Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In

"For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Acts 4:20

 

 

How do you return to normal life when you have seen such deep need?  How do you get back to planning homeschool curriculum, preparing for fall sports and activities, and deciding on final summer plans to enjoy your family when you have seen families devastated by the AIDS crisis in Africa which has left so many orphaned or extremely vulnerable?

 

 

Which of these situations would I be ok with if it were my children, or my extended family, or my dearest friend?

 

Then I realize...these are my children, because God gives me spiritual children to care for.  These are my extended family...my brothers and sisters in Christ on a different continent.  These are my dearest friends, because my heart is full of love for them.  Because the heart of God is full of love for these whom He created in His image and formed for His glory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 the boy in the middle is very malnourished...he is nearly 14...the girl next to him is 10

 

"the Lord appeared to him from far away.

I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."

Jeremiah 31:3 (our theme)

God's love in Jesus Christ and His promise of eternal life and everlasting love are absolutely true for these beautiful people of Namibia as they are for us in America.  With all my heart I pray every last person in the country of Namibia hears the Gospel that saves, that makes everything different, no matter your circumstances.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. " John 14:1-3

 

"Love never ends."  1 Corinthians 13:8

 

Why did God call the three of us to go to Namibia?  Why did He allow you to be part of it through your prayers and support?  What is His purpose?  I am still asking those questions myself, but when I don't know specifics, I know His Word speaks and His Word never changes.

 

Don't let familiarity cause you to miss God's message in Isaiah 58

 

"If you pour yourself out for the hungry

    and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
    and your gloom be as the noonday.
And the Lord will guide you continually
    and satisfy your desire in scorched places
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water,
    whose waters do not fail.
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
    you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
    the restorer of streets to dwell in."

Isaiah 58:10-12

 

Never will I forget the most beautiful sunsets I have seen anywhere.  Never will I forget the gorgeous night sky lit up with the brightest stars and clearest air.  Never will I forget the people whom God has knit into my heart.  And even better, my God will never forget them, His children.

 

 "...so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.  Be strong and courageous..."

from Joshua 1:5-6

 

Christ's Hope International staff at the Ark Rehoboth, Namibia

led by Calvyn and Ida Isaacs

 

"You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many." 2 Corinthians 1:11

 

 



Everlasting Love

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers,
nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from
the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

 

We feel God's love and power so very present here in Namibia.  There is so much that happens each day, it is impossible to write about it all.  As you can see, the last day I blogged about was Sunday, and now it is already Saturday!  God has been good to allow us to experience so much in our short time here.

 

Sunday night we got to enjoy a Rehoboth favorite, specifically a creation of Calvyn's that made me think of my father-in-law's famous Meissner Stew he serves his college students, a tradition Michael has carried on for our church families.  Calvyn's specialty is "potjie"--a  mix of meat, vegetables, soup, and Coke in a cast iron pot, cooked over the fire for a few hours.  Delicious!  "Lekker!" (in Afrikkans)

 

 

 

Monday we went to the Rehoboth Private Christian School where Calvyn and Ida's daughter plus 2 of the other Care Point children attend by sponsorship.  As in America, the Bible has been removed from the government schools here, so Calvyn has a passion to get all of their Care Point children eventually sponsored to attend the new private school.  The school does not have any large donors that have helped to start it, but rather the school board has used their own monies to get it up and running; and the teachers are all retired teachers receiving pensions, so they work for very little pay.

 

At the private school we had the joy of leading Monday morning devotions (at 6:50 am!).  We taught them the camp songs "Everlasting Love" and "Radical God," Nicki taught them our theme verse in sign language, "I have loved you with an everlasting love" (Jer. 31:3), and I read to them the letter from God to Isaiah in The Jesus Storybook Bible (one of our gifts to the Care Point). Then I used one of my favorite visual lessons my husband sometimes uses with children to explain how we are filthy with sin, but Jesus took our sin upon Himself and gave us His righteousness instead.  "He became sin who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21.

 

 

 

The little girl in the bottom right corner is Abigail, Calvyn and ida's daughter.  We absolutely adore her!

