Personal Greeting

I can hardly believe it is September already.  The past two years have flown by!!  There are only 14 more Mondays before the children and I will board a plane to JFK.  Yes, the decision is that at the very least,  Hailey, Janis, Stefanus and I will travel.  Trusting God,  our trip is booked and we will be in the states for two months.  After 11 years of trusting God to provide through a myriad of partners,  I am ecstatic that I can just rest in the fact that He has a plan!  Thank you for your continued prayers, love and financial support! 

What’s Next

• We can move forward with a first phase of building on our school property!  We received a donation to prepare the land, build a fence, sports field, and a small building for housing donated sports equipment.  The same company has encouraged us to put in another proposal for our first classroom building in 2011!  Praise God! 
• The Ministry of Education in August tells us that our application submitted in February should have been done differently.  Once again we are going in circles.  God alone can bring this nonsense to a full stop! 
• The trip to Germany I mentioned in my last newsletter has been canceled.  If the  trip is to be made it will not be until 2011. 
• Ms. Candace has completed her two month commitment that stretched into five and returned to her home.  Ms. Jackie will join us shortly to retake the reins of this household that she had in March while here.  Though it is still a short term solution we are convinced it is best to bring in someone the children know.
• Ms. Josephine, an incredible asset to us since June, will leave Arandis the beginning of September. 
• Two senior experts from Germany will join us at the same time. 
• Lea is teaching at TKCA for the entire month of September.  She has come with a fresh spirit and training in special need children!
• We must make a plan for Revival and we are investigating a deaf school in Windhoek.  Revival is different than all our other children as she is with us unofficially through the mother who needed help.  We are researching what we have as options.

Specific Needs

Ouma Kitty is suffering with health issues that are leaving her in a great deal of pain and much time in bed.  As Richard and Sylvia make a plan for her living space in Rehoboth may God bless the process.

Mommy Kassie has left us at the end of August to pursue medical help.  She has suffered for years from depression and now it is consuming her….pray that God will take her to the people who can help her!  The children of her family are devastated to lose her yet they understand how sick she is.  Please pray for Chandre, Charmaine, Salome, Revival and Chriselda as they must adjust to a new caretaker in the weeks ahead. 

The ministry financial situation leaves us barely meeting our obligations!  As we begin to look for a larger percentage of support within Namibia may God bless our efforts.

With a move to Ojiwarongo for the Graham family along with our high school children we need housing.  For a country with only 2m population, there always seems to be a struggle for appropriate housing.  May God open doors.

Thanksgivings

• Ms. Sandy returned to the US after six months with us!  Her sacrificial giving of love, time, talents and gifts was a blessing to the entire ministry.  We expect her back in 2011. 
• Ms. Jackie offered to return and help us with the 7 children who were with Ms. Candace.  Though it is another temporary situation it is one that they know (see April news).
• The team headed by the Knights was here in August.  Made up of young folks from different parts of the US they jumped right in.  A picnic hosted by them meant almost 90 of us together at Ms. Nan’s house!  How God has grown us since 2003! 
• Ms. Julia and Ms. Lea, both young German volunteers, arrived at the beginning of August.  Julia is here for one year and will teach art and music at TKCA while helping Ms. Nan with Elizabeth.  Ms. Lea on her third trip will teach our special need children for the month of September.  Her time here is part of her university training. 
• Pastor Darin has met with the admission office as well as the office of the President at Dartmouth on behalf of Toivi.  Toivo will reapply for early admission soon and knows that his application will be looked at from a personal basis!  We are so grateful for Pastor Darin’s perseverance.  Friends have paid off Toivo’s outstanding balance at Windhoek International School so that chapter can now be closed.

Personal Prayer Request

Being strengthened with all power according to His might so that I might have endurance and patience! Col.1.11   With love from Namibia, Brenda

I hope you have been enjoying your “hot” summer! J We feel sorry for you, we really do! At least we don’t get the humidity here. We had some real intense heat ourselves, but have enjoyed cool temperatures of around 70 degrees here with overcast skies for the past couple of days. Sadly, after anxiously anticipating the arrival of winter (June-September) each year now only to be disappointed when the season comes and goes with not much cold, we have finally come to grips with the fact that winter here bears no resemblance whatsoever to winter as we have known it! (kinda like the waterless “rivers”). In Arandis “winter” means only that the nights are bearable and we can have the hope of a cool day or two once every two weeks or so. Still, we take what we can get and boy do we cherish those cool days!

