Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Apology
I'm afraid I've not been able to keep up the blog over the last few days at Rehoboth - we were so busy and the slowness of dial up connections make blogging a challenge. However, this is just a short message to say that we are home back in the UK safely after what was a very long and tiring journey - thanks to Beci Sherms for her kindness in volnteering to taxi us from Cardiff Station - and I'll fill in the detail of our last days at Rehoboth over the next few days. Thanks for your patience and prayers. Flash and Madge.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Thanks
Thanks to all of you who have figured out how to leave comments - Lulu, Sherms, DnA, Hywel Beth and Deiniol and to all of you who haven't figured it out but still read and pray - you're all a great encouragement. Flash
Update Thursday 22 June
Missed a few days blog but have been busy this week. Monday went well. Sian and I got up at 5.15 to go to the airport to meet Bex. Her journey had gone well and we acknowledge God’s blessing in this. Dan, Bex’s boyfriend has been absolutely wonderful, supplying the support and help and company that Bex needed in sorting out her tickets etc. Big thank you from Flash and Madge to Dan and all Bex’s friends who have supported and helped her. She managed to get a centre row seat on her own on the plane and so was able to stretch out and get quite a lot of sleep en route. We arrived at the airport approx. 20 mins before her plane touched down and we were thrilled to see her walk into the arrivals area. We headed into Windhoek and as we travelled caught up with news on both sides. We took our tyre for repair and picked up some final plumbing requirements and also the electrical equipment to wire out the garden building. Then we went and enjoyed a breakfast together. We collected our repaired tyre – the guy who took care of it told me that he had “carefully healed it” and collected the final electrical cables. One slightly depressing story that both of the electrical wholesalers I visited insisted on telling me was how the world price of copper had rocketed recently and that if I had come for the cable two weeks ago it would probably have cost me at least half less than I had to pay today – ah well!
We got back to Reho about 2 p.m. and went immediately to the lake so Bex could have a rest and shower. We eventually went down to the Ark about 4. When we arrived a lot of the older girls were in one room (maybe chatting to one of the volunteers) but George saw us coming and made them all walk out with their eyes shut tight. I don’t think Bex quite realised what was happening but the next thing she saw was around ten screaming older girls bearing down on her and totally engulfing her in their excitement. Bex confessed to having actually being a little frightened at the reception. One of the major Bex words when she had been here last year was “minging” (used to describe anything from vaguely bad to totally grotesque and horrible) and so it was really funny when one of the last girls to see her screamed “It’s minging! It’s minging!” and ran to greet her.
George and Anne Marie and the aunties at the Ark who knew here were equally excited at seeing her and so after a while and much excitement we returned to the lake for an early night.
On Tuesday Sian and I went down to the garden with me prepared to do some electrical work in the garden building, but they were still busy chasing out the walls and George told me that one of the guys was an electrician so that relieved me of the installation job and freed up my afternoon to go out to Block E with the Care and Compassion team. We did a little shopping and came back to the lake for a light lunch with Bex. Then we went to the garden where Bex had a major reunion with Aunty Nellie, the faithful anchor lady of the garden who has worked from the beginning with George and Anne Marie with so much courage and effort. This was a very tearful reunion as Aunty Nellie had been very close with Bex and was so looking forward to seeing her. Aunty Nellie has an older daughter who is deaf and dumb and currently not well so after some blood tests she will see the doctor today (Thurs).
Tuesday afternoon we followed the Care and Compassion team to Block E and again visited many who we knew and also many new faces. Again, the overwhelming impression is the vastness and variety of the problems these poor people face. An older lady who is blind is living in a 2 metre square corrugated iron hut and is regularly robbed by unscrupulous neighbours; families who have lost up to three or four older members and who now are reduced to 11 children being brought up by one grandmother and a daughter, and old lady scraping the hair off the hock of a goat in order to have something to eat – these are just a couple of the situations which face the team every time they go out. But it’s also heartening to see the reception that they receive and to witness their faithfulness in this ministry. Later Bex decided to stay at the Ark for the evening to enjoy some time with the girls and so we returned home and I collected her around 10 p.m. Sian was really very tired at the end of this day.
Wednesday we three took the two Dutch volunteers, Marianne and Sigrid to Windhoek. Marianne was on here way to meet her parents at the airport later in the morning – they are staying for a short time. We took Sigrid to the hospital to collect a prosthetic foot for one of the young girls at the Ark who has Spina Biffida and who had to have an amputation last year. Without the Ark I doubt she would have survived. Then we went into Windhoek to look around.
Unfortunately Bex was not at all well – she has a tummy upset which got worse during the day and by the evening she was really feeling ill with it. It's pretty rotten feeling so bad when it is so hot and we both felt sorry for her. However, she did get a fair amount of sleep in two parts and this morning she is feeling much better although still a little weak. Sian and I went to the ark this morning and it wonderful to see that already the little girl has mastered te use of her prosthetics - she can walk amazingly well with the aid of a mini zimmer frame.
So on yet another day we have so much to be thankful for and we are so glad to see Bex a little better - she will soon be back in full email and text mode and I will try to get her to sit long enough to write some blog. Thanks again for all the support and prayers - we really feel the strengthening. Flash and Madge.
We got back to Reho about 2 p.m. and went immediately to the lake so Bex could have a rest and shower. We eventually went down to the Ark about 4. When we arrived a lot of the older girls were in one room (maybe chatting to one of the volunteers) but George saw us coming and made them all walk out with their eyes shut tight. I don’t think Bex quite realised what was happening but the next thing she saw was around ten screaming older girls bearing down on her and totally engulfing her in their excitement. Bex confessed to having actually being a little frightened at the reception. One of the major Bex words when she had been here last year was “minging” (used to describe anything from vaguely bad to totally grotesque and horrible) and so it was really funny when one of the last girls to see her screamed “It’s minging! It’s minging!” and ran to greet her.
George and Anne Marie and the aunties at the Ark who knew here were equally excited at seeing her and so after a while and much excitement we returned to the lake for an early night.
On Tuesday Sian and I went down to the garden with me prepared to do some electrical work in the garden building, but they were still busy chasing out the walls and George told me that one of the guys was an electrician so that relieved me of the installation job and freed up my afternoon to go out to Block E with the Care and Compassion team. We did a little shopping and came back to the lake for a light lunch with Bex. Then we went to the garden where Bex had a major reunion with Aunty Nellie, the faithful anchor lady of the garden who has worked from the beginning with George and Anne Marie with so much courage and effort. This was a very tearful reunion as Aunty Nellie had been very close with Bex and was so looking forward to seeing her. Aunty Nellie has an older daughter who is deaf and dumb and currently not well so after some blood tests she will see the doctor today (Thurs).
Tuesday afternoon we followed the Care and Compassion team to Block E and again visited many who we knew and also many new faces. Again, the overwhelming impression is the vastness and variety of the problems these poor people face. An older lady who is blind is living in a 2 metre square corrugated iron hut and is regularly robbed by unscrupulous neighbours; families who have lost up to three or four older members and who now are reduced to 11 children being brought up by one grandmother and a daughter, and old lady scraping the hair off the hock of a goat in order to have something to eat – these are just a couple of the situations which face the team every time they go out. But it’s also heartening to see the reception that they receive and to witness their faithfulness in this ministry. Later Bex decided to stay at the Ark for the evening to enjoy some time with the girls and so we returned home and I collected her around 10 p.m. Sian was really very tired at the end of this day.
Wednesday we three took the two Dutch volunteers, Marianne and Sigrid to Windhoek. Marianne was on here way to meet her parents at the airport later in the morning – they are staying for a short time. We took Sigrid to the hospital to collect a prosthetic foot for one of the young girls at the Ark who has Spina Biffida and who had to have an amputation last year. Without the Ark I doubt she would have survived. Then we went into Windhoek to look around.
