with a group of teenage girls, younger guys, and lots of children. They were friendly and excited. We talked with them a long time and then walked with them back to the main road. We didn't have our flashlight with us this evening so we got back close to where we're staying before it got really dark.
Praise the Lord for the Holy Spirit who lights our path, opens our eyes to the light of Jesus, and with whom we reflect Jesus to the world.
Namibia Journal - November 21st
November 21st
We started today off by going to Okahandja Secondary School for the first time since we've been back. It was exhilarating just walking through the back wall onto the campus again even though all the students were busy and quiet taking exams. Our future landlord is one of the school's receptionists and a nice lady. The house we'll be living in is her house that she has not decided to sell yet because she's not sure where she's going to be next. She lives with her husband in Windhoek where he works currently.
After our visit with our new landlord, we went to our first team meeting at Mike & Josh's house. It was a good time with the team. We shared our heart's desire and prayer for the team to be PASSIONATE and on fire for God in everything they do. We just want to see God valued for how good He really is and lifted up for all of our new neighbors and friends to see. We love Him and we love them.
We saw the inside of our new place today at 5pm. We move in on January 1st. I am really glad that Erin likes the inside. It is a small 2 bedroom house with one bathroom. We will have to get kitchen appliances but that's expected. It is hoped that furniture and appliances will be available to us when a container full of Dutch donations comes in December but we are not worried about it. It is two houses down from the house that is directly behind Mike & Josh's house. It's very close by but you have to go to the end of their block, around another block, and down into a cul-de-sac to get to it so it's kind of like being in a separate neighborhood at the same time. We will have a better description of the location (and pictures) later so you can pray for our neighbors.
Erin and I had the most awesome walk yet today. We took the long walk back the 'wrong way' from our new place and criss-crossed over many new streets and areas. People are everywhere. Lots of kids. We say hi to almost everyone and are greeted mostly warmly. The only exception consistently is the young adult guys. But we figured out today that they simply don't respond to “hello”. It is much better to use a manly “what's up” with them :) which is cool and makes total sense when you think about it... The guys are very into their games. There are all kinds of groups of little children and girls and other people around but the only groups of guys we saw were gathered together to play games. For the youngest group, 9-11 I guess, it was a gambling game with a deck of cards. Then we found some older guys, late 20s to 50s maybe, playing an interesting looking strategy game that involved moving many small round objects around four rows of divots dug into the dirt (mancala?). These guys were very friendly and would like to teach me to play with them sometime. Last, there were some teenage guys playing dominoes. I could go on and on about some of the interesting people we met and the opportunities we see God might be giving us. One very awesome encounter was with a 25 yr old guy named Nicodemus. We had climbed onto a tall little rock formation close to the multi-purpose ministry center and he came walking by. He was more interested than the rest or I think I might have said something to him like “we're from America” which I like to say. He wanted to come by and visit and asked for our house number. We told him where and when we would be there. Then he climbed onto the rock also and showed me where he lived. It is an area of Nau-Aib we haven't been to yet called “Sam Stand”(?) but we will be there soon. He knew about Jesus' conversation with the Nicodemus in the Bible already and I told him one of the reasons that we have come to Namibia is because the words He said are true--Unless a person is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). I found out that he has a gardening job and is single. I am very much looking forward to finding him before we even move in to Nau-Aib and visiting with him more after we do. While I was speaking with him, Erin was having a God encounter of her own...
