A Different Lifestyle

I am staying with four young (18-19 year olds) German girls in a large flat in a nice neighborhood in Windhoek, Namibia. They are here in Namibia teaching at a unique school setting in an informal settlement in the north of town, Katutura. I asked if I could come to school one day this week. Mike had said Tuesday or Friday mornings were free. After telling the girls my options, they immediately responded with, "You can teach Bible tomorrow.  We do not have a Bible teacher tomorrow.  They are learning Cain and Abel." I said sure. Later in the evening I told Mike I was going to school with the girls. He said he wanted to come along as well.

Tuesday morning, we began driving in the area of town that has highway, stoplights, multistory buildings, private cars and taxis. The buildings change to one story block homes. Then the road turns to gravel and potholes and the informal settlement is complete with car mechanics, beauty shops, bars, post office, bank, and houses all constructed from tin. As Mike mentioned, one never has to leave the more well to do area or the informal settlement.

The school at Family of Hope Services (FHS) is constructed with four small shipping containers and cinder blocks central section. The space is divided into three classrooms, a library, and space for a counselor. Behind the school is a playground and bathrooms. Beside the school building is a block building where porridge snack and a lunch are prepared and given to the children. Each classroom has a chalkboard and desks or tables with plastic chairs.

As aforementioned, this is a special school. Those in attendance do not speak or understand enough English to enter or be integrated into formal school. Formal school is taught in English. The school is organized into three grades/levels of English. The children attend for three terms or one year in the hopes of being integrated into formal school the following year. The are taught English, Math, the local language, Bible two days a week, Art one day, PE one day. School is from 7:30 ish to 12:30ish.

On to the lesson for the day. We thankfully began with Level 3, the children who spoke the most English. Mike set the story up reviewing who Adam and Eve were and that Cain and Abel were their sons. My turn came to tell the story about Cain and Abel. I began writing the names on the chalk board. We then tried to explain they were brothers. They got this concept as they were able to name their brothers. Teaching them what a farmer of plants and a shepherd was became more of a challenge. We drew corn and a sheep. They had never seen sheep before. I quickly realized I needed to use very simple words. I talked about bringing a gift to God. Cain gave with a sad heart; Abel gave with a happy heart. God was mad about Cain's sad heart. Cain became mad at Abel and killed him. Because of Cain being bad (his name was moved from green to red on the discipline chart in the classroom), he was punished. He could no longer grow plants well. The take home messages are to give to God with a happy heart. Also, obey God like your teachers so you do not get into trouble.

After telling the story with the hand drawn pictures and happy, sad, and mad faces drawn and made by children, we had an intermission of singing songs. The children love to sing. Songs with motions and rhythm were the highlight for us and them. Upon returning to their seats, we acted out Cain and Abel. I am not sure how much of the story they understood, but they do understand having their name moved down from green to orange to red. Mike and I kept with the same lesson plan for the other two classes switching up who did which part.

We were also there for break time on the playground. The children know how to make the most of the equipment. I respect the German girls for being able to teach these children day in and day out. Before leaving, we spoke with a director I think. She was also saying it is challenging as many of the children come from unstable homes. She was sharing the motivation for keeping the school running year after year. Several children who began in grade 1 have enrolled into university.

Needless to say, this as well as other experiences in poor areas makes one wonder how best to help them. The people living there do not know any different. Some even given the option to change or move to a "better" house prefer to remain in what they know and is comfortable for them.  How do you educate about hygiene or health or boiling water, cooking safely, eating enough protein, vitamins, and minerals? How do you ensure the children learn English or the trade language, basic math, and a trade if they do not even have basic needs met? One must live within or near enough to be a part of the community to know the individual needs of the community. One, however, will always be an outsider to some extent.

It takes time to show and prove to them that it is good and necessary to make these changes. They have to see it physically. Many people have different ideas about what needs to be done and how to do it. I certainly do not have to right answers, but I have thoughts and desires to help in a productive manner somehow.