Unfortunately Bex was not at all well – she has a tummy upset which got worse during the day and by the evening she was really feeling ill with it. It's pretty rotten feeling so bad when it is so hot and we both felt sorry for her. However, she did get a fair amount of sleep in two parts and this morning she is feeling much better although still a little weak. Sian and I went to the ark this morning and it wonderful to see that already the little girl has mastered te use of her prosthetics - she can walk amazingly well with the aid of a mini zimmer frame.
So on yet another day we have so much to be thankful for and we are so glad to see Bex a little better - she will soon be back in full email and text mode and I will try to get her to sit long enough to write some blog. Thanks again for all the support and prayers - we really feel the strengthening. Flash and Madge.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
The Afrikan Drums has arrived!
Tuesday Morning 20th June
The last couple of days have really been very hot – so much so that neither of us could sit in the sun for very long. The whole earth seemed to be gently baking! George and Anne Marie visited us in the evening which was wonderful. I guess we were all anxiously waiting for news of Bex and whether she’d managed to get her airline ticket OK. In the event we finally got a text saying that all was well. Sian and I are so grateful to Dan for accompanying her to the airport and for helping her sort out her ticket. In fact the whole Abel family seem to have been involved in some way or another so a very big “thank you” to them all. Dan had to make his way home alone and in the event he arrived there much later than he thought - the train he was on being involved in a fatality – but we are so grateful to him for his help and care of Bex.
So it was an early start – up at 5.15 to take a quick shower and head for Windhoek airport. After enjoying a glorious sunrise en route we arrived there at about 7.30 about 20 minutes or so before Bex. We were so happy to see her. She had a great flight and was able to get quite a lot of sleep – just as well since we had various missions to accomplish in Windhoek before our return to Rehoboth. We dropped the tyre in to get the puncture fixed then off to get some extra plumbing for the storage tanks. Then to order some electrical equipment to begin the wiring of the storage room at the garden and then, with some relief, to the shopping centre for some breakfast and coffee and an opportunity to catch up with events at home and for Bex to catch up with our doings here. Then Bex caught up some more sleep while we collected tyres and cables and stuff before heading back to Rehoboth around lunch time.
Then some reorganisation of the sleeping arrangements took place with the emphasis mainly being on the greatest care being taken that not even the most minute primitive life form could penetrate the defences of Bex’s mosquito net let alone a mozzie. Finally, after a shower and a hair session we headed for the Ark. George spotted us arriving and he made all the older girls come out to the yard with their eyes closed. The next moment Bex disappeared into the middle of a horde of screaming girls all so excited to see her again. Lots of happy reunions followed. One of the girls opened her eyes and screamed “It’s minging, it’s minging” and rushed to meet her. “Minging” was one of Bex’s favourite expressions for anything vaguely distasteful to something horrible and the girls had been amused at Bex’s constant use of it.
So we left her with the girls and Sigrid and while Sian went off to get bread with Anne Marie I went over the garden with George to take the heavy cable. They had been busy chasing out the walls for cables and boxes during the day so we should be able to get on with the wiring tomorrow. One thing I was amazed at was the price of cable. The electrical wholesalers here tell me that the world price of copper has soared in the past could of months and the price of cable is rising almost every day. Just to cheer me up he told me that if I’d bought the cable two weeks ago it would have been less than half the cost now! Anyway, it will probably double by next week so maybe that’s some consolation.
George is hoping to contact a local drilling operator regarding the borehole which we think will now have to be cleaned out (redrilled) and a deeper casing fitted.
We came home reasonably early and headed for bed for a fairly early night. No doubt our friendly neighbourhood donkeys will bray us awake at their usual time of around 6.00 a.m. – slightly more unusual than your usual cockerel I think! Flash and Madge
The last couple of days have really been very hot – so much so that neither of us could sit in the sun for very long. The whole earth seemed to be gently baking! George and Anne Marie visited us in the evening which was wonderful. I guess we were all anxiously waiting for news of Bex and whether she’d managed to get her airline ticket OK. In the event we finally got a text saying that all was well. Sian and I are so grateful to Dan for accompanying her to the airport and for helping her sort out her ticket. In fact the whole Abel family seem to have been involved in some way or another so a very big “thank you” to them all. Dan had to make his way home alone and in the event he arrived there much later than he thought - the train he was on being involved in a fatality – but we are so grateful to him for his help and care of Bex.
So it was an early start – up at 5.15 to take a quick shower and head for Windhoek airport. After enjoying a glorious sunrise en route we arrived there at about 7.30 about 20 minutes or so before Bex. We were so happy to see her. She had a great flight and was able to get quite a lot of sleep – just as well since we had various missions to accomplish in Windhoek before our return to Rehoboth. We dropped the tyre in to get the puncture fixed then off to get some extra plumbing for the storage tanks. Then to order some electrical equipment to begin the wiring of the storage room at the garden and then, with some relief, to the shopping centre for some breakfast and coffee and an opportunity to catch up with events at home and for Bex to catch up with our doings here. Then Bex caught up some more sleep while we collected tyres and cables and stuff before heading back to Rehoboth around lunch time.
Then some reorganisation of the sleeping arrangements took place with the emphasis mainly being on the greatest care being taken that not even the most minute primitive life form could penetrate the defences of Bex’s mosquito net let alone a mozzie. Finally, after a shower and a hair session we headed for the Ark. George spotted us arriving and he made all the older girls come out to the yard with their eyes closed. The next moment Bex disappeared into the middle of a horde of screaming girls all so excited to see her again. Lots of happy reunions followed. One of the girls opened her eyes and screamed “It’s minging, it’s minging” and rushed to meet her. “Minging” was one of Bex’s favourite expressions for anything vaguely distasteful to something horrible and the girls had been amused at Bex’s constant use of it.
So we left her with the girls and Sigrid and while Sian went off to get bread with Anne Marie I went over the garden with George to take the heavy cable. They had been busy chasing out the walls for cables and boxes during the day so we should be able to get on with the wiring tomorrow. One thing I was amazed at was the price of cable. The electrical wholesalers here tell me that the world price of copper has soared in the past could of months and the price of cable is rising almost every day. Just to cheer me up he told me that if I’d bought the cable two weeks ago it would have been less than half the cost now! Anyway, it will probably double by next week so maybe that’s some consolation.
George is hoping to contact a local drilling operator regarding the borehole which we think will now have to be cleaned out (redrilled) and a deeper casing fitted.
We came home reasonably early and headed for bed for a fairly early night. No doubt our friendly neighbourhood donkeys will bray us awake at their usual time of around 6.00 a.m. – slightly more unusual than your usual cockerel I think! Flash and Madge
Update Sunday 18th June
We have now been here almost two weeks and as I said previously the time is beginning to fly by. Yesterday was a day of mixed emotions. I went to the garden early as I knew George would be anxious to attempt to break through the clay blockage in the borehole. But I was the afternoon shift. The action was already under way. Anne Marie’s brother Kwes ( his real name is Jacobus) had brought a heavy length of steel pipe with a ring at one end and an “A” frame with a pulley block rigged so that a nylon rope could be used to lower the pipe into the hole. With the other end of the rope anchored to a truck (in case we actually broke through) we could haul the pipe up and drop it. I think the thing that has impressed me so much is the sheer inventiveness of George and co. They have very few tools - an angle grinder, a drill and a welder which looks as though it was used on the Titanic and a pile of scrap metal – pipes, axles and odds and sods accumulated over several years – nothing gets thrown away here. With this they manufacture anything and everything you can think of. So when it was decided that a larger diameter pipe was needed on the end of our “ramrod” then this was duly found, cut and welded. When it was decided that this pipe needed some “teeth” to bite into the clay, these were duly made by cutting of lengths of steel rod and welding them to the pipe. But sadly all the efforts were in vain. In spite of the fact that we managed through some of the clay it had set so hard that it was a bit like hardened cement.