[Erin speaking: I was about 12 feet away from Todd on the other side of the rock formation when about 10 children came running toward us. There were 3 girls (about age 10 or 11) and 7 boys (around age 6/7) One of the girls was carrying a baby on her hip. When they started climbing up the rock, I greeted them each with a smile and handshake and asked them if they came up because we were there. With big grins they all said “YES!” I asked them if they lived close and they said yes, pointing to the neighborhood we had just walked through. I told them we were from America and they Ooohed and Awwwed and I then asked them if they had ever been on a plane before. They said no so I described how long of a ride it was and how close you have to sit to people. They were quite amazed. ....Then I asked them why they thought that we would come all the way from America to live in Namibia for two years. One boy said, “Because of the weather?” I replied, “No, although the weather is very nice here..,” explaining how it is so cold with snow from where I just came from. Another guessed, “Because Namibia is beautiful?” to which one girl responded “No it isn't, look at all the rubbish,” pointing to the trash blowing across the field. I then said, “Yes, the rubbish isn't good, but do you know what we think is beautiful about Namibia?” “What?!?!” They asked with anticipation. I said with a great smile, “The Namibians!” They smiled and giggled excitedly :)
Once they were out of guesses I told them we came all the way from America to Namibia is because God decided to put His love in our hearts for them before we even saw them! And one reason we came is to tell them just how big and good God really is. With that they began to tell me how they go to children's club (one of Christ Hope's ministries) and asked if I would be there. ....I've never been but told them that I would probably go one day.
They then wanted to make sure they knew where we lived and I explained our housing situation (not being able to move in until Jan.) but assured them that they could come over some time very soon :) Back to Todd writing.]
I love Mike and Josh and Gert and Vincent. We just shared a great time of Bible application and study and personal accountability time together. I need better words for that because it doesn't describe it. The guys have been meeting regularly on Mondays up 'til now and looking into Ephesians together. Tonight, on the first night I've joined them, we started chapter 4 and talked about many topics from God's Word and God's work in our lives. It was a good time of struggling together against flesh, the world, and our enemy through openness and being real about the forces we fight.
Namibia Journal - November 20th
November 20th
This was our first Sunday in Okahandja. We walked over to Hein & Nadine's before 9am to ride with them to a new English church in Okahandja that just started two weeks ago. As far as we now know, it is the only English speaking church in Okahandja. The couple is from South Africa and apparently they just got rid of all their possessions and came to Namibia because God led them to start a new church, an English church, and to play Hillsong (a sort of a charismatic contemporary praise) on CD for the music. I am going to pray about how Erin and I might do with Derek, the pastor, and his wife, Anne. I would at least like to have a friendly relationship with them. We don't really have a 'gathering' type of ministry here yet so God might want us to be connected to something like that which would attract English speakers. I haven't prayed yet but I do have some things I want to talk with him about. I am glad that he seems very dedicated to the truth and usefulness of the whole Bible.
[Notes to give to the pastor: It's clear you want to already be counseling and ministering to people here. Well, they can't trust you yet. Even talking about their storms and past counseling experiences won't bring them out to you. You've got to talk about God. Talk about Jesus and since He is the ultimate 'mutual friend' if they trust Him and He knows you, they'll begin to trust you. Preach Jesus. If God is going to build a church through you, He's going to build it on Jesus. Don't talk about man's issues or needs. It's a dead end. Just talk about Jesus.]
Immediately after that, we joined Mike, Josh, Kendall, and several CHI volunteers at Mike and Josh's house in Nau-Aib. They were about halfway through watching Louie Giglio doing some good exposition of Leviticus chapter 9 on DVD. It was interesting that on the way over, Hein and Nadine were telling us that two things that are really effective working with native Africans are Old Testament stories and grace; especially OT stories that show God's grace. Well, that's exactly what Louie Giglio was preaching on the DVD. It was very good for everyone there who could follow it. (Giglio has had a questionable teaching/article or two come out recently but he at least used to be very Biblical.) We will all need to take truths about God from the Word like that and speak it in a way less-fluent English speakers can keep up with for the ministry here.
Erin and I walked around our (hopefully) new neighborhood today, meeting several folks. We were especially impressed by God in the life of Ellen. Of course there is no telling if she is really a believer yet, but she was very excited about getting to know us, teaching us African culture, food, etc. and taking us to her church where she will translate for us :) There were lots of neat little children everywhere.