The end of August here in Namibia marks the end of the third term for the school children who go on holiday (school break) beginning this Monday and lasting until the second week of September. Talitha Kumi celebrated the end of the term by having a “Fun Day” this past Friday. Adults and children alike participated in relays and other fun games. Next week a few of our short term volunteers from Germany will be hosting many activities for the children in our ministry including much loved trips to the beach.

This Thursday our family will head off Grootfontein – a town 5 -6 hours northeast of Arandis – for our annual AIM conference which will be from August 26 through August 29. We look forward to a much needed time of refreshment and renewal with our fellow AIMers.

This past month has been quite a mix of difficulties and blessings for the ministry and in our family. We have been blessed with wonderful volunteers who have come to serve from the UK, Germany and America. Claire (shown in the photo) is a young lady from England who has been here since last October teaching third grade. She has been blessed with a class of nine lively girls (one being Irene) and has done a beautiful job of loving each one of them. She has also become a personal friend of our family and we will be sad to see her go after her time is up in the beginning of December! Sandy is another teacher who specializes in math and has been here a few times before so many of the children are getting to know her and look forward to her coming. She has been with us since nearly the beginning of the year and has just left. She did a lot of tutoring in addition to teaching a class. She also helped Kailey with her algebra! Currently we also have three young German volunteers who are helping in the school and in the homes of some of our families. They have been a huge blessing in both places. It is wonderful for us to have people come and stay for awhile with the families, to just be there helping and interacting in their home environments.

Steve has continued to make trips up to Otjiwarongo to scout out the land, speak with officials involved in admitting children into the schools, and to look for housing. He has had many doors open wide which has been very encouraging. We feel as if God is continuing to affirm our decision to make this move. One of the hurdles we had to get past was school registration for not only the high school students but also for our two Namibian girls as well as the primary school aged children of one of the families who will also be going. Even though all children are required by law to attend school here, the reality is, registration is limited. They only take so many children and with Otjiwarongo having such good schools, the spaces fill quickly. We pray that God will make provide the needed spaces for all of the children in school. The other hurdle we still face is finding housing for our family and the other family who will be coming with us.

We continue to go forward in the process of trying to get our girls officially placed with us. We just received Irene’s birth certificate which had to be made new since she didn’t previously have one. That will at least allow us to proceed with paperwork, etc. We received it much sooner than we had anticipated.

We were blessed in April to have a Namibian woman step up to temporarily take in seven of our children who had been abandoned earlier in the year by their foster mother. Her time here is coming quickly to an end though and we still are not sure who will parent these children who have already been traumatized several times by disrupted placements. Likewise we will be losing another mom due to health problems at the end of this month, leaving five children behind. We are still trying to prayerfully determine who will parent these five as well. These children desperately need people to step up and take them in and love them unconditionally and permanently. It is difficult navigating these situations. It is not easy telling children that once again the person they have known as “mommy” is leaving. They always ask deep, relevant questions – and we don’t always have perfect answers. We can tell them about Jesus’ love for them all we want but when all they’ve ever known is abandonment, God’s love is difficult to grasp. It is good that we serve a God who is bigger than our pain and human inadequacies, a God who can make it rain in the deserts of human hearts.

Steve has been really praying for God to provide more opportunities to evangelize and lead people into a relationship with Christ. This past month a lady (Candice) he had been witnessing to on a regular basis since we returned from the U.S. rededicated her life to Jesus. Also, when in Otjiwarongo he met a secretary at a school who obviously has deep-seated racist views. After being at the school twice and speaking with her both times about Christ’s love, Steve is seeing her open up and be receptive to the gospel message!

//Praises//

• Lots of great volunteers
• Irene’s Birth Certificate
• Smooth school registration in Otjiwarongo
• God’s financial provision for His Promise
• Candice’s decision to rededicate her life to Jesus

//Prayer Requests//

• Offical Foster placement of Irene and McShall
• Provision for 12 children who will need new foster parents in September
• God’s blessing, wisdom and practical help especially in finding housing for ourselves and another foster family in Otjiwarongo
• Continued prayer for our family as we go through the process of integrating Irene and McShall
• The school secretary in Otjiwarongo – that she would be reborn in Christ

Love you guys!
Karrie (& Steve)

P.S. Steve attached a new information packet about the orphan ministry here that he created for the U.S. Don’t get confused by the name – we are officially called Children of Promise Ministries here in Namibia, a partner ministry of His Promise Ministries, Inc. in the U.S.A.