George and I set off to ask the advice of a local guy who has some drilling equipment. He could not help us directly because what equipment he has is currently at Windhoek but he advised us that the problem was almost certainly the fact that since water had been standing in the borehole since it was originally drilled last November and also that the steel casing did not extend beyond the clay layer that over the intervening period the clay had gradually washed into the borehole forming a plug. The bottom line seems to be that the hole will have to be cleaned out and a longer, slightly smaller casing inserted down to the rock level. It’s not all bad news in some ways because this needs to be sorted anyway otherwise the submersible pump would be at risk if the hole sealed over after it had been installed. So it is a set back but not an insurmountable one. George will contact local drilling companies and we will hope and pray that one of them will be able to help us. If it has to wait a while it will be disappointing but we must wait and see.
We have connected and tested the submersible pump and so most of the equipment required is now in George’s hands when the time comes. There are just two or three fittings I need to collect from Windhoek next week and then maybe I will also be able to connect up some of the electrical supplies to the garden building and also for the irrigation pump.
I know that many people reading this have tried to leave comments and failed. It’s difficult for me here to explain how to do it since internet access is dial up and very slow. But somewhere in the archive of this blog – one of the early entries around September last year – I explained how to do it. For those of you who have been successful we thank you. I received a particularly encouraging comment from Hywel, Beth and Deiniol – but a huge thank you to the many people I know who are reading this and praying for us.
The main focus of our prayer each say is that we might be shown the needs that we can meet for that day. We know that the needs here are vast and we cannot possibly do all that we would like to do, but we ask simply that the Lord would show us those things that we can do and this far our prayers have been answered. We also pray for wisdom in our decision making. We are aware that many people have contributed to our efforts here and we ask to be wise in using the means that have been given us. Again, thus far our prayers have been answered. We have been truly blessed by the helpfulness and the willingness of so many people to help us while we have been here. We have been blessed by being able to meet and speak to the many workers, both Namibian and foreign volunteers who have inspired us by their faith and desire to serve the Lord in this needy place. It is very humbling to realise what God is doing through people who have such limited resources naturally but yet have faith which trusts in the unlimited resources of heaven. And so much of that consists in faithfulness in the little things. Providing care, willingness to sit and listen, being prepared to sit on the ground and pray with someone who is blind, a mother who is so crippled that she can only literally crawl on the floor, a man who is in so much pain that he has tied a strip of cloth tightly around his chest trying to get some relief, providing a loaf of bread, some maize, an old mattress to sleep on – little things that may seem insignificant in themselves but add up to a whole heap of love and compassion. Much of this goes unsung and unseen apart from in the sight of heaven and I have learned the significance of the words of Jesus “Inasmuch as you have done this for the least of these my brothers, you have done it unto me.” We may not be able to solve every problem, meet every need, but there are always situations in which we can display love and compassion and often practical help.
Coming back to yesterday, I got back to the lake after lunch and then remembered that I had not reconnected the electrical supply to the garden building after the pump testing. So we went down to Rehoboth to do that and to fill up with petrol for our journey to Windhoek to collect Bex Monday morning. While at the filling station I noticed a tyre was down. By the time I’d moved to the airline it was almost flat – we had a puncture, a nail or some wire in the tread. Thankfully it happened at the filling station so we were able to put on the spare in relative comfort – better than halfway up the Washboard Trail to the lake at any rate. Now we will probably have to wait until Monday to get it repaired – we’ll see. Last night we treated ourselves to a meal at the Lodge Restaurant at the Lake. It was good and not very expensive, but for the first time since I’ve been here I got bitten – the mozzies had a good few chucks out of my leg and I have the lumps to prove it today. Ah well, that will teach me to value Sian’s home cooking which I must say has been excellent since we’ve been here. We are both looking forward to Bex’s arrival tomorrow – the priority later today will be to get her bed repositioned and completely mosquito and bug proof or I’ll be in trouble. So – the last day of peace and quiet at the Lake before the Afrikan Drums hits Rehoboth.
George and I set off to ask the advice of a local guy who has some drilling equipment. He could not help us directly because what equipment he has is currently at Windhoek but he advised us that the problem was almost certainly the fact that since water had been standing in the borehole since it was originally drilled last November and also that the steel casing did not extend beyond the clay layer that over the intervening period the clay had gradually washed into the borehole forming a plug. The bottom line seems to be that the hole will have to be cleaned out and a longer, slightly smaller casing inserted down to the rock level. It’s not all bad news in some ways because this needs to be sorted anyway otherwise the submersible pump would be at risk if the hole sealed over after it had been installed. So it is a set back but not an insurmountable one. George will contact local drilling companies and we will hope and pray that one of them will be able to help us. If it has to wait a while it will be disappointing but we must wait and see.
We have connected and tested the submersible pump and so most of the equipment required is now in George’s hands when the time comes. There are just two or three fittings I need to collect from Windhoek next week and then maybe I will also be able to connect up some of the electrical supplies to the garden building and also for the irrigation pump.
I know that many people reading this have tried to leave comments and failed. It’s difficult for me here to explain how to do it since internet access is dial up and very slow. But somewhere in the archive of this blog – one of the early entries around September last year – I explained how to do it. For those of you who have been successful we thank you. I received a particularly encouraging comment from Hywel, Beth and Deiniol – but a huge thank you to the many people I know who are reading this and praying for us.
The main focus of our prayer each say is that we might be shown the needs that we can meet for that day. We know that the needs here are vast and we cannot possibly do all that we would like to do, but we ask simply that the Lord would show us those things that we can do and this far our prayers have been answered. We also pray for wisdom in our decision making. We are aware that many people have contributed to our efforts here and we ask to be wise in using the means that have been given us. Again, thus far our prayers have been answered. We have been truly blessed by the helpfulness and the willingness of so many people to help us while we have been here. We have been blessed by being able to meet and speak to the many workers, both Namibian and foreign volunteers who have inspired us by their faith and desire to serve the Lord in this needy place. It is very humbling to realise what God is doing through people who have such limited resources naturally but yet have faith which trusts in the unlimited resources of heaven. And so much of that consists in faithfulness in the little things. Providing care, willingness to sit and listen, being prepared to sit on the ground and pray with someone who is blind, a mother who is so crippled that she can only literally crawl on the floor, a man who is in so much pain that he has tied a strip of cloth tightly around his chest trying to get some relief, providing a loaf of bread, some maize, an old mattress to sleep on – little things that may seem insignificant in themselves but add up to a whole heap of love and compassion. Much of this goes unsung and unseen apart from in the sight of heaven and I have learned the significance of the words of Jesus “Inasmuch as you have done this for the least of these my brothers, you have done it unto me.” We may not be able to solve every problem, meet every need, but there are always situations in which we can display love and compassion and often practical help.