At night, Erin and I went walking again. We took about an hour to walk the long way (God's way for us) to Mike & Josh's house. We found new parts of town and saw some of the night life in action. It is when a lot of people would be scared and think it's too dangerous but the town was alive and we just took a flashlight so we were okay finding the way. There are a lot of street lights but still many dark areas to walk through. We were praying for the area and the people there. When we crossed past the graveyard from one section of Nau-Aib into the budget homes area, we could tell that the spirit was different there, and darker. I just prayed that God would teach us how to fight against the spiritual forces of darkness and I know that the first step is knowing the end—that Jesus is victorious. There is nothing that is not under His feet. We talked with Josh & Mike for a little while and prayed and when we left we knew that things were changing there.
Namibia Journal - November 19th
November 19th
Today was our first visit to Victory Camp in Okahandja. The people there are the poorest of the poor, living in houses made out of trash. But it wasn't as bad an environment as I thought it would be. Spiritually, it was so much better. It seemed to have a bright and almost joyous sense about it. I could have walked around just looking at it for a long time. Erin and I wanted to stay there for hours; to sit and pray and read the Word. I even felt a strong desire to truly live with the people by staying some nights there, though I don't think that will happen. We will definitely go back just to be there and see how God wants to use us in that place. I just want to be there for a long time and pray and seek the Lord and let people come up to us if they want to. I just felt like I wanted to be with God there. God is everywhere. But I wanted to be with Him there. I think of the verse, 'humble yourself, and pray' (2 Chr. 7:14) and it is a humbling, humiliating place of existence. Maybe then God will heal them, as he ordains the ends and the means, and He was definitely working some sort of means in me today. I love it. But today we left right away with the rest of the team to go look at a house we found out was for rent. The house numbers are sporadic and don't seem to flow. Neither are there any street signs though they do have names. Eventually we found it and liked it. The current tenants move out at the end of December. We will meet with Miss Kariko, the houseowner, on Monday to discuss the details. She is employed at Okahandja Secondary School. On our way we also found a house for sale. It only had 1 bedroom however and was probably overpriced.
We were surprised today when it started raining. The sound is cool when it hits the metal roofs. The feel was very cool as it took the heat off instantly. The smell was like the good American rain smell times 10. The rain ranged from big spread out drops to a steady downpour to a mist and variably fell in at left and right angles. Job 5:8-10, “As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number: he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields;”[Insert link to Piper's rain thing.]
After some other things, we had our first big group dinner with the Apex team and some CHI volunteers. I got to know Gert--disciple of Christ for 2 years, husband, and missionary builder-- significantly more than I have so far. I also got to know Mike better today by talking with him about teaching styles and how God has been moving in their students in the after-school meetings.
So far, Erin and I not thinking that the next month will be so slow despite the summer break. (The seasons are opposite as we are in the southern hemisphere of the Earth.) Erin and I are very positive about moving into the community where we plan to be ministering and getting to know our new neighbors and friends. We are also hoping to cultivate a constant house-church mindset among the whole team; talking about the Lord, praying, sharing the Word, and singing. (Rom. 8:5b says, “those who walk according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” and Col. 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”)
Namibia Journal - November 18th
November 18th
There are five residential areas to Okahandja—Nau-Aib, Federstahl(sp?), Victory Camp, 5 Rand, and the town of Okahandja itself.
Nau-Aib is where Mike & Josh from our Apex team live and where a bulk of the black Namibian population in Okahandja lives. Within it are at least 5 sections—Sam Stand(?), Plocky's Door(?), Grys Blok and the “Budget Homes”. The areas range from shanty homes to nicer homes with tile, running water, indoor bathrooms, and electricity. It's also where the Ark Children's home is. Mike & Josh and two German volunteers who stay at the Ark are the only white people in Nau-Aib. We are hoping to be the next two white residents. The rest is entirely black and they are not at all accurately described just as 'black Namibians'. They are affiliated with many different people groups. I will list them when I learn more about them and what they are all called. Nau-Aib seems to be a very dark place spiritually so far.
