Ministry Focus

So, in my last post I promised that I would write a bit about how we will be focused here in ministry. While there were certain goals established quite some time ago, it was important for us to reevaluate the situation upon arrival in Arandis. You see, the needs are so widespread that the door was pretty much wide open for us. The previous plan involved us working to establish a boarding program for the school here. While that may still be in the mix, Hopes Promise Orphan Ministry has expressed a desire to see my experience in youth ministry and my background in youth counseling/psychology come into play. This is for two main reasons:

(1) There are several Hopes kids that are rapidly approaching adolescence, and they and their “foster parents” will benefit from support. Most of the kids in their care have experienced great trauma and loss in their lives. Up to this point, Hopes Promise in Arandis has been primarily focused at pre-primary and primary aged kids. This is an opportunity to be part of expanding the scope to be ready to answer the physical, spiritual, emotional, and social needs of older children who have experienced some unbelievably difficult tragedy and trauma.

(2) This community is DESPERATELY in need of a structured outreach to the youth (pre-adolescent to adolescent/teenaged years). There are literally hundreds of kids/youth roaming the streets here on any given day without parents watching over them. In most of those cases it is simply because they have very little or no adult involvement in their lives. You can cruise the streets of Arandis and see tons of faces that look lost and without hope. They are completely without direction and are in desperate need to have Jesus’ love and compassion made real to them.

The good news on this point is that I won’t have to start completely from scratch. There is a young man from Burundi (another African country) who was called here by God a year or so ago who has already started a couple outreaches to the youth in the schools and community. I have helped out on a handful of occasions already, primarily in leading some music for the youth groups (BTW – the teens LOVE to sing worship songs here… they don’t seem hindered by the spirit of “I’m too cool for that”). I am getting to know some of the young people here and starting to gain insight into how they live and what they do.

As far as Karrie goes, there is talk already by Hopes Promise of starting a Crisis Pregnancy center/counseling outreach here in Arandis. Currently, there is nothing like that here though there is a huge need. Over 70% of all kids in Namibia are born out of wedlock, and the majority of those to teenaged girls. Many of those have had poor modeling for pre-natal and infant care, and really are in need of mothers (i.e., grandmothers in many cases here) to help them. Sometimes they are ostracized and forgotten in their position, and so they are frequently without help or hope. They often can’t find jobs or places to go. Can you imagine that being the launching-pad for a brand new life?

Anyhow, this is right up Karrie’s alley. She has had training and experience with pre-natal care. She also has worked with young unmarried mothers and adolescent girls in difficult circumstances. She has helped at births (well, come to think of it so have I, since two of our kids were born at home – on purpose I might add – with just Karrie, a midwife, and me). We believe that Karrie will be well suited to be involved in starting a ministry of that sort here in Arandis (under the umbrella of Hopes Promise). In this capacity, she will literally help save lives and preserve futures, while also helping brand new lives get a much better direction. Like everything we do here, this ministry will be about seeing the situation be redeemed through the power and design of God. Redemption – that word is at the heart of the Father-heart of God.

So, enough explaining for now. We hope to get beyond just “getting our feet wet” soon – but we are also trying to be patient. Much of what we do will depend on relationships, and those take time to develop. Before arriving in Arandis we only knew one person here – and that was through a 2 hour meet and greet time in Chantilly. We have a lot of roots to grow here. The great thing is that’s happening even better and faster than we expected. In fact, in my next post I’ll plan to share some pics that represent some of the cool things we’ve done in getting to know the folks here.