Darin's Journal
Darin's Journal - 7-16-05 - 2:00 AM
We just returned from the final debrief. The dancers performed for the biggest audience they have ever performed for and it was their most important performance. It was very emotional for the girls. Many tears flowed, especially as the seniors realized this could be their last dance with Melissa Hoffman Dancers and that it was their last dance with the G.O. Team.
We said goodbye to the kids in Vyf Rand today. It was very difficult as we realized, for many of these kids, this was the last time we would see them. Most of our dancers found the kids they had become close to within the last two weeks. Rebecca Waitt’s young friend, however, did not come today and so Rebecca was especially heart struck, as the child she had become close to wasn’t there for her to say goodbye.
As we prepare to leave, we’re considering what the future looks like. If there are ways we can leave blessings behind for these children or if there are ways we can bless them again in the future. Many of the girls are talking about their next trip to Namibia already.
Some of the team is staying up all night to climb Monkey Mountain to watch the sunrise. I, however, will be going to sleep momentarily. Our flight is schedule to leave 12 hours from right now and my hope is to get everybody packed and ready to go for our journey home by 10 o’clock this morning. So this will be my last journal entry until we are on our way home.
Thank you for your continued prayers. We anticipate seeing all of you about midnight on Sunday night.
Every beginning has an end
Hey all, well we made it back alive and we all got to see some awesome creation. My personal favorite was the leopard, the first I've seen in 4 trips to Etosha. It was such a beautiful creature, even though it was too far away to get a great view. The five who joined my car in the afternoon were also incredibly excited to be the only group to see lions! That's right, two male lions lying in the shade less than 20 yards from our car. Our elephant encounters were quite an exciting highlight as well, but you'll have to wait for the pictures to see how close those were. :)
Well, as promised I stole away for a few hours to work on a new video and I'm sure it won't disappoint. This one's a dance video with footage from a bunch of the shows and other opportunities to teach kids. For all those interested in Mpampo team footage, sorry, I travel with the dance team so that's the video I have. Plus dancing makes for better video footage than wielding chainsaws and cutting down trees. :) Also, again it's a Windows Media File so Mac users, find a PC. Ok, here it is...Enjoy!
Well, this will probably be my last chance to post from Africa. I must say it's been a heck of an adventure and I will be sorry to leave. Fortunately, the relationships built on this trip don't end when we step off the plane in Boston. I've really been coming to see this whole trip as a promising beginning rather than an end. Thanks so much for all your prayers and support on this trip. Thanks, dance parents, for lending us your daughters. It's been incredible experiencing this whole trip with them and watching them grow through it all. I'm excited to see what will come of the impact this trip has made on their lives. Signing off from Africa,
mike
ps. Jaimie wanted me to send out a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to her dad. Know that she's thinking of you!
What a long, strange trip it's been...
Well, it's been an exciting journey and I am really sad to see it coming to an end. It appears that Darin will not be leaving me here so I will be traveling back with the team tomorrow. This trip has been a completely different experience from any other and one we will not soon forget (although, the other three trips that I have experienced also will forever be etched in my memory).
I've gone on an actual African safari where we brought home dinner... I learned how to shoot a gun (not that I am very good at it) and actually shot a bird that we intended to eat, but got busy and Richard forgot about it on the brie... Thank God... I didn't really want to eat it... let alone did I ever think I would actually hit it when I shot at it.
With the trip to Swakopmund, I have finally seen (and climbed) the one thing that I have always wanted to... even before I knew where Namibia was or that I would ever actually go there.
I went to the local hospital where I met a man that had just suffered a stroke two days before. If it had happened in the beginning of my trip I would've been back daily in order to give him physical therepy... I told him about my dad's experience with his stoke and tried to give him hope, but I know that it will be difficult for him since the chances of receiving physical therapy are slim.
A few things that I have never experienced before In Etosha included a pack of hyena eating the fresh carion of a mother giraffe. A few hours later I watched as a leopard was eating the same carion as the baby giraffe stood next to it's mother. In the afternoon I saw a baby white rhino that we came pretty close to taking home for Steph L.'s new pet.
I met some spectacular girls and really hope to see them more often, but I know once we arrive back in the states we will again go back to our busy lives... cherishing the times that we spent as a family.
Again I will be leaving another piece of my heart here... too many more trips and I will not have a heart to go home. Especially since the Morsbachs make it harder and harder each time I go...
Goodnight From Etosha
Darin's Journal 7-15-05 - 12:05 AM
The second half of our debrief went very well. Tonight we focused on the coincidences of our circumstances. Our water hole group reconvened, shared a beer, and once again had a deep discussion about our experiences. So now I go to bed tonight, planning what will be the final stage of debrief tomorrow. This one event the dancers will never forget.
