Each one of them has a story...

I wanted to share some pictures of the kids at Kwakwas Primary School. God is growing in me an incredible love for these kids. There are hard and frustrating and seemingly fruitless days. But there are also days of amazing blessing, laughter, and joy. They are great kids. They also have a lot of struggles. I have been reminded this week that each of them has a story... that behind every behavior problem, learning disability, or disrespectful attitude is a child who needs LOVE...love from the only one who can never fail them...Jesus Christ. So even when I don't know how to handle some of the situations that come up, I do know that I can offer them the love that I have received from Christ.

This is me with most of the grade four class. They are absolutely wonderful kids who need so much love and support.

This is Dios working on a collage of the things he likes... Art and pictures help communication between us in incredible ways!

The boys LOVE to play soccer, and were so excited to receive new soccer balls, sent from a church in Idaho! They kept saying, "It's a beautiful ball. A beautiful ball!"

Please join me in praying for these kids...that above any other knowledge they may gain, that they would have an understanding in their hearts of their Savior's love for them.

All Who've Gone Before Me...

(incredibly slow internet has kept me from posting this until today... tried to post it on Saturday! sorry for the delay!)
.....
‘But when I think of all who’ve gone before me and lived the faithful life,
Their courage compels me…’

The lyrics above come from a song by Sara Groves called “When the Saints.” It has become one of my favorite songs, and since I have been here in Namibia, the words have been an incredible inspiration to me to be faithful and mindful of the purpose God has given His followers. The song speaks of feeling a heavy burden for pouring your life out for the gospel and for God’s glory, but feeling like most of the time it is more than you can carry.

The longer I have been here in Rehoboth and seen the need for the solid truth of the Gospel demonstrated in more ways than I could have ever imagined, the more inadequate and unequipped I have felt to accomplish anything lasting. I feel “new” at everything…teaching, the language, the culture, and even the sub-culture of the church-going community here. I feel like I don’t know where to begin, or how to make my contributions to the community somehow transferable so that when I leave, I don’t leave a hole unfilled that I formed myself. It does, at times, feel like a burden more than I can carry.

But the song goes on to remember so many of the faithful saints who have poured our their lives for Christ…who have looked to the reward set before them and endured persecution, trials, seasons of weariness, hardships, times that were seemingly fruitless, and even death because JESUS was worth it to them. It has grown within me an understanding and confident belief that giving your life away for the sake of the Gospel is more beautiful than anything else we could ever do with our lives. As I look to those who have gone before me, I am inspired to work harder than ever to pour my life out for the sake of the Gospel…to pour my life out for others as I attempt to love them with Christ’s love and share hope and truth from the Word of God.

I have been reading the biography of Jim Elliot, Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot. He is no-doubt a saint who has gone before us and lived a FAITHFUL life. I am blown away by this man’s faithfulness to Christ and his desire to live completely and totally sold out to His Savior. The excerpts from his journals and letters communicate such a deep love and dedication to the Lord that has left me wanting to be BETTER. To love Christ with a deeper love. To know and understand His Word more. To pray for many to come to know Christ at any cost to myself.

A quote from one of his journals has challenged me in a huge way this week:
“Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another upon facing Christ in me.”
His desire that Christ in him radiated a light so strong that people must make a decision on what they believe about who Jesus is—it inspires me to work harder to know Jesus more and share him with others at every possible opportunity- in every word I speak, how I walk, how I talk, how I act, how I love…HOW I LIVE.

And so I am encouraged that even though there will be trials, times of weariness, and seemingly fruitless times, I recognize it as well worth it, knowing that it is for the glory of God in my life and in the lives of others.
“In this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory, at the revelation of Jesus Christ”.
1 Peter 1:6-7

I know in this post I have not shared an exciting story or a list of happenings…but I pray that in sharing what God has been teaching me, you have been encouraged along with me that giving our lives away for the gospel is the most satisfying way we can live on this earth. My gratitude for your prayers continues to grow. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love through prayer.

Prayer Specifics:
-That God will provide opportunities for conversations and opportunities to share truth clearly and boldly, with confidence and that through it all, love would shown to each person.
-Pray for my creativity and ideas as I work hard to teach the kids at Kwakwas (the farm school), and for opportunities to share truth in ways they can understand in spite of the language barrier. That they would see truth in the way that I love them.
-One of the high schools in town has many students who live at school in a hostel. They have a rigid schedule, which means that they even have the same ‘hang out time’ every evening on the sports field. Mackenzie and I plan on making regular visits during this time to get to know the students there…pray that we would build relationships quickly and share Christ with many.

And let me appropriately close this post like the song ends… :)
“And when the saints go marching in, I want to be one of them.”

