Here's some thoughts from Gregory Peterson.
Its our last night in the North! Driving back to Windhoek tomorrow.
I've been thinking a lot about relationships
while on this trip. We have built and continue to build relationships with the
good people in Namibia. We share a common faith with our many Lutheran sisters
and brothers, but we also share common work and partnership in education with a
wider circle of people. Here in "the North," as it is known, we also
have several ties that bind Luther College and Namibians, especially
through the ELCIN and Oshigambo High School. And today we widened the circle a
bit with our visit to Nkurenkuru High School. Now in my fourth visit to Namibia, I am enjoying the deepening of these relationships and am excited to share this with the next group of Luther students and colleagues in January.
Africans
define family in broad terms as well. We enjoyed a lovely evening meal on
Saturday in the home of our friends Pastor Philippus and Mrs. Sophia Henok.
They are the parents of three biological offspring, now grown, but are also the
"parents" of many other children, even very little ones. Some of
these are orphans or come from another circumstance where one or the other
biological parent is absent. Others simply need support or mentoring. As a
person without children, I am learning how important this extended idea of
family is in many arenas and think of the privilege I have in mentoring young
people in college, supporting their aspirations and seeing how the deepening of
these relationships is a kind of parenting in and of itself. I am grateful for
this and am proud of my many academic offspring! Ethan, of course, is one
those, but he also holds a special place in the hearts of Ann and me and we
will miss him dearly as he flies the coop in August to take up his two-year
First Grade teaching position in Kuwait. Good thing we're all so electronically
connected these days! And we will enjoy watching his professional life develop
and hearing all the stories from this exciting chapter.
So, nothing too profound
here but the musings of one who appreciates people and relationships and likes
the way travel invites me to ponder and think. We think of all of you dear
friends back home and covet your prayers for our journey.
GP
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