I’ve told them nothing about it other than this will be the biggest dance performance of their lives. I can’t wait for them to experience it first hand.
Great connection tonight with Diandre, Stephanie Livsey, Kara and Sam.
Thank you Lord.
Goodnight.
Preparing For Supper
Darin's Journal - 7-14-05 - 5:45 PM
Great day at Etosha with a leopard spotting and many close encounters with zebra, elephants and giraffe. My comvee enjoyed a special connection with a white rhino, thanks in part to Stephanie Livsey’s rhino call ability.
Planning for debrief part two. I’m planning to continue where I left off last night. Last night we talked about the coincidences of relationships, tonight we will talk about the coincidences of our circumstances together.
Etosha Day One
Darin's Journal 7-14-05 - 7:00 AM
Thank you Lord for a good first day of debrief. Our arrival at Etosha came early enough to allow us a short run outside the fences before dark and we had a personal encounter with a number of giraffes. Mike’s comvee was treated to a personal encounter with an elephant. In my comvee, on the way to Etosha, we spent a lot of time talking about Psalm 19 and the way God reveals himself in creation. And then, when we arrived, we were touched by the sights all the more.
The first part of our debrief went well, I think. The song time seemed extra special to me. Everyone really participated and for Dave, Mike, Jason and myself, singing worship music is a real anchor.
My leaders seem to be strong again and the effect across the team is obvious. Tears flowed numerous times during our debrief as we considered the coincidence of our new relationships with one another. Six months ago we didn’t know each other. And now many of us have grown to love one another and trust one another in deeper ways than we could have imagined.
Now, here we go, we are going home. Why would God do this to us?
A couple of the dancers don’t want to go home. It’s not a reflection of life at home but rather the results of their experience, joined close to one another here. Lord, will you ease this transition for us all?
The night ended with many up late at the watering holes. Most at THE watering hole looking for animals while myself, Nate, Dave, Kara and Becca (eighteen is legal in Namibia!) sharing a beer at the other watering hole, talking about how profound our experience has been.
Etosha here we come!!
Hey Everyone, it's been a while since I've been over to the internet cafe but here I am so you can be sure that means more exciting media for you to view. I'm still working on another video so maybe up in Etosha I'll catch some time to finish it up. But we did get some more pics up on in the photo gallery of our time down in Rehoboth so be sure to check that out.
Well we head up to Etosha today. Darin assured me that he had a long talk with God this morning about all the animals He's gonna show us tomorrow. :) We're all pretty excited but at the same time a little disappointed because we know this means our trip is almost over. Dieter was right, the dust mixes with your blood and you just can't stay away. So many of the first timers have just fallen in love with Africa and it will be quite the tear fest during our final debrief this Friday I'm sure. Please continue your prayers while we're in Etosha, that it will be a good time of reflection on all that we've learned and experienced and that God will keep us all safe from charging elephants. ;) We won't be able to make posts from Etosha so don't be surprised if you don't hear from us for a few days. But we will try to get on at least once more before we head to the airport on Saturday morning. Thanks for your faithful prayers. Hope you enjoy the pics.
ps. In case you were wondering, all the late nights and early mornings had finally caught up with me so I just had one of those over-tired, easily irritable days. Fortunately, a little alone time and an afternoon nap yesterday were a welcome cure.
Darin's Journal
Darin's Journal 7-12-05 - 4:30pm
Thank you Lord for the last 24 hours, chock full of experiences - some real highlights, others I'd just as soon forget. First the good stuff: Samantha! We began the day at the Kolin Secondary School in Arandis doing a full school program. We were greeted by more than 500 students and a staff that was very much in agreement with the message of sexual purity being presented to their students. This would be the first (and may well be the only) school program where we were on our own to do all the speaking as well as dance. I agreed to be the sex talk guy much to Mike's approval. I asked the dancers if anyone would be willing to step up and speak of their commitment to sexual purity as a testimony, thinking it would mean so much more to students coming from a peer. Sam Kacos agreed to speak. The dancers finished their initial numbers and I stepped out into the crowd with the microphone to talk about why we have come to Namibia. Aside from totally grossing out my daughters talking about my sexual faithfulness to my wife and hers to me, I think the talk went alright. When I finished I introduced Sam, and you could have heard a pin drop as every student fixed upon her every word. She spoke for several minutes about the importance of using your body in a God honoring and healthy way, like dancing and studying, and she spoke of her decision to wait sexually. She spoke of dreams being relaized like graduating and going to college. She spoke of the power of just one person making a decision for purity, and how that decision can be multiplied to save an entire generation.