Coming back to yesterday, I got back to the lake after lunch and then remembered that I had not reconnected the electrical supply to the garden building after the pump testing. So we went down to Rehoboth to do that and to fill up with petrol for our journey to Windhoek to collect Bex Monday morning. While at the filling station I noticed a tyre was down. By the time I’d moved to the airline it was almost flat – we had a puncture, a nail or some wire in the tread. Thankfully it happened at the filling station so we were able to put on the spare in relative comfort – better than halfway up the Washboard Trail to the lake at any rate. Now we will probably have to wait until Monday to get it repaired – we’ll see. Last night we treated ourselves to a meal at the Lodge Restaurant at the Lake. It was good and not very expensive, but for the first time since I’ve been here I got bitten – the mozzies had a good few chucks out of my leg and I have the lumps to prove it today. Ah well, that will teach me to value Sian’s home cooking which I must say has been excellent since we’ve been here. We are both looking forward to Bex’s arrival tomorrow – the priority later today will be to get her bed repositioned and completely mosquito and bug proof or I’ll be in trouble. So – the last day of peace and quiet at the Lake before the Afrikan Drums hits Rehoboth.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Update Friday 18th June
Friday 16th June
Our time here seems to be flying by! We were at the Ark early and I spent the day working at the garden with George. We completed quite a lot of the plumbing work and prepared the pump for lowering into the borehole. George is very versatile and over the years every bit of scrap metal has been kept and put to some use. Using an old wheel rim, some steel tube and an old steel frame we welded together a frame to help us lower the pump into the borehole realising that about 100 metres of heavy gauge pipe and the pump was going to need some holding. Around 3.30 we were ready to begin. It was a sad anticlimax to discover that we could only go down about 10 metres and we met a blockage. The hole was drilled last November and has a steel casing or liner for the first section and then the hole is mainly through rock. It seems as though the section between the bottom of the casing and the rock may have blocked. Anne Marie’s brother who has some experience of these things thinks that with the right equipment this can be overcome so George will be contacting some local people later. We pray that they will have the right equipment locally. Still it was disappointing having worked so hard to get to this point.
Sian helped the workers to get the provisions for the Care and Compassion workers ready. They packed up food and basic necessities and went out to Block E to distribute them and to pray with those in need. They visited one older lady living alone who is now blind. She was so grateful because she had no food and was starving. So Anne Marie got some food ready on the spot. Then they had to hide her provisions because others take advantage of her blindness to steal what she has. They visited Marcellus and “Handful”. Marcellus still looks very ill. Although they live with an extended family, many of the grown up family have already died of AIDS and the mother is so riddled with arthritis she cannot walk but can only move around sitting on the floor. There are many younger children in the house also infected with HIV / AIDS. You can only continue to be humbled by the commitment and compassion of those who week on week continue to provide basic the basic needs of those who are beyond helping themselves and who can get no help elsewhere.
It has to be said that the availability of anti retroviral treatment is very good and there are active programmes to encourage testing and treatment - there are clinics available to all. But the conditions and social environment in which those infected have to live, the high levels of alcoholism fuelled by the seemingly hopeless situation and daily grind of poverty affects everyone living in these poor areas and HIV / AIDS continues to spread.
As I said time seems to be flying by and there is so much yet to do. Bex is flying out and will arrive on Monday. She has a wonderful testimony here after her spell as a volunteer last year and those who know she is coming are really excited and looking forward to seeing her as I know she is looking forward to seeing them. So we pray that she will have a safe journey here. There have been a few complications with her air ticket which she must now pick up at the airport but we trust that this will all be OK. We must get in an early night on Sunday so that we can be at the airport to meet her. We spoke to her and Ben on the phone last night and all is well at home. We will have at least one day’s rest this weekend and prepare for her arrival. I doubt that things will be quite as restful after she arrives. Flash and Madge
Our time here seems to be flying by! We were at the Ark early and I spent the day working at the garden with George. We completed quite a lot of the plumbing work and prepared the pump for lowering into the borehole. George is very versatile and over the years every bit of scrap metal has been kept and put to some use. Using an old wheel rim, some steel tube and an old steel frame we welded together a frame to help us lower the pump into the borehole realising that about 100 metres of heavy gauge pipe and the pump was going to need some holding. Around 3.30 we were ready to begin. It was a sad anticlimax to discover that we could only go down about 10 metres and we met a blockage. The hole was drilled last November and has a steel casing or liner for the first section and then the hole is mainly through rock. It seems as though the section between the bottom of the casing and the rock may have blocked. Anne Marie’s brother who has some experience of these things thinks that with the right equipment this can be overcome so George will be contacting some local people later. We pray that they will have the right equipment locally. Still it was disappointing having worked so hard to get to this point.
Sian helped the workers to get the provisions for the Care and Compassion workers ready. They packed up food and basic necessities and went out to Block E to distribute them and to pray with those in need. They visited one older lady living alone who is now blind. She was so grateful because she had no food and was starving. So Anne Marie got some food ready on the spot. Then they had to hide her provisions because others take advantage of her blindness to steal what she has. They visited Marcellus and “Handful”. Marcellus still looks very ill. Although they live with an extended family, many of the grown up family have already died of AIDS and the mother is so riddled with arthritis she cannot walk but can only move around sitting on the floor. There are many younger children in the house also infected with HIV / AIDS. You can only continue to be humbled by the commitment and compassion of those who week on week continue to provide basic the basic needs of those who are beyond helping themselves and who can get no help elsewhere.
It has to be said that the availability of anti retroviral treatment is very good and there are active programmes to encourage testing and treatment - there are clinics available to all. But the conditions and social environment in which those infected have to live, the high levels of alcoholism fuelled by the seemingly hopeless situation and daily grind of poverty affects everyone living in these poor areas and HIV / AIDS continues to spread.
As I said time seems to be flying by and there is so much yet to do. Bex is flying out and will arrive on Monday. She has a wonderful testimony here after her spell as a volunteer last year and those who know she is coming are really excited and looking forward to seeing her as I know she is looking forward to seeing them. So we pray that she will have a safe journey here. There have been a few complications with her air ticket which she must now pick up at the airport but we trust that this will all be OK. We must get in an early night on Sunday so that we can be at the airport to meet her. We spoke to her and Ben on the phone last night and all is well at home. We will have at least one day’s rest this weekend and prepare for her arrival. I doubt that things will be quite as restful after she arrives. Flash and Madge
Update Thursday14th June
Busy couple of days. Yesterday we went to the agricultural college at Tsumas to visit Dr, Singogo. We were made very welcome and he was able to give us many ideas by showing us the techniques that they have developed there for arid zone horticulture. It is amazing what can be achieved with minimal drip irrigation.
Today was another busy day. We were at the Ark at 9 and then having collected a trailer we headed for Windhoek where we went to get advice and to buy the pumping equipment for the borehole and low pressure irrigation systems. We were very blessed to have the attention of one of the experts there who went through most of the requirements with us and having decided on the type of submersible pump we need we sorted out all the pipes and fittings for connecting up the pump, the two 5000 litre storage tanks and the low pressure pumping system for the irrigation system. This took quite a time to sort out but we did get to have quite a pleasant lunch in between. We called back at a warehouse in order to buy stocks for the Care and Compassion programme and so arrived back at the Ark quite late around 6. It was a very successful trip, we had lots of good fun with George and Anne Marie and achieved the main goal. Now the pressure will be on to get the pump installed and the system connected to the irrigation system. It will be quite a tricky operation to get the submersible pump with pipe and cable down a 100 metre borehole but knowing George we will work it out.
Today Marcellus, his wife “Handful” (something like Anchifol in Afrikaans) and their small son Michael were discharged from hospital and taken back to block E wher they live with their extended family. It must be so hard to have to leave the relatively good facilities of the hospital, poor though they may be by our standards, and return to a makeshift hut with no water, electricity or toilet facilities. In spite of this and in spite of the fact that all three have HIV / AIDS we are still so impressed that little “Handful” is always smiling and happy in spite of the circumstances.
We got back to the lake late and rather tired and just missed the end of the England World Cup match but all of that seems to be a world away …….
