Wow! The last couple months have really flown by! With outreaches and ministry to Gobabis, Omashete, Omaruru, and Swakopmund, we’ve managed to keep ourselves pretty busy here in Namibia!
(PHOTO 1) Sensei Koen prepares to do the “Atomic Karate Chop”
First let me say: I have to give some serious “HATS OFF” total respect to some of the short term missionaries that have come over to help us out. We had two guys from Holland come over – Koen and Philip and they traveled with me to do school assemblies in Omashete, Calkveld, Omaruru, and Swakopmund, as well as children’s services and youth outreaches. When they arrived, I guess they had picked up a serious flu in transit and were majorly sick after arriving; but they still kept the best attitude and were willing to struggle through sickness, tiredness, hunger, and heat to share the gospel with hundreds of kids.
You know it’s written, “It’s better to give than to receive.” And when it comes to sickness, this certainly is 100% true! As they were getting better, I got sick. Right when a cold
snap hit Omaruru the flu hit me. LL
The house we were staying in had no heat and so with the cold front it was very, very cold. Our first night in Omaruru I slept with 5 shirts on and two blankets. Even so, I would wake up shivering during the night and hardly slept. The next day we had to do school chapels and it was very difficult because I was feeling so sick. This was Thursday morning and afternoon, and then I had to do a children’s ministry training workshop on Thursday night.
Philip did a great job sharing on this nice, warm day. I stood back with a turtleneck, sweatshirt, and 2 t-shirts on and was still cold. I’m so glad these guys were able to step up! That night I hit the sack with 5 shirts, two blankets, added a sleeping bag, and also wore my jacket. You’d think one would be hot with all that on, but because of fever, I still was cold. Exhaustion arrived with Friday morning and then it was time for the first school assembly at the city’s high school at 7am (yes,
school starts too early here!). By the grace of God, it went really well.
(PHOTO 2)
We then were scheduled to do another assembly at a primary school. Because of a scheduling mishap we had the opportunity to not do that assembly, but to rest instead. I really felt like sleeping, exhausted like Apostle Peter after a night of fishing, but at the same time I felt the tug of the Holy Spirit to minister to those kids in that rural country school. So, even though (and ashamedly I say this!) I was just saying, “Oh praise God we get to rest now!” I changed my tune and like the Peter said, “Nevertheless, at Thy Word…” and we did the school assembly.
We’re wearing yellow because in talking about following the voice of the One who loves you, we are using all sorts of illustrations with Bananas. By the way, Pastor Judy Mensch’s song, “I like Bananas” is now being sung all over this country.
“I like Bananas, but Mangos are sweet, I like Papayas, but
nothing can beat, the sweet love of God, do do wop, do do wop….”
Every time I drive through a city we’ve done school assemblies in, when the kids see our yellow Speed the Light Pickup they yell and sing….. “I LIKE BANANAS!!!”
(PHOTO 3)
Another one of our Missionary Associates who helped me a lot in outreaches is Joshua Cameron. This guy takes abuse like a saint!!! He traveled over 20 hours to get here from Arizona, and then once he arrived, we went straight from the airport to Gobabis, near the Botswana border to do an outreach.
He was so tired and when we finally got in that night I said, “Bro, it’s a good thing the first couple days are all adrenaline, ‘cause you’re gonna need it!”
“Tomorrow we have three school assemblies, the first one starting at 7am in the morning which means we have to be there by about 6:30 to set up. Then in the evening we have a big youth rally.”
Josh braces himself to be pounded by 25 girls bearing down on him with a giant soccer ball. That poor guy!!!“I hope you have A LOT OF adrenaline, because tomorrow’s just the warm up! The day after tomorrow, kids from the school assemblies are going to come out to a massive FUN DAY we’re doing Saturday and THAT’S gonna be the REAL KILLER!!”
(PHOTO 4)
Have you ever gotten one of those, “You CANNOT be serious” looks? Well, if ever there was one, it was on Josh’s face, but he was a real trooper. He lasted the whole day for the school assemblies, and the next day, even though we were expecting 150 kids and 350 showed up and it about killed us, he never complained. The whole time he was here, no matter how much abuse he suffered, not one peep of complaint. Have you ever heard of “Tug o’ War?” Well, we played, “Tug o’ Josh” with two kids on one side of him and two kids on the other side of him, pulling ropes that were attached to his hands,
We were expecting about 150 kids. 350 showed up!!! That was a lot for two guys and a couple teenagers!trying to pull him to their side.
(PHOTO 5) Tug ‘O Josh!!! Once again, the big guy takes one for the team!
Fortunately the cords we were using tore, instead of Josh’s rotator cuff and the game ended; but all that to say that Josh is one more example of how the grace of God can really touch lives if we endure hardship with a good attitude. The payoff was: each time I would preach, when I asked Josh to share his testimony, it would bring people to tears and so many lives were powerfully touched.
In one last final note, I have to sincerely thank my mom. When she heard about how I was really having a difficult time with the cold she bought me some “Under Armour” clothes to keep me warm. Those bad boys are expensive! And then the shipping! Thanks Mom. J
Color us the colors of Jesus, Lord
Paint me a picture of righteousness.
Erase the scribbles of poor choices made
As you make all things new.
Color us the colors of Jesus, Lord
Gently in love Heaven’s brushes glide.
Compassion and kindness embrace
Weaving grace and truth with love.
