Carpe Diem

Thursday was a long - but great - day.
David and I left the house at 7am, with Katie staying at home to teach and care for the children, thus enabling me to go.
We first went to Eluwa school for the Deaf and Blind, in order to drop off a poster advertising next week’s Bible study there.
Then we drove another 30 minutes to Ondangwa, to Oluno prison. It was my first time at the prison with David. It was a moving experience, being in the women’s section, where I was to run a Bible study-cum-workshop with the 6 women enrolled in the NETS course. There are 9 small children and babies with mothers, and I saw one older woman sitting on the floor weaving a basket – so incongruous. But I guess there is almost nothing to do there.
You can see the photo of the ladies standing in front of a Bible overview series of posters. They were fascinated by it. First of all, I introduced myself and shared how I had become a Christian. Then I encouraged the ladies to do the same so I could begin to get to know them. Then, to make this first meeting special, I asked permission from the Sergeant to be allowed to make Gospel bracelets with the women. In fact, one of the wardens came in and wanted one. I encouraged the ladies to use these bracelets to share the Gospel with their friends.
After 2 hours, I said goodbye and went through all the doors necessary to get into the ‘free’ air again. I then sat in the car for 2 hours, waiting for David to finish. He does a workshop with the NETS students and then goes on to have a session with Kambahu, who has finished his certificate and is doing his Diploma.
I used the time to mark the many exam papers that pile up for me when I am not looking!
We left at lunch-time and grabbed a snack along the way to visit Helena, a young woman David had met whilst giving her a lift one day. She was sick in hospital so we took her some food (as the food in hospitals is not nice and people rely on rellies to bring food in). She had had her operation and was allowed to go home so we set off to take her to her house. (her son is in the photo with green door and window frames in the background.)
Then we turned the car homewards. Passing Ongwediva, we drove into Oshakati to book the car in for a service before he leaves this Monday (14th) for 3 days in Outjo. The lady owning the place is actually our landlady, a Christian woman who wants one of us to start a weekly Bible study for her and her employees. She called us into her office and asked our advice about where to send her child to school!!
Then we went grocery shopping and finally got home just before 4, in time for David to leave again for his physio appointment for his very painful feet (due to plantar fasciitis).
I marked exam papers till quite late.

Saturday was a long - but great - day.
On Saturday, leaving just after 7, Katie and I drove for 2 hours to get to a small, rather isolated town near the Angolan border. Elevine (whom many of you will remember from our powerpoints as being an enthusiastic group leader of NETS students) had organized for me to come and run a workshop to train people in how and why to teach the Bible to children. Having Katie on board really enriched the day as she brought her gifts to bear in sharing the teaching.
I have put photos up of the day, where we enjoyed fellowship with 22 people who had fun discovering action songs, memorizing an action Bible verse, learning how to construct a lesson, competing against each other in a Bible quiz, etc. Come lunch-time we were both very hungry but no one else had brought food. The workshop was at the local hospital but, off the road, it was only sand and we had drive round the back through deep sand to get to the venue, so we had to engage 4WD to get back onto the road and then find an open market where we bought vetkoeks (dough balls fried in fat) to share with everyone.
We got home just after 6, feeling extremely privileged to have been there, and realizing how much we have both been given over the years in the way of resources and instruction, and now we had the opportunity to pass some of it on.
Elevine wants us back next term to train some more folk!

Sunday was a long - but great - day.
Caris had hurt her heel and was not up to walking 1.5 km to church so we did home church. Then I read through etc David’s assignment. Then the census people arrived as we have (unfortunately) been chosen to be a representative household which means I have to keep a record of expenditure every week for a month (NOT my strong point, with all those numbers!!!). And then Katie got back from church with Abraham, a teacher for the deaf students, who had agreed to come and teach us signing of Christian vocabulary for the Bible study on Wednesday. (It can be a bit hard at times as there is sometimes no consensus of opinion of certain signs.)
But we are excited at the prospect of the Bible study, and we shall surely be challenged to keep the Gospel presentation very simple.
Then I marked exams (but David brought more back with him on Sunday evening! However, exams are a good sign as it reflects the commitment of students to complete their modules and move on to the next one, so I don’t mind at all).
David was out at church and a workshop during the day quite far away, and got home in the evening.
We played ‘Spy Alley’ with the children and then fell into bed!
The high temperatures are already making sleeping difficult. It is lunch-time in early Spring as I write … and already 36o.

These great opportunities we have all had are also YOUR opportunities because, by the grace of God, your prayers and support make it possible for us to be here.
Thank you!