Flash and Madge
Today was another busy day. We were at the Ark at 9 and then having collected a trailer we headed for Windhoek where we went to get advice and to buy the pumping equipment for the borehole and low pressure irrigation systems. We were very blessed to have the attention of one of the experts there who went through most of the requirements with us and having decided on the type of submersible pump we need we sorted out all the pipes and fittings for connecting up the pump, the two 5000 litre storage tanks and the low pressure pumping system for the irrigation system. This took quite a time to sort out but we did get to have quite a pleasant lunch in between. We called back at a warehouse in order to buy stocks for the Care and Compassion programme and so arrived back at the Ark quite late around 6. It was a very successful trip, we had lots of good fun with George and Anne Marie and achieved the main goal. Now the pressure will be on to get the pump installed and the system connected to the irrigation system. It will be quite a tricky operation to get the submersible pump with pipe and cable down a 100 metre borehole but knowing George we will work it out.
Today Marcellus, his wife “Handful” (something like Anchifol in Afrikaans) and their small son Michael were discharged from hospital and taken back to block E wher they live with their extended family. It must be so hard to have to leave the relatively good facilities of the hospital, poor though they may be by our standards, and return to a makeshift hut with no water, electricity or toilet facilities. In spite of this and in spite of the fact that all three have HIV / AIDS we are still so impressed that little “Handful” is always smiling and happy in spite of the circumstances.
We got back to the lake late and rather tired and just missed the end of the England World Cup match but all of that seems to be a world away …….
Flash and Madge
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Quick Update Tuesday 13th June
Writing this quickly on the fly. Saw the Mayor and deputy this morning and we have permission to start using the borehole. Still things to be settled but the executive committee will meet Thursday. We are thrilled and thank God for answered prayer. Busy days coming - will update when possible Flash and Madge
Monday, June 12, 2006
Update at End of First Week
Friday 9th June.
We got up early in order to take the proposal to be printed. George had gone earlier to Windhoek and we went to collect Anne Marie from the Ark before delivering the proposal to the council. However she had a message from George who wanted us to wait before we took the letter. So off to Windhoek where we met up with George and a new Dutch volunteer. George and I discussed the letter and he asked that I go with him to Water Affairs to speak to the officials there. They turned out to be most helpful although unable to understand why the Town Council would not give permission for the use of the borehole. Ultimately they have no power to proceed with the issue of a license without the approval of the council. However they did inform us that the government in general are very supportive of community agricultural schemes in other areas supplying not only free water but also seed, fertilizer and even buying and transporting produce for use in hospitals, prisons and other government institutions. We did have some useful discussion regarding costs etc.
So back to the Ark to update the proposal in the light of our discussions. However my humble floppy disk gave up the ghost at the printers and reluctantly we had to leave everything until Monday.
Suzette and Jennifer at the Ark needed to go to the local hospital to take provisions and blankets for one of the Block E family who had needed to be admitted so we volunteered to take them. It is hard to describe the emotions of the visit. First we found the family all of whom have HIV / AIDS and who are one of the Block E families supported by the Care and Compassion ministry of Christ’s Hope International. Marcellus the father who is currently very sick and his wife who everyone calls (in Afrikaans) “Handful” because she is so small. Jennifer told us that only a couple of weeks ago the little boy was very ill indeed but in answer to prayer he has improved and now is eating well again. It was just amazing to see this poor mother’s amazing smile in spite of their illness and the conditions that they have to live in. Jennifer and Suzette had brought blankets and a cuddly toy for the little boy and some provisions. Marcellus will be discharged from the hospital next Thursday when they must return to Block E. We will try to be around to take them home. We prayed with them there and then went on to the children’s ward where there are so many sick children from tiny babies born with HIV / Aids, some desperately ill, to toddlers and older children. It was a privilege for Sian and I to pray alongside Jennifer and Suzette for some of these sick children.
We were then taken to a ward where some of the most seriously ill AIDS patients are. We prayed with a young woman who the disease has reduced to mere skin and bone and with a young girl who was obviously very ill. It is so heartbreaking to witness the ravages of this terrible disease on young and old alike but it is also encouraging to witness the care and compassion of those who are prepared to go among them and pray for them and with them and provide for their simple needs. We just continue to pray that we might continue to find the means to support these workers who are so full of faith and courage.
It was a lot to take in and very humbling to consider how comparatively well provided for and healthy we are in the light of the poverty and sickness we see about us here.
Finally we took some irrigation pipe and implements to the garden and there we prayed with Anne Marie and George committing this whole project and its future into God’s hands knowing that He will not allow all the hard work and effort that has been put in thus far to fall to the ground. Flash and Madge
Saturday 10th June.
We went for quite a long walk this morning along Lake Oanob and saw lots of different birds and insects. Some of the beetles were huge! George called in briefly en route to Windhoek to let me know that he has seen the deputy mayor of Rehoboth and he hopes that we can meet the mayor and his deputy next week, In the light of this I see God’s hand at work in us not being able to submit the proposal yesterday. I have every confidence that the One who has directed our way thus far will soon resolve all of the outstanding issues.
The remainder of the day was taken up with some deep chillin’ although we did watch a little World Cup. Tomorrow, God willing will be taken up with the same object in mind - little physical activity but much spiritual activity – the best kind.
The wind has picked up during the day – it returns to flat calm at night – but this is all to the good since we managed to dry our wash. Flash and Madge
Monday 12th June
Today has been spent mainly at the Ark. We have arranged a meeting with the mayor and deputy mayor of Rehoboth tomorow (Tues) at 10.30 when we hope that we will be able to get to the bottom of some of the problems. We are both feeling rested after the weekend. We hope that we will be able to visit the horticultural expert Dr. Singogo on Wednesday. Looks like a busy week - we trust that it will be productive. God bless you all who have prayed and supported us. Flash and Madge
We got up early in order to take the proposal to be printed. George had gone earlier to Windhoek and we went to collect Anne Marie from the Ark before delivering the proposal to the council. However she had a message from George who wanted us to wait before we took the letter. So off to Windhoek where we met up with George and a new Dutch volunteer. George and I discussed the letter and he asked that I go with him to Water Affairs to speak to the officials there. They turned out to be most helpful although unable to understand why the Town Council would not give permission for the use of the borehole. Ultimately they have no power to proceed with the issue of a license without the approval of the council. However they did inform us that the government in general are very supportive of community agricultural schemes in other areas supplying not only free water but also seed, fertilizer and even buying and transporting produce for use in hospitals, prisons and other government institutions. We did have some useful discussion regarding costs etc.
So back to the Ark to update the proposal in the light of our discussions. However my humble floppy disk gave up the ghost at the printers and reluctantly we had to leave everything until Monday.
Suzette and Jennifer at the Ark needed to go to the local hospital to take provisions and blankets for one of the Block E family who had needed to be admitted so we volunteered to take them. It is hard to describe the emotions of the visit. First we found the family all of whom have HIV / AIDS and who are one of the Block E families supported by the Care and Compassion ministry of Christ’s Hope International. Marcellus the father who is currently very sick and his wife who everyone calls (in Afrikaans) “Handful” because she is so small. Jennifer told us that only a couple of weeks ago the little boy was very ill indeed but in answer to prayer he has improved and now is eating well again. It was just amazing to see this poor mother’s amazing smile in spite of their illness and the conditions that they have to live in. Jennifer and Suzette had brought blankets and a cuddly toy for the little boy and some provisions. Marcellus will be discharged from the hospital next Thursday when they must return to Block E. We will try to be around to take them home. We prayed with them there and then went on to the children’s ward where there are so many sick children from tiny babies born with HIV / Aids, some desperately ill, to toddlers and older children. It was a privilege for Sian and I to pray alongside Jennifer and Suzette for some of these sick children.
We were then taken to a ward where some of the most seriously ill AIDS patients are. We prayed with a young woman who the disease has reduced to mere skin and bone and with a young girl who was obviously very ill. It is so heartbreaking to witness the ravages of this terrible disease on young and old alike but it is also encouraging to witness the care and compassion of those who are prepared to go among them and pray for them and with them and provide for their simple needs. We just continue to pray that we might continue to find the means to support these workers who are so full of faith and courage.