Federstahl is a part of town we have not been to yet. Supposedly, it is where most of the “Colored” Namibians in Okahandja live. I forget the exact explanation of how specifically the “Coloreds” became their own group a long time ago when they were first mixed half black and half white. It is not a derogatory term though we have found that multiple names for different people groups are derogatory. The Coloreds are not to be confused with the other mixed group called the “Basters” or “Rehobothers” who are not as prevalent in Okahandja. We have been told that while the houses are nicer and more expensive, it only reflects the values of the Colored people that would rather have a nice house to show than put food on the table. I hesitate to repeat that without seeing it for myself so because I have said it I will be sure to clarify and confirm or contradict that in a future entry.
Victory Camp. This is the town dump. A lot of the short-term team members went there but we have not been there yet. Not too many people live here but the number is significant. The long-term team goes out there several times a month with various things. This section is all black and officially it is illegal to live there but it doesn't seem to get a lot of attention from local people.
5 Rand – We haven't been here yet but it is supposed to be a big shanty area like the shanty parts of Nau-Aib. Electricity and running water are available but not prevalent. This is where a lot of where the ongoing Choose to Wait ministry happens.
Okahanjda Town – This is composed of the areas around the town's main road. Almost all of the stores and shops are in this area. There seems to be a lot of banks here. There is a military museum opening up soon. Both of the wood carver's markets are here, etc. It is not all white by any means but it is where 'all' the White Namibians in Okahandja live. It is generally pretty modern and has a good appearance on the outside except for some spots.
I want this place to seem alive to everyone reading this so try to imagine some of these things. I'm continually impressed by the different gardening work and beautiful desert plants that are cultivated here—tall cacti and overgrown bushes like trees with bright purple flowers. Green leaves of crops give stark contrast to desert sands and dust. There are even some green grass lawns that have been grown at some houses. There are animals and children everywhere.
We visited the Multi-Purpose Ministry Center (MPMC) that Apex paid for today and painted some of the walls. I would have really liked to have some Namibians involved helping us so we could talk with them about the things of God but it was just the team for now. The MPMC is a pretty big building, like the biggest one in the immediate area, and is on the outside of Nau-Aib. Victory Camp is also nearby the building.
Namibia Journal - November 16th & 17th
Wednesday, November 16th
We left today :) - It was a sad and long goodbye but we were so excited to get going.
November 17th
We arrived safe and sound at 4:30pm local time. It was an amazingly 'quick' 27 hours and nothing but easy flights for both of us. We had a refueling and crew change stop in Sal Island to break up the long one. I will have to find out where exactly that is later. We met John the volunteer coordinator, Josh, and Kendall at the airport. Some of the first news we got is that they just found out our work permits were approved for one full year!!! Praise the living God!!!!
I have to tell about part of a book I had time to read on one of the flights: I read the Firm Foundations book beginning parts and was blown away. I can only tell through little subtleties (mostly omissions) that the author is a synergist but he is a very impressively consistently focused Biblical one. (He doesn't talk about regeneration except for its necessity.) If only a handful of words were deleted and a few phrases reworded, it would be totally Biblical. It just focuses on the practice of going through the Old Testament as a foundation for understanding the Gospel and all of the follies of not doing things “God's way”-- the way He has revealed Himself in the Word and throughout history. He doesn't believe in any sort of an invitation as part of his teaching. He says that any sort of invitation tempts the new professor to trust in their response to the invitation instead of Jesus alone. Instead of giving an invitation, he stresses teaching the glory of Jesus to the people as their only possible mediator, only mover, only intercessor, only savior by His works alone and none of ours (my words). He knows that the truly converted will then trust in Jesus alone as they are saved by God (my words). He stresses examining the understanding of everyone you are teaching and knowing where they are at in understanding. I would add some things to his checks but they are all good. As we get into the Firm Foundations teaching, I will post quotes from the book that show his way of speaking and thinking which is helpful for all Christians, not just or particularly for missionaries working with non-believers. Erin did a lot of great work on her scrapbooking, making a great ministry tool for us to use to show our families to Namibians. She was a wonderful blessing to me the whole way and once in the country I saw her in a new light. What a wonderful gift to have a wife (Prov. 31:10) and, for me, what an even more wonderful and perfect gift from God to have a missionary wife, here, now, when I need her so much. I love you, Erin.
