OVAMBOLAND

On Jan 29-30, I made my first trip to the north-central region (Ovamboland) where the outreach teams ministered last summer. It is another world up there. Windhoek is a modern city. Oshakati and Ondangwa are definitely not. Windhoek is dry and arid; Ovamboland is a delta region with the only standing water in the country. Windhoek is mountainous and looks like Colorado; Ovamboland is flat with palm trees and looks a lot like the inland areas of Florida. In Windhoek cars and especially taxis have the right of way on the roads. In Ovamboland, cattle, goats, donkeys and children wander the roads without concern for the cars who may be trying to share the road with them. Cars must yield to them at all times since they seemingly ignore the presence of vehicles.

But the biggest difference is the people. Oh, the people. They are so friendly and open to ministry. Life is slower in the north, partly because jobs are so scarce, and the people take time for you. They are very appreciative of any offers to assist them.

The purpose for my trip was just to meet people, but it quickly yielded opportunities for ministry. I will be going back the weekend of March 14-16 to conduct a leadership seminar for the Oshakati Dutch Reformed Church and to preach there on Sunday morning. I will also be exploring with Pastor Festus Negumbo how I can assist his Four Square Gospel Church with leadership training. He is already doing a wonderful job of identifying, developing and sending out young adult leaders (several YFC staff members came from his church), but he want to do even better.