It was a lot to take in and very humbling to consider how comparatively well provided for and healthy we are in the light of the poverty and sickness we see about us here.
Finally we took some irrigation pipe and implements to the garden and there we prayed with Anne Marie and George committing this whole project and its future into God’s hands knowing that He will not allow all the hard work and effort that has been put in thus far to fall to the ground. Flash and Madge
Saturday 10th June.
We went for quite a long walk this morning along Lake Oanob and saw lots of different birds and insects. Some of the beetles were huge! George called in briefly en route to Windhoek to let me know that he has seen the deputy mayor of Rehoboth and he hopes that we can meet the mayor and his deputy next week, In the light of this I see God’s hand at work in us not being able to submit the proposal yesterday. I have every confidence that the One who has directed our way thus far will soon resolve all of the outstanding issues.
The remainder of the day was taken up with some deep chillin’ although we did watch a little World Cup. Tomorrow, God willing will be taken up with the same object in mind - little physical activity but much spiritual activity – the best kind.
The wind has picked up during the day – it returns to flat calm at night – but this is all to the good since we managed to dry our wash. Flash and Madge
Monday 12th June
Today has been spent mainly at the Ark. We have arranged a meeting with the mayor and deputy mayor of Rehoboth tomorow (Tues) at 10.30 when we hope that we will be able to get to the bottom of some of the problems. We are both feeling rested after the weekend. We hope that we will be able to visit the horticultural expert Dr. Singogo on Wednesday. Looks like a busy week - we trust that it will be productive. God bless you all who have prayed and supported us. Flash and Madge
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Wednesday Post
Wednesday, 7th June.
Today was a very different day. Because the sunset is so early and the evenings seem to go by very slowly we were in bed just after nine and as a result I woke up about 4.30 and didn’t really sleep much after. So I was up early watching the sunrise from the veranda wrapped up in my fleece.
We went to the Ark intending to speak to George and to write some letters for him. George showed us around the Ark and we met some of the Aunties who look after the children and all the children under school age – there are quite a few. We met the infamous Jimmy and Stephen who had given Bex so little peace last year. Then George and Anne Marie took us on a tour of the Rehoboth E block. How can you describe such an experience. Bex had videoed a visit there but the reality is quite overwhelming. Everywhere you look there is such poverty and sickness, drunkenness and an overwhelming sense of people merely existing with no purpose or goal. There is no electricity or running water and no toilets. Beer houses are everywhere selling home made alcohol which is often so impure as to cause illnesses. There is a kind of hopelessness about the place which is almost indescribable. Children play in the trash and the houses consist largely of rusted metal pieces from bits of car to flattened cans and salvaged pieces of rusted roofing. It is in this block that George and Anne Marie and their helpers under the auspices of Christ’s Hope International go twice a week with soup and bread for those who are suffering from illnesses, mainly AIDS. We called to speak to Jonas, who a year ago was nothing but skin and bones and a body covered in sores. Now after care and much prayer Jonas’s health has improved. It is hard to believe that Jonas is just 53 years old. Then we spent some time with Hans who is just reaching the end of treatment for tuberculosis. When Anne Marie first visited him he was living in a ramshackle hut, it was raining and the water was pouring in. He was sitting covered only by an old plastic sheet. George constructed a new shelter for him out of salvaged roofing sheets and welded together a bedstead. He keeps his new home neatly ordered – not that he has much – but his blankets neatly folded and everything tidy. His only light is a small stump of candle. Through Anne Marie he apologised that because he had run out of soap he felt ashamed that he had not been able to wash today. We were almost brought to tears as we reassured him that it made not the slightest difference. He continues to have heart and lung problems and even with the aid of a stick cannot walk very far.
George tells me that antiretroviral treatment is available and HIV and AIDS sufferers are able to get treatment at the clinics set up in the block. But to a certain extend even HIV / AIDS is a symptom of the relentless poverty induced by lack of employment and the dead end hopelessness that the resulting poverty brings. It is to these people, the hopeless and helpless that George and Anne Marie have been called. They are truly special people.
We arrived back at the Ark to find some American volunteers arrived from Keetmanshoop and joined them for lunch. After lunch Anne Marie rang the local council official who has been dealing with the application for a license to pump water from the garden project bore hole. There has been a long delay for some reason. He told her to bring a letter to his office regarding the situation. I wrote the letter and we decided to take it personally to the Town Council office. We were able to speak to the official directly and he has assured us that if we return to his office just before twelve tomorrow (Thurs) we will have an answer. So we are praying hard that the answer will be positive and that soon water will be flowing from the borehole into the waiting water tanks. Also we have been able to order some truck loads of manure which will come to Reo Evergreen on Friday and were also able to pick up some bags of fertilizer from the local agricultural merchants. This will enable work to continue on getting the newly dug trenches ready for planting once the winter is over. Hopefully this will mean something like four to five times the land under cultivation next season and if the good Doctor Singogo is right (and he’s been right so far) the ground will become easier to cultivate as they expand the area of the garden.
The garden is so central to George’s vision of creating employment and provision that it is vital that it succeeds. Only last year Bex visited a newly formed cooperative which had received massive funding to establish a similar project. It had everything – the best piece of land, a borehole, solar powered pumps to pump the water to the holding tanks and an initial hectare of land under cultivation and irrigation. It was even opened by the minister of agriculture. We visited today and even taking into consideration the fact that it is winter the place is in a pitiful state. One man is left of the original twenty five people who formed the cooperative. It is a sad situation.
Reo Evergreen were given the worse piece of ground imaginable – much of it a rubbish dump and even now some of it is covered with deep holes and rubbish. But with prayer and great courage and hard labour the ground has been transformed. As Dr Singogo told Sian, “The council gave them a lemon, but look what wonderful lemonade they have made with it.”
So back to the lake and a relaxing evening but with memories of Block E never far from the surface and much prayer that the Lord will make it possible for the borehole to soon be in production. We appreciate the prayers of all who read this.
Today was a very different day. Because the sunset is so early and the evenings seem to go by very slowly we were in bed just after nine and as a result I woke up about 4.30 and didn’t really sleep much after. So I was up early watching the sunrise from the veranda wrapped up in my fleece.
We went to the Ark intending to speak to George and to write some letters for him. George showed us around the Ark and we met some of the Aunties who look after the children and all the children under school age – there are quite a few. We met the infamous Jimmy and Stephen who had given Bex so little peace last year. Then George and Anne Marie took us on a tour of the Rehoboth E block. How can you describe such an experience. Bex had videoed a visit there but the reality is quite overwhelming. Everywhere you look there is such poverty and sickness, drunkenness and an overwhelming sense of people merely existing with no purpose or goal. There is no electricity or running water and no toilets. Beer houses are everywhere selling home made alcohol which is often so impure as to cause illnesses. There is a kind of hopelessness about the place which is almost indescribable. Children play in the trash and the houses consist largely of rusted metal pieces from bits of car to flattened cans and salvaged pieces of rusted roofing. It is in this block that George and Anne Marie and their helpers under the auspices of Christ’s Hope International go twice a week with soup and bread for those who are suffering from illnesses, mainly AIDS. We called to speak to Jonas, who a year ago was nothing but skin and bones and a body covered in sores. Now after care and much prayer Jonas’s health has improved. It is hard to believe that Jonas is just 53 years old. Then we spent some time with Hans who is just reaching the end of treatment for tuberculosis. When Anne Marie first visited him he was living in a ramshackle hut, it was raining and the water was pouring in. He was sitting covered only by an old plastic sheet. George constructed a new shelter for him out of salvaged roofing sheets and welded together a bedstead. He keeps his new home neatly ordered – not that he has much – but his blankets neatly folded and everything tidy. His only light is a small stump of candle. Through Anne Marie he apologised that because he had run out of soap he felt ashamed that he had not been able to wash today. We were almost brought to tears as we reassured him that it made not the slightest difference. He continues to have heart and lung problems and even with the aid of a stick cannot walk very far.