This night we went to Josh & Mike's house church in their front yard. It was attended by multiple missionaries in town and a couple young guys from the Ark. I wouldn't say it was much like our house church in Dayton. We are going to be talking with the team about the four purposes of a house church, what they do, and what they look like soon. I know it sounds like we are doing the thing you aren't supposed to do by coming in and telling everyone who is there how to do things but the team knows that we have had a great blessing over the past months learning how to go with God in a house church environment with Jim D, Buddy, Amanda, Amy, Lisa and the others already. It should be a blessing and a great hope to them. We are excited seeing how God is moving here. It seems that God is doing a lot of good things through them already. We haven't had a chance to sit down and go over all the details and hear all the stories yet but we're so looking forward to it. The camp coming up December 4th-9th is going to be awesome.
Namibia - Less Than Six Hours Away
The 27 hour journey to Windhoek, Namibia begins in less than six hours now, not counting the drive down to the Cincinnati airport or the drive from Windhoek to Okahandja.
On our way we'll have a lot to think and pray about, a lot of books to read, sleep to catch up on, and a lot of plans to make.
We have to be very careful thinking of details though.
The first thing we know is we need to find a semi-permanent place to live. We have a temporary living arrangement set up for when we get there but no real accomodations.
“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” ~ Jesus
We had room to pack sleeping bags and an air mattress but the tent wouldn't fit.
We are going to miss all of our wonderful friends and brothers and sisters in Christ here and are praying for the Lord to send more workers to keep working on some new life He was growing through our lives.
We're not nervous. We're not afraid. We're really excited. We can't wait. Those are the answers to the most frequently asked questions we've received. Should we be more or less of any of those things? Maybe so. We just won't know until we get over there.
Thanks you for your thoughts and prayers. Worship God in Christ. He is the good news of the Gospel. We love you all.
Todd & Erin
Buddy's Baptism
Our friend Amy did a great job posting about Buddy's Baptism that we did as a house church on Saturday, October 29th, 2005.
Click here to see it now.
4 more days + 2
This could be a long story but I will make it very short, sparing you the details. Erin and I are no longer leaving on the 14th. We are leaving on the 16th. Same itinerary, different day. No problem. We love you all.
This just appeared at www.DesiringGod.org. And it's short so you can read the whole thing here or follow the link.
Answers to Objections to Going into Missions: What I Said at Missions in the Main HallNovember 2, 2005
When I spoke at Missions in the Main Hall Sunday night, I tried to give a biblical response to possible obstacles that are in the way for some people that may keep them from moving forward toward missions. My prayer is that God would use these responses to call more of you to go. Here are eight objections and a biblical response.
1. “I am not smart enough.”
“Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:20-21)
“Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27)
2. “My body and my personality are not strong enough.”
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)
“[Christ] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
3. “I am not a good speaker.”
“Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Corinthians 1:17)
“Moses said to the Lord, ‘Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” (Exodus 4:10-12)
4. “I am afraid of the horrors I read about in the newspapers.”
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore (katartisei—“mend” or “repair” your horribly disfigured body when the lions in the coliseum are through with you), confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:8-10)
5. “I am afraid I won’t be fruitful”
Your responsibility is not to be fruitful but to be faithful.
“And [Jesus] said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29)
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)
6. “There is plenty to do here.”
True, but there is a division of labor and God calls some to MISSIONS, not just evangelism. The difference is seen in Romans 15:19-24:
“So that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I [Paul] have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named. . . Now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions . . . I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain.”
How could Paul say there was no room for work when there were millions in that region to be evangelized? Because evangelism is not missions.
7. “I am not married.”
The best spouse is found on the path of obedience. “An excellent wife [or husband!] who can find? She [and he!] is far more precious than jewels” (Proverbs 31:10). The finding is exceedingly hard. It will happen on the road of obedience.
8. “I fear that when I get there it might turn out I made a mistake and will come home with shame.”
