'Free' Prisoners' Thoughts

Discussion on Judges 2:11-23 among the male prisoners:

Point - the cycle of sin, judgement (distress), prayer, salvation, peace, disobedience that repeats itself in Judges.

Comment by a prisoner:

This is just what we are doing in Namibia!

In the time of the colony (under South African rule) we were crying out to God for liberation.

Then we got liberation.

Then we got peace.

Now, what have we done in response?

We have forgotten God!

Question: Why does the cycle repeat?

Answer: Because the people only wanted what God could give them - rather than simply a relationship with God himself.

Question: Have you seen these cycles before?

Answer: Yes - in our own lives.

We are now in the ‘judgment’ section - here in prison.

And we are crying out to God for salvation.

Question: So are you crying out to God to get you out of prison, and take away all your difficulties - or do you want a relationship with God himself?

Answer: Silence .....

Discussion: What you are saying is true, pastor - it has really touched me. That is exactly what I am doing - praying for an end to my problems.

But now I recall what Moses said to God - "If you will not go with us, then do not send us from this place" (Ex 33.15).

This means what we need is God himself - not an end to our problems!

In fact - what I need to pray is this: God if you will not go with me from the prison - then do not let me go, God. I do not want to leave this prison without you!

Another responds:

Yes - and if someone hears you praying like that they will think you are crazy.

Raucous laughter. All agree!

Discussion on “Building your Christian leadership among ladies (inmates) based on NETS’ book Chapter 15 – “a good leader cares for others” (Nehemiah 5:5)

David explains the suffering of people in Jerusalem – especially the selling of children as slaves.

Irene responds: “Yes, YOU (white people) did that to US”.

The room echoes with laughter – including David's.

He agrees: Yes, we did that to you.

Then he allows the diversion and speaks about slavery to America and about John Newton who converted and wrote ‘Amazing Grace’.

We wrote the words down of the first 2 verses and explained the meaning of the words. Especially of ‘wretch’.

We sang it. It was very moving for everyone.

Then we spoke about William Wilberforce who fought for 20 years to prohibit the slave trade in UK.

The ladies all beg Alisan to bring a copy of the words of ‘Amazing Grace’ next week!

Two special people!

The 2 congregations David visited in Okahandja

Something old, something new

How many things we take for granted in our lives.

Back to the Bible

Herewith a 'visual image' of the representatives who gathered together in Windhoek 2 weeks' ago for the 1st annual meeting of the (expanding) team seeking to put together a biblical curriculum to get the Bible back into schools - after a 20 year absence, initiated by Namibia's Independence (!). Of this group, 4 of us are on the actual writing committee.

Our beautiful children are getting taller!

Burning Mountain

We have just had 3 nights’ camping in the Brandberg.

Brandberg Mountain is Namibia’s highest mountain (2606 m) and well known for the thousands of bushman rock art paintings that have been found in the area. Brandberg Mountain is located in Damaraland, in the northwestern Namib Desert, 3.5 hours North East of Walvis Bay (of which 3 hours are dirt road.

The name Brandberg is Afrikaans, Dutch and German for Fire Mountain, which comes from its glowing colour which is sometimes seen in the setting sun. The Damara name for the mountain is Dâures, which means ‘burning mountain’, while the Herero name, Omukuruvaro means ‘mountain of the Gods’. It is an extinct volcano (see satellite image below).

The Brandberg is a spiritual site of great significance to the San (Bushman) tribes. The main tourist attraction is The White Lady rock painting, located on a rock face with other artwork. The ravine contains more than 1 000 rock shelters, as well as more than 45 000 rock paintings. The so-called White Lady (see below) was first discovered in 1918 by German explorer and topographer Reinhard Maack as he was surveying the Brandberg. Later studies showed the 'her' to be a 'him': a shaman/witchdoctor.

To reach the White Lady it is necessary to hike for about 40 minutes over rough terrain, along the ancient watercourses threading through the mountain. It is very arid and finding water can be difficult or impossible. In summer temperatures over 40°C are routine. It was very hot in the daytime when we were there, and it is barely out of Winter!

Some birds we saw

Camping in Brandberg (Burnt Mountain)

Jeke (NETS coordinator for the East) came to visit us for a few days and got to see the sea for the 1st time ever!

Prison Ladies' Testimonies

Jackie

Outside I did not read my Bible – now I read it. As I go out soon I will not abandon his word. I hope to be a witness to the people outside.

Coming to prison was a second chance for me to meet God. Thank you for praying for us. We need it. I won’t say prison is nice. There are many challenges here. But I have made it by God’s grace. I had migranes outside – but I have never experienced them once inside. It’s just God. I am survivor through God. I give him all the praise and honour.

Maybe as we go out and give our testimonies, people will perhaps be liberated from their own prisons.

When I came here I was angry with God. He did not listen to my prayers for a fine instead of a sentence. I was crying and and crying. But he had another purpose. Here I have found a joy that is overflowing.

This NETS course is such a blessing to us. I want to reach even my own family – they come from a very pagan tradition where we worship fire. They know nothing about Jesus.

Hilda

I am soon to be let out out. When I came here it was not easy. I did not even know how to open a Bible. But then I started to understand. I can even explain some parts of the Bible to people. I did not know how to pray. Now I know how to surrender myself.

How I started cope with the word of God was when I heard some pastors preaching on the radio. – through this I was touched. I had a lot of anger in my heart. I started read the Bible and asking God how I can change! As I was reading the Bible I started to be impacted. I started to accept my sentence and received the love of God through Jesus.

Anna

Let's look at Hebrews 6:4-8
I want to encourage the youth inside and outside prison

Outside I was a youth leader. Then I came in here – this side of the great line. I had been doing all the church things. I was a good leader of the youth. But the devil made me do bad things in the sight of God. Now I am just dependent on the word of God. I am free in my heart. Now I really am able to teach the youth and encourage them. I thank NETS for helping me in this way.

Bertha

Prison is not nice. But for us it is good. NETS helps us with these books, which guide us and help us. We are thankful for David and Alisan and others. We are VERY VERY VERY thankful. They teach us what is right and what is wrong. If NETS was not here we don’t know how we would survive. There would be no discipline, no love, no life. Now we have joy and peace because of NETS.

The devil was trying to destroy us, but God by his power turned it around! Only our bodies are in prison but our hearts are free.

The NETS teachers are nice people. They always come here smiling and joking. In Windhoek we were dangerous people. Now we are being made new, step by step. NETS teachers are different to so many other people. Some pastors come to prison – and they are only interested in our faces. They want us to come to their churches, so that they can find wives for some men.

And a coupla more of David at workshops (incl Veritas)

Finally, Word Alive Photos (including pic of NETS-Windhoek Team)

The Photos included in the last Update - clearer version

Family triathlon team! (Etienne did the running leg)

Sesreim Canyon, Campsite