“They used to shoot us”

Our two weeks in Namibia were great, if a bit troubling. We had a strong Phase 1 experience with new students in Divundu (we’ll return next April for Phase 2), learned some difficult truths from the teachers in Chetto, encouraged and trained students at Pastor Jack’s Bible School, and worshiped and preached both Sundays in Pastor Jack and Kalleny’s church.

We made two visits to Chetto focused on getting to know the teachers there on our first visit and experiencing a classroom on our second. We only had a one hour timeframe for our get to know you session, but it went so well that it stretched to two and a half hours! Our classroom experiences were very interesting. Doug sat in on a fourth grade social studies class led really well by one of the two Khwe teachers, and Abby sat in on a disciplinary session with seven or eight older students where she was asked, without warning, to give a motivational speech!

We learned quite a bit from these experiences, organized by our friend and Chetto life skills teacher, Betty…

First, we learned, unsurprisingly, that the teaching experience at Chetto is very difficult, under-resourced, and discouraging. By and large, the students are unmotivated, their attendance is spotty, and their home lives are very rough, with alcoholism widespread among the parents. The teachers seem committed and have not given up, but they definitely struggle to see results. And, the teachers’ living conditions are rough, to say the least. Extremely rough.

Second, although there are two or three veteran teachers, it appears that most of the teachers are on their first assignment. In addition, they’ve been trained for a traditional school model which is fairly inflexible. And, they are burdened with quite a bit of bureaucratic rules and paperwork. For example, each teacher must daily present a one page lesson plan for every next day’s class periods, amounting to something like twenty pages of lesson plans per week. These lesson plans are checked by the national teaching inspectors who show up every couple of months.

Third, all classes are taught in English which is certainly necessary, but only two of the teachers speak Khwe so communication with the students and their parents can sometimes be difficult, according to the teachers. Doug did discover to his surprise that a number of the fourth grade students seemed to be handling English pretty well, spoken, read and written.

Fourth, it appears that we may have an open door of opportunity through Percy’s “Redemptive Entrepreneurship” training. Katarina, who teaches entrepreneurship to the kids in Chetto, is open to working with Percy’s team over the coming year in this area. It’ll be interesting to see how this unfolds and what impact it might have on our ongoing relationship with the teachers and students.

Finally, it has become even more apparent that we still haven’t found our “man or woman of peace,” someone we can partner with, train and encourage, someone who is called to the Khwe, someone who truly understands their world view and speaks their language, and knows how to apply the Gospel to their lives. Please join us as we continue to pray for this person to come to our attention in God’s time.

On Saturday, we had the opportunity to once again teach in Pastor Jack’s Bible School which is affiliated with a number of small, church-based Bible Schools across Namibia. The students were great and extremely responsive as we trained them on the process of discovering their individually unique God-given life purpose. It was great to see old friends Elder Elias, Pastor Sophia and Elder Arena among the class.

On Sunday, we worshipped again at Pastor Jack and Kalleny’s church and had a beautiful time. Sister Rosa, a member we’ve gotten to know, and who is planting a church in her home village outside Katima Mulilo in very difficult, witchcraft saturated conditions, shared her testimony regarding God’s faithfulness in her successful church planting efforts. We were shocked, however, when she then began to speak about and to us:

“My husband told me that you would be here this week, Doug and Abby, so I had to be here to see you again. You know, I used to be afraid of white people because they used to shoot us! But now, I love you Abby. I love you, Doug. We are one in the Cross and our unity is in Christ!”

We were deeply moved and strengthened by her words and her tender smile, as you can imagine. It is a beautiful thing when the barriers that separate us crumble because of Jesus. Rosa’s a living testimony to the power of the Gospel in the midst of Namibia’s brutal history. She’s a privilege to know. And, we love her, too.

We arrived in Lusaka, Zambia yesterday after a long travel day. We’ll be here for the next two weeks. We’re excited to be getting to know our new friends at the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP). The primary purpose of our trip is relational, but we’ll also be doing some training, and Abby will be preaching the next two Sundays in local CCAP churches!

Thank you, as always, for partnering with us and praying for us. We pinch ourselves and often ask, “Why do we get to do this?” You’re a big part of the answer. And, remember, where we go you go!

Our divundu classroom on day one. By day two word had spread and we had eighteen students for the duration!

The chetto teachers include Betty to Abby’s right and Katarina with the shades on.

This is Mr. Tiri’s fourth grade social studies class.

Mr. Tiri is khwe and has returned to teach at chetto.

This razor wire pole was standing on school grounds.

Rosa is a dynamic and courageous church planter, and has become our friend.

Magpie shrike