Many of you have been checking our blog for updates and pictures. We’re enjoying the replies and notes from home. It helps us stay focused and steady to the tasks before us. And the tasks before us are far more challenging that we are able to handle on our own, so we’re monumentally thankful for your prayers and encouragement. As with most missionary endeavors, there is just not enough hours in a day, funds to support the work, or staff to run the programs that are required to meet the needs of the community. Why is that, I wonder? We believe that we serve an awesome God who has all the riches in the world at His disposal, but still the needs are great and the finances short. Here are some nitty-gritty facts that will give you an idea of what it’s like working here.
Many of the evangelical churches here are pastored by self-ordained men who have an unbiblical view of their role and the role of the church according to scripture. So, they take money from these very poor people and line their pockets and the pockets of those in leadership over them. I’m sure this system grieves our Lord as it does us and those we’re working with here. It’s hard to find a solid church that can come alongside the Christ’s Hope work here, which is why so much of the work is dependent upon foreign funds to support it.
On a different front, the schools are wide open to us teaching our “Choose to Wait” program in the classrooms for their “Lifestyles” and “Religion” subjects. Of course, there are no funds to pay for the program. Julius, the Christ’s Hope staff who runs the ministry here in Oshikuku and the students respond well to his teaching. I’m enjoying accompanying him as he juggles his rigorous schedule teaching 22 classes, plus afterschool clubs – reaching almost 1000 students per week. I can hear all of you teachers and parents groaning with compassion for him. He’s so eager to present this message of sexual purity and has such a strong passion for the work that he has a difficult time saying no to the invitations to teach.
To hopefully address this lack of staff issue, we will be offering an informational meeting next Saturday, targeting interested teachers and church leaders who might be interested in teaching the program to youth groups, after school clubs, or in schools. Many of the teachers in the 3 schools we’re currently involved in have expressed a desire to learn more about Choose to Wait, which is very encouraging. We also have several young people in training at Christ’s Hope International in Okahandja currently who will be returning here to help, but not until August. Until then, we will pray that God will bring more workers, more supporters who can pray and give and strength for Julius to press on with his goal to teach 1000 students per week. I know I’m exhausting just following him around. (just kidding) I have enjoyed teaching in the classroom too. The students are respectful and for the most part eager to learn, which makes it a pleasure to teach.
We had an appointment with another worker in the area who has been using the “Choose to Wait” curriculum for some time now. This woman is widowed and is HIV positive. Her husband died of AIDS and her testimony is powerful and effective everywhere she goes. God has really used her to challenge young and old in the area of sexual purity. She works in a town about ½ drive from here and is far too busy trying to accept every invitation to teach. Currently she holds a kids club after school for orphans (about 130 students), Just this year alone she has presented her message to over 1000 students in schools. Get this! At one school in Okalongo after she presented her testimony and an invitation to accept Christ – all 400 students came forward. How about that for hungry hearts? We rejoice with our sister Rebecca and pray for continued strength for her ministry.
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