In order to support us directly,

(1) please send donations through Africa Inland Mission to missionary account number 031680001 online at https://www.aimint.org/usa/online_giving.html

(2) by phone at 1-800-254-0010

(3) through Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT)  (automatic monthly contributions can be set up)

(4) or by mail. Africa Inland Mission Int. P.O. Box 178 Pearl River, NY 10965.

To individually sponsor a child, please send your donation payable to:

His Promise Ministries, Inc
1106 Old Mill Run
DeLand, FL 32720
online at http://www.hispromiseministries.org/

There was a catch, I had to complete the making as it would not fit in my luggage. I found stuffing and was able to sew, my mother would have been proud, to completion the hug. My sewing may be a little crude, but the concept and the enjoyment observed on the faces of those children who have had their hug from an American Teacher was worth my slight discomfort.

Click here to read more in Mike’s August Missive (PDF format).

Personal Greeting

During a recent Sunday message I heard,  “When God asks you to do something, He moves people, places and things to provide for that request.”  Those words made me reflect on my own journey.  Certainly God has done just that.  God clearly asked me to do something in September 1999 and He has ever since then been providing for me and my ever growing family in miraculous ways.  Psalm 77.11 tells us, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; Yes, I will remember your miracles.”  God is ever faithful.  Each month I receive short notes from different folks who I think have long ago forgotten me.  These notes of love are such an encouragement to me!  Thank you for remembering me and my family for touching bases from time to time to let us know you are still there following our journey and praying for us.  I am so grateful to God for you! 

What’s Next

• After meeting with the social worker, Jonathan was placed in his father’s temporary custody and they have returned to the fathers’ family. 
• Hope’s Promise has finally begun the process of officially changing our name to Children of Promise Ministries.  As we assist the government with writing minimum standards for foster care., we are asked to be a Foster Care Provider in three regions. As a key stakeholder working in foster care we will probably take on this responsibility. 
• The Graham family’s move to Otjiwarango is materializing.  We will most likely also move one of our families with them who come from that area.  
• A team from the USA will arrive the beginning of August for 12 days with us. 
• We also will be welcoming a year long volunteer from Germany on August 1. 
• Kinder und Familienhilfe Namibia will hold their annual meeting in October.  Sylvia and I will both travel to Germany as ambassadors from CoPMN, God providing!
• Uncle Mike has started his program for the boys on a weekly basis.  May his efforts be blessed.

Specific Needs

With this newsletter, I am requesting prayer as it relates to my family and a trip to the USA starting in December. A few months ago, I thought I would travel alone to America this year to visit family and friends in order to give myself a “break”.  However  I realize that leaving  the children behind will be a set back to them that could take months to overcome!  I have asked Daniel and Vuola to pray about going with us so that I can travel to the many parts of the USA where you live! You can imagine if six of us are traveling from Namibia to the US God will have to “make it happen” as my current financial situation would not allow for such an expense.  Even if it is only I and the three children it will need to be a work of His hand.  My prayer is that God will make it clear to me in the near future what is His plan so that I can begin with the process of permission, visas, etc. needed to travel out of Namibia with Namibian children. 

Here we are midway through 2010 and we have still not received our permanent registration for TKCA.  Please pray that God’s will be done. 

Revival, a child not officially placed in our care, is a challenge on many levels.  May God show us His will as it pertains to this child. 

We have been advised that Toivo’s account at his previous school still has a balance due of  $1000US.  If anyone can help us meet this obligation please send your donation to His Promise Ministries, 1106 Old Mill Run, Deland, FL 32720 with a check memo of TOIVO.  We are trusting God for His provision as our general funds are depleted.

Meeting basic needs, medical, dental and education our cost is approximately $200US per child.  We need your help in spreading the word.