God, give us the great privilege of pouring our lives out for your glory. Give us the strength that MUST come from you in order to do so. Thank you for your grace and goodness in the lives of the many who have gone before us and lived a life faithful to you until the end…thank you for their example and inspiration in my life. I want my life…and the lives of these precious friends and family who are reading…to count for your glory, Jesus.
Amen.

Getting to know my team...

Here are a few more pics of the team members... What an encouragement to be here in community!

This is the rest of our AIM Rehoboth team. From back left Paul and Ruth Rowell, Mackenzie, Me, Catherine, Jaydon Rowell

Bottom left: Cathi, Steph, Heidi, and Courtney Rowell

Missing from the picture: Amanda, Molly Bea, and Alli

Here is the small team on our first day in Rehoboth. What an appropriate picture!

The value of a soul...

I’ve been in Rehoboth for a full week now, and on Monday, I began teaching at Kwakwas, a farm school about 30km outside of Rehoboth. The children at this school either travel long distances on foot to get there everyday, or they live at the school in two tin buildings with mattresses on the floor. The school provides them with two meals each day, which for many of them is all they eat.

I began my week at Kwakwas feeling very overwhelmed. Suffice it to say that things are done so differently from anything I have been taught…and everything I am used to. I will mainly be working with the “grade fours” as they refer to them here. Fourth grade is the first year that children begin to be taught primarily in English. Prior to that, all their schooling is done in Afrikaans. The children can barely speak English, let alone read and write it. It’s extremely difficult to help them understand what we would recognize as the most basic of concepts, especially when my Afrikaans is limited. (I mean seriously limited, I know like 3 phrases!...but really, I am working on it!)
I left on Monday feeling totally in over my head…and discouraged because I wasn’t even able to have any meaningful interactions with the students. The language barrier felt strong, and they just didn’t seem to expect anything from me. It seems that they are accustomed to being ignored by adults. Their experience might have shown them that teacher’s job is simply to enforce rules during school hours and tell them what they have to know.

Each day, I began to feel just a little more comfortable. I got to know all the children’s names, and I began spending break time outside with them as they play and laugh with each other. It’s amazing how the littlest of gestures can begin to establish relationships.

On Thursday, the older girls stayed in my classroom to do their home economics for the week. This consisted of sewing and knitting… (and I am laughing as I write that I can’t do either of those things well!) But I got to be in this classroom with about 15 girls with no pressure to teach anything, but simply able to be in their presence. And it was, by far, the highlight of my week. As I sat at the tables with them, laughing and smiling as we tried to communicate, they began to open up with me. One of the girls started singing, and several of the others began to join in, hesitating as if they wondered if they would be told to stop. Of course, I TOTALLY encouraged them to continue, and for over an hour, these girls sang and danced their hearts out. Songs in Nama (most of student’s tribal language), Afrikaans, and English.

I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face or the tears out of my eyes. I saw their joy in what they were doing, it was the first time that they didn’t seem like they felt defeated by school. They were amazing. And in His good grace, the Lord opened my eyes and allowed me to see a glimpse of the immeasurable value of each of their souls in His eyes. My heart was jumping out of my chest, LONGING to be able to open each of their eyes to their own value. They were sweet moments of my week…the Lord reminding me once again that EVERYTHING else I do here is secondary to His primary calling on the lives of His followers: to share Jesus- His hope, joy, love, and truth. The each person I come in contact with is an eternal soul…
He has set eternity in the heart of every man (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
And that their soul MATTERS to this gracious God we serve. Oh Jesus, awaken them to the value of their souls…the value that comes from you. Open their eyes to see it, so that they will follow you, finding their lives purpose. That they could be mastered by ONE great thing.

These are some of the girls who were in the class, along with the school cleaner, Elizabeth.

Please keep praying for our team here in Rehoboth:

-For wisdom and God’s direction as we stand for truth amidst deceit here in Rehoboth.

-For the relationships I develop with the students at Kwakwas. That I would find a sweet balance of finding creative ways to help them learn their school subjects, while also having opportunities for real life conversations, and opportunities to share about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

-For Mackenzie and Alli (the nurses on our team) – that the Lord would provide them opportunities to use their skills to His glory and be able to be established in a place where they can passionately serve the Rehoboth community.

Jesus, thank you for the amazing gift you have given me through such faithful prayer supporters. I will never know why you have blessed me so immensely in this way…aside from your unbelievable goodness. I pray that you would give each of them sweet and intimate times with you and open their eyes to the wondrous truths of your Word this week. Bless them with unmatchable satisfaction in YOU.

I love you all!

Some Pictures!

This is a picture of the small team minus me. From the left Alli, Amanda, Cathi, Molly Bea, and Mackenzie. We have a bigger team we are a part of in Rehoboth, but I don't have pictures yet! It includes Heidi and Steph (from Canada), who have both been here a year already, Catherine (from England) who is also teaching and arrived a month before us, and the Rowell family (from England) and arrived 2 weeks before us.

