Shoutouts from the Team

Lauren: Hey everyone! I hope you’ve been keeping up with Mike’s posts. Don’t worry, Mom and Dad, we’ve been staying safe and going out in groups. We wear our sunscreen and drink lots of water. Tell E.J. I think he would have a great time chasing/wrestling with/being chased by little kids. Tell Tom we saw a huge owl hanging out at the outdoor theater the other night. One of the things I have been blessed to do is visit the dance classes hosted by the pastor’s daughter. She has a couple dance praise teams (young kids and older kids) that meet a couple days a week to dance around for God. Jessica and I have gone a couple of times and helped out with warm up and taught a few ballet moves. I’ve so enjoyed using my dance again, even if it’s a completely different setting from anything I’m used to! Keep praying for us, everyone! We so appreciate the prayers.

Parker: Hey Everyone. Things are fantastic and having a great time. I think I have some sand in my blood all ready. Sorry mom I think im goin stay here……haha jk. Take that back im just goin bring back ten kids with me. Cant wait to get home and see everyone but don’t want to leave. I love all of you see u in two weeks!!

Katie Kozak: Hey! I am so happy to finally be in Africa! I am safe and am having an amazing time here. So far I have helped clean up trash around the town and I have helped paint over graffiti marks on the amphitheater wall. We painted this so that we could watch a movie with the community to raise money for a youth camp. The people here are very nice and the kids are adorable! Overall, we are swell.

Meghan: Hey! I have already had an amazing time here and we have only been here for a couple of days. I have cleaned, painted, and just overall loved serving the people here. One of the things I have most enjoyed was playing with the kids! Playing a mix of Simon says and red light green light or just sitting in my lap for the movie has been so much fun! A group of children followed me and copied everything I did, so I started making animals sounds and skipping and they loved it. Although when I stopped and bent over for a breather I was not expecting them to still be copying me and bend over just like me and start to mimic an over exaggerated version of my breathing. I even got to play soccer with the older Namibian guys! At first they were hesitant and treated brook and I like small children, but once we started schooling them they started passing the ball to us and copying our communication skills. Even though I have been having an amazing time, I miss you family including Eric so much! Keep praying for our trip and I will be home before you know it! Love you guys!

Jill: Hi! I can’t believe the first week is almost over. Time has flown since we first took off in Raleigh. I can speak for everyone on the team and say we were SO happy to finally arrive…36 hours of traveling can be exhausting! Our days here have already been such a blessing. I have to admit that I have been comparing everything to where I stayed in Uganda and there are quite a few things that already warmed my heart. My first meal was a samosa and a Stoney Tangawizi! The children here have much joy and long for love and attention. My favorite moments are always the times spent on the streets playing games and giving lots of hugs. Next week I will have to opportunity to sub in the fourth grade class at TKS! I am looking forward to serving in the classroom and getting a taste of what school is like here! Thank you for your prayers! Love you all!!

Jes: Hello friends and family! What an amazing place Namibia is! We are beginning our third full day and I am so excited to see what is in store. I have been helping out with dance classes put on by the local church- leading warm-ups and doing some choreography! The students are so talented and hungry to learn! My new friend Pearl leads the classes and it has been such a blessing for me to see the program that she has started right in her backyard. It reminds me so much of the dance classes that I did in Mexico, so I am thrilled to be able to encourage her and help her this week! Next week Jill and I will be taking over some of the classes at the school to give the other teachers some much needed time off. I will be teaching 5/6th grade math and social studies (haha God worked that out perfectly!). Yesterday we went in the school to meet the teachers, and my heart was immediately touched by the sweet little school. When the students came into the room I was overjoyed to see that the students I will be teaching are also most of the students that are in the dance classes! Please be praying that I will be able to build strong relationships with these students, since I will be spending everyday with them next week. Gotta run! Love from across the miles!

Linda & Fred (Mom & Dad): Hi everyone! Thinking of you from across the Atlantic. Sheyla: Glad you arrived safely. Hugs to everyone from us. See you again soon. Dakota: I know you’re having fun. Enjoy camp so we’ll have lots of good stories to talk about on the way north. Josh: Hope the job is starting soon & you can work out the transport to/from. Adam: Hold down the fort & don’t forget to walk the dog! John: Hope you get a chance to catch your breath soon. I’m sure the long days are tiring. It’s always a unique adventure over here. So far there’s been lots of painting & cleaning up town. You never know what God has for you when you follow Him. The kids, as always, are wonderful & full of energy and smiles. All are so appreciative for everyone who sent “stuff” to help. As leaders, we are so enjoying each member of the team. All are working together so wonderfully I hope you hear lots of stories when they get home.