Namibia: June 13-30, 2010
As a short-term missionary to Namibia I am encouraged with every return trip. The Lord allows me to see the movement of His grace in the lives of the individuals we have met as well as in the communities where we’ve been blessed to place our feet. One such community is the Five Rand community which is the “location” outside of Okahandja. We are privileged to host a conference for women called “Becoming Women of Faith” there each trip. Last year’s conference focused on the Miracle in the Mirror that we who are saved are. Then, this year we continued with Empowered to Love focusing the ladies’ (and men’s) attention to the work of Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. I choose to believe that the development we observe is a reflection of the transformation of people’s thinking as they are being exposed to the life of Jesus being lived amongst them.
For example, there is Esther. Esther is a woman whose faith has increased more and more over the years. Last year Esther’s son Moses was a vibrant young middle school aged translator enthusiastically helping his mother communicate with American friends. When we arrived we found him as we had heard we would, lying in a hospital bed miles away from his family waiting for treatment for bone cancer. We also found that she had opened the Gracia Miller Kindergarten at her plot/home with the help of her husband and daughter and sharing the joy of her salvation with community through her service.
Another example is the work being done at the new Community Center by our sister Kauna and friends. Previously where we’ve seen dirty little children eating their soup kitchen rations from dirty bowls sitting on the ground, this time we observed then helped as a few hundred school and community children washed their hands, patiently waited to be served, walked to a table under a covered area, sat down with peers and ate from freshly cleaned bowls with utensils after a day at school or playing. What a wonderful “school lunch program.” Now the women are volunteer parents serving the children alongside men/dads, cleaning, cooperating, chatting and laughing. It was a far cry from past years when adults would be standing outside the fence waiting to sell food stuffs to children at the morning break and after school. Wow… wonder of wonders…The LORD is a wonder! 1 Peter 2:4-10
If you want to be a part of a team called to come alongside sisters and brothers in the Body of Christ in Namibia, Africa, and then prayerfully consider joining Team Zebra for our next trip this summer.
Email ShaRi Tarpley to join this team.