Which is worse, shame for having endeavored to follow Christ in missions, or fear to venture? Shame before others for making a mistake will not hurt you; it will humble you and can make you more useful in a new situation. But fear will make you useless everywhere. Consider Ecclesiastes 11:4 and what it says about risk: “He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” Meaning: without taking the risk of sowing when the seed might be blown away and reaping when the rain might ruin the harvest, you will starve.
Oh, how precious is the freeing word of God,
Pastor John
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Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By John Piper. ©Desiring God. Website: www.desiringGod.org. Email: mail@desiringGod.org. Toll Free: 888.346.4700.
Namibia - Consular Info Sheet
This comes from the U.S. State Department. I subscribed to the info updates for Namibia and Iraq a while ago. With now only 12 days until we leave for Namibia, I thought some might be interested in what they have to say :)
Namibia Consular Information Sheet
November 02, 2005
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Namibia is a southern African country with a moderately developed economy. Facilities for tourism are good and generally increasing in quality. The capital is Windhoek. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Namibia for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport and visa are normally required. Bearers of U.S. passports who plan to visit Namibia for tourism for less than 90 days can obtain visas at the port of entry and do not need visas prior to entering the country. Travelers coming for work, whether paid or voluntary, must obtain their visas prior to entering Namibia. Travelers should obtain the latest information from the Embassy of Namibia located at 1605 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009, telephone (202) 986-0540 or from the Permanent Mission of Namibia to the U.N. at 135 E. 36th St., New York, NY 10016, telephone (212) 685-2003, fax (212) 685-1561. Overseas, inquiries should be made to the nearest Namibian embassy. See our Foreign Entry Requirements brochure for more information on Namibia and other countries. Visit the Embassy of Namibia's website for the most current visa information.
For entry and exit requirements pertaining to dual nationality and the prevention of international child abduction, read our information at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1469.html. For Customs Information see http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1468.html.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Peace in Angola has led to an improvement in the security situation along the Namibia-Angola border. However, because of the continuing presence of landmines in the border area from Katwitwi (a village on the Okavango river in western Kavango Region) to Kongola town (Caprivi Region), the U.S. Embassy in Windhoek strongly recommends that American citizens avoid leaving the well-traveled roads between these two points.
American citizens wishing to cross into Angola from Namibia should do so only at official border crossing areas and should consult the State Department's Consular Information Sheet for Angola.
American citizens should avoid street demonstrations. However, such events are rare in Namibia. American citizens traveling in Namibia are urged to contact the consular section of the U.S. Embassy in Windhoek for the latest safety and security information.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State's pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: Crime is a serious concern in Namibia, but visitors who employ common-sense preventive measures normally enjoy an incident-free stay. Incidents of violent crime directed specifically against Americans or other foreigners are rare, but the number of overall incidents is increasing. The most common crimes are property-motivated crimes of opportunity, including pick pocketing, purse snatching, vehicle theft, and vehicle break-ins. Violent crimes are more rare than non-violent incidents. Common sense measures such as being alert to one's surroundings, avoiding isolated areas of town, not leaving valuables in parked cars, keeping car doors locked and windows up while driving, safeguarding purses, wallets and especially cellular phones are the best deterrents against becoming a victim.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed. Posts in countries that have victims of crime assistance programs should include that information.
See our information on Victims of Crime at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/emergencies/emergencies_1748.html.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Windhoek has a small number of private medical hospitals and clinics capable of providing emergency care and performing many routine procedures. Doctors, both general practitioners and specialists, as well as dentists, generally have training and facilities that match U.S. standards. Facilities outside the capital vary widely. Several large towns have well-equipped facilities similar to those available in Windhoek, while smaller towns generally do not.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1470.html.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Namibia is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
In Namibia, driving is done on the left-hand side of the road. Many of Namibia's rural roads are gravel. Although these roads are generally well maintained, controlling a vehicle on gravel is significantly more difficult than on pavement. Drivers should not drive in excess of 80km per hour (45 mph) on gravel roads, but should reduce speed significantly for curves or turns, and should heed all warning signs. Hitting a sand patch or driving around a curve too fast can easily result in a rollover or spinout. Many accidents on gravel roads occur when tourists exceed safe speeds on corners or in areas recently damaged by rains. Visitors are reminded that motor vehicle accidents are one of the primary causes of injury and death in Namibia, and drivers are therefore strongly urged to drive with caution.