Thanksgivings

• We are surviving months and months of East wind which this time of the year are very cold! 
• Daniel turned 25 and is a responsible, young man building a relationship with Jesus!!  For all of you who have followed my life with Daniel you know it is “by the grace of God”!!  I am so blessed and praise God for His mighty work in this young man. 
• We are grateful for the volunteers who come and go from Arandis. 
• Ms. Rebekkeh is here helping our pre-school teachers expand their “bags of ideas”. 
• Ms. Monica finished her commitment to us and we are so grateful for her dedication and love of the children.  God provided us with a qualified replacement teacher to begin in September. 
• Ms. Sandy will finish this school term for us before she returns to the USA!  God always provides!! 

Personal Prayer Request

May it be God’s purpose that prevails in my life despite the plans in my heart! Prov. 19.21   With love from Namibia, Brenda

“In all hard work there is profit, but merely talking about it only brings poverty.” ~Proverbs 14:23

This verse was the basis for my lesson to the children in our ministry on Friday afternoon. We brought all of our children that we have in Arandis (62 + onlookers) together on Friday in the Town Hall (multi-purpose building). We worshipped, prayed, played together, and memorized that verse – which I hope sticks with them for the rest of their lives.

As you might imagine, physical poverty is rampant here. There are all kinds of stats and figures to demonstrate that. I can show you pictures of shacks, begging street children, and suffering faces – those aren’t hard to find. What is harder to show is the spiritual and emotional poverty that keeps people in chains. Every time I break out the camera people put on a smile, drunks stand up straight, and scars stay on the inside – so you don’t see the worst damage.

I believe it’s incredibly sad when people choose “safe” and familiar poverty over the glorious riches of our King. How many times we’ve worked with people who KNOW what demons haunt them, and yet refuse to leave them behind?! Kinda like the Israelites who longed to return to the land of slavery as soon as things became difficult in their new lives.

So, I’m writing the Word on the hearts of our children. If they want to be released from chains of poverty, they cannot sit idle and wait for heavenly wealth to be built up by default (Luke 12:21, Psalm 119:14). They must place their investments (trust) in Jesus to provide their every need, and an even greater return. Now it’s their turn – to rise up, study hard, pray with passion, and seek the ways of God with desperation. That doesn’t guarantee worldly riches, but our inheritance is straight from the King who owns it all.

Otjiwarongo Update (We are Moving)

As we mentioned in the last update, we are praying about a move to the town of Otjiwarongo (pronounced like “OH-chee-vah-RON-go”) to continue our ministry there. After much prayer and wisdom from the Lord we believe we need to move forward with this plan. So, I (Steve) am travelling there again this coming weekend to help work out the housing situation for us and the children that will be moving there with us. We plan to move our family there at the end of the school year (which comes at the end of November). There is a mission house that is owned by the Assemblies of God that is available to rent that would provide enough space for our family PLUS some of the other teenagers in our ministry that need to move there to attend school. We are praying through the details of that plan… but we could end up with more children directly in our care – at least for a period of time. The implications of this would be enormous.

One thing that somewhat surprised us as we made this plan was that it seems as if the Lord is asking us to move forward immediately with moving some whole families with us (1 family of a mom and 9 children, and 2 families with a mom and 4 children each). We expected that to wait for some time, but for many reasons we believe God would have us pursue that now. This plan has been submitted to the Board of Directors, and we received the approval to move forward.

In total, we could have 31 children (not including our own) plus 5 foster/house moms that we would be personally responsible for. In addition, we would like to open new doors for ministry there in Otjiwarongo.

Please pray that we hear clearly from the Lord about taking in more children – because of what that would mean to our current family (even if it’s temporary).

Please pray that all of the children in our ministry can find a place in the schools there (which is never a guarantee, even though it is supposed to be).

Please pray for all of the unforeseen issues… because we know this is a big step and we know that there will be challenges and opposition from the enemy!

Heat Wave or Preparation for Ministry??

So, I hear you guys are hot there? Could that mean you’re being prepped for a visit to a certain desert country in Southern Africa?? Hmm?????? (I’m so manipulative).

Financial Update (+Child Sponsorship)

Personal Mission Support – Thank you all for your faithful support the past month. Due to some extra gifts from friends and family we were able to meet our monthly support requirements (i.e., “pay all our bills” J ) with Africa Inland Mission.

Child Sponsorship – while we were in the U.S. there were many people who pledged to provide financial support for children in our care (basic needs + education costs). Just as a reminder, if you made that pledge to sponsor a child we ask that you send in your support directly to His Promise Ministries in the U.S. to the following address:

His Promise Ministries, Inc
1106 Old Mill Run
DeLand, FL 32720

Or via the internet, at http://www.hispromiseministries.org/donations/
Note: An automatic monthly donation amount can be set up.