In Transit

What a day! I woke up on a river in Tana Madagascar. I had a nice breakfast and leisurely chat with a fellow Mercy Shipper on the same flight to Johannesburg. Our talk abruptly came to an end when we were informed we would be leaving 15 minutes earlier than expected. What was not clearly translated was that we were leaving the hotel immediately to be transported to the other one where Mercy Ships would pick us up 15 minutes earlier. We arrived at the airport an hour before we could check in. The three of us decided to spend the last of our local money on a lunch in the one restaurant in the airport. After lunch, we checked in. I asked the guy at the counter to please check my luggage all the way to Namibia. He did stating it was on the first flight for tomorrow. I did not think anything else about it , but was grateful I would not have to go through customs. He said I would have to get my boarding pass in transit in Johannesburg.

After going through customs, both my carry-ons were thoroughly searched. I was asked to take everything out of my bags. In the end, they stated everything was fine. Fifteen minutes prior to boarding the plane, I looked more closely at the baggage claim for some reason. I saw that my luggage was checked to a different flight that was on my itinerary. I spoke to the gate agent to was finally able to tell me the first flight was canceled. I boarded the plane to Johannesburg to figure it out there.

Upon arriving in Johannesburg, I followed the signs for transit and was reluctantly stamped into the country as transit to speak with the people at the desks. As I scanned the signs, Air Namibia was nowhere. I went up to South African Airlines and I just flew in from a South African Airlines Link. Do not be confused, they are completely separate companies.  I was told there was nothing they could do. They could not even give me a number to call myself. After discovering I could not access the wireless in that area to see myself if the flight was canceled, I asked the person at security if I could go through to use the internet. When he said I must have a boarding pass, I lost it. A kind gentleman who spoke clear English saw this exchange and walked with me back to South African Airlines. They gave him the same response they gave me. Finally, I was told British Airways may be linked with them. They are not. They told me to go to Emarities. She at least spoke to a manager who said no they were not either. I could stamp out of the country and go upstairs to sleep on the benches and use the internet there. I could wait until 4 AM to see if the original flight was canceled or not.

I left the transit area and found information who told me to go somewhere else as she did not know either. I spoke with someone from Delta who said I was in a very unique and difficult situation and directed my back to information. This time I explained the situation again. She looked up on her computer and said there were no flights out on Monday with Air Namibia. I said there has to be at least a 12:30pm one. She then called and was able to speak to someone from Air Namibia who confirmed the original flight was canceled but I could not get a boarding pass at the moment for the 1230pm flight. I began tearing up again out of frustration. The gentleman on the phone at the woman's prompting agreed to print out a boarding pass and bring it to me in the transit area so I could at least get into the airport.

Once he arrived, I thanked him and asked him how I was supposed to know the flight was canceled. He said that the travel agents and individuals were told. Well, 95% of them were told ahead of time. I explained I was not. I asked at the woman's cueing for a hotel as the airline was responsible for canceling. He said he would make a phone call. He had it arranged.

So the very thing I did not want to do, I ended up doing. Going back through customs to be stamped in the country, taking a shuttle to a unknown hotel for the night. It has been a blessing. Free dinner, breakfast, a private room and bathroom and free shuttle to/from the airport, and internet for more than 30 minutes.

As I was thinking about this experience in transit, I was thinking about how this relates to several spiritual concepts. First, we all are in transit in a sense. We do not belong here permanently; we are passing through. If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we belong in Him. We need direction and signs to direct us through this area of transit. He is our rock, our security in this land of transition and will not leave us alone.

Second, although I had a passport, itinerary, and my luggage was checked through, I did not have a boarding pass. The one piece of paper that mattered. No one but the one airline could grant me access. When we die and are judged, God will ask for one thing, our boarding pass. It will not matter how much good stuff we did, how much money we made, who we helped or did not help. It will only matter if we stated we are sinners and accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior. Jesus is our boarding pass. Only God can grant us access to himself and heaven through His son Jesus.

