Monday, March 05, 2007
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Hello again
It’s raining!
We are grateful for the recent downpour for crops and river levels. If the rains continue then flood waters will come down from Angola, fill the ‘oshanas’ (sort of dry pool-beds), recede and leave behind fish as a change of diet. The oshanas also offer a location for bathing, washing laundry, animal water trough and place for man and animal alike to cool down.
Pix
I have put up some new pix. One is of David when he was about Étienne’s age. Some of you may have seen it but people here are commenting on how like his Dad Étienne is so I am putting a pic up for all to enjoy. There is also a recent one of the children, a shot David took at a recent workshop, and (for your interest) an excerpt from the paper on the status of Namibian currency again the world. It is mainly for you to see the Zim exchange rate I put it up.
Visitors
We have enjoyed having our dear friend, Voni, with us for a few days. She left for Jo’burg today. It is such fun showing someone where you live and work, and introducing them to friends.
Family
David is away for his 2nd workshop. His 3rd one will be to Rundu and right along the Caprivi Strip to Katima Mulilo. It will be his first time so far west. Next time he goes we may be able to pack a tent and go with him as one can go to Vic Falls for the day from Katima.
We are all well. Home schooling is really interesting. In history we have just read of the Hyksos ‘invasion’ of Egypt. Science and natural history: we are looking at birds; why they are the same and how they are different (nesting habits, beaks, feet, migration etc). Caris called a flock of geese a ‘giggle’ and a female swan a ‘pencil’ (instead of ‘pen’). Étienne is doing well with recorder. He still tends to call a crochet a ‘cockroach’! He is steaming ahead with maths. In geography we are focussing on Southern African countries. And English, in its various forms (reading, writing, comprehension), makes another interesting facet to it all. He has discovered FONTS on my computer so now his typed book reviews tend to look like a sample page from a font factory!
Anyway, enough from us. Our newsletter will be out shortly.
We are grateful for the recent downpour for crops and river levels. If the rains continue then flood waters will come down from Angola, fill the ‘oshanas’ (sort of dry pool-beds), recede and leave behind fish as a change of diet. The oshanas also offer a location for bathing, washing laundry, animal water trough and place for man and animal alike to cool down.
Pix
I have put up some new pix. One is of David when he was about Étienne’s age. Some of you may have seen it but people here are commenting on how like his Dad Étienne is so I am putting a pic up for all to enjoy. There is also a recent one of the children, a shot David took at a recent workshop, and (for your interest) an excerpt from the paper on the status of Namibian currency again the world. It is mainly for you to see the Zim exchange rate I put it up.
Visitors
We have enjoyed having our dear friend, Voni, with us for a few days. She left for Jo’burg today. It is such fun showing someone where you live and work, and introducing them to friends.
Family
David is away for his 2nd workshop. His 3rd one will be to Rundu and right along the Caprivi Strip to Katima Mulilo. It will be his first time so far west. Next time he goes we may be able to pack a tent and go with him as one can go to Vic Falls for the day from Katima.
We are all well. Home schooling is really interesting. In history we have just read of the Hyksos ‘invasion’ of Egypt. Science and natural history: we are looking at birds; why they are the same and how they are different (nesting habits, beaks, feet, migration etc). Caris called a flock of geese a ‘giggle’ and a female swan a ‘pencil’ (instead of ‘pen’). Étienne is doing well with recorder. He still tends to call a crochet a ‘cockroach’! He is steaming ahead with maths. In geography we are focussing on Southern African countries. And English, in its various forms (reading, writing, comprehension), makes another interesting facet to it all. He has discovered FONTS on my computer so now his typed book reviews tend to look like a sample page from a font factory!
Anyway, enough from us. Our newsletter will be out shortly.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
One Year Here!
TIP
If you are new to the world of blogging, let me point out a couple of things.
1. This page is set up to display my 5 most recent postings. You can access previous postings on the right-hand side. By clicking on the months under ‘archives’ you can go back over 12 months’ worth of news!
2. Beneath each posting you will see a small envelope icon with an arrow on. If you click on it you will have the opportunity to email us. Why not give it a click!
So, we have been in Namibia a year. We have learnt a lot and met many interesting people.
One of the biggest encouragements is the desire so many have for being taught the Bible. As that is why we came here, it is very exciting. I suspect there is not the same level of openness. The downside is that when it comes to the nitty gritty, people don’t seem able to make the commitment to learn! There are obviously logistic issues, like transport. More about that further down.