Being a preacher I've heard many powerful talks/messages/sermons... Sam blessed me with her words like nothing I can remember. I had trouble seeing her thru my tears as she spoke. And, the final kicker was the principal of the school following up with her own admonition: "The message of this day for boys is - boys, put your toys away! And for girls - guard your virginity, you are worth waiting for."
We visited the beach and sand dunes, but honestly I could not get Sam's willingness to talk out of my mind all day. Even as I type tears fill my eyes thinking about it. I recognize family and friends back home can say this was simply Sam at her best. I know it was more - the Lord ministered powerfully thru her because she was willing and available to Him.
The day at the beach was a nice respite until we realized that Jaclyn had lost her passport. Our leaders sprung into action to cover all the necessary steps. Our drive home, for me, was filled with thoughts of what to do next? Could I spend the day in Windhoek at the Embassy working this out? Dispatch Germaine to do it? Have it worked on stateside? With the Etosha trip coming in 24 hours, would we have enough time, or would I need to send the team to Etosha without me.
My van on the way home was inspiring. My crew is Steph L. (shotgun), Sam, Becca, Kara, Sandy, Germaine and me. Our conversations over the three plus hour ride were awesome. We shared. We read a number of Psalms to each other. It was a blessing to me. When we returned to Dieter's however, the bottom seemed to drop out for me and some of my leaders.
Mike hasn't told me what it was yet, but something about his last 24 hours and ride home had troubled him. It was evident around the fire. I think the fireside time was discouraging to me. I won't get into my theories here and now, but suffice to say this has been my challenging time thus far. I'll hope we can rebound a bit. Lord, help???
Today dawned with a pick-us-up. Dieter had scheduled the girls to dance one number with YFC at a local school at 8am. Realizing how tired my team was, and how spiritually and emotionally drained my leaders are, I asked him to cancel. At 7am while I was sitting by the fire reading Psalms (trying to recapture some of yesterday's glory) Dieter approached and said he had considered cancelling but would rather go and dance himself than let the students down. At that point he asked if he could challenge Sandi. Sandi responded... she slid into one of the girls' leotards and went to the school to dance. She danced to Jaclyn's solo song "Nowhere to lay my Head" - a song about Jesus... and the few of us who saw it will never forget it, once again thru tears! Video was taken, we'll see if it is usable later.
Afterwards Dieter and I prayed this morning for nothing short of a miracle to work this passport issue out. We began making calls to the Embassy and to the appropriate offices when we decided to call the Swakupmond police and inquire one more time of them. The watch commander called us back in a hallf hour... holding Jaclyn's passport in his hand. Praise God! The bad news is that we would need to go back to Swakup to get it. Enter Nate's team... they hadn't had a chance to go to the coast, so... as I type this they are already on their way back, passport in hand.
And, just to round out the 24 hours, I took seven of the girls with me on an errand to Windhoek today and greatly enjoyed their company. I am really growing to love these kids.
Maybe that is part of my blue mood today... the realization that I am really loving these kids and we are just a few days away from parting ways, back into the world that awaits us. So again, I pray - Lord help me. So folks at home reading this: pray for me. I need to finish this trip strong for your kids. "Whine when I get home", needs to be my motto now. For some reason this one is harder on me than I expected or that I've experienced before. And pray also for my leaders. I see it in them too. We will all need a fresh wind. And the good news is, we all know the Source of that fresh wind, and He will not disappoint.
From Darin to Shari... good to talk to you last night and this afternoon. As you discerned, I needed it. So, a few more hours and I point 'Roadkill' north to go and stalk the animal kingdom. I'll be thinking of you watching that Etosha sunset. Love you more.
From Daddy to Becky and Emily... thanks for caring for Mom. I love you both and will see you very soon, gifts in hand. And don't get too comfortable in my bed!
To Melissa... thanks for your word of thanks re: Jaclyn. You know I think the world of your daughter, but these couple of little trials that have befallen her have given me the opportunity to see her in a whole new way... and love her even more. I wish you'd have seen how funny she looked in my sweatshirt! We'll get her home... passport and all!
Lastly to Mike... who will see this at some point... WHAT A HOOT! Thanks for sharing the ups and downs of this thing with me.
Darin's Journal
Darin's Journal 7/10/05 - 7am
Thank you Lord for the blessings of our time in Rehoboth! The team got some needed downtime, for that I am very glad. The girls have not complained, but aches and pains are pretty consistent across the team. We also sense a general fatigue across the team.
The time in Block E was enjoyed by a smaller group, we left a handful of girls napping in the bungalo. The children were so happy to see us, and as usual, the games, songs and dances pleased them all. At one point we had a brief encounter with a drunk man who arrived asking to join in the games, saying that he had fathered almost all of these children. Mike was able to talk to the man away from the children and he eventually left, and Dave did not need to 'break him'.
