~ Monday, June 30, 2003
Mission log June 29 2003
I am trying to work out an efficient way to make regular entries to my journal files from borrowed computers to the web page at www.4loves.com/hanna so bear with me if they are not so regular until I figure it out. Remember if you want to send an email send it to richibud@yahoo.com while I am in Namibia.
I am finally in Africa again. Yea Condor, yea Namibia air. Not sure which way is best, direct or through another country to break the journey. Breaking the journey makes it longer and it is a long journey no matter how you look at it. Namibia IS A LONG WAY FROM HOME!
The first leg of the journey, the flight to Frankfurt Germany, was not without its own adventure. I tried to sleep as we were flying through the night but was awakened by a commotion in the seat in front of me. The airline crew were trying to lift a lady out of her seat who had evidently collapsed. They laid her out in the isle between the seating compartments and tried to administer various methods of resucitation. There was no doctor on board but a lady across the isle from me who obviously had some medical training burst into action. I was surprised by the amount of medical equipment on board and this lady knew how to use it. We had to make a landing at Shannon airport for medical help. They cleared the plane of all passengers who were in front of the sick lady but I am nosy and had to see for myself and saw the ambulance crew taking her off in a body bag. This is the second time I have been on a flight when the passenger in front and beside me did not make it. Hope that does not have some special meaning. I must say though that the crew was fantastic and the whole thing was handled in a very honorable and professional way. We were back in the air pretty quickly and were only one hour late into Frankfurt.
The stop in Germany was very pleasant. Unfortunately, my friend Rene was not able to get back from a work trip to the Dominican Republic in time for us to get together. I missed him but his wife Jaquie is a tour guide on the side as well as being a very busy mom. She was able to point me in the right direction when she could not take me in "mom's taxi" to places to see. They have delightful children so we had a great time at various school activities too. Their home is situated in a very pretty German town in the middle of the Reistling wine district on the Rhine and it is spectacular to see. I had been there 30 years ago when I was buying machinery for the furniture factory and remembered it surprisingly well. I also had the fantastic opportunity to visit the Gutenberg museum in Mains. This was a real treat for me.
The museum contains two copies of the original 180 first printings of the bible. Each one was printed the same but they were illustrated by hand by separate artists so each one is a priceless masterpiece on its own. They had two of them on display in a big vault in the museum. This museum is a must for anyone who is at all interested in the history of printing, bookbinding, etching, and oriental calligraphy. It covers printing with demonstrations on working presses from Gutenberg to the present. There are four floors of it to see so it can take quite a while. I am man who is happy to see things from a galloping horse sometimes and it would help a lot either to have taken a formal tour or to know the German language.
The trip to Namibia was great except the scare that I would have to pay for 50 pounds of overweight at $4.00 US per pound on Namibia air. Condor who transported me from Orlando to Frankfurt allowed 50 pounds per bag for two bags of checked luggage but Air Namibia who is the transfer carrier to Namibia only allows 50 pounds per passenger. After much "sweeting up" of the agent she went to speak to the boss who granted me an allowance with a warning that now that I know this not to do it again. Hey, God is good all the time and a great help in time of need.
I managed to sleep all the way to Namibia. The trip is about 9 hours in the air I think. The 747 landed like a feather, what a plane. My two buddies, pastor Lon Garber and "George of the jungle", were there to greet me at 7.30 AM Friday morning with big smiles. We first went to Lon's and unpacked all their stuff, relaxed a bit, had lunch and I moved in at a house where George is house sitting. It belongs to some friends who are away for a month. God is good again because it is winter here and the floor is heated in this house and the water is hot in the shower. Oh happy day. The pool is covered but it is 6 C outside so no thought of swimming for now. It is about 60 F degrees in the sun in the day but very cool at night. Nice and dry and cool with blue, blue skies. There is no humidity here.
