Day One

Thursday morning was set aside to helping us get over jet lag, so despite the early night before most people slept in to get their much needed rest. The remainder of the morning was spent sorting and categorizing the 11 extra bags we brought which were filled with donated items. These items will be used to stock the “store” where ministry parents can come provide for their families. Thanks so much to everyone for the incredible outpouring of all the donations. With everything we were able to bring their store will be stocked with medicines and clothes for quite some time!

One of our projects this trip will be helping the youth of Arandis Christian Center raise money for a leadership camp they wish to attend. On the weekends they have been hosting movie nights for the community as a fundraiser. So Thursday afternoon we worked alongside some of the church members picking up broken glass and trash from around the amphitheatre where we’ll be having our movie night on Friday. It was great making new friends and seeing that Namibian youth aren’t that different from American youth. When our cameras came out to take a group pic, some of them grab out their cell phones for a pic as well! Others saw us cleaning up and went home to grab their shovels and rakes to help out as well. Even some children put some bag-gloves on their hands and started picking up trash with us. We soon collected quite a group helping out!

Meanwhile, Jes and Lauren went to check out the dance ministry of the church led by Pearl, the pastor’s daughter. They expected to simply observe and encourage, but when they showed up Pearl asked, “So what do you have for us?” They ended up leading warm-ups and choreographing a short dance for them to perform at an upcoming talent show. Since both Jes and Lauren have spent years dancing they were able to make this all up right on the spot and come up with a nice piece. It’s cool how God uses the circumstances of our past to help prepare us for future ministry!

On our way home we came across a bunch of guys playing soccer and Meghan and Brook asked if they could join in. At first they didn’t really take the girls seriously, but they jumped right in and when the guys found out they could really play they actually started passing them the ball. Meghan even juked one of the Namibian guys and everyone else started laughing at him that he got beat by a girl.