Commencement

You always hear it said at graduations that it's not an end, but a beginning, and that's why it's called Commencement. Our four degree graduates from NETS are now off to the beginnings of different kinds of ministries, pastoral ministries for some or further training for others. Our two diploma graduates are also setting off in new directions, one for further studies and the other was hired as the new NETS distance coordinator in Rundu. All four of our Certificate graduates are continuing on into our Diploma program at NETS. It's great to see all our students using their education to continue in ministry, whether pursuing more training or jumping right into ministry.

All dressed up and ready to graduate!

The NETS student choir performing a song

Keynote speaker Rev. Katenda

One of our Certificate graduates receiving his certificate

One of our Degree graduates receiving his hood

All our NETS graduates and faculty (minus one photographer) - Green robes
are Distance Program graduates; Black robes and no hoods are Certificate
graduates; Black robes and green hoods are Diploma graduates; Black robes
and purple hoods are Degree graduates.

Our excited Degree graduates tossing their caps

Sossusvlei

The funny thing about living in a tourist country is that you never actually do any of the touristy stuff unless visitors come. We currently have two short-term volunteers from Germany staying here with SIM and one of their sisters came to visit, so we had an excuse to go play tourist for the weekend. One of my local friends who has worked as a tour guide planned out a great camping weekend for us down to Sossusvlei in the southern desert. Sossusvlei is the one place where you can get way out into the Namib sand dunes because of the path cut by the Tsauchab River bed. The river runs through the desert, through the Sesriem Canyon and finally empties into Sossusvlei where it has no place else to go. But since the river only runs once every 4-5 years when there are good rains, it's extremely rare to ever see water in the vlei. But the beauty of the red dunes and especially the Deadvlei have attracted tourists for years.

Oryx enjoying the shade

Hiking out to the Deadvlei

This is why it's called Deadvlei

Inside Sesriem Canyon

One of the perks of traveling with a local tour guide is that he knows all the cool campsites and off-the-beaten-path places to stop and visit along the way. Who would've known that out in the middle of the dry desert we would stumble across this little oasis of cool, clear water. The perfect setting for a swim in the heat of the day and of course some cliff-jumping!

Another random treat in the desert is found in the little town of Solitaire. One could hardly call it a town because it's really just a few buildings on the side of the road, surrounded by wide-open desolate desert, that acts as a pit-stop on the way to Sossusvlei. It certainly lives up to it's name, Solitaire. But randomly, an exiled member of Hell's Angels named Moose McGregor happened upon the lonely town and decided to settle down there. He started a bakery which has been serving hungry travelers Moose's famous apple pie ever since.

One weekend is such a short time to enjoy God's astounding creation. But it's certainly great to get out of the city every once in a while, so I'll take what I can get!

The Silver Lining

My previous apartment was up on a hill and had a second-story balcony with a gorgeous view over the valley. I used to sit out on the balcony with a book and enjoy the breeze and the view. Now I live in a valley. The bottom of the valley specifically. I don't look down on anything, but every other house around looks down on us. It's easy to moan and complain about what you don't have (and believe me I did!), but that's actually what coveting is. It's not being satisfied with what God has given you. It's being discontent and wanting what God gave to someone else.

Contentment, on the other hand, is being satisfied with what God has given you. When God took away my view, He replaced it with a garden instead. My last place was in the city, surrounded by streets and concrete and loud trucks driving by. But my new place is more in the suburbs and has a lovely garden with all kinds of birds flying around. So rather than complaining about what I don't have and coveting what others have, I need to be content in what I do have.

So now my new hobby is sitting out on my patio with a book enjoying the breeze and watching the different birds visiting my bird-feeder. They come in all colors of the rainbow. So sometimes when God takes one joy away, rather than complain about it we should look out for another joy that He's replaced it with.

Red Headed Finch and his lady

Crimson-breasted Shrike

Orange Bishop

A male Yellow Weaver with two females

Peach-faced Lovebird

Blue Waxbill

Laughing Dove

Grey Lourie

Pair of White Browed Sparrow Weavers

Brokenness

My fan broke today. The other day it was my sunglasses and my camping chair. A few days before that it was my toaster. It frustrates me because we pay money for things expecting them to work. But everything keeps breaking. And then we have to pay more money to fix it or replace it. Nothing lasts.

But actually, that’s the kind of world we live in. It’s broken. Romans 8:20 says, "the creation was subjected to futility.” Everything moves toward deterioration. Our stuff, our bodies, our societies, everything. And there’s nothing we can do to stop it. No matter how much we try to patch things up, cover them over, glue them back together, or medicate them, it’s inevitable. Time and age are patient. They will always outlast our best efforts. Everything wears out. Nothing lasts.

If that sounds a bit depressing and hopeless, I think it’s suppose to. Because I think every time something breaks, it points forward to a time when everything will work, when nothing will decay, when ‘broken’ won’t even be part of our vocabulary. Romans 8:21 speaks of the hope "that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” You see, this world is not the end. Brokenness, deterioration, decay, it’s not the end. So when I go to replace my broken fan, I’ll try not to get frustrated because I know it’s just a reminder that He “is making all things new” (Rev. 21:5).

Providential Encounter

A long time ago when I first started bringing teams to Namibia and my church was exploring how to get involved here, I traveled with my brother and another teammate out to the coastal town of Swakopmund because we had heard about a guy heading up a community youth center. After searching around we found the place in a basement level storefront and that’s where I first met Wimpie. He had a passion for the youth of Namibia and lots of visionary ideas on how to reach them. He even wrote and sent out a regular newsletter concerning youth issues.

