Welcoming in 2009

"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door," [Bilbo] used to say. "You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.” J.R.R. Tolkien

We have not had a dangerous time of it, but our feet have taken us to some great people and places over the past few weeks.

We spent Christmas in Armidale, visiting and being visited by friends, which was a gift in itself. The children enjoyed the novelty of a hail storm just after Christmas, and all the puddles to splash in. We especially enjoyed being at church on Christmas Day. The house we are staying in was very wonderfully and thoughtfully prepared for us.

On New Year’s Day we drove up to Mt Tamborine, in Queensland (and near Brisbane), for the annual CMS Summer School. During this week we got to hear some fantastic Bible teaching, updates and challenges from missionaries home on home assignment and, via video and powerpoints, from those still serving in their locations (CMS missios generally come back about every 3 years for about 6 months).

We have caught up with many friends and made lots of new ones. It has been a great privilege to speak to people interested about what God is doing in Namibia.
We got to do a number of presentations about the work in Namibia, including speaking to each of children’s and teen’s groups.

As you can see on the children’ blog, they made friends, too, and enjoyed the children’s programme. David joined the traditional volleyball match on the penultimate day and his team won! I was taken out for coffee with friends who were fellow clergy wives when David was a minister in the Armidale diocese. They are wonderful ladies and I loved spending time with them.

Summer School usually invites a musician to perform on one evening. A bonus was to hear one of my favourite singers, Nicky Chiswell, perform.

Before we went to Summer School, we took the children 10 pin bowling. That was fun, especially when we scored a few strikes and spares. Caris went horse riding twice. She insisted in learning to trot the first time out! A friend has also kindly given her a couple of informal lessons.

Someone has mentioned that it is not so easy to spot our children now that we are back in Australia! But you will find it easy to spot the green! Caris says she misses the sand back in Ongwediva a bit, as you could play IN it rather that just ON it, as you do with grass. She also remarked on the fact that people’s fences and walls were only half built and you could see into the gardens – and that some people only had flowers for a ‘wall’. (She has been so used to high walls and fences.)

‘Down on a farm’ resulted in playing with friends they have known since they were young; swimming and canoeing in the creek, going blackberrying on a quad, having a ride on a pony, and seeing some ‘roos and a long-necked turtle! The children met up with interesting creatures, as well. Australia has some very colourful birds. (See www.matthiasmail.blogspot.com for pix)

1st February saw our deputation start off with David preaching 4x at St Peter’s Cathedral in Armidale. (He was the assistant minister there for 4 years so there are a number of familiar faces.) The children and I did a children’s talk in church, then Étienne spoke about Namibia at Sunday school and answered a few questions.

School has been a real hit. Other than the fact that Caris comes home very tired each day, they love it. Being small classes, they have quickly got to know their classmates and both have excellent teachers. They are undergoing 9 swimming lessons to improve their style – late afternoon swimming lessons in Armidale can be rather chilly. Caris does German in her class and Étienne is doing French. They will also have piano lessons this term and Caris starts her weekly horse riding lessons this week. Last Friday I took her to gymnastics, which she LOVED and I think Étienne will join her next time we can get there. However, on the next two Fridays we have other commitments so we won’t get there. The second Friday is when we drive down to the coast to join one of our link churches on their church family camp.

Sorry if this posting is rather bitty. I have been adding to it, sporadically, over the past month. I shall close now and upload it! BTW, the new heading photo on this blog is of a road in Armidale, just next to our street. A bit different from a road in Owamboland, hey!

Summer School & Brisbane

Sydney -Armidale

Last weekend was spent in Katoomba, the Blue Mountains, at missionaries' conference. This is where all the CMS missionaries currently in Australia, and a number of staff, get together for fellowship, teaching and interaction. It is wonderful to chat to other missionaries as one can learn so much and be encouraged, and many conversations put our own experiences into helpful perspective. We especially enjoyed catching up with the families with whom we went through St Andrew's Hall, in 2005. Caris and Étienne loved seeing old friends and making new friends. It was very good for children to mix with others who are in the same of situation (what is called these days '3rd culture children').

And now, after almost a month in transit, we have safely touched down in Armidale. Armidale was our first home when we emigrated to Oz in 1998. Both
children were born during the 4 years we lived here. On our first foray
to the shopping centre of Armidale yesterday, we bumped into 4 people we
knew! That is one way you know you are 'home'!

Culture shock?
Well, our eyes are feasting on the greenness, and our olfactory and visual
senses are enjoying the forgotten pleasure of flowers. Caris said, when
walking in the forest in the Blue Mountains, outside Sydney, 'In
Ongwediva I saw sand, sand, sand. But here, all I see are trees, trees,
trees!'. (See their blog for photos.)
A shock was the car sickness encountered in Sydney - most probably because
we are used to flat, straight roads!
Instead of having the choice between one kind of brown or one white bread, there are more varieties than days of the week!
Another shock is the climate change. Although we are still in the Southern
Hemisphere, our first morning in Armidale dawned a chilly 3 degrees!
Caris went outside and saw her breath. 'What is this white stuff coming out
of my mouth?', she asked! I think 22 degrees has been our maximum so far! This
cooler weather means David is sleeping much better. David is also enjoying
the cricket.
A surprise for the children was seeing snails; with less than 10% humidity,
snails are unknown in Ongwediva.

