News of a New Adventure

In four months I’ll be moving and then starting a 1^st grade teaching post in Kuwait. It’s sure to be an adventure that I won’t fully comprehend until it begins! Even though I have known for a few months that I’ll be heading overseas, I still struggle with pinning down my emotions. I know it is a natural process to feel both excitement, and nervousness (a lot) when starting anything new, but I must admit, moving to Kuwait is still a bit jarring.

As I transition to living far away from friends and family, I know there will be hardships. I know there are many unknowns… What will I miss? Will I be able to stay connected with the people I care about? What will things be like when I come back?

I’m comforted in knowing that I am surrounded with wonderful people! People that are completely supportive in all I do. One of the biggest examples of this is here – with Empowering Learners. Nothing that Empowering Learners has accomplished would have happened without the support of people that care. It’s because of each and every one of you that we are in our third year, and continuing to partner with our friends in Namibia to support learners with more opportunities.

As I look forward to my future time in Kuwait I’m absolutely pumped by what a great (yet unknown) opportunity it will be. I know that as I grow in my new role, Empowering Learners will thrive as well. As I continue to spend more and more time in the education world I continually notice similar mindsets. We all try to take steps forward. We all strive to get better. We all embrace new ideas, and we all invest in each other.

I know I’ll bring that approach to teaching wherever I go, and I’ll continually be sustained by the love and support the whole Empowering Learners family radiates. For all that you’ve done for me, thank you!

It means more than you know. 

A Time Before Freedom

In the course of any Empowering Learners presentation, we always dedicate a good portion of time introducing listeners to the “Young Nation of Namibia.”   

Namibia gained freedom in 1990.  Not long ago at all.  And for some of us who attended an ELCA college in the 1980’s we remember that Namibian students were present with us on our college campuses.  They were here because the Lutheran Church pulled them up and out of a war-torn country – allowing them to study, earn an undergraduate degree, and not risk being killed or conscripted to fight.  This is a wonderful story of 100 scholars who came to learn at our colleges, which we’ll write more about in the future.

For now this is a brief first message about a time before freedom. 

Namibians are forgiving people.  They look forward.  In our visits with our friends – especially with our friends in the North – our friends are hesitant to talk about the past.  If you ask about this time before freedom, or the “struggle” which we all know is polite language for “war,” or the earlier time of oppression by South Africa, our Namibian friends usually respond saying something like “that was a very sad time.  Many brothers and sisters died.  We gained our freedom and we are grateful.  Now we look forward.”   

Whenever I hear these responses I feel slightly deprived, since I want to learn more, first hand, about this slice of history which has gone woefully untold in the world.  (I continue to read about this time, and I think perhaps we should start a bibliography on this site, for any of you who also wish to read more.)

One day last summer during our journey, we were in the company of Nampa Nengola, our Luther alumna, visiting and reminiscing in her home with her lovely family.  We had enjoyed a wonderful meal and terrific company.  The end-of-the-evening chocolate cake with ice cream, sitting by the fire all together seemed perfect in every way. 

There came the time when we could have all retired back to the hotel, but it seemed the night was still young, and there was more to say and precious time to be together.  Something prompted me at that moment to ask Nampa – what was it like before freedom? 

Giant pause.  I immediately thought I had committed an embarrassing faux pas.  Nampa’s look in my direction was something I still cannot quite describe.  She was quiet, and then she responded “that is the past, we prefer to not talk about that time, now we look forward.” 

She did continue after a while, telling just a little about what it was like for her family, to grow up on a farm, to go to school, to go to church, and to get married during the war and some of what they witnessed.  But most importantly, she talked about how as a young nation, they cannot let themselves be consumed by the hardness of the past.  How forgiveness is the key to being able to move forward.  And how they must see the good in what they have all gone through and continue to build a better country and democratic nation.

Nampa’s hospitality was amazing.  She fed us with food and insights. 

That evening was a good night with dear friends.  It’s a night I think about often.  My questions will always be there about this time before freedom, and I have pledged to continue to read and talk about the history of this young nation of Namibia.

What I cannot fully grasp and what I may never be able to comprehend is this profound understanding of forgiveness and reconciliation which our Namibian brothers and sisters have embraced so fully.  No amount of research and reading will teach me this.  But more time spent with phenomenal friends half a world away may just do the trick. 

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter.

Empowering Learners.       

   

New and Exciting Beginnings

In a previous post we told you of Empowering Learners’ progress toward establishing an endowment fund to create a sustainable and lasting avenue of support for the ELCIN schools in Namibia. This endowment is an exciting opportunity for Empowering Learners to take a step forward with our partners in Namibia, and we look forward to seeing it grow!

We’re also excited to share with you some wonderful news regarding the Reverend Philippus Henok Kindergarten School. During our summer stay in Namibia we visited and then began a partnership with the kindergarten school, and our first act together was to improve the physical learning environment of the school. With the generous support of our donors Empowering Learners was able to send the necessary funds (roughly $5,000 USD) to fully fund the construction of a new building. We're happy to report construction is complete, and the new kindergarten class started their school year roughly two weeks ago! We've even received word there are enough funds available to furnish the building with new tables and chairs. 

We feel these pictures tell a great transformation story, and we can’t help but smile. :)

Previous Kindergarten Building

Construction

The finishing touches + Pastor Henok

What excites us most about this new building is that it offers more than just the added comfort and protection from outside elements. With this more permanent building student learning will only increase.

Ms. Helena (read about her here) can now plan on a teaching schedule without interruptions during the three-month rainy season. Educators anywhere will tell you how critical a consistent structure of learning time is to students' development, and learners attending this school can now count on having that consistency.

These kindergarteners now have more space. If you can recall any of your early childhood education experience you'll remember being very active. Good kindergarten teachers know that students learn best through engaging their minds through their movements.

Finally, this community has a school that they started to be proud of. As community members see their children grow and do wonderful things they can take pride in knowing the education they helped provide is making a difference.

This is an exciting time for us at Empowering Learners, and we're so happy to share these stories with you. None of these new beginnings could be done without your wonderful support. Please know how grateful we are to partner with you!