David has laid a foundation of contacts among many of the denominations and people groups. He has travelled widely and is even now preparing for a trip into Angola to sus out what is happening in Theological Distance Education there, and what can be learned from it. Angola is taking longer than Owamboland to recover from their respective wars. There is cholera there from the water. Roads have more potholes than tar in places. For all the isolation of Owamboland, we are very well off in terms of general shops, running water, reliable electricity and good main roads.
I have just finished reading ‘Escape from Kabul’ (about the imprisonment of the Shelter Now team by the Taliban). How blessed we are to be in a country where church attendance is not a crime, and imprisonment not a punishment for owning a Bible.
Many churches here, however, suffer from an aging leadership and a dearth of enthusiastic, qualified young people to take over the pastoral reins. That is why the Distance Education programme is such a blessing in this subsistence-farming community.
CHURCH
Some people ask what our church in Ondangwa is like. It is a sound structure (steel frame and brick) which offers respite from the blazing sun. Unfortunately, white ants are eating at wooden door frames. There is a small ante-room, about 4x3m which is where we cram in for Sunday school. When we have 40+ children it can get pretty hot in there! The service is in Oshiwambo and follows the prayer book (in Oshikwanyama). Bible readings are in either Oshikwanyama or Oshindonga, depending on the mother-tongue to the person reading (this can be disconcerting for us). Unaccompanied singing of translated hymns comprises the music. The offering is an open basket on a table at the front and people stream forward in a line to drop their offerings in (usually only a few cents). The congregation is quite small. There are a number of elderly folk. There is a sporadic attendance of a few teenagers (no youth work).
The majority of people here no not have their own transport so get to church crowded in the back of a ute/bakkie or by paying a local taxi. The transport problem means it is hard to get people together after church or on another day for a workshop, Bible study, etc.
I personally find it hard that many churches we attend have NO toilet facilities. On one hand, you want to drink a lot because it is hot, but on the other hand …!
When the pioneer missionaries came, the Lutherans evangelised the Ndonga people and translated the Bible into Ndonga, the Anglicans worked among the Kwanyama and translated a Bible for them, and the Roman Catholics settled among the Uukwambi. Hence, one’s denomination here is strongly influenced by one’s birth.
LANGUAGE
Language continues to be a problem, partly because there are so many dialects, and partly because it is hard to find an educated Oshikwanyama with time to help us. Everyone is willing to chat to us, but they all have their own way of speaking and, without a solid secondary education, it is often impossible for them to explain to us WHY something is said in such-and-such a way.
Probably, as the people groups blend more and more into each other’s tribal territories, a true common language, Oshiwambo, will emerge. Already, even among Kwanyama speakers, we are told that such-and-such a word in Ndonga/Kwambi/Umbalantu/etc is now the accepted common word. People already refer to Oshiwambo. It used to mean predominantly Ndonga but when we speak to people, they are delighted and say; ‘Ha! You speak Oshiwambo!’. It is very humbling. As an English speaker, when tends to expect to be understood by everyone, implying other people must learn our language. Namibians are always so happy to find a Shilumbu (white man) want to speak their language.
Another complication: when David goes out of Owamboland to other parts in the Northern region, they do not speak Oshiwambo! In Rundu they speak Kavango (a distant relative of oshiwambo), Kwangali, Lozi, and in Capriv, they speak Caprivi. Around Tsumeb, south of the Etosha and in Kaokoland (Opuwo) they speak Herero and Afrikaans. The San (west) have their own language, too!
When the Germans and Portuguese divided the land, the border they created between what is now Angola and Namibia cut across the land of the Kwanyama people, leaving half the tribe in each country. So Kwanyama is also spoken in Angola.
NETS currently offers its Distance courses in English, Afrikaans, Herero, and “Oshiwambo”.
We chose to focus on Oshikwamyama, as it is the language of the majority of Anglicans and the church in Ondangwa, where I teach Sunday school. David is also training 3 of the young men from the congregation who are (basically) Kwanyama speakers.
However, whilst people hold onto their cultural identity, it does make for a fascinating world here. The different languages, dress code, and customs help to give Namibia her identity.
If you are new to the world of blogging, let me point out a couple of things.
1. This page is set up to display my 5 most recent postings. You can access previous postings on the right-hand side. By clicking on the months under ‘archives’ you can go back over 12 months’ worth of news!
2. Beneath each posting you will see a small envelope icon with an arrow on. If you click on it you will have the opportunity to email us. Why not give it a click!
So, we have been in Namibia a year. We have learnt a lot and met many interesting people.
