Dawbies in Africa

ETOSHA NP (PART TWO) - REALITY CHECK

Whilst we were very blessed to visit Etosha, some things did make us stop & think. Our safari group consisted of ten passengers all of whom (bar one) was not African. Eight of the ten were white & western educated who had good, well paying jobs. During our two days in the National…

ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK

What do a medical student from Finland, an archaeologist from Denmark, an Ethiopian tour guide, a German lawyer and art auction-house worker, a UN envoy from Canada, a Chinese middle-aged mum, an Australian teacher and two Australian mission workers (us) have in common? A three day camping…

BIBLE STUDY & PRAYER MEETINGS

On a weekly basis we are attending a Bible Study & Prayer Meeting at our church. Bible studies are held in a number of different locations throughout Katutura & beyond. Our group meets at the church & we usually have around 15 to 20 attending. It’s a wonderful thing to be part…

DEFINING FAMILY

Australians tend to have a very limited view of family. They are small units in large houses, often separated from each other. The ‘family’ is nuclear rather than extended. Not so here in Namibia! Families are complex and large and network all around the country and beyond. Families rely…

WHAT TO DO WHEN THE KEY IS LOST?

This past Sunday we turned up to church at 9am (on time) to find the congregation all standing around outside chatting to one another. It was a really warm morning so perhaps they were ‘chilling out’? No, the key for the church could not be found. The pastor and a few other significant…

WATER, WASHING & FRIDGE LOCKS

During our first 10 days in Katutura the water was being cut off daily without warning from the local authority. It could be off for seven or eight hours at a time. Simple things like going to the toilet you needed to think about before you went. We got into the habit of filling up the…

TV COMMERCIALS

On the odd occasion we’ve watched TV (two channels to choose from), the following commercials have caught our attention: One ad reminds people that it’s against the law to dump babies in garbage bins. This ad shows a baby doll crying whilst being placed into a large public bin. Although…

COMING FACE TO FACE WITH POVERTY

How do you respond when people come to your door begging for food because they say they are desperate? What if they say it is for the children? How do you know if they are genuine? What kind of food is appropriate to give? How much do you give? These are some of the questions we have been…

STRANGE THINGS ABOUT BEING WHITE

1) Your veins show through your skin, meaning that many children ask you what on earth are these lines all over your hands? I tell them that this is where the blood goes and try to show them on their own hands but this is not always easy. 2) Some white men have hair on their chest – freaky…

EVANGELICAL BIBLE CHURCH

We are serving in the Evangelical Bible Church with a congregation of around 200 (mainly Herero people). The church is involved in many & varied ministries including an After School Program for children & youth & an HIV / AIDS home based care ministry. Weekly Bible Studies & Prayer…

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