G.O. Team Namibia 2007

7/July/2007

Saturday morning. The team slept in today. That means many of them slept until 8 or so. We had a nice breakfast together, and some decided to head to Swakopmund for a few hours, while others decided to stay in Arandis and spend time with their new friends. I sit in this internet café (blazing connection rate of 20Mbps!) enjoying a coke… there is a God!

This afternoon many of us will be wandering the streets of Arandis with an evangelistic team from Windhoek. They dress up like clowns and walk the streets telling people Jesus loves them. Those who know me understand how ridiculous I think this is. I’ve already told my team to restrain me if one clown honks his nose and asks me if I love Jesus! I’ll be laying hands on him… in a ‘spiritual’ way. This isn’t a mandatory thing for my team. But, I will say that I am more than a little surprised at which members of my team have said they intend to go be a part of this. I’ll leave it at that. I suppose it could have something to do with the fact that the drummer in the Windhoek band, a certain young man named Marnus is part of the team. Hey, the Apostle Paul said, “Whatever works” (loose Darin paraphrase… but he said something like that).

Tonight is the big weekend performance that StephB, Jaime, StephL, Casey, Amanda and Pearl have been preparing their dancers for all week long. I have to tell you, this will be amazing. I’ve been watching the rehearsals all week, and still, I await this with great anticipation. Amanda and StephB danced their duet last night that they choreographed to Amazing Grace at the Friday night service. Amazing. It will be done again Sunday morning at church as Pastor Tresford asked them to do it again. The girls have a tap number and a couple of solos ready for tonight too, if they are needed. Pearl’s dancers have a few numbers ready, including one that our girls jumped into. We’re all excited to show off Pearl’s choreography before a large crowd. The final number is one MHDC parents will remember – Absolutely Everybody, and a stage that includes a couple of groups of the Namibian kids, totaling 60 at song’s end. Oh yea, mixed in there, Mike, Kevin and I will be playing a couple of songs… with our chorus of 18 singing alongside us.

I’m keenly aware of what the next 24 hours will mean for this team. You at home should pray for your loved ones. Saying goodbye as we head out after church tomorrow will be very hard. I am noticing the strain already on several of our team members. Erin had a visitor to our home this morning, a girl named Jennifer that she met at the school. Kat has a few friends she’s met, including one girl named Jesme who brought her a picture of herself. All the dance girls have been giving themselves away to the children in the dance classes and to Pearl. Amanda spoke last night with one of the boys in the class, Raymond, and his story broke her heart. He’s 15 and still in Primary School. He has no real relationship with his parents, and the dance group is his ‘family’. He wanted to know when the girls are leaving and if they will ever come back. Jaime has a handful of the pre-schoolers that adore her. I arrived yesterday to see Beauty and Precious each on a leg and Revival climbing on her like she was a jungle gym. Jaime’s face gave her away. Goodbye will be hard.

I’m off to spend some time with my team. There is a hamburger in our future. And more coke. Have I told you yet, there is a God! We head out to begin our debriefs and to prepare for reentry tomorrow. I am not sure what communication will look like these next few days. We will endeavor where and when we can to chime in here. Be patient, and as I’ve asked, pray for us.

By the way… to those who remember… God speaks out of the southern hemisphere night. And, He’s spoken volumes to members of this team. See you all in less than a week.