One of the biggest encouragements is the desire so many have for being taught the Bible. As that is why we came here, it is very exciting. I suspect there is not the same level of openness. The downside is that when it comes to the nitty gritty, people don’t seem able to make the commitment to learn! There are obviously logistic issues, like transport. More about that further down.
David has laid a foundation of contacts among many of the denominations and people groups. He has travelled widely and is even now preparing for a trip into Angola to sus out what is happening in Theological Distance Education there, and what can be learned from it. Angola is taking longer than Owamboland to recover from their respective wars. There is cholera there from the water. Roads have more potholes than tar in places. For all the isolation of Owamboland, we are very well off in terms of general shops, running water, reliable electricity and good main roads.
I have just finished reading ‘Escape from Kabul’ (about the imprisonment of the Shelter Now team by the Taliban). How blessed we are to be in a country where church attendance is not a crime, and imprisonment not a punishment for owning a Bible.
Many churches here, however, suffer from an aging leadership and a dearth of enthusiastic, qualified young people to take over the pastoral reins. That is why the Distance Education programme is such a blessing in this subsistence-farming community.
CHURCH
Some people ask what our church in Ondangwa is like. It is a sound structure (steel frame and brick) which offers respite from the blazing sun. Unfortunately, white ants are eating at wooden door frames. There is a small ante-room, about 4x3m which is where we cram in for Sunday school. When we have 40+ children it can get pretty hot in there! The service is in Oshiwambo and follows the prayer book (in Oshikwanyama). Bible readings are in either Oshikwanyama or Oshindonga, depending on the mother-tongue to the person reading (this can be disconcerting for us). Unaccompanied singing of translated hymns comprises the music. The offering is an open basket on a table at the front and people stream forward in a line to drop their offerings in (usually only a few cents). The congregation is quite small. There are a number of elderly folk. There is a sporadic attendance of a few teenagers (no youth work).
The majority of people here no not have their own transport so get to church crowded in the back of a ute/bakkie or by paying a local taxi. The transport problem means it is hard to get people together after church or on another day for a workshop, Bible study, etc.
I personally find it hard that many churches we attend have NO toilet facilities. On one hand, you want to drink a lot because it is hot, but on the other hand …!
When the pioneer missionaries came, the Lutherans evangelised the Ndonga people and translated the Bible into Ndonga, the Anglicans worked among the Kwanyama and translated a Bible for them, and the Roman Catholics settled among the Uukwambi. Hence, one’s denomination here is strongly influenced by one’s birth.
LANGUAGE
Language continues to be a problem, partly because there are so many dialects, and partly because it is hard to find an educated Oshikwanyama with time to help us. Everyone is willing to chat to us, but they all have their own way of speaking and, without a solid secondary education, it is often impossible for them to explain to us WHY something is said in such-and-such a way.
Probably, as the people groups blend more and more into each other’s tribal territories, a true common language, Oshiwambo, will emerge. Already, even among Kwanyama speakers, we are told that such-and-such a word in Ndonga/Kwambi/Umbalantu/etc is now the accepted common word. People already refer to Oshiwambo. It used to mean predominantly Ndonga but when we speak to people, they are delighted and say; ‘Ha! You speak Oshiwambo!’. It is very humbling. As an English speaker, when tends to expect to be understood by everyone, implying other people must learn our language. Namibians are always so happy to find a Shilumbu (white man) want to speak their language.
Another complication: when David goes out of Owamboland to other parts in the Northern region, they do not speak Oshiwambo! In Rundu they speak Kavango (a distant relative of oshiwambo), Kwangali, Lozi, and in Capriv, they speak Caprivi. Around Tsumeb, south of the Etosha and in Kaokoland (Opuwo) they speak Herero and Afrikaans. The San (west) have their own language, too!
When the Germans and Portuguese divided the land, the border they created between what is now Angola and Namibia cut across the land of the Kwanyama people, leaving half the tribe in each country. So Kwanyama is also spoken in Angola.
NETS currently offers its Distance courses in English, Afrikaans, Herero, and “Oshiwambo”.
We chose to focus on Oshikwamyama, as it is the language of the majority of Anglicans and the church in Ondangwa, where I teach Sunday school. David is also training 3 of the young men from the congregation who are (basically) Kwanyama speakers.
However, whilst people hold onto their cultural identity, it does make for a fascinating world here. The different languages, dress code, and customs help to give Namibia her identity.
Monday, February 05, 2007
Saturday, February 03, 2007
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