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