Lastly, God will sometimes lead us down paths we have tried hard not to go down. He will close all the other doors leaving only one option. It may be the option we do not like or desire. It, however, is likely the best one for us. As He is all knowing, he know this. He also knows we are stubborn and needed to be clearly directed/forced to go down the correct path. If we ask, He will give us the courage to go down the path.

Travels begin again

21 February 2015 (written on 21 of Feb but due to internet access posted today)

Today, I left Africa Mercy. I said goodbye to many close friends. Some I will see again; some I will not.  Ten of us were in the bus today which meant we could spread out and our luggage was inside the bus rather than on top. This is a very nice benefit during rainy season.

Scenery for the last night/dinner in Tamatave

We wound through villages and hills for several hours. This 8-9 hour drive is not for the faint of heart or those that get car sick easily. Not much was said by anyone on the bus. We all tried to sleep some or at least close our eyes. Some had taken anti nauseous medicine. It is a narrow paved two lane road. The only road between Tana (Capital) and Tamatave (port). Trucks transporting containers of various sizes navigate the road as well. Due to the elevation changes and the curves, they drive slowly. Some of the curves are blind. When entering these, the vehicles will honk to signal to others their location. When wanting to pass, the truck in front will beep their horn and signal right. The vehicle behind then beeps signaling they are coming around. Beeps of thanks and you are welcome are exchanged to finish communication.

We arrived at a hotel in a larger town for lunch. I and several others had picnic lunches we packed from the ship. A few ate at the restaurant. After lunch, the scenery changed to rice fields with the back drops of green hills with short trees. No more palm trees. The people changed as well to Merina people. The surroundings became gradually more congested and taller houses built with brick rather than bamboo. The trees all but disappeared in exchange for buildings with little to no space in between.  

When we reached Tana (the capital), I realized just how blessed we were to be in Tamatave. Tana is a large unplanned and poorly laid out city with congestion everywhere. There is a mix of cars, buses, rickshaws being pulled and pushed up and down the hills, people walking all over the place, vehicles going both directions on what appears to be one way road space wise. It reminded me somewhat of Pointe Noir, Congo.  Another thing I noticed was how many people did not have shoes on. Of those that did, the majority wore flip flops of some sort. It is pleasant 60’s Fahrenheit, but many people are wearing winter coats.

We finally arrived at the guest house. We all pile out of the bus into the rain only to be told to get into other cars to be driven 5 minutes away. We figured we were all going together and that Mercy Ships provided the housing. We arrived to a simple but adequate place. I have my own room with a double bed.  I am sharing a bathroom with one fellow crew. Wow! My own room and a big bed.

We were told they had wireless internet at the hotel. It would be turn on after the rain stopped. They did turn it on, I was even able to skype with Dad briefly before it turned off again. As the connection ended, the rain picked up again. It appears the wireless is indeed effected by the pouring rain and thunder. One last night in Madagascar.

Bittersweet

It is that time again. The eve of a seasonal change. As always, it is bittersweet. Many people are asking the following questions. I figured I would answer them here. 

How I feel about leaving the ship. I will definitely miss good friends I have made from around the world, patients, going to work where everyone wants to be there, going up to the dining room for a cup of tea and fellowship with different groups of people for two hours, getting hugs from patients, seeing miracles and transformation inside and out before your eyes. 

I am coming back to the ship? I honestly do not know. If I do, I would come for a shorter amount of time. 

What will I be doing when I get back to the United States? I do not know. Being here has provided experiences and opportunities that are causing me to process the next steps in my career. 

As for now, I will enjoy my next adventures and trust God to walk with me now and in the days to come opening and closing the appropriate doors. 

Thank you for your encouragement, prayers, and financial support on this adventure. I will finish this chapter with photos of some of the patients Mercy Ships has had the privilege to love and serve.