Life in Lockdown

Like most of the world, Namibia has also extended our lockdown for another two weeks. Worldwide we've surpassed 2.5 million confirmed cases, but we've been sitting steady at only 16. Although, that is confirmed cases. There are reports of more people showing symptoms but who haven't been tested because they don't want to admit that it's spreading.

So for now, life will continue in relative isolation. For me that means being home alone, only going out shopping every week or so for perishable items. Getting most items has not been a problem, and if you shop early enough you don't have to wait in line to get in the stores.

Preaching has taken on a new level of production.

Ministry has not stopped, it has just adapted. Namibia Evangelical Theological Seminary (NETS) has switched to remote learning, so I'm busy converting all my lecture notes into readings and videos. This has been a challenge considering Youth Ministry is such a practical subject! Church has been live streaming, so I've been involved in video preaching and video worship leading. Discipleship groups have tapped into Zoom video conferencing so we can continue 'meeting' without leaving home. Changing life situations don't change the Great Commission. They simply force the Church to be innovative and creative in adapting its strategies.

D-group meeting over Zoom

I am slightly annoyed by how people keep referring to this as a "new normal". To me that phrase involves a sense of permanence, like after a loved one has died. This is just a temporary normal. There are temporary restrictions put in place out of necessity for the current situation. And sure, it's been going on long enough that most of us have our lockdown routine by now. But this too shall pass. Lockdowns will end. Borders will open. Things will go back to the way they were.

But I hope we don't go back to the way we were. I hope we will have learned something from this time that does shape our new normal. I hope we walk away from this much more thankful for the good gifts God has given us. Much more appreciative of the people God has placed in our lives. Much more gracious to those who struggle with loneliness and depression. Much more generous to those who don't have the means to stock-up or survive an extended work outage. I hope this time doesn't shrivel you up on the inside, but use it to become MORE!

Two Ways to Live

My church has been doing a sermon series through the book of James on some of the practicalities of being a Christians. I got to preach on the first section of chapter 4. There James is confronting his readers about how much they've been influenced by the thinking and the desires of the world around them. Unfortunately, that same indictment can be made of the church today. But friendship with the world makes us enemies of God. Fortunately, James gives us some practical tips to stop being influenced by the world and start being friends with God. You can listen to the message here if you like.

Two Weeks with Corona

The past two weeks have easily felt like two years. I wonder if the hours and days of being home alone make the time seem to stretch out indefinitely. Or perhaps it's the rapid changes and daily updates in the news that make it seem like March 14th was so long ago.

Two weeks ago we had our first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Namibia, two Romanian tourists who had brought it in from outside. The government quickly moved up the mid-term break so schools would be closed for a month. All large group events were cancelled for the next three weeks. Stores and malls had employees greeting customers at the door with spray bottles of hand sanitizer. Borders were closed to people coming from high risk countries. It was basic prevention to keep this thing from spreading.

There were mixed opinions from the public. Some seemed overly fearful and anxious and bought the stores out of hand sanitizer, face masks, plastic gloves and liquid soap. Others didn't understand what the big deal was and carried on life as usual.

But things escalated quickly. Every few days you would hear about a new case popping up. So they closed down all the borders, except to returning Namibian citizens (who spent 2 weeks in quarantine) and importing goods. They heightened the restrictions prohibiting groups of more than 50 people. Yet still many continued normal life, hanging out at bars and shabeens.

So this past week the government declared a lockdown over the capital city and coastal region for the next 3 weeks. Parliament is closed, along with all non-essential stores. Only essential employees are allowed to work, and only up to 10 people. Everyone is to stay at home, only going out for food or health care.

There were, again, mixed responses from the public. Many people went to the shops and panic bought everything they could, stocking up enough supplies for probably the next 2 years. Others listened to the announcement and heard "3 week vacation" so they packed up and went back to their villages or farms, carrying whatever infection they don't know they have with them.

The official lockdown began today. We are currently up to 8 confirmed cases, but still no local transmission that I have heard. But we are still within that 2 week incubation period, which means, based on the experiences of other nations, our numbers could begin skyrocketing any day now. We hope and pray that these early preventative measures will have lowered the curve enough that our health care system can somehow manage.

From the church side, as in most places in the world, churches here have taken to the internet to stream services on Sunday mornings. Small groups are frantically trying to figure out how to do video conferencing. And many false prophets continue to pass around false information (e.g., that only non-believers will get the virus; that this is the end of the world; etc.).

I continue to be astonished by how many faithful Christians give in to fear and anxiety. Thus my message continues to be one of courage and boldness and hope. Times like these present great opportunities for Christians. We shouldn't be cancelling ministry to others just because we can't be with them physically. We shouldn't hole ourselves up inside our homes, build high the walls, and let the world fend for themselves. No! More than ever this is the time to courageously engage with the world, to boldly share the hope within us, to creatively share God's love in practical ways. "Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or dismayed. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Josh 1:9).

