98% good!

Some time ago we introduced you Thaddeus Thomas, a.k.a. Kambahu. He is a prisoner in Oluno Prison, Ondangwa. We explained that he had finished the NETS TEE course but that he begged to continue in theological studies. By bending some major NETS rules we were able to offer him a full scholarship for his first year of the NETS Diploma in Theology (which can be upgraded to a degree later).

Kambahu comes from Omega village, about 20km south of Oshakati. His father is dead, and his mother is unemployed, and has no way of supporting him. Kambahu’s sentence will be complete in about 2020, but it is quite likely that it will be cut short by a few years for good behaviour. He is a Roman Catholic, and had just begun his theological studies when he committed a big offence. It seems God had other plans for him.

Of all the students currently doing the NETS Dip (Th) he is progressing the fastest. “Not surprising”, you might say. “After all, what else does one do in prison?” Actually, all prisoners have assigned responsibilities that keep them very busy.

Moreover, there are other obstacles to overcome. Kambahu types all his assignments on an ancient typewriter. Recently, the typewriter broke down. Undaunted, Kambahu asked intrepid NETS co-ordinator, David Greeff, to fetch another broken down one at his home village, Omega. Agent Greeff, (at sea in Oshiwambo at the best of times) first had to arrange with Kambahu’s mother to meet him a certain shebeen (local pub). He then travelled deep into Oukwambi (a tribal area different to the dialect Greeff is used to) to locate the homestead. 10 kms past the shebeen (as the mother had not been able to get a lift) he found her walking on the road with the typewriter, about 10 kms from home (have you ever walked even 100 m lugging an old typewriter?).

With the mother driven back to her village and the typewriter safely delivered to the prison, the prison workshop was able to construct a working typewriter from the 2 broken ones, and Kambahu is again happily typing his assignments. (Which reminds me, Kambahu has asked me to get him a new ribbon … I hope one of the more LOCAL shebeens can oblige!)

So when does Kambahu study?
In the day? No, because he has too many responsibilities in the prison.
At night? Yes, but there are, again, problems. Most prisoners are in a cell with about 13 other inmates (cells designed to hold about 8). Cells are very noisy until lights out at 9pm. So studying is not easy. So, what Kambahu does is go to sleep immediately after dinner (6pm), despite the noise around him. He wakes up at ‘lights out’. The only place a light is allowed is at the toilet – so Kambahu either sits on the dunny studying, or lies on his mattress at the entrance to the dunny, where he can get some light. He studies like that each night for as long as he can. (How’s that for commitment?)

In addition to his usual responsibilities, Kambahu is kept busy by teaching baptism and confirmation classes, and organising church services and choirs; he is fast becoming a de facto spiritual officer. He takes responsibility for people wanting to study the TEE courses, and I make decisions based on his recommendation. He visits the sick bay where inmates are lying, forgotten, and talks with them and prays for them. He also refers officers to me who are interested in doing the course.

At a recent workshop, I had CMS novice, Simon Gillham with us. I asked the group to tell the ‘raw prawn’ (an ex-copper) what prisons were like in Namibia. They ended up sharing their testimonies. Whilst ambivalent (lol) about the amount of fun they were having in prison, they were very positive about their incarceration, saying things like “I would never have heard the word of God if I had not come here”. It was obvious that Kambahu is a key figure in their lives; talking to them about God, encouraging them to come to church, allowing them opportunities to preach, and training them to do it. The tears in my eyes were hard to suppress.

In sharing his own testimony, Kambahu said that, before he came to prison, he knew God was calling him to serve him. But he found various ways of ducking and diving and avoiding the issue. Now in prison, God has given him a congregation AND mission field that cannot escape! “How is prison for you, Kambahu?” “98% good! I accept my sentence. I am thankful God hs brought me here.”

I am beginning to realise that the pleasure I get from ministry at Oluno prison, and the spiritual momentum that I find there, has a lot to do with one person; Kambahu.

So, praise God for his providential wisdom, grace and power in sending people like Kambahu to prison. Pray to God to continue work powerfully in Kambahu’s life, enabling him to persevere, and bringing many to faith through him. Pray also for great wisdom for him, as he thinks through aspects of his church’s faith. (NETS, an inter-denominational institution, does not encourage people to change denomination.)