The recession continues to have a direct effect on the financial support we receive from the United States. Still, we are called to care for the orphans and vulnerable children in our ministry and not to give up based on financial shortfalls. As a ministry that is reliant upon the Lord, we are moving ahead in faith that God will provide all of the funds that are needed.

Please pray that the Lord will provide in our time of need. We want to be solely dependent on Him and not our own ingenuity.

Please pray that the ram in the thicket will come out and show itself (Genesis 22:13).

Our prayer for you this month is that God will fill you with the richness of HIS kind of wealth.

Sometimes we go to the bank first, and may have several stops along the way. Sometimes it involves getting gas bottles refilled. On a light day we only go to Fruit & Veg; Woerman Brock; Mega Save; Primo Schlacteri; and finish at Shoprite.

We have had days when we started at 08H00 and finished at 17H00. We now have to take a trailer in order to fit all the groceries purchased and the people doing the purchasing. All in all, this makes for a fun and good fellowship day.

I have also increased my knowledge about pricing here in Namibia.

Click here to read more in Mike’s July Missive (PDF format).

Personal Greeting

As someone told me a miraculous story of God pertaining to a spina bifida child (like Elizabeth), I was moved to consider had I ever witnessed a miracle of healing.  As I was contemplating this thought the Spirit quickly reminded me that I am a witness to miraculous healing every day – emotional, spiritual and physical.  I was most reminded of my own family and how God is working a miracle daily in the life of Daniel and Vuola and thus in all my family.  Psalm 77 tells us “You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among your people.” Verse 14.  God is working miracles daily in my life, in the life of my family, in the life of the ministry and on it goes.  Getting caught up in the challenges of day to day living I almost forgot to take note of what God is busy with in my midst.  Giving every day a chance it is my hearts desire to take inventory and to praise God for his love, faithfulness, and involvement in my life.  As you look at your own life may God manifest Himself in grace giving you a glimpse of what He does daily on your behalf.  I certainly never forget the miracle of 10.5 years in ministry that has been girded in prayer and finances from you.  A thank you is not enough but all I have.

What’s Next

• Changes are brewing as we consider how to best educate our high school children.  The Graham family visited a town about 4 hours from Arandis to consider overseeing a project that would include a boarding situation for 12 of our high school students in 2011.  Without education a cycle of poverty and all that goes with that will continue.  Before making a major decision like this we await clear direction from the Lord.
• Toivo’s future is still a big unknown.
• Jonathan has been placed in my official care the last weekend in June.  His future is unclear as we await a meeting with a social worker as well as an investigation into his home environment.  Turning three in just a few weeks he is the size of a 12 month old!
• Josephine arrived the 28^th of June for three months.  Her task will be to live and breath alongside of  Zuelery and Anna with a goal of making a positive mark on their lives.

Specific Needs

Jonathan was placed in my official care at the end of June.  He also spent some time with us last year.  May God grant us wisdom as a plan is determined for this little guy’s future. God knows our financial needs as a ministry – May we be patient as we await His plan to meet them.

In the coming year we have 12 children who will be attending 8-12^th grades.  We are searching a way to get the children into a quality academic situation – in the end we will have to set up a boarding situation in another town.  Your prayers that God will make His plan clear are appreciated.

Sylvia will be traveling extensively in July and August for a government project. May God grant her travel mercies. Sylvia and I are sitting on a task force developing minimum standards for foster care.  May God direct us!

Thanksgivings

• We are so grateful to the dedication of our volunteer staff members, Don B. and Amy M, who have completed the website for our partner USA organization, ‘His Promise Ministries”.  Please see His Promise Ministries. As you visit the site take the time to listen to and watch Amy’s video and audio.  She has captured the essence of who we are and what we do.  Thank you that you continue to partner with us as there is a great need and God is using you as an answer to that need.
• Personally, I am grateful that my Namibian adult children are on a path leading to Jesus!  We are grateful for an unexpected visit from a South African team who shared Christ with our children and for another such team who will come in July.
• Bartels Middle School in Tampa have been sending us boxes of library books for months now.  We are in awe of their commitment and love and in thanksgiving that our government is allowing the boxes to arrive at no charge to us!
• Vuola’s twin sister lost her long time partner to suicide in mid June.  As a family we are grateful that we could help Novuola and her daughter Cailey through the emotional drama of this loss.  They spent three weeks with us to regroup.

