Namibia Video

I promised it so here it is!



The song in the beginning is in Africaans and says, "Jesus made me beautiful/Jesus made me beautiful, Jesus made me beautiful/From my head/These are my hands/These are my feet/Shake your body, shake it!" The kids are in a classroom we worked in at Rehoboth High School during out third week there.

The next song is "Mine, Mine, Mine" and is also sung by the kids at RHS. Then there's "Marching in the Light of God" and they go from English to Africaans to Nama, which has the clicking sounds.

After that there's me singing and playing "Sufficient for Me" by Scott Cunningham.

And the video ends with a group of RHS girls singing "When My Jesus" in English and then in Nama.

Some of the pictures are from the high schools we taught in, Dr. Lemmer, RHS and M & K Gertze. We were in the high schools on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays most weeks teaching their Life Skills and Religious and Moral Education classes. Sometimes we were substitutes for the teachers who were not there that day. Most of the time we would introduce ourselves and then let the kids ask questions about America. In every class we were asked "Have you ever met any celebrities?" Needless to say our answer was no and we explained to them that there are about 400 million people in the U.S. so the odds of seeing a celebrity without paying for a concert ticket were pretty slim. They also had good questions about what the high schools were like and what America looks like, if everyone has blue eyes and what our families and hometowns are like.

Eventually we got to ask them a few questions and got into a conversation about who God is to them. In Rehoboth roughly 90 percent of the people go to church but not many of them, especially the teenagers, do not know why. So we talked to them about that and they had some very good questions that led to great discussions and a few friendships. I believe we made the most impact in the high schools because we were able to build friendships with some of the kids. They feel more free to talk to us than their teachers so we talked to them about what was actually going on in their lives and the struggles and problems they deal with. Those kids have a lot of enthusiasm and potential.

On the other days we worked at the Soup Kitchen and did community outreaches in Block E, the poor section of Rehoboth. The Soup Kitchen is run by the Rehoboth Covenant "Tent" Church that Hannah and Emily's host father pastors. They are still in a tent after 15 years of being a church because instead of spending their offerings of getting a building, they are reaching out to the community. One of those outreaches is the Soup Kitchen. Every Wednesday morning a few people get together, go grocery shopping, make a huge pot of soup and distribute it to Block E and a few other places within the town. When we were there we would cut up the veggies, wait for the soup to cook and then take a big container full to a "house" in Block E where the children would come with their bowls and tupperware containers and be served some soup. Then they would either take it back to wherever or sit and eat it with their hands since none of them had spoons.

The first time we helped out with the Soup Kitchen was also the first time we saw Block E and we left speechless and devastated. We were overwhelmed by the condition of the houses and the appearance of the kids. We learned that many of the children do not eat but one meal a day if that. Block E also does not have any running water except for one tap on the far south end so the kids do not bath regularly or wash their clothes. It took all we had to not break down and cry on the spot.

But the more we went the easier it got and the more we could see how much we were helping. Not only were we giving the kids a healthy meal, we were also showing them that people do care for them and that they are not forgotten. The Soup Kitchen was definitely one of my favorite things to do and I always looked forward to Wednesdays.

During the first week we were there we were also able to visit a few primary schools or kindergartens. The kids clung to us instantly and we had a great time playing with them and singing songs. They were extremely cute and photogenic so they are all over the video.

It was such an amazing trip and there are so many other things to say and I have no idea where to start on the rest. So if you have any questions just post them in the comments and I will get to it.

Thank you to everyone who supported me. You were definitely a huge part of all the good that was done and I appreciate it.

Pictures!

Here are the links for some of my pictures that I've posted on Facebook. More to come soon!

Namibia Part 1
Namibia Part 2
Namibia Part 3
Etosha

Home Again

I've made it back to the U.S.A.! I flew into Newark on Monday and got back to Grandmama's at 3 a.m. Wednesday morning. The flight went a lot faster than the way there since we didn't have a 12 hour layover.

I have so many pictures and video and everything to share and am working on getting that all together for everyone. It shouldn't take too long but please still be patient with me.

It is so great to be home and where everything is familiar again but I do miss Namibia and all the people I was able to make friendships with.

Namibia is pretty awesome

Sorry I haven't updated in a while, my internet time is limited...

