Photo of the Day

Last summer sunset

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!