Tangible Grace in Namibia

Experience Mission sends IMMERSION teams to many of the same locations in order to build a relationship with the community and community partners. We were one of many teams that had traveled to the cities and towns we went to in South Africa and Lesotho, but EM had yet to enter Swakopmund, Namibia. And the 11 of us were wholly unaware of what our time there would hold.

Our first week in Namibia mirrored our first week in Africa. Waiting, learning, seeking, hoping, waiting. And unknowingly, my super-planning self gave way to a woman at peace with waiting. (Although walks along the beach, climbs up the world's largest sand dune, and rides on a camel aren't the hardest of conditions.)

I found myself getting the same question I asked every day at the very beginning of the trip, "What are we going to do today?"

And responding with a newly content, "I'm not sure yet."

But just before we began to question if we were much more than tourists… we met Moses and Maria.

Moses and Maria were new to the township and, through faithful eyes, saw a need for a daycare. When parents within the township of Mondesa would go to work in the morning, they had no choice but to leave their children without supervision. With help from a local church community, Moses and Maria acquired all the supplies they needed to start the daycare, but were entirely short-handed to make the vision a reality.

We had 11 eager pairs of hands.

Moses and Maria and their two daughters, Anastasia and Anna Marie, are just made of gold, refined by fire. And they shine, polished by a perfect Creator.

Maria loves to play and teach children. She was fashioned for such a time, for such a need as this. She rises fearlessly to every occasion. Moses knows Jesus intimately. His prayers bring me to tears. He reveals the presence of Jesus. Anastasia is sassy and bold. Anna Marie is silly and subdued.

They were so overjoyed to have the manpower to complete the project they had so prayed for. I am certain they worked harder than me every single day. Some days were tedious, but you could hardly get Moses to stop. Even in the smallest projects, Maria wanted to be involved.

But the sweetest part was getting to return to the completed daycare only days after finishing. The shipping-container-turned-“Good Samaritan Day Care and Pre-Primary" was spilling over with children. Maria used the first money she made to buy tiny chairs for the children to sit in while she taught. She is eternally selfless. She excitedly had the children recite the days of the week, colors of the rainbow, and letters of the alphabet.

Moses and Maria waited. The shipping container sat outside their tiny home for weeks before we ever came to Namibia. They couldn't have expected us. We could have never imagined them. And yet, our two paths merged for three short weeks.

Waiting justified, prayers answered, and silly hearts full of gladness rejoicing. I could hardly think up a more tangible grace.

You must have a group size of at least 6 members to join this trip. Please view the Small Team trips or call our Servicing Department for more options at 888-475-6414.

View Small Team Trips

For most trips, you must have a group size of at least 6 members. Please view the Small Teams tab on each Community page or call our Servicing Department for more options at 888-475-6414.