George tells me that antiretroviral treatment is available and HIV and AIDS sufferers are able to get treatment at the clinics set up in the block. But to a certain extend even HIV / AIDS is a symptom of the relentless poverty induced by lack of employment and the dead end hopelessness that the resulting poverty brings. It is to these people, the hopeless and helpless that George and Anne Marie have been called. They are truly special people.
We arrived back at the Ark to find some American volunteers arrived from Keetmanshoop and joined them for lunch. After lunch Anne Marie rang the local council official who has been dealing with the application for a license to pump water from the garden project bore hole. There has been a long delay for some reason. He told her to bring a letter to his office regarding the situation. I wrote the letter and we decided to take it personally to the Town Council office. We were able to speak to the official directly and he has assured us that if we return to his office just before twelve tomorrow (Thurs) we will have an answer. So we are praying hard that the answer will be positive and that soon water will be flowing from the borehole into the waiting water tanks. Also we have been able to order some truck loads of manure which will come to Reo Evergreen on Friday and were also able to pick up some bags of fertilizer from the local agricultural merchants. This will enable work to continue on getting the newly dug trenches ready for planting once the winter is over. Hopefully this will mean something like four to five times the land under cultivation next season and if the good Doctor Singogo is right (and he’s been right so far) the ground will become easier to cultivate as they expand the area of the garden.
The garden is so central to George’s vision of creating employment and provision that it is vital that it succeeds. Only last year Bex visited a newly formed cooperative which had received massive funding to establish a similar project. It had everything – the best piece of land, a borehole, solar powered pumps to pump the water to the holding tanks and an initial hectare of land under cultivation and irrigation. It was even opened by the minister of agriculture. We visited today and even taking into consideration the fact that it is winter the place is in a pitiful state. One man is left of the original twenty five people who formed the cooperative. It is a sad situation.
Reo Evergreen were given the worse piece of ground imaginable – much of it a rubbish dump and even now some of it is covered with deep holes and rubbish. But with prayer and great courage and hard labour the ground has been transformed. As Dr Singogo told Sian, “The council gave them a lemon, but look what wonderful lemonade they have made with it.”
So back to the lake and a relaxing evening but with memories of Block E never far from the surface and much prayer that the Lord will make it possible for the borehole to soon be in production. We appreciate the prayers of all who read this.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
News from Rehoboth
Tuesday Evening, Lake Onaob
After breakfast we headed off to the Ark to meet up with George and Anne Marie. We took a wrong turning (my fault) and so got there a little later than planned. They made us very welcome and while we were talking, the horticulturalist Dr. Wilfred Singogo, who has been advising them and been a great source of practical help and encouragement, turned up on a weekly visit bringing sweet potato (yam), sugar cane and a box of oranges from his garden. Just before lunchtime we all walked across to the Reo garden project. We were absolutely amazed and delighted at the progress that has been made. In addition to the original trenches they have now created the same number of new trenches and excavated a whole new piece of ground. This is winter for them but they still have carrots, beetroot, cabbage, spring onions, lettuce and sweet potato growing. The progress on the building is good and the one end is now almost finished where they have tomatoes ripening and potatoes drying. The storage end is well under construction although George decided that the interior height needed to be greater so the roof supports have been temporarily removed so that this can be done.
It was a real encouragement having Dr. Wilfred along as he has been tireless in his advice and practical support. He has nothing but great admiration for the effort that has been put into transforming what was a rubbish dump into a productive garden. He is of the opinion that the ground will get much better as the development progresses and this is borne out by the fact that the soil in the latest trenches is much better – far less stones and more good looking soil. It may well be that eventually it may be possible to plant directly into the ground following digging and fertilising. We were just amazed to see the progress that has been made since last year.
What is desperately needed now is that the project receives a license to make use of the borehole. This will mean that the project will not need to use so much of the mains water supply which is comparatively expensive. So pray with us that this will happen soon.
Today was also an amazing day because we were able to begin to talk to George and Anne Marie directly and it is so humbling to witness the faith of these two children of God. They have been through so much together but still they have absolute confidence that God will enable them to accomplish this work to which they have been called. Rehoboth is a desperately needy place – the poverty is often quite overwhelming – but it is to this place that God has called them to feed and meet the needs of those who have so little and who suffer so much. And so back to the lake to witness another glorious Namibian sunset and to reflect on the day’s experience and to give thanks for God’s provision and keeping for the day. Flash and Madge.
After breakfast we headed off to the Ark to meet up with George and Anne Marie. We took a wrong turning (my fault) and so got there a little later than planned. They made us very welcome and while we were talking, the horticulturalist Dr. Wilfred Singogo, who has been advising them and been a great source of practical help and encouragement, turned up on a weekly visit bringing sweet potato (yam), sugar cane and a box of oranges from his garden. Just before lunchtime we all walked across to the Reo garden project. We were absolutely amazed and delighted at the progress that has been made. In addition to the original trenches they have now created the same number of new trenches and excavated a whole new piece of ground. This is winter for them but they still have carrots, beetroot, cabbage, spring onions, lettuce and sweet potato growing. The progress on the building is good and the one end is now almost finished where they have tomatoes ripening and potatoes drying. The storage end is well under construction although George decided that the interior height needed to be greater so the roof supports have been temporarily removed so that this can be done.
It was a real encouragement having Dr. Wilfred along as he has been tireless in his advice and practical support. He has nothing but great admiration for the effort that has been put into transforming what was a rubbish dump into a productive garden. He is of the opinion that the ground will get much better as the development progresses and this is borne out by the fact that the soil in the latest trenches is much better – far less stones and more good looking soil. It may well be that eventually it may be possible to plant directly into the ground following digging and fertilising. We were just amazed to see the progress that has been made since last year.
What is desperately needed now is that the project receives a license to make use of the borehole. This will mean that the project will not need to use so much of the mains water supply which is comparatively expensive. So pray with us that this will happen soon.
Today was also an amazing day because we were able to begin to talk to George and Anne Marie directly and it is so humbling to witness the faith of these two children of God. They have been through so much together but still they have absolute confidence that God will enable them to accomplish this work to which they have been called. Rehoboth is a desperately needy place – the poverty is often quite overwhelming – but it is to this place that God has called them to feed and meet the needs of those who have so little and who suffer so much. And so back to the lake to witness another glorious Namibian sunset and to reflect on the day’s experience and to give thanks for God’s provision and keeping for the day. Flash and Madge.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
It seems like a very long time since I last slept. I know in fact that it was actually yesterday (Sunday) morning and even then I woke up very early. Sian and I went to Highfields in the morning and in addition to the blessing of it being Pentecost Sunday and a wonderfully encouraging word, we also happened to sit near a retired pastor of our aquaintance and his wife. At the end of the service we got into conversation and Sian mentioned that we were off to Namibia in the afternoon. It turned out that they had also ministered in Namibia and other parts of Africa and furthermore that the preacher that morning, Phil Jenkins had spent a long time ministering in Namibia. It turned out that Pastor Jenkins had in fact spent many years in the north of Namibia and then at Windhoek the capital. All in all it was a wonderful confirmation to both Sian and myself.
So, after lunch Bex took us to Cardiff Central station and deposited us there. Everything came together with perfect timing to get us on our plane at Gatwick at 8.30 p.m. and we took off on time at 9.30. I have always disliked night flights and in spite of stuffing some herbal pills spent the trip half dozing, mostly awake and the after about 3 a.m. the time seemed to go by more and more slowly. There was some compensation - an absolutely amazing sunrise.