Personal Prayer Request

Lord, may my family be one that gives you praise and honor in all that we do. May our home be one that serves Him!    With love from Namibia, Brenda

Personal Greeting

Today is the day the  Lord has made.  I shall rejoice and be glad in it!!  I was given a book in May called, ‘Every Day deserves a Chance’ by Max Lucado.  By design or by default it, of course, was just the book I needed to read.  I have been taking a personal, spiritual inventory of attitudes such as gratitude, forgiveness, mercy, grace, love, hope and faith.  Reminded once again that this life is not about me but about the purpose for which I am on this earth!  Too many of my days have been about me!  Yesterday is gone, tomorrow not yet here and today is where I must live!  Being grateful for the blessings rather than grumbling about the short falls I am asking God for patience as I work on a new tune!  Over ten years I have been in Namibia and you have been a faithful and consistent partner in this ministry.  I can never express my gratitude sufficiently for your love, support and prayers over the years.  As summer approaches may God bless your activities and fellowship, one day at a time!

What’s Next

• School has restarted after a month long break and all students and teachers have returned. 
• Steve and Karrie returned so Irene and Mcshal are back with their family. 
• A new mommy has joined us…..someone we have known for a while. 
• Candace has decided to remain with us for a few more months.  She has done a very positive job with the children in her care. 
• Finding a way to adequately educate our public school children has become a priority. 
• Talks of recruiting more Namibians for key roles in our ministry have surfaced. 
• Sylvia has been requested to be part of another possible special task force dealing with the foster care possibilities in Namibia.
• Toivo is looking at an unsure future as he graduated from Windhoek International School’s IB program at the end of May.  He has not received a final word from two universities he is interested in so he is researching different options.  
• One of our long standing German sponsors is about to send their daughter to us for three months.  She will arrive at the end of June to assist us in the school while living with Likkie and her family. 
• God is pressing on Sylvia’s heart that He wants her to focus on healing, counseling, and uplifting of His children (of all ages).
• Change again is upon us as we look at our current positions as compared to what God has called us to be.

Specific Needs

We are asking God to show Toivo clearly what his next step is.  The fact that he has not had a rejection or an acceptance at Brown or Dartmouth leave these two doors open.  Additionally, there may be a possibility for a good paying temporary job for the next six months.  No clear cut options but lots of opportunity! 

The details of development of our new property for the school need to come into focus.  Ministry work continues with continuous joys and challenges.  Please pray that God will increase our faith and trust in Him while giving us courage to make changes where needed.  As we consider options for our children in public school may God direct our decision.  Looking ahead to the next twelve months for TKCA we must begin to consider our needs and how they can be met. 

Thanksgivings

• Toivo has completed his IB program at Windhoek International School.  Though his final results will not be out until July we are assured that all 13 students have passed.  As Toivo wrote on his facebook page, he is thankful for all those around the world who supported him with prayer and finances! 
• Pastor Darin and Casey Hayes from New Hampshire made the trip to Namibia to support Toivo at this time of transition! 
• Steve and Karrie Graham and family have arrived back in Arandis. 
• Caroline turned 21 in May, a milestone birthday in Namibia.  A celebration of her life so far and a blessing for that to come was part of the festivities in May.
• We praise God that our operational needs continue to be met each month.  Our partner organization in the US, His Promise Ministries, 1106 Old Mill Run, Deland, FL. 32720 and our partner in Germany, Kinder und Familienhilfe Namibia continue to accept financial donations on our behalf. 
• Our children who reconnected with their family during the school holiday have returned positive and upbeat having the opportunity.
• On a personal note, I praise God for the good work He has begun in Daniel and Vuola!  May they soon come to realize that their life is about His saving grace!!

Personal Prayer Request

Dear Lord, May I be a pattern for my children in my love, my faith and my clean thoughts.

With love, Brenda

”…I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision.” (Acts 26:19)  “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  My Father is glorified by this, that you bear fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” (John 15:7-8)NASB

This August, I will have been in Arandis, Namibia for five years. When I awoke that morning five years ago with the Lord’s voice resounding in my soul, “Ten years!” I had no idea how His plan would unfold.  For me the vision seemed simple, help start a school for the orphans and vulnerable children the Lord had placed in the care of Hope’s Promise Orphan Ministries Namibia.