 

 

After we finished leading devotions, Nicki had to opportunity to substitute in the 4th and 5th grade class for the headmaster, teaching them grammar.  They were eager to put her gifts as a teacher with a Master's in education to work.

 

Then we went and purchased the supplies to fix up the playground at the Ark, the project we had asked Calvyn to assign us while we were there.  The playground is in need of lots of repairs and a fresh coat of paint, so we spent the afternoon painting with some of the caregivers, then prepared to lead discipleship and crafts with the children for the afternoon. 

 

At 1pm, when the children gradually begin to arrive at the Ark (some of them have to walk a very long distance from their schools and homes) is our FAVORITE time of the day!  We love to interact with them as they eat their hot meal for the day, play games, sing songs, and then we do our discipleship time together.  They bring us so much joy!

 

Finished product:  Tie-dye silliness!





 

Today we are at the coast in Swakopmund. A beautiful day by the ocean, climbing one of the 3 tallest sand dunes in the world, and riding on camels!  More to come.  Keep those prayers coming.  We are very blessed to be here with our new family in Namibia!

 

"Taste and see that the Lord is good;
    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."

Psalm 34:8

House of God

I was glad when they said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

Psalm 122:1

 

 

The bell rang loud, calling all of Rehoboth to worship the Lord.

 

We attended the AFM (Apostolic Faith Mission) Church on Sunday, Ida's home church where she grew up and her mother still worships, the church where Calvyn came to faith in Jesus.

 

What a beautiful worship it was!  I will let the photos and the videos do the telling.

 

 

 

 

We leave for Okahandja to visit another Care Point this afternoon (10 am Houston time), so please keep us in your prayers as we say good-bye and transition to a new location.  We look forward to meeting another group of beautiful children and caregivers!

 

"Pray also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel."  Ephesians 6:19



Refreshed

"A generous person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."  Proverbs 11:25

What a day of extremes!  After a morning of home visits to the poorest of the children attending the Care Point, Calvyn and Ida took us in the afternoon to the dam at Oanob Lake.  It was beautiful!  A much-needed relaxing evening after seeing such severe poverty all morning. 

As we drove into the resort area, we could see a giraffe off in the distance, just out in the wild, enjoying the vegetation!  There were also four ostriches on the side of the road.  So amazing to see these creatures outside of a zoo!

Most of all, it was a joy to see the Isaacs family relax and unwind as they serve in a very difficult ministry caring for the least of these and battling the Enemy on every front.  They have left everything behind, selling all their possessions several years ago, to follow God's voice into His work.  As you and I both know, our God is faithful, and so He has provided for every need for them at the proper time.

With their son, who is one of the caregivers (we left their little girl to play at a friend 's home for the day)

 

I ordered a lemonade...and discovered it is their version of Sprite :)

While at the dam, we decided to take a boat ride, a first for Ida!

 

On the boatride, we saw a bunch of baboons climbing the hillside around the lake, but they were too fast for our cameras!  It was an absolutely beautiful time on the water. 

 

That evening we wanted to do something special for our gracious hosts, so we treated them to a nice dinner at the resort.  Three of the caregivers were there as well, so it was truly a joy to get to bless them with something they would otherwise not afford to do.  You can be sure we enjoyed the opportunity to eat at an African restaurant, too!  Delicious!!

 

 

 

The young lady on the left was spending her last day with them before moving to a new job,

and the young lady on the right is the daughter of the wonderful cook at the Care Point.  Both are caregivers.

 

Of all things, we were seated next to a table full of Americans.  At one point they broke out into patriotic songs!  Home is never far away.  :)

 

We closed the evening enjoying a beautiful sunset.  I wish each of you could see the gorgeous starlit Namibian sky at night.  As I hang laundry to dry at night, I attempt to breathe the beauty in.

 

Thank you, Father God, for this beautiful corner of the world You created and have allowed us to enjoy, how you have filled it with Your glory.

 

 

"The heavens declare the glory of God,

    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." Psalm 19:1