When I returned with a team the next year, I walked by that same storefront where the youth center had been and found it empty and locked up. I had lost touch with Wimpie and now had no way to contact him. But since he also had a heart for youth ministry, I always wondered what ever happened to him.

Fast forward 11 years and now here I am serving in Namibia training youth workers. Over this past holiday break I was walking down the sidewalk at a strip mall and noticed some friends I hadn’t seen in a while sitting at a coffeeshop. I went over to sit with them and catch up for a few minutes. While we were chatting briefly, a strangely familiar face sat down at the booth next to us. After my friends paid their bill and we parted ways, I couldn’t help but ask the man in the neighboring booth, “Excuse me, but is your name Wimpie?” Sure enough, here I was reintroducing myself to the man I’d met over 11 years before.

Wimpie was recently hired on to begin a youth ministry at Christian Family Church in Windhoek. This was one of the churches I had visited when I first arrived in Namibia, but they had nothing going on for youth, so now he’s there to start something. He also shared with me some of his visionary ideas to reach out to schools in the area of suicide awareness and prevention (a big issue among high school students in Namibia recently). This time we exchanged contact info and I look forward to finally being able to build on a partnership begun over a decade ago. I love seeing Providence at work!

Happy New Year!

This past week I was out at the coast with a few friends to ring in the New Year. We climbed up the dunes for a great view of people all up and down the beach setting off their fireworks. I tried to capture this video to help share the moment with you. May 2016 be for you a year of growth in faith, hope and love!

Nigeria, Part 3

(If you missed it, click here to start with part 1 and part 2.)

I’ve never been invited to speak at a conference before, so needless to say the whole thing was a bit intimidating. And on top of that, I’ve only been teaching youth ministry in Africa for a year and a half. Most of my experience comes from a Western context in the United States. What could I possibly offer these guys? I was suppose to be learning from them!

The conference organizers were very hospitable and friendly. They picked me up on Thursday afternoon and we drove about an hour out to the conference facility. The weather was nice and cool, it being their winter time, though it warmed up nicely during the day. Everyone was all bundled up in coats, hats and gloves and kept asking me how I liked the weather. They were shocked when I told them that my last winter at home it got down to -17C.

People arriving for the conference

All afternoon people kept trickling through the gate to the registration table. I sat outside with Silas, one of the first youth ministry graduates from the seminary who was assigned the task of keeping me company while they prepared my room. He’s from the northern Muslim areas and was planning to go back to his region to do ministry. He may also have the opportunity to work with Samaritan’s Purse and travel all over the country. Either way, he’s a sharp guy and I’m excited for how God’s going to use his ministry.

The first night after a few opening songs and an introduction, I was the first speaker. Apparently the TV show “Knight Rider” was quite popular in Nigeria, so I could make a few jokes about my name to break the ice, then we jumped right in. The theme of the conference was “The Dynamics of Youth Ministry in a Globalized Youth Culture,” so during our first session we talked a little bit about culture and how it influences us. We played a little game called “Do You Know Me?” to get an idea of their youth culture IQ. Everyone stood up, then I would make a cultural reference, then if they didn’t know what it was they would sit down. The very first thing I said was “selfie” and almost the whole auditorium sat down! So from that vantage point I think I certainly did have a few things of value I could share with them.

Showing the conference what a selfie is

During the next mornings session I decided to show them what a selfie was. This session we talked about media and how it influences us. We talked about biblical discernment and how we can be mindful critics rather than mindless consumers. Then for the rest of the day other people were sharing messages about discipleship, breaking addiction, and other youth ministry topics. They also broke everyone up into small groups to get their opinions on specific challenges and issues. I thought that was cool that they recognized the value of the experience of the nearly 500 youth workers in the room and wanted to hear their insights.

By Saturday morning some people had already started leaving. For our last session together we discussed youth sexuality and our sexualized culture. For some shock value I had titled my message “Why I Stopped Teaching Abstinence.” To get an idea of the present situation I had looked around online and found some astounding, yet not surprising statistics concerning youth sexuality in Nigeria. Then we looked at both how the church typically responds, and how it should respond. Most often the message we hear is abstinence, suppress your desires, don’t have sex. But we looked at how a negative prohibition will never be the strongest motivation against temptation. The strongest motivation against temptation will always be positive. It’s not about suppressing your sinful desires, but replacing them with holy desires! So rather than teaching abstinence, I suggested promoting purity. Purity is a positive holy desire and it involves so much more than just no having sex. So I think once I explained my position it helped set some minds at ease about the title of my message. :)

Some conference attendees (Silas is in front center)

Overall it was really a good conference. I loved meandering around and talking to guys who’ve been doing youth ministry for years. I loved the feedback of their questions and comments about my talks. One guy was a bit put off when he heard that they had invited a Westerner to come speak, but once I started talking he said I spoke like a Nigerian who knew exactly what they were dealing with. I think everyone who attended certainly benefited and gained something to take back to their ministries, including me.

The day before I left the conference organizers had me to their office for lunch of pounded yams and soup. They kept expressing their appreciation for me coming and what I shared. It was a nice send-off and it helped me realize a didn’t just meet some new people, I had made some new friends.

Me with the conference organizers