Namibia October 2011

Gal 6:9 "So let's not get tired of doing what is good. . ."

The mission – To build a church in Gam Namibia in support of Ds. Henk Olwage in his mission field of Namibia under the Herero nation.

The challenges – There is nothing other than no shade and a water tap supplying water, some parts of the day. Material, equipment and supplies needs to be driven up from Pretoria, a +/- 4 ton trailer and 4 people (Vincent, Annelize, Ulrich and Dewald) with baggage and food supplies sets off to Gam around 4:30am on the 20^th.

About Ds. Henk Olwage’s mission – A more detailed profile is being compiled and will be published soon. Ds. Henk is permanently based in Gobabis with his wife and daughter Madeleen, also permanently in the mission field, just returned from Nepal after spending over a year doing mission work there. He is covering a very large area in Namibia with a team of over 18 people assisting him spreading the good news and teaching in various villages around the northern parts of Namibia. Their biggest challenges are funding and support, although they are busy with various self-sustaining projects, the challenges stay huge to maintain these projects, transport to and from the fast spread villages, supporting the team and properly managing various projects are only some of the difficulties. Your prayer and support in any form especially team salaries, skills in goat, cattle farming, tunnel gardening and water drilling and possible business ideas in those conditions are much needed and welcome!

About the trip and church build – Herman Mare and his home sel group, does a project once a year with Ds. Henk and this year was another church structure to be build, they did an amazing effort in raising the funds for all the material and sending the team to Ds. Henk and his team, not being able to go themselves they realized the need was greater than them, not one of their team members were able to go with but still they made it possible.  A case study around the group will soon be published and we can only hope that more will follow their example in how the body of Christ operates!

Scheduled time for leaving was 4am the 20^th, at 11pm the 19th Vincent notify Dewald that the trailer is not ready yet, so very little sleep and then tension start of possibly delaying the departing time but determination and grace from God, 4:30am the 20^th the group of 4 open the road with prayer and leaves Pretoria, the +/-4Ton trailer with all the required material and equipment is hooked to the Hilux outreach mobile unit, supplies and baggage loaded and prayers for favor on the borders are priority – All Glory to our only living God!

6pm the 22^nd we reach Dobe border post, only to discover it closed at 4:30pm, little did we know what a blessing it was going to be. Early the next morning we finished all packing and getting ready for the border that will open at 7:30am, scripture and prayer is at the order and to our welcome surprise the border officials join us, what an amazing blessing and privilege to open a country’s border with the officials in scripture and prayer!!! Immediately after that it is prayers for the Namibian border, import fees on material and explanations on the equipment and what not, o you of little faith, within 15minutes we are sent on our merry blessed way, not even paying a sent (including car and trailer no charge – just like the love of Jesus Christ), free entry with a smile, no problems – ALL GLORY TO OUR GOD!

We met with Ds. Henk and his Okakarara team not long after that, un-packed, relaxed and had a great dinner. Early the next morning Vincent, very good slave driver even apologize when he was too tough, got his team together and they started on the construction of the roof, planting the poles and preparing for completion. Once the cement was dry, poles firmly planted it was time to lift the roof structure, zinc could only be laid the next morning very early as it was just too hot to work with this.

In less than two hours the roof was done and the church completed within 3 days, all thanks to Vincent and his Okakarara team for his skills and determination and glory to our God for the strength and knowledge He provided to the whole team.

During the few days we had the amazing privilege to drive around with Ds. Henk and his team, showing the Jesus film and the Walking with Jesus film in various villages, evangelizing through the day but I have to highlight the saddest and most touching moments were when he took us to meet with a San (Bushmen) family just outside Gam. What a heart breaking experience to see how the life and existence of a culture and nation is being squeezed out by society and the changing world! If there is anybody who has worked with or have a passion for the bushmen, please get in touch with us and/or Ds. Henk and help us establish some form of sustainable support among the forgotten bushmen families!!

Although the above is not nearly enough to capture the feedback on this outreach, we trust you got the important parts i.e. another spiritual and physical icon was successfully, by the grace and power from God, planted in His name, where people can praise and worship our God and return to and call a place of peace and comfort and more so the need for more support from the body of Christ, the need is so much bigger than you realize out there, don’t forget the physical and practical laborers in the field!

To read more on this trip, please see the other articles under the News section of A4C web site.

For more information on Ds. Henk and the work they do in Namibia, please feel free to contact us directly.

We look forward to your future support and even better having you join us on our next trip(s) to Ds. Henk and his teams.