The Lord’s plan is seldom simple or easy.  If it were, how would we learn to depend on Him and become the disciple He would have us be?  My prayer continues to be that the Lord will hold me close and that I will not let my vision stand in His way.

The ministry is now “Children of Promise Ministries”.  This change is a result of the ministry becoming based totally in Namibia.  You can visit the new website at www.childrenofpromiseministries.org.

Talitha Kumi Christian Academy

We had a successful first term.  The twenty-eight children in the primary school made excellent progress.  Miss Juliana, the second grade teacher and Miss Monica, the fourth grade teacher, proved to be loving and caring and their classes showed good progress.

It has been especially rewarding to see the progress the four children who are receiving the therapeutic horseback are making.  Each of the children has gained confidence.  Stefanus, one of my first graders, walks taller and straighter with a new confidence.

I was invited to an official meeting of the Ministry of Education last month.  This was an important step as it indicates that our provisional registration is recognized.  The meeting was with the deputy to the Minister of Education.  He was asking for suggestions as to how the educational process can be improved in Namibia.  Two of the salient points were smaller class sizes, currently classes range from 38 to 60 children in the elementary grades and the need for teaching all grades and subjects in English and then teaching first languages as a single subject.  If these two things were changed, it would have immediate and profound results.

There are several new mines around Arandis.  One of them is run by a French company, AREVA. They helped us out last year with sports equipment and computers.  They have come back to us and are considering helping us level and fence the land for the TKCA campus.  We are also praying for a sports field and building that would provide storage, restrooms and a hall for large group activities.  Please join us in prayer that ARIVA will catch our vision.

Volunteers

We are blessed to have Miss Claire back.  She flew in with her Mum who is stay most of a month.  Miss Claire will take over the third grade class for the rest of the year.

Miss Wendy and Uncle Red helped out in the library. Thanks to their efforts, we finally have a handle on the non-fiction section.  It is hard to believe how our little library has grown.  We have almost 3,000 books now! We have added several shelves to help relieve some of the crowding.

Bartels Middle School has been a great support.  Miss Debby, a volunteer from Tampa has involved the whole school in raising support for TKCA.  Each month, we receive two or three boxes filled with books and wonderful school supplies.  It is awesome how God works.

I am saddened that Team Zebra and the team from South Tampa Fellowship will not visit this summer.  These loving volunteers will be sorely missed.  We pray for all our friends and volunteers that they will have a rejuvenating summer and that we will see them again in years to come.

We look forward to the return of the Boca team in June and a team of friends from North Carolina in August.

Personal News

Miss Sandy is blessing Elizabeth and I with a trip to Cape Town in South Africa.  We will have ten days of travel and relaxation.  Auntie Sylvia has helped make all the arrangements and we are all excited to see more of this beautiful continent.

As the weather cools here we have more energy to get projects done that have been put off during the stifling hot days of summer.

Amazing Things

We have had heavy rains several nights in the last week.  There are actually puddles on Arandis streets.  When you live in a desert, you really appreciate rain!

Those of you who have visited my home, know that we see the sun rise out the front door and the sun set out the back.  Since my first days here, one of my joys has been watching the sun set behind three crosses that are on a low rocky hill behind my house.  A couple months ago the crosses disappeared.  We all noticed and were saddened by the disappearance.  Well yesterday morning they reappeared on the hill over night. It brought great joy to all of us.

We had a beautiful miracle this week.  We found a lone caterpillar on the lemon tree in the back yard.  We brought it in and it made a chrysalis and ten days later it emerged as a beautiful citrus swallowtail.  And I thought I had given up my butterflies when I moved to the desert!

Praise Report

• The two Namibian teachers, Miss Juliana and Miss Monica are doing a wonderful job.
• The Lord has provided loving Aunties for many of our children.

Prayer Requests

• That Penine’s pregnancy will go more smoothly.
• That Elizabeth will continue  to grow physically and spiritually in a way that brings glory to the Lord.
• That I rest in the Lord and remember at all times that He has it all under control.

