February, 2003

2 – There is much work to be done here, work that I am able to do well. People respond so well and quickly to a servant’s heart her, especially in the north (Ovamboland). People in Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund are a bit more skeptical. Today I built a computer center for Val by installing a desk in the hanging clothes portion of the built in closet in my Study. Now we can both be working on our computers at the same time.

5 – I met Fred Joseph today. He is anxious to have me address his elders about elder training. Nice man, very passionate. I like him. Stephan and I also made plans for conducting our Panoramic Tour of the Bible seminar at three or four locations around the country when Richard and Kaye come in June – August. Also met with Dieter today and offered to help him with his ministry plan. He was greatly relieved. He is so grateful for my help because Emmanuel is forcing him to document his plan and that freezes him. He must do it and yet he feels like he can’t do it. It must be a horrible feeling. So I am helping him and he is way beyond grateful. This is so fulfilling. I love Dieter like a brother and to help him in this way fills my heart with joy.

7 – The men on the road to Emmaus did not recognize Jesus when He met them on the road or even when He taught them. They only recognized Him when He broke bread with them. There is something magical about close fellowship around a meal that is revealing. The intimacy causes us to reveal ourselves in ways we don’t in other meetings. Even teaching doesn’t necessarily reveal your heart. God knew this when He instituted communion.

8 – Today we had a workday at His People’s (our church) new location. We are moving to the Boy Scout Center, which has been vacant for quite some time. It is in much need of clean-up, fix-up. We are moving there from a school. So there are many parallels to Northland when we moved to Skate City in 1984. Val and I were glad to help. We met Frankquit who seems to be a capable, emerging young leader. He spent a lot of time going around encouraging us worker bees, yet he still made time to work hard himself. He appears to be a natural leader.

9 – Frankquit preached today and did a wonderful job.

10 – I had a wonderful time this morning leading Dieter through a planning session for his Fyf Rand (Five Rand) ministry. Knowing how much he dislikes planning, I tried to connect it with something he loves to do: boating at Von Bach dam. So while he paddled us around the lake in a canoe, I asked him some introductory planning questions. Mostly though, he gave me a nature talk about the animals that live in the area. There were many “Florida” birds there: herons, coots, cormorants (snake birds), and of all things pelicans, dozens of them, even though we are 200 miles inland. We also saw yellow-billed kites who love to eat termites this time of year. But today they were fishing.

The most unusual animal he pointed out was the Dassie Hyrax (Rock Dassie). This creature looks a lot like a guinea pig, kinda short, stocky and tailless; grayish-brown in color with a yellow tinge to its fur and a black patch on its back. They live in colonies and are very social. They love to sun themselves on the rocks by the shore, but that makes them vulnerable to their natural enemy, the black eagle. These birds love to attack with the sun to their back to blind their prey. However, God has graciously provided the rock dassie with a defense by giving it two pair of eyelids. The second pair acts as a sunshade so it can see while looking directly into the sun.

On the opposite side of the lake, Dieter beached the canoe and we hiked to the crest of a steep hill, which offered a breath-taking view of the lake, dam, and surrounding hills and mountains. That’s where we spent most of the morning doing our serious planning. I asked strategic questions and documented his excellent answers. He knows what God is calling him to do, he just cannot describe it in a logical, orderly way either orally or in writing. That’s where I come in. I will provide a format and document his plan. His gratitude is so encouraging. When we came back down the hill, he was beaming, a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

This evening, I went to River of Life Community Church to address the elders. I was fully aware that I “on trial” with them. Therefore, I was thrilled when the evening went far better than I had expected. I not only passed my test, I connected with them in a wonderful way. I am really looking forward to spending the next several weeks with them. They are so ready and anxious for training.

After the meeting, I met a visiting pastor from South Africa who has invited me to participate in his church’s annual leadership conference in September. It is called Integrated Agape Fellowship and he assures me that his church is true to its name.

Today was my most productive ministry day so far in Namibia. If it is a foretaste of what ministry life will be like here, I will be a very happy man indeed.

11 – This afternoon, I finally met Ron Gardiner. I have heard many good things about his passion for missions in Namibia and was delighted to confirm every good thing I’ve heard about him. I’m sure we will be doing ministry together for a long time.

12 – Today I continued refining the ministry plan with Dieter. It is so thrilling to combine his vision and passion for the squatter’s settlement at Fyf Rand with my planning and writing talents; and then to see a written plan emerge that will provide clarity, focus and direction to he and Joan’s ministry. Even more thrilling is the look on Dieter’s face as he discovers he has actually accomplished what he thought to be impossible. I feel great about how our ministry is shaping up in Namibia. The only dark cloud on the horizon is Home Affairs. Will they turn us down again? Even if they approve our work permits, will we have to leave the country before the permits take effect? God, by faith, we ask you to remove these clouds.

13 – Today had my weekly mentoring session with Stephan. We are quickly developing an effective ministry partnership. I also attended the Judea Harvest quarterly meeting. It is a gathering of pastors whose churches are meeting in large tents provided by the Judea Harvest ministry. My purpose was to network and make ministry contacts. After the meeting, six pastors were interested in meeting with me further. But the best meeting of the day was with Dawie Fourie. He is the Managing Director of Price-Waterhouse-Coopers in Namibia and probably the most influential Christian businessman in the country. What a caring, humble man of God he is. He is also the founder of Rock Lodge. My purpose was just to enable us to get to know each other better. He let me know that they are still considering me as the point man for the Namibian Dream Centers.

14 – Manus Olivier, the pastor of the Swakopmund Dutch Reformed Church and the preacher at Swakop River Community Church is staying with us for two nights while attending a conference just around the corner from our home. It has been a great time to get to know him better and feel his passion for ministry in Namibia. I will be preaching at Swakop River CC in a few weeks on their first anniversary as a church.

16 – Yesterday and today I attended the Khomas Community Church Men’s Leadership Retreat. Stephan calls the top 12 male leaders of his church the G12 and has been mentoring them for a year. They are in training to become elders. It was a great time to get to know them as we studied the WTB series, Personal Holiness in Times of Temptation. Saturday evening was an informal time around the fire and Sunday we studied and fasted and prayed. This morning was another beautiful Namibian morning: majestic sky, cool air, birds praising God in concert – all in the midst of a rugged mountainous setting. Glory be to God!

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works within me. (COL 1:28-29)

This was what motivated Paul to rise out of bed each morning. 2000 years later, it is the same for me. Nothing has changed.

Comments

[Pastor Edward Mwansa- Church On The Rock Zambia]

We wouldlike to have a strong partnership with you and we need help of a Tent.