Mission Trip Diary 11th –17th March 2010

11/3:Traveled to Tsumeb with Tuhafeni (300km)

Delayed in Ondangwa by an unhappy meeting with Charles, an ex-prisoner and NETS graduate. He is struggling to adjust to life outside prison, with all the temptations of his past life around him. He is very young. In prison, he had the support and guidance of mature Christians like Kambahu, but the outside world brings many temptations. We (Tuhafeni and I) spent a lot of time talking about the effectiveness of our work in prisons and the need for some sort of follow-up once they leave prison.

We met with NETS students and prospective students at Farm Scott Prison. Unfortunately we did not allow any new enrolments because all the prospective students will be released this year. Nevertheless, we had a good time of fellowship with them. In the past this has been a place of spiritual apathy – but it seems God is working there.

We over-nighted in Tsumeb, and Tuhafeni caught transport the next day to Windhoek. Tuhafeni and I enjoyed good fellowship and prayer as usual.

12/3 I spent some time in Grootfontein buying stationary and Bibles (YES! I actually found some Oshiwambo Bibles; they are sold out - AGAIN – in the rest of the country). Then I proceeded to Rundu (300km).

13/3 Spent morning with students at Nkwazi Lodge (see below), who are being sponsored by the lodge owner. It was a time spent passionately urging them to go to church! They love the studies we do – but they feel totally disillusioned in their own churches, where the Bible is not taught, where meaningless traditions are followed and they are not allowed to do any ‘ministry’ because their faith is perceived to be “Pentecostal”. I read them the riot act: “Either GO TO CHURCH, or change churches, but YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE not to be part of the fellowship of believers.”

Drove to Katima Mulilo (500km) – camping at Zambezi River Lodge. Katima is the eastern-most tip of Namibia, at the end of the ‘arm’. The Zambezi is high – almost as high as last year (which was a time of extreme flooding).

14/3 I met with Jeke, our new coordinator for the Far North-East, and preached at his church. He himself is desperate to learn more theology, to understand the gifts of the spirit, tongues and healings, and how to respond to the seeming abuse of these in the Katima churches. His church service was led by someone on crutches who had, according to some churches ‘refused God’s healing’ – whose leaders who at certain times had tried to steal his crutches to prove his ungodly rebellion and to show that he could actually walk without them. Thus, Jeke has a passion for teaching people truth from the Bible.

Jeke will need a lot of mentoring and support and encouragement – and he has expressed as much – with the work of NETS and with his church. He is soaking up everything I tell him.

We praise God that Jeke is well networked in Katima with almost all the pastors, and so he is in a great position to launch a NETS study group there. He is the exact answer to prayer I have asked for in the past, because I have been unable to start anything there - it is simply so far away, and so different to the rest of Namibia.

But do pray for him. He has no resources (only a disintegrating NIV Bible), although he was recently given a couple of other Bibles and 3 books by our director. Jeke is also grieving the death of his wife six months ago, who also leaves behind their daughter, Marissa, who is 9.

15/3 We spent some time in Katima doing logistical tasks, before driving back west to Divundu (300km) to camp there. We spent a lot of time discussing the job of coordinator, and I also presented him with the computer he would be using. It is a highly portable “Netbook” – provided by our partners in the Good Shepherd Anglican Church, Cairns – Thank YOU! He would not be able to do his work without it.

16/3 We spent the morning in Divundu prison where Jeke did some teaching, and I also spoke about ‘the Sabbath’ which is a highly contentious issue in Namibia. Last year, the Seventh Day Adventist Church issued a challenge to the whole Church in Namibia to show which Bible passage tells us to worship on the Sunday – and you could win a Toyota Corolla. Of course, no one won the Corolla … so was used by the SDA church itself! So I spent 2 hours teaching on the real meaning of Sabbath, and followed the theme of ‘Rest’ from Genesis 2 right through to Hebrews 4. I argued that the ‘Sabbath’ is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and we come to true rest, by trusting in him and not in our works.
I can’t say that every prisoner was 100% satisfied, but Stanley responded at the end ‘Our coordinator has answered my question in a much fuller way than I expected. I really understand the Sabbath now – for me it is like the lights have come on!’

Jeke and I then drove to Rundu, where we stayed at the beautiful, PRO BONO, Nkwazi Lodge. The owners are Christian, and support some of their workers to do the NETS course. They also raise funds from the many international guests to sponsor orphans and run 3 preschools in their community, feeding the children who attend the preschools. Nkwazi Lodge has few guests at the moment, because the river has risen to such an extent that you cant get there by road. However, for visitors who do come, they fetch them by boat. Grin!

17/3 Jeke departed for Windhoek, and I spent till 2 o’clock at Rundu Junior detention centre. Jeke will also be responsible for this prison when he begins in April. Towards the end of the meeting, one of the students asked, “So how do you repent and turn to God?” What an opportunity to share a summary of the Gospel and issue a challenge to repent! Apart from language issues, sharing the Gospel is so easy in Namibia. In just about every leg of the journey, hitchhikers are picked up, and the Gospel is shared with them. I have no idea what will happen to these seeds that are sown, but may God in his mercy bring them to fruition.

I am organizing a graduation at Divundu prison 20th April and at Rundu 21st April. I will again be with Jeke during this time, helping and encouraging him. Please pray that this actually happens, as it is a very busy time for me personally. Jeke’s driving is also progressing well, but he needs practice and more lessons. It is sad they are so expensive in Katima Mulilo. But it is essential that he get his license soon, so that he can work effectively as there is much traveling involved, complete with boxes of NETS course books in various languages. Please pray about this, as well as the license for Tuhafeni.

Praise God for the wonderful experiences I have had, the opportunities he provided for Gospel preaching, and for safe travel (2,623 kms!). Many thanks for your prayers for both me and the family during this time.