Ministry Support Information

• Support A Child
• School Support
• Preschool Teacher Stipends
• Feeding Centers (E-Pap for pre-schools & Baby Formula)

Tax-deductible contributions can be made by credit card or electronic transfer via the website, Missionary Ventures International.

You may also mail a check to

Missionary Ventures International
P.O. Box 593550
Orlando, FL 32839-3550

Attach a note to checks designating the donation to HUGS and the ministry.

All donations to MVI are given with the understanding that the organization has full discretion over the processing and distribution of the funds.

If you have sponsored a child or would like to do so, send your check to

His Promise Ministries
1106 Old Mill Run
Deland, FL 32720.

Be sure and include your child’s name

Personal Greeting

“Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…”Hebrews 3.7-8a As happens from time to time as I live in a foreign land, I become disheartened and question God’s desire for my life.  These words from Hebrews spoke volumes to me this month as I struggled with my own desires and selfishness.  Yes, there are days that I think of a life in America similar to what I had “before”.  May the God of grace allow me to be a light for His kingdom in my daily living even when I “think” I should be somewhere else. Obedient to Him and His word is the ultimate goal of this journey called life!  Many blessings to you!

What’s Next

Three full weeks of school holiday are ahead of us!!  That means that Mommies have lots of time to help their children fill!  All of the children completed first term and have done well.  We are challenged to assist our children who are in the public school to achieve their best.  In the long run it would be in their best interest to get into private school or for us to be able to expand TKCA to include middle school and high school.  Our children that had to leave TKCA for public middle school are struggling on many levels.  Some of our children have been invited for the holiday and will travel to visit with family or extended family.

• Toivo graduates at the end of May.  We are grateful that his tuition only has an outstanding amount of $400US!  May God receive the glory for the grace shown on this young man’s life!  Two of Toivo’s friends are traveling to Namibia to be part of this step into his next phase of life’s journey!
• Our partner and volunteer staff member, Don, is working hard on our new website which can be found at: www.childrenofpromiseministries.org
• Ms. Claire returned to Arandis with her Mom so she will be here for the beginning of the second school term at the end of May. New designs for BOP/SOH are keeping many of our mommies busy!  Our mommies are blessed with creativity and perseverance which assists them in earning income while allowing us more product to sell in support of our children.  God is good!
• Sylvia will be hosting a training seminar on caring for orphans and vulnerable children during May.  We praise God for those folks who are interested in such an opportunity!  May God use Sylvia as a tool to share His heart and plan for His children!
• AREVA, a French owned uranium mine, is seriously considering our proposal to prepare our new school property for building!  A recent meeting encourages us to look forward to a positive response to our proposal!!

Specific Needs

Our need for tuition sponsors continues.  Each child attending TKCA needs tuition equivalent to $100US per month.  If anyone wants to contribute towards education please send your donation to His Promise Ministries, 1106 Old Mill Run, Deland, FL 32720.  Check memo should be marked TKCA Tuition, Namibia.  Being a forever foster parent is not an easy undertaking and it takes a specific kind of individual to love someone else’s children unconditionally.  All of our existing families have children of their own and they have taken in from one to six more to love and raise in a Godly fashion.  We pray for the day  that we will have a waiting list of parents to care for our children.  There is always an abundance of children who are in need. May God grant us wisdom as we have a number of children becoming teenagers.

Thanksgivings

We give God the glory that friends here and abroad continue to support this ministry in prayer, finances and as volunteers!!  Each month is another miracle as God provides for the operational needs of our ministry as well as caring for the needs of the foreign volunteers. Uncle Red and Ms. Wendy arrived in Arandis for a 3 week stay with us the beginning of April.   Once again, we called upon our foreign volunteers to step in as “parents” while a mommy attended a training in Windhoek for preschool teachers. Many of our children had a chance to visit family or extended family during holiday.  We are grateful for their opportunity.  Ms. Nan was invited to an official meeting held by the Ministry of Education which indicates to us that our registration will be forthcoming!!!   Ms.Sandy, Ms. Nan and Elizabeth will have a bit of a break during the May holiday while visiting Capetown! May God take care of all the details.

Personal Prayer Request

God has me on a path of growth that is not always easy to face.  May the Spirit that cries out on my behalf help me to keep my heart soft, my mind focused, my love pure and my dedication steadfast.  Our preparation is for what is yet to come! .

From Namibia with love, Brenda