The trip so far has been awesome! We've been in the high schools, talking to the kids and hanging out with them. We've done a soup kitchen and some community outreaches in the poor section of town and a lot of just walking around and experiencing Rehoboth.

I have so many pictures and videos and everything that will be up soon after I get back to Virginia in about 17 days!

I'm Here!

We made it to Windhoek, Namibia after 40 hours of travel. We are tired and have no idea what time it is but are way too excited to care.

We will do some orientation and leave for Rehoboth on Monday.

This is awesome! Now it's time for a shower and full night's rest.

Africa Update: Day 3

In about three hours my team and I will be loading all of our luggage and ourselves into a 15 passenger taxi to head for the airport. By 6:30 p.m. we will be on our way to London where we will get to explore the city during the 12 hour layover. =D Then a LONG flight to Johannesburg and then a one hour flight to Windhoek(pronounced Vindhook), Namibia.

Then, I have no idea...

I am so excited and ready to go! We packed all of the crafts today and I am ready to do some fun crafting as well as jump roping. We have pipe cleaners and crayons and chalk and jump ropes and soccer balls and paper and paint. It is going to be a blast.

Let's get this party started!

Like I said before, if I get a chance to get on the internet I will let you know how things are going. If not, I will post again on July 21st!

Africa Update: Day 1

I am in New York orienteering! My flight went ok yesterday. I was delayed in Baltimore for three and a half hours because of thunder storms in New York but we made it in around 9 p.m.

After a two hour taxi ride to the office I made it here, found a room to sleep in, called Mommy and Josh and then crashed.

I didn't wake up until about 11:45 a.m. when they called me to let me know lunch would be ready at noon. So I got ready quickly and headed to lunch where I met Garry, the cook. A few hours later the rest of my team arrived: Hannah, Lydia, Kate and Emily. We had dinner, did a little workshop on Leadership Development and are now winding down before our busy day tomorrow.

I am even more excited now than I was before and cannot wait to get to Africa. This is going to be an amazing time that only God could create.

I don't know yet if I will have internet access while I'm there but if I do, I will definitely keep the blog updated.

Two Weeks

I have two weeks to the day until I head for New York! I am extremely excited and cannot wait to get this party started.

This morning at church the pastors took me up front and prayed for me. It was very encouraging to first of all be prayed for by the entire congregation and then to talk to people afterwards.

This is going to be so amazing and I can't wait!

I've Been Shot!

And it really wasn't all that bad. I received four shots: Polio, Hep A, Hep B and Yellow Fever. Over the next eight days I will be taking the oral Typhoid vaccine and then I will be fully vaccinated and ready to go.

Now I have to send in the official forms, read some pre-orientation stuff, raise $800 and buy a plane ticket for New York.

Sounds good to me.

Home Again

I've been back for a week and so far it's been good times. I've done a lot of sleeping (a LOT of sleeping), eating, reading and a little shopping. I've already hit all the major necessary food places like Alberto's, In-N-Out and Panda Express. All of which do not exist in Virginia. It's been too cold to go to the beach yet but this week is suppose to be in the 80s and 90s so I will be getting my beach fill soon enough.

Africa Update:

I still need $800 by last Friday but it is ok because I know God will provide the money. I get the rest of my shots tomorrow and the medical forms I left on my desk in Virginia are on their way to me (thank you Josh) so I can finish them and send them to AIM. And I almost have everything planned for my arrival in New York for my briefing.

Your prayers are appreciated. And if you want to give financially please e-mail me at steph.rice22@gmail.com.

I will let you know how I do after my shots tomorrow night. Supposedly they have the potential to make me sick so let's pray that is not the case.

Thanks!

I'm Home! and Africa Update

My plane landed yesterday ar 4 p.m. and I was greeted by my awesome Mommy, sister and Sasha. Then we headed to Olive Garden for an awesome dinner and back home.

I'm still feeling a little jet lagged but am definitely getting a lot of rest and relaxation.

Africa Update:

I have $4,200 of the $5,000 I need! I have three more immunizations to get and then I am ready to go. I am amazingly nervous and excited! You're prayers are appreciated.

I will keep you updated now that I don't have any more finals...