Update from Team Arandis/Rehoboth
Wednesday after 9 AM
We've left Dieter's and I am typing this as we drive out to Arandis, and still trying to perform the duties of shotgun - telling Darin "left" and lookout for animals that might be trying to venture across the road at approximately the same time that we are passing by.
Last night, we had our 4th of July celebration in the form of our own little parade, to the surprise of the others sitting around the camp fire at about 10:30 PM. With Dave and Darin manning drums, Shari at flute, Amanda, Brian, Jackie and me manning little flags and sparklers, we marched from around the corner with our little fife and drum band to the traditional tune of "Yankee Doodle Dandy". It was a great hit and with the others from the fire now included, our parade continued from the camp fire and under the eating area to the parking area. It was a great ending to an emotional rollercoaster of a day.
Earlier, we had visited a cemetary in Okahandja and veteran G.O. team members have visited in prior years. This year, however, it was nearly full and for some of our team, it was difficult to hold back their tears. Some grave markers were as recent as last month and there were four open graves. As a first time visitor to the cemetary, the experience was a somber and sorrowful one, especially when coming upon the mounds and mounds of infant graves. One of additional feelings I had was a sense of guilt for not having the same level of sorrow as I know Darin, Amanda, Lisa and Jesse who have watched this place fill. The other was a sense of "forgotten" for the many of the older graves that were now mounds of weeds.
We then drove through Vyf Rand but did not stop to play with any of the children because of the kids clubs that were going on with the other mission group from Florida. We hope to be able to return on Monday to spend a couple of hours with the children there and maybe even connect with some of the same children who the dancers connected with last year. We were able to visit another squatter's camp in Nau-Aib. This would also be the location of the bands third performance Tuesday night. The bands 3rd performance was under a Judea Harvest Tent set up in the tin-shack community.
After parking at the tent we all walked over to the soccer field across the street and slowly the children began to converge on the field. With soccer balls, frisbies and bubbles we all provided an hour or so of dance, fun and love for these children. One particular image that I will forever have etched in my memory will be of our teams and the children of the neighborhood playing soccer in the dust of the soccer field with a beautiful Namibian sunset as its backdrop.
I think I now know what if feels like here in Namibia when Darin says, "God showed up!"
As darkness fell and the and the band's show was soon to start, like Pied Pipers, our teams and the camp's children hand-in-hand walked back to the tent to listen to another utterly fantastic night of great and glorious music. Leaving was hard for many of the team members after having really bonded and connected with many of the children they had held, hugged, danced with and made the center of their little world for the last 2-3 hours. This leaving behind is something that we were told in advance would be the hardest things we do during this trip.
posted by Don @ 2:05 AM