Turning on a red traffic light is not permitted in Namibia. Seat belts are required for all vehicle occupants. Motorcyclists are required by law to wear protective helmets. While child car seats are not required, they are recommended.
To drive legally while in Namibia, visitors staying more than a few weeks need an international driving permit. International driving permits must be obtained prior to leaving the U.S. and are available from either the American Automobile Association or the American Automobile Touring Alliance. Short-term visitors do not need an international driving permit; a valid U.S. driver's license is sufficient.
Roads in Namibia are generally well maintained. However, few have shoulders or "pull-off" lanes for broken vehicles. Wildlife wandering on roads is a special driving hazard in Namibia, especially at night. An encounter at high speeds with antelope or cattle can be fatal. The salt-surfaced roads at the coast can also be deceptively dangerous, especially when they have been made slick by morning or evening mist.
Most major roads are undivided with one lane in each direction. Drivers should remain alert for passing vehicles and exercise caution when passing slow moving vehicles. Accidents involving drunk drivers are an increasing problem on major roads where there are high speed limits. Driving under the influence is illegal in Namibia. A charge of culpable homicide can be made against a driver involved in an accident resulting in death.
Roadside assistance and emergency medical services outside of Windhoek may be unreliable or non-existent. Assistance on main roads that link Namibia's larger towns, however, is generally good due to quality cell phone networks. Emergency services contact numbers vary from town to town. The Namibian telephone directory has a list of emergency contact numbers at the beginning of each town listing. It is recommended that Americans maintain a list of contact numbers for the area in which they plan to drive. Telephone numbers may change, and 24-hour availability of these numbers is not guaranteed.
Public transportation is not widely available outside of the capital. Taxis and municipal buses are the only forms of public transportation in Windhoek. Schedules and routes are limited. Car rentals or radio taxis are generally the best means of transport but may be relatively expensive.
Flashing of high beams and similar signals could mean anything from a friendly greeting to a warning. When encountering a motorcade, motorists are encouraged to make way immediately and follow promptly any instructions given by the officials present.
Because of the possibility of intoxicated and/or reckless drivers, the poor mechanical condition of some motor vehicles, and the high incidence of single-vehicle rollover accidents, Americans are urged to avoid hitchhiking in Namibia.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the website of the country's national tourist office and national authority responsible for road safety at www.met.gov.na.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial air service between the United States and Namibia, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Namibia 's Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA's Internet web site at www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Wild animals may pose some danger. Travelers are advised that, even in the most serene settings, animals are wild and can pose a threat to life and safety. Travelers are cautioned to observe all local or park regulations and heed all instructions given by tour guides. In addition, tourists are advised that potentially dangerous areas sometimes lack fences and warning signs. Appropriate caution should be used in all unfamiliar surroundings.
Please see our information on customs regulations at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1468.html.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offences. Persons violating Namibian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Namibia are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in illicit sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. For more information visit http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1467.html.
Americans should avoid purchasing diamonds and other protected resources outside of licensed retail establishments. The penalty for illegal dealing in diamonds in Namibia is stiff -- up to U.S. $20,000 in fines or five years in prison -- and the courts generally impose the maximum sentence. The purchase and exportation of other protected resources, such as elephant ivory, may also be prohibited by Namibian, international, and/or U.S. law.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children's Issues website at http://travel.state.gov/family/family_1732.html.
REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living or traveling in Namibia are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Namibia. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located 14 Lossen Street, Ausspannplatz, Windhoek, telephone (264-61) 22-1061, fax (264-61) 22-9792. The mailing address is Private Bag 12029, Windhoek, Namibia. The U.S. Embassy Windhoek website is http://www.usembassy.namib.com.
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This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated December 14, 2004, to update sections on Entry/Exit Requirements, Crime, and Traffic Safety and Road Conditions.