We joined the library yesterday. The children could have sat and read in there
for hours! Having books to read is such a privilege, isn't it.
Caris had her ears pierced in Sydney and is thrilled with them. She is champing at the bit (pun intended) to go horse riding. Horses are her passion. She is out at her first session even as I type this. David has also decided to have a go with her. The last – and only other – time he has ridden a horse was a surprise birthday present from me here in Armidale, for his 31st.

Étienne is hoping to meet someone here with a Wii (and who will let him play!).
He saw his first one when in South Africa and was instantly a 'convert'! He and Caris played 10 pin bowling on it. We took them to play the real thing this week; a bit harder than on a Wii, but fun all the same.

Étienne really needed new sandals when we got here. A shock to Mum is that his new sandals fit ME! He was a bit reluctant to chuck his old ones as he said they carried memories of frog hunting and other adventures in Ongwediva with his friends. So we said he could keep them for a while, if he wanted to. He thought about it for a few moments and said, ‘No, I think I am ready to move on.’!

David took me out last night for dinner in town whilst the teenaged children of friends – who ‘happen’ to live 3 doors’ away – babysat. Our children had a fantastic time playing games they have never played, such as Twister. They want us to go out soon so that they can be babysat again by Analise and Mickey.

We have been to look at their school, which they will attend for 1 term in 2009. Étienne is excited by a computer room full of Macs, and Caris at the prospect of riding horses there. I am not sure how easy it will be for them to adapt to 5 full days of schooling instead of 4 mornings, but they are keen to go and make friends. Caris will be learning German. I am not sure what language Étienne ’s class will be doing.

In January 2009, commencing with Summer School at Mount Tamborine, near
Brisbane, we will embark on about 16 weeks of visiting churches, Bible
studies, conferences, etc, to talk about what God is doing in Northern
Namibia. We would appreciate your prayers. You will soon be able to see a
list of our link (supporting) churches and a monthly itinerary on our
website (www.stpetersarmidale.org.au/greeff) so that you will have an idea
of what we are up to at any given time. We look forward to catching up with
- and meeting - many of you over the next few months.

NETS graduation testimonies - Oluno Prison

Charles Nashongo
I thank God 100% for helping me. We are here today because of the power of God. David, the seed you have sown will bear fruit. David, you have changed my life with what you have taught us. I thank you with 1 Thessalonians 5.18.

I was born in Angola, along with a brother and 3 sisters. I lived with my mother until 1995, then I stayed with my grandfather who became a father to me.

However, I was rude. I was not interested in rehabilitation or the Bible. I thought I would never fit in society again. Kambahu and Samuel confronted me here in prison, in about 2005, because of my misbehaviour. I started attending Bible study. I learned a lot about God. I noticed small changes in my life. Later, I wanted to do the NETS certificate course.

By the power of God, Bonya announced he needed a preacher. God told me to take even one responsibility. The others were surprised that I wanted to lead church. Bonya asked if I would change and I said ‘yes’. Then I knew God’s Spirit was in my life. I read my Bible and prayed.

I believe that God forgave me. I am a new person. Even though my family has thrown me away, the Word has changed my life. I wanted to graduate.

Kambahu, you have also changed my life. Through prayer, I learned God’s grace and mercy towards me. He has set me free!

(Charles’ aunt, in answer to much prayer, attended his graduation. When she heard his testimony she asked to respond. She said he was correct; the family had rejected him as he seemed worthless. But now she could see he was a changed man. Due to be released from prison two weeks after his graduation, andfaced with the prospect with no family to go to or to care for him, she has offered to take him into her own home (another answer to prayer). Praise be to the God who transforms lives!)

Nghifenwa
Thank you for your partnership in our rehabilitation. I would like to encourage you all to be serious for the Gospel. Also, thanks to David. It is not easy to travel down here each week from Ongwediva. But David and his family have come from over the seas, to Africa, and even to this prison, to help us.
Kambahu, you have also changed my life.

The Word has changed my life. I also wanted to graduate. NETS brought me to my Father. Through prayer, I have learned of God’s grace and mercy towards me. He set me free!


Hileni
Thanks be to God ho brought us to this day. And thanks to the officer in charge of us. We have opportunities in prison, but only by the grace of God who gives us wisdom and knowledge through David.

I know that this course has changed my life. As I stand here today, it is the first time anything like this has ever happened to me. It is through the power of life. I thank God, who has freed me.

A long time ago I heard the announcement of the NETS courses. Meme Helena explained to me about NETS. I knew the course was expensive but, by the grace of God, it is free for us! I called upon God to strengthen all my fellow students to complete the course.

We are free to go the right way: to do what God wants. Let us forget about the past and look forward, in the power of God. 1 Thessalonians 5.23 – let us put our faith in God.

Prison - NETS graduation Nov 08

Dinner with David's new boss, Mary and Martha

David's trip to the Kavango region