The evening performance was amazing. The girls were awesome and the crowd was very happy to see the girls perform. Jaclyn had been comlaining of an upset stomach before the show and opted out of the second half. Amanda and Michelle took their trio to a duet - and amazed me. I decided to take Jaclyn back to the Spa so I missed the end of the show, but know that HPOM was thrilled! The event made a lot of money, assisting the orphan children and their foster families with many needs. Thank you Lord that by bedtime, Jaclyn was feeling fine again - another example of these kinds of tummy problems so common on these trips - gone in a matter of hours.
No conversations last night... people (read ME) really just wanted to go to sleep. As I did go to sleep I wrestled with my own sadness that this trip is going fast, and I hate to see this season of our involvement with the kids end. Oh well, such is life - and God has many rich plans for these girls in the future. I cannot wait to see.
Darin's Journal
Darin's Journal 7/09/05 - 6:45am
Greetings from Rehoboth. It is cold here. As I write this morning I am wearing everything I brought south... and wishing I had the rest of my clothes that are at Dieters. At the moment I see Mike is up praying a few hundred yards away on a picnic table. I think everyone else is sleeping in. Well deserved.
Apparently while we were in Windhoek yesterday (stopped there on the way to Rehoboth) some stranger on a street corner asked a group of our girls, "Are you born again?" The question has turned into deep discussion throughout our team. I keep telling people, "look it up" in John 3. We'll see where that goes. I wish I'd have had the lady ask me. (CCA folks know how much fun that would be!)
We arrived last night at the Spa and enjoyed a marvelous dinner at the Oahan Dam Resort. Springbok was the main attraction - and WOW it was good. I can see why lions like them so much. I thoroughly enjoyed the time with Brenda and Sylvia, who we invited to join us for the meal. Catching up was fun.
After our meal we retreated to the Spa, where most of the team took a plunge and enjoyed. Getting out of the hot water into the cold air made for some silly moments. At our debrief we read the comments from home parents and friends have posted. MANY LAUGHS. Few tears. All the way on the other side of the world, we're still so very close to those at home praying for us and thinking about us. Most hit the sack... a few stayed up and talked. I spent some more quality time talking with Diandre and Carli. These young women amaze me. They really are the future. Thank you Lord for wonderful conversations like these. I never cease to be amazed on these trips - the conversations we share could easily have been shared at home, but you just know they wouldn't. Something about being so out of the ordinary.
Breakfast is needing to be prepared. Mike got eggs but no bacon. What is wrong with that man? Samantha is planning to make omlettes for us. The plan for the day is to spend some time in Block E - the poorest section of Rehoboth playing with children, and then to do the fund raiser tonight.
Dust In The Wind
Today was an early day... up by 6:15am and out by 6:45am. The girls were extremely tired, but troopers none the less. They have really impressed me with their devotion and lack of complaining. They had a wonderful program at the Kolin Foundation Secondary School. The girls danced and Darin and Sam gave messages on sexual purity. They were both spectacluar and said exactly what the kids (as well as the teachers) needed to hear.
Then we were off to Swakopmund where we climbed a HUGE sand dune... and the wind was blowing hard... but the climb to the top gave us the most rewarding view... If I had my laptop at this moment I would love to share some pics... but that will come tomorrow. (I have finally seen the one thing I have wanted to see the most in Namibia & to prove it I have sand in places I never could've imagined). After that we were off to the beach... & yes the water is as cold here as in New Hampshire... brrrr....
In a few moments we will ne traveling back home to Dieter & Joan's to join the rest of the team where we will have a brie and get our camp fire fix again...
Tomorrow the girls have a couple more schools to visit... I can not wait to see what God has planned next!!
On The Road Again
Well... It's been an intensive weekend... Friday we traveled to Rehoboth where the girls had a spectacular performance on Saturday evening where they danced their hearts out at the town hall. Hope's Promise sold over 900 tickets, the audience was not that big, but the hall was quite full. They encored the tap dancers which has been a HUGE hit when it's been performed. Sunday we had our own personal church service at the Reho Spa where our Namibia Worship Band played and Sylvia gave a wonderful message that touched our hearts. Then we were off to Arandis.We arrived in Arandis with an hour until the "show". The girls danced in an outdoor amphi-theater. Mike & Sumner played a few songs and then Darin shared a message about why we are here. It was like they were a bunch of rock stars... we needed to rush the girls off to a secret location since the crowd gathered at our hotel. Currently we are at the Knights for dinner and then tomorrow morning at 7:00am the girls will be performing at the secondary school here in Arandis, so I need to make this a quick post. After that we will drive a half hour to Swakopmund to see the coast and should be back home to Joan & Dieter's in the afternoon.