COVID-19 Update

COVID-19 has officially come to Namibia. Yesterday two cases were confirmed in Romanian tourists who had arrived on Wednesday. They had a few days of interaction with people, but it's impossible to know how far it has spread since then. All schools, public and private, will be closed for the next month. The Independence and Presidential Inauguration celebration planned for next weekend has been cancelled, and all major gatherings will be suspended for the next 30 days (though they didn't define 'major'). They have also suspended inbound and outbound flights for the next 30 days. I know these kind of precautions have been going on all around the world, but yesterday was when it finally hit here.

To make matters worse, the World Health Organization considers Namibia in the category of least prepared to deal with this kind of epidemic. Self-quarantine is virtually impossible in communities where families live with sometimes 10 people in a one-room shack. And those shacks are packed together like tetris cubes. The most vulnerable are the elderly and those with a low immune system already, and Namibia has a huge number of HIV/AIDS cases, which is itself an immune system deficiency. And on top of that, only the upper class can afford the best quality health care if it comes to that.

Stores quickly sold out of
hand sanitizer

This situation could also have a devastating effect on our already-hurting economy. Travel restrictions will impact our tourism industry, which is the second largest industry in the country. Any one who is not a salaried employee will have no source of income with all the business closures and panic (e.g., domestic workers, gardeners, day laborers, etc.). We import most of our food and goods, so closed borders could lead to empty shelves in the stores. The effects of this outbreak could be far reaching.

But despite the potential for doom-and-gloom, we have a great hope in Jesus Christ. And that's what the church has to offer the world during this time of intense fear and panic. This coronavirus is only a symptom of a much bigger problem, that is, the reality that we live in a world affected by Sin. Not only is the creation broken, but each one of us has a sin-sick heart (Jer 17:9). We need more than a doctor; we need a Savior! So even in the midst of a global heath and economy crisis, those who trust in Christ can have rest and peace.

So please pray for us in Namibia. Pray that God would curb the spread of this virus and protect the lives of our vulnerable people. Pray that people would not be overcome by fear and anxiety and irrational thinking. And pray that this global pandemic would cause more and more people to find their hope in Christ.

God, Our Healer

During February our church is having a month of prayer and fasting. To go along with that we've been preaching through a series on prayer. I was asked to preach on the topic of sickness and healing. Whether it’s ourselves or someone we know, one of the most common prayer requests is asking God to bring healing for someone. But does God still work healing miracles today? How should I pray for healing? Understanding how sickness and healing fits into God’s big story will not only help us to pray better, but will also help us to live our stories well. You can listen to the message here if you'd like.

Back to School

I pull into the staff parking lot as I have so many times before, but this day always carries a special excitement. This is Student Orientation Day at Namibian Evangelical Theological Seminary (NETS) when we meet all the new students for the first time, and see our returning students after the 2-month holiday. This year we have 11 new students entering the diploma year, and 4 doing a bridging-year certificate. They are an energetic and engaging group, eager to learn and with lots of questions. Also new this year are two former graduates who will serve as Faculty-in-Training.

Orientation started with introductions and a morning devotion. We had a wonderful reminder from 1 Corinthians 3, that we are humble servants, but we are also God's fellow workers! Then orientation always has to include some info sessions, get-to-know-you games, a campus tour, and of course, community lunch.

Trying to construct our mission statement out of pictures

"Preparing followers of Christ with the knowledge, skills, and character
to serve God, each other, and the world."

Team-building games

The classic Human Knot

For lunch we were split up into groups of four with a picnic bag lunch.
We popped the balloon to find some get-to-know-you questions inside.

Where is "Home"?

Growing up, I lived in the same house on the same street in the same town for over 20 years. Then it was easy to know where home was. Even when I went away to college, going home had meaning. It meant returning to the familiar, to memory, to family, to mom-cooked meals.

But living as a global worker has begun to redefine what "home" means for me. Is it the culture you were born into? Or the culture you have now adapted to? Is it where your family lives? Or the place where you keep all your stuff?

The answer is yes. It's all those things. There is familiarity in a New England Fall and winter Christmas. I know what to expect from the culture I grew up in. There is welcome and belonging among long-standing friends and family. In many ways, I can just "be myself."

But after living abroad for 5 years, in many other ways, I have adapted to live in the cultural there. I have built new memories and traditions on that side. I have made new friends and community. And there is the apartment where I keep all my stuff.

The dictionary defines 'home' as "the place in which one's domestic affections are centered." While it may not be perfect, one thing this definition gets right is that home is about the affections. It's less about a location, and more about the sense of familiarity and fondness, safety and belonging. So next month, when I return back to Namibia from my 6-month Home Assignment, yes I will be leaving home, but for me, I will also be going home.