This is Kwakwas, the farm school that I am teaching at everyday. 32 of the 80 children live at the school because it is too far to walk fr them every morning. They feed them two meals during school hours (7am to 12:40pm), and for most of the children, this is all they eat.

Me with my host brother and sister, John Carl and Jemca. They are SO fun and speak wonderful English, so it is helpful to have them around!

Some of the kids from Kwakwas washing up after lunch.

Thanks for the continued prayers and encouragement.

Much love and more details to come,
Kristen

It will take some time to get good at this... (blogging that is)

I want to start by saying WOW. Knowing how many of you have been praying overwhelms me with such gratitude. The prayers have truly been felt and I have been so aware of God's presence. I am so sorry that I am just now updating (and even sorrier that the slow internet connection won't let me post the pictures I wanted to). I feel like I have so much to say but haven't the slightest clue how to begin.. So I'll begin with a quote I came across this week:

"Growth means change, and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown."

We have been participating in our Africa-based Orientation this week in Windhoek, the capital. We have been able to interact with most of the people on our Rehoboth team as well as other AIM short termers who will be working in other parts of Namibia. There has been MUCH learning... and a growing awareness of how much of this growth, change, and risk may hurt.

But the process of allowing God to do with me what He wills is also so exciting to me. Knowing it will be a hard road but so filled with joy.

We have had some opportunities to be a part of ministries here in Windhoek. The field director of Namibia and his family have generously opened their home to us to host the orientation. We have been able to catch the vision of their passion for the people of their city and their country.

Some of the opportunities we have had include:

• Participating in HIV testing and counseling
• Visiting an after-school program at an Evangelical church in the outskirts of the city
• Touring the city and beginning to grasp the affect that Apartheid and racism have had on this culture.
  
• Visiting a baby home for orphaned infants.
• Visiting a preschool and remedial school for orphans and vulnerable children... giving children the opportunity to prepare for school who otherwise wouldn't be able to go.

In addition to these unforgettable experiences, we have had many discussions about our own cultural biases, ministry, the Gospel and how to live it out in relationships with those we come in contact with.

Several months before I left someone said to me with compassionate tears in her eyes, “My heart hurts for what you are going to have to learn during your time there.”

This week, the reality of what she meant began to hit me. For so long, ministry in Africa, working with orphans, telling people in desperate situations about the hope of Christ has been something I have longed to do, but so distant from my everyday life. My heart broke for it, but I didn’t understand it. Now that it is becoming a part of my everyday life, I am beginning to understand the incredible desperation of it all. To see desperation at its greatest and to feel so helpless. However, I have been reminded more than ever that I have the ONE THING that truly matters to offer people...HOPE in the Savior Jesus Christ.

We leave for Rehoboth tomorrow morning. Our team is so looking forward to getting to the town where we will be living life and doing ministry for the next several months. I will be teaching in a farm school called //Qua //Quas. (the // means it is pronounced with a click). The children at this school are some of the poorest around the the town. It will be a challenge...and my first real teaching experience outside of my internships and practicums in college. Mackenzie and I will be living with a pastor and his wife in the town. His wife is actually the principal of the school I will be teaching at. We are so excited to get to know their family!

I miss my sweet family and friends (you all!!) more than I can say, but God has been so near and I am grateful to Him for the sweet intimacy of a personal relationship with Him that is ALL that I need. Thank you for loving me and for praying for me, and for letting me know that you are doing both of those things often. It means more that you could ever know.
You can keep praying:

• For our team as we each get to know our host families and become familiar with our ministries. Pray that our hearts would be focused on the most important thing-- sharing Christ through our words and our lives. (I will make sure to introduce the rest of the Rehoboth team to you in another post) :)
• For our cultural sensitivity
• For the relationships we will build with the people who live there (their people group are called Basters)
  
• For sweet and fruitful personal times in the Word.
  

Thanks for making it through this long first official post. I will really be working on doing a better job of making it concise! Hopefully pictures will come also. :)

So much love to you all.

I'm in Africa?!

An exclamation, and also a question... am I seriously here?

Our team has safely made it to Namibia. We are currently in the capital city, Windhoek, and will be here until the 19th for our Africa-based orientation. Then we are on to our final destination: the town of Rehoboth.
I wouldn't begin to start to sort through what I've been thinking or feeling with the level of exhaustion and jet lag I have right now, so this will be a simple quick update to say we are here.

And even better, your prayers have been felt. Really. God has been so gracious in the journey.

Please keep praying. I can't possibly express my gratitude for the way you have loved us through prayer. Thank you.

-Our orientation this week-- that God would show us what He has for us...in glimpses so that we can be excited and passionate about it.
-Adjustment to...well, EVERYTHING new.
-Rest. It helps.

Much love to you all...and I promise to update more as soon as I can.