We have been renewing acquaintances with "the gang" and it has been like I never left. Some have married in the time since October 2001 but they all look the same and are all still walking with the Lord and active in ministry. Some are actually attending bible schools and are here on holiday so the timing is perfect.
We have not stopped catching up since I got here but the new work really begins tomorrow. The calendar is filling up fast. Tomorrow we start with training in Communication Skills in the morning with some Campus Crusade Staffers here and Elder Leadership training at one of the local churches. Teaching the Panoramic tour of the bible is booked for three sessions one of which is on the coast in Swakopmund so far. Can't wait to get going. We will soon begin to have meetings about some projects but have to find a way to supplies here easily and economically.
Lon is still having trouble with his work permit and we are praying that since God is the God of the 11th hour that we will be successful tomorrow with the Ministry of Home Affairs. His visitors visa is up tomorrow as well. Hey, God is good all the time.
I am having difficulty getting oriented, as my sense of direction skills are very limited and I have to learn my way around Windhoek. Last time I was here I was fenced in at a camp but this time I am in the city. They tried to "gotcha" me again that since we are south of the equator that the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. It didn’t take this time but the toilet water still flushes the opposite way. Hope Kaye gets here soon, she has a really good sense of direction. If you get lost here you eventually reach the end of the earth. There are no signs outside the city limits. I am also having a hard time getting oriented to driving on the left again. Right now I am a danger to others and myself. Something to pray about. It is worse than jet lag.
I had the opportunity to visit at an English speaking church this morning. Africans love to sing and this church was no exception. Both the music and the sermon were great. No time to nod off in church in Africa. One thing I have noticed though is that in an Afrikaans church where they preach in both English and Afrikaans they tell the sermon points in English and the jokes and illustrations in Afrikaans. Booo. It happened last time I was here and it happened again last night at a banquet that we attended at the church where we will be teaching the Elder training course. I guess I could either complain or learn the language.
The speaker told us that he had heard that men were from Mars and women were from Venus but that the last time he checked we were all from earth and we just need to deal with it. He was speaking about unity in Africa. It seems like there are no Africans in Africa. Like no Americans in America. They may be white, black or colored but they are first Africans. Identity crisis is all the way in Africa too.
Please pray for us as we begin ministry tomorrow that the Lord will give us the mind, the heart and the words to offer His healing and hope to this nation. The people are just simply wonderful and a delight to be around and get to know. They are eager to learn and put what they learn into practice. Once they see it and connect with it they make it happen. Teaching is a real joy here.
~ posted by mexikids at 12:26 PM
~ Monday, June 09, 2003
In October 2001 I had the wonderful experience of traveling to Namibia, with Pastor Lon Garber to teach staff members of the Youth For Christ at their annual Leadership Training Conference. This turned out to be a life-changing experience for all of us.
For those of you who may not be aware: Lon, and his wife, Val, have returned to Namibia as full time missionaries. They have invited us to join them and continue the teaching and leadership training that began in 2001. This time we will be working with the national lay ministers and pastors.
Living among the desolation, poverty and struggles of the Namibian people can be overwhelming. Their problems with AIDS, large numbers of orphans and crime, seem insurmountable. However, I have seen God do amazing things there and know that if we are faithful, God will use us as He has in the past.
I plan to leave on June 23 for a period of 9-10 weeks. Kaye will be joining me in July.
Lon and I will be teaching and training lay ministers and pastors in the Panorama Bible Tour and Leadership Training program. Kaye plans to help Val who is growing and nurturing a ministry through art and craft development for the village women of Rehoboth. We also hope to cast an entrepreneurial vision to the nationals to enable them to become more self-sufficient.
Your assistance through prayer and/or financial donations (thru Northland Community Church) is greatly appreciated. The estimated cost of our trip is $6000. Funds exceeding our operating costs will go directly from the Ministry Fund into relief projects for the Namibian people. I will inform you via this space as to what the Lord leads us to do as we minister.
In His Grace...
~ posted by mexikids at 1:33 PM