-markEmail: mark.gardner@agmd.org
USA snailmail address: Africa Address:
2609 Tyson Ave P.O. Box 2554
Tifton, GA 31794 Swakopmund, Namibia
Donations may be sent to:
A/G World Missions, Account # 2493930
1445 N. Boonville Ave, Springfield, MO 65802-1894
(PHOTO 1) Sensei Koen prepares to do the “Atomic Karate Chop”
First let me say: I have to give some serious “HATS OFF” total respect to some of the short term missionaries that have come over to help us out. We had two guys from Holland come over – Koen and Philip and they traveled with me to do school assemblies in Omashete, Calkveld, Omaruru, and Swakopmund, as well as children’s services and youth outreaches. When they arrived, I guess they had picked up a serious flu in transit and were majorly sick after arriving; but they still kept the best attitude and were willing to struggle through sickness, tiredness, hunger, and heat to share the gospel with hundreds of kids.
You know it’s written, “It’s better to give than to receive.” And when it comes to sickness, this certainly is 100% true! As they were getting better, I got sick. Right when a cold
snap hit Omaruru the flu hit me. LL
The house we were staying in had no heat and so with the cold front it was very, very cold. Our first night in Omaruru I slept with 5 shirts on and two blankets. Even so, I would wake up shivering during the night and hardly slept. The next day we had to do school chapels and it was very difficult because I was feeling so sick. This was Thursday morning and afternoon, and then I had to do a children’s ministry training workshop on Thursday night.
Philip did a great job sharing on this nice, warm day. I stood back with a turtleneck, sweatshirt, and 2 t-shirts on and was still cold. I’m so glad these guys were able to step up! That night I hit the sack with 5 shirts, two blankets, added a sleeping bag, and also wore my jacket. You’d think one would be hot with all that on, but because of fever, I still was cold. Exhaustion arrived with Friday morning and then it was time for the first school assembly at the city’s high school at 7am (yes,
school starts too early here!). By the grace of God, it went really well.
(PHOTO 2)
We then were scheduled to do another assembly at a primary school. Because of a scheduling mishap we had the opportunity to not do that assembly, but to rest instead. I really felt like sleeping, exhausted like Apostle Peter after a night of fishing, but at the same time I felt the tug of the Holy Spirit to minister to those kids in that rural country school. So, even though (and ashamedly I say this!) I was just saying, “Oh praise God we get to rest now!” I changed my tune and like the Peter said, “Nevertheless, at Thy Word…” and we did the school assembly.
We’re wearing yellow because in talking about following the voice of the One who loves you, we are using all sorts of illustrations with Bananas. By the way, Pastor Judy Mensch’s song, “I like Bananas” is now being sung all over this country.
“I like Bananas, but Mangos are sweet, I like Papayas, but
nothing can beat, the sweet love of God, do do wop, do do wop….”
Every time I drive through a city we’ve done school assemblies in, when the kids see our yellow Speed the Light Pickup they yell and sing….. “I LIKE BANANAS!!!”
(PHOTO 3)
Another one of our Missionary Associates who helped me a lot in outreaches is Joshua Cameron. This guy takes abuse like a saint!!! He traveled over 20 hours to get here from Arizona, and then once he arrived, we went straight from the airport to Gobabis, near the Botswana border to do an outreach.
He was so tired and when we finally got in that night I said, “Bro, it’s a good thing the first couple days are all adrenaline, ‘cause you’re gonna need it!”
“Tomorrow we have three school assemblies, the first one starting at 7am in the morning which means we have to be there by about 6:30 to set up. Then in the evening we have a big youth rally.”
Josh braces himself to be pounded by 25 girls bearing down on him with a giant soccer ball. That poor guy!!!“I hope you have A LOT OF adrenaline, because tomorrow’s just the warm up! The day after tomorrow, kids from the school assemblies are going to come out to a massive FUN DAY we’re doing Saturday and THAT’S gonna be the REAL KILLER!!”
(PHOTO 4)
Have you ever gotten one of those, “You CANNOT be serious” looks? Well, if ever there was one, it was on Josh’s face, but he was a real trooper. He lasted the whole day for the school assemblies, and the next day, even though we were expecting 150 kids and 350 showed up and it about killed us, he never complained. The whole time he was here, no matter how much abuse he suffered, not one peep of complaint. Have you ever heard of “Tug o’ War?” Well, we played, “Tug o’ Josh” with two kids on one side of him and two kids on the other side of him, pulling ropes that were attached to his hands,
We were expecting about 150 kids. 350 showed up!!! That was a lot for two guys and a couple teenagers!trying to pull him to their side.
(PHOTO 5) Tug ‘O Josh!!! Once again, the big guy takes one for the team!
Fortunately the cords we were using tore, instead of Josh’s rotator cuff and the game ended; but all that to say that Josh is one more example of how the grace of God can really touch lives if we endure hardship with a good attitude. The payoff was: each time I would preach, when I asked Josh to share his testimony, it would bring people to tears and so many lives were powerfully touched.
In one last final note, I have to sincerely thank my mom. When she heard about how I was really having a difficult time with the cold she bought me some “Under Armour” clothes to keep me warm. Those bad boys are expensive! And then the shipping! Thanks Mom. J
Color us the colors of Jesus, Lord
Paint me a picture of righteousness.
Erase the scribbles of poor choices made
As you make all things new.
Color us the colors of Jesus, Lord
Gently in love Heaven’s brushes glide.
Compassion and kindness embrace
Weaving grace and truth with love.
-markEmail: mark.gardner@agmd.org
USA snailmail address: Africa Address:
2609 Tyson Ave P.O. Box 2554
Tifton, GA 31794 Swakopmund, Namibia
Donations may be sent to:
A/G World Missions, Account # 2493930
1445 N. Boonville Ave, Springfield, MO 65802-1894