We landed on time and collected our baggage with no difficulty. There was a slight hitch with the car hire - a sort of first tester to see if we could keep cool and adjust to a slightly slower attitude to life. This proved to be the best answer and we set off in our upgraded Toyota Corolla for Rehoboth. Wonderful long, dead straight roads and lots of interesting animals and scenery on the way. Sian decided immediately that it looked just like she always thought Africa should look. The last seven km. to Lakje Oanoob, where we are staying, proved a little tortuous. The road is gravel on rock and the gravel has mostly given way to rock. The effect is like driving a car on a washboard - that is both in terms of sound effects and vibration. I think we should have hired a truck! However, the lake is truly beautiful, teeming with wildlife of all descriptions. The rooms are large and quite comfortably furnished but I think the thing that has surprised us both the most is the coldness of the night and early morning. We were rather concerned that the rooms didn't seem particularly warm but we have some extra bedding etc. so watch this space.
We drove to Rehoboth and couldn't resist Ark spotting. What actually gave it away was the huge mound of stones in the garden project which had been manually picked out by the ladies working on the garden and which Bex had captured on video. Working backwards I easily identified the Ark and we couldn't resist calling in to see whether Anne Marie was there. I hadn't expected George to be there since he was hoping to have travelled to Keetmanshoop for a weekend of prayer and fasting, but I also knew that he hadn't been well. We were met by some of the older girls who told us that George was sleeping and Anne Marie was out so we left a message that we would call tomorrow. But before we could get to the car the girls called us back and there was George. Moments later Anne Marie appeared from the Ark. I have spoken to George so many times that it was almost like meeting someone that I knew, and Anne Marie was exactly like Bex described her and so it was a wonderful meeting.
We didn't stay long, promising to go to the Ark tomorrow (Tuesday) and after picking up some provisions, left for our vibratory trip back to the lake via Washboard Boulevard.
Picture the scene - late afternoon sun on the lake, us on the balcony. Wonderful sunset - what a great end to a long, long day. By any reasonable measure we should have the sleep of doom (as Bex would put it). We shall see! At any rate, we are both extremely tired but happy. There is only one downside. Sunset was around five p.m. and it's only now 6.16 p.m. It;s just too early to go to bed!!
12 hours sleep later. Woke to the most wonderful view. Believe it or not it was actually frosty last night. The little piece of grass in front of our house was covered in frost which rapidly melted in the sun. So after a wonderful hot shower, a shave and breakfast on the verandah we feel like "giants refreshed" and both give great thanks to a great God who has given us the privilege of being here. More news tomorrow God willing. Flash and Madge in Namibia.
So, after lunch Bex took us to Cardiff Central station and deposited us there. Everything came together with perfect timing to get us on our plane at Gatwick at 8.30 p.m. and we took off on time at 9.30. I have always disliked night flights and in spite of stuffing some herbal pills spent the trip half dozing, mostly awake and the after about 3 a.m. the time seemed to go by more and more slowly. There was some compensation - an absolutely amazing sunrise.
We landed on time and collected our baggage with no difficulty. There was a slight hitch with the car hire - a sort of first tester to see if we could keep cool and adjust to a slightly slower attitude to life. This proved to be the best answer and we set off in our upgraded Toyota Corolla for Rehoboth. Wonderful long, dead straight roads and lots of interesting animals and scenery on the way. Sian decided immediately that it looked just like she always thought Africa should look. The last seven km. to Lakje Oanoob, where we are staying, proved a little tortuous. The road is gravel on rock and the gravel has mostly given way to rock. The effect is like driving a car on a washboard - that is both in terms of sound effects and vibration. I think we should have hired a truck! However, the lake is truly beautiful, teeming with wildlife of all descriptions. The rooms are large and quite comfortably furnished but I think the thing that has surprised us both the most is the coldness of the night and early morning. We were rather concerned that the rooms didn't seem particularly warm but we have some extra bedding etc. so watch this space.
We drove to Rehoboth and couldn't resist Ark spotting. What actually gave it away was the huge mound of stones in the garden project which had been manually picked out by the ladies working on the garden and which Bex had captured on video. Working backwards I easily identified the Ark and we couldn't resist calling in to see whether Anne Marie was there. I hadn't expected George to be there since he was hoping to have travelled to Keetmanshoop for a weekend of prayer and fasting, but I also knew that he hadn't been well. We were met by some of the older girls who told us that George was sleeping and Anne Marie was out so we left a message that we would call tomorrow. But before we could get to the car the girls called us back and there was George. Moments later Anne Marie appeared from the Ark. I have spoken to George so many times that it was almost like meeting someone that I knew, and Anne Marie was exactly like Bex described her and so it was a wonderful meeting.
We didn't stay long, promising to go to the Ark tomorrow (Tuesday) and after picking up some provisions, left for our vibratory trip back to the lake via Washboard Boulevard.
Picture the scene - late afternoon sun on the lake, us on the balcony. Wonderful sunset - what a great end to a long, long day. By any reasonable measure we should have the sleep of doom (as Bex would put it). We shall see! At any rate, we are both extremely tired but happy. There is only one downside. Sunset was around five p.m. and it's only now 6.16 p.m. It;s just too early to go to bed!!
12 hours sleep later. Woke to the most wonderful view. Believe it or not it was actually frosty last night. The little piece of grass in front of our house was covered in frost which rapidly melted in the sun. So after a wonderful hot shower, a shave and breakfast on the verandah we feel like "giants refreshed" and both give great thanks to a great God who has given us the privilege of being here. More news tomorrow God willing. Flash and Madge in Namibia.
Friday, June 02, 2006
Two Days to Go
Just two days before we head for Namibia. One bit of good news is that Bex should be able to join us for the last 10 days of our trip. She is really excited about that as you can imagine. So the Afrikan drums will beat again and we may even get a bit of Bex-speak in the blog if we're really unfortunate (the rumours about a new Bex-speak dictionary are groundless so you're gonna have to struggle just like the rest of the world!). Spoke to George today - he has the flu! We hope and pray that he will be well for the weekend when he planned to go to Keetmashoop for a time of prayer and fasting. More news as it happens - let's hope the Rehoboth internet cafe is still up and running. Flash
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Four Days to Go
It's sneaking up on us rapidly - just three days to go before Sian and I set off for Namibia. As usual there doesn't seem time to fit everything in and the dreaded packing still has to be done. Not to worry - I'm sure that it will all come together. The arrangements are that we will travel by train to Gatwick on Sunday and fly to Windhoek overnight Sunday. If all goes to plan we will collect a small car at the airport and travel down to Rehoboth where we will be staying at the Oanob Lake for the three weeks that we will be in Namibia. We are very much looking forward to meeting with George and Anne Marie Dien at the Ark. Over the past year George and I have had many telephone conversations and we hope to be of practical help to them as they fulfil their calling to work in the Rehoboth community. As you can imagine we are quite excited at the prospect but also conscious that this will be quite a different experience for us. I spent a year working in Ghana some 40 years ago now but I think that this will be very different somehow. But we are confident that this is something that God has called us to do and so we go trusting that He has already prepared the way for us. As Rebecca discovered last year our experience when we go in response to the call of God not only has an effect on others but often more profoundly on ourselves. The news from Rehoboth has been quite encouraging. The garden project has continued to flourish although now it is their equivalent of winter and so only hardier root crops like beetroot and carrots etc. can survive the lower night temperatures (reminder to pack a couple of woolies!). However the local council still hasn't granted permission for the borehole which has been sunk to be used. So pray that this may be granted soon since the cost of mains water to them is very high. But more about this when we have talked directly to George next week. Next time I write I hope that we will be in Rehoboth. Flash
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