Oh my it's been a while!!!!

HI everyone! It has been such a long time since I have been on here! I am sorry! There is alot to say now though!

School is going well and I feel like the kids are making real progress now with their English. They are certainly alot more confident to speak now. An inpsector came into my class last week and she was impressed with the English so that was great!

Spiritually and emotionally the children are asking really interesting questions and am able to have deep conversations about Jesus with them. For example one child asked me last week - would Jesus have been white? Another child asked ...is the devil real? I was able to sit with them and look at what the Bible has to say about some of these issues and more. It was so good to be able share truth with them and watch as they were receiving it!

We have some problems with the hostel at the moment which I can't go into on here in much detail but lets just say that the orphans and vulnerable children who live there may not be able to live there soon. Please pray for a solution!

Our new principal at the school is a good man and is doing a wonderful job at the school. The atmosphere is calm and the children and staff respond well to him - great news!!!!

The church I attend in Rehoboth have asked me to lead a ladies aerobic class each Friday evening which I am excited about! It will be a praise and worship style exercise class. Feel priveledged that theyasked me and am looking forward to starting it and meeting more people.

I had an amazing holiday in Zambia (Victoria Falls) a few weeks ago. Was a trip I will never forget in terms of amazing experiences (gorge swinging, zip wiring, riding elephants and walking with lion cubs) and the company (our team and we met guys and gals there from UK/ America). We had so much fun and great converastions!!!!

So now I on the latter end of the school term and my brother come out to see me on 25th April which will be excellent! Term ends on the 29th April so he will come to school for a few days with me to get the full experience.

Think that's all for now!!!

Hope you are all well!!!

Love Catherine

xxxxx

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's 2009!!!!

Well this is my first HOT New Year! I saw the NewYear in, in Cape Town. I had a short break there with my host family and one of the American volunteers. It was really interesting to see South Africa - it is sooo much more Western than here.

Am back in Rehoboth now and am getting ready to go back to school next week. We're having the team over tonight for a camp fire, marshmallows and maybe even a few songs!! :-)

Sometimes staying passionate about things is hard but as I begin the New Year I feel strongly that God is saying to me whatever you do, do it with me at the centre and do it with a passion!!!!

Today we made 200 sandwiches to give out to kids in the town. It is sooooooooooooo hot today that I really didn't feel like it. My passion wasn't quite there but when I got there and we gave the food out the kids faces were so happy and so thankful. Most of them hadn't eaten anything before we arrived. I got to share some time with 2 ladies who were saying they have no money, no job and kids to feed. I told them I would pray, feeling really helpless when one of them said - thats great if you would pray because I believe. It just reminded me that God is in control. If anyone wants something to pray about this week - please pray for them and kids in that block. They need it alot!!!!!!!

Think that's all for now - hope you are all well! I'm off to put my head in the freezer for a bit!

Keep in touch - thank you so much for your letters, prayers and support!!

XX

Kids Club at the Children's Home -Dec 08

Playing outside at the children's home this week during our Christmas kids club!!!



Little cutie!!!! Having fun at the orphange!
Yeee hah!!!

Holidays!

Hi guys!! Thanks for your comments! Well school has finished for the summer - how strange is that! It was a really good end of term. I went to a workshop during the last week where I stayed for 3 days at a conference centre. The training was on teaching multi-grade classes which happens alot here at the farm schools.

It was a great time of learning and sharing with other teachers but I really felt as though I had some fantastic opportunities to really talk with teachers/inspectors/ education directors about teaching strategies and ways of disciplining kids in school. The week was really rewarding and I learnt alot from them too. Am looking forward to trying out the new ideas in January.

During the past week I've been on a road trip with 3 other volunteers. We went south to the Fish River Canyon which was amazing scenery. We went canoeing along the Orange River which is onthe border of South Africa. Was all great and very good to see other places. It is VERY HOT at the moment. It got into the 50s while we were down South although the River cooled us down a bit! Was refreshing to see water!!

This coming week I'm in Windhoek helping to run a Christmas children's holiday club for kids in one of the children's homes there. We will do a variety of games, activities, teaching with the children from Monday to Friday. The theme will of course be Christmas - hard to beleive when the sun is shining so bright!

I have now moved in with Heidi - another volunteer. Was happy to move but a little sad to leave my host family too. They have been so great but am still very much in contact with them. The new house is the other side of Rehoboth -in a great position to have people over. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.

My host family have offered to take me to Cape Town over the New Year which I am really looking forward to. I am feeling as though I am making really good friendships with the people here so thank you for the prayers about making friends.

I am also going to help at a creative dance group next year which I'm really looking forward to. That will be in Rehoboth Primary School.

Sadly the family from Coventry that were also working here have to return to the UK in a week or so as their daughter at home is ill. I will miss them alot!!!!

Hope you are all well and enjoying Christmas!!!! I heard the Christmas Ball went well - wish I could have been there for that!

Take care and keep in touch!

Catherine

xxxx

Hi everyone!

Have made it to a computer that is online!! Just finished a day at school- exams start at the end of next week as the school year ends here in December. Them I'm on my summer hols!!

Things are going well. Am finding some things tough at school and the am meeting more and more people in very hard situations. There are so many people in need of food here that sometimes its overwhelming.

I'm moving in a month to live with another AIM volunteer still in Rehoboth. It should b good but I will miss my host family. Will be visiting them alot I'm sure.

How are things there? What have you been doing?

Thank you to everyone who went to the prayer meeting - I REALLY appreciate it!

That's all for now! Time is nearly out!

Loads of Love

Catherine

Hello!!!

I can't think of an interesting title so I've gone with 'Hello.' I'm in Windhoek for the day shopping so thought I'd write a quick entry.

We are approaching summer here at the moment so have bought myself an electric fan today as the heat will be scorching soon!

This week has been so up and down with emotions. Some very sad and disturbing things came to light this week about some of my students. I can't go into details on here but I'm sure you can imagine the sort of things. These children have been through and are going through things that are beyond disturbing.

It's made me realise that when these children are at school they are safe and that is so important as much as anything else. The staff at the scholl really care about the kids too which is great and gives the children a sense of security.

We had a fun day last week to raise some money for the school which went really well. I felt as though I really got to spend time with people from the farm community which has helped me to understand more about life on the farms.

This week has given me an insight into the children's home lives which has helped me to see where they are coming from but has been difficult as well.

Please pray that these children would develop a sense of hope as many of them do not see much point in life. This week I was asked by one child - what would I choose, life or death? I said life and then asked the kids what they would choose. The majority said death.

Last night I went to a dance/ talent show in Rehoboth which was great. There is a family here with AIM also from the UK (Coventry) and their 2 daughters were in the show which was so nice to see. They are 9 and 12 so it was a big thing for them to get up and perform with their classes to so many people.

Having lots of fun at home with my host family still. I now have a bike so am riding around when I can face the heat!

Hope you are all well!! What's been happening at home? In St Marys?

Catherine
xx

Teaching at Toko Koopman!

Hi!!!!!!!! I have found a small internet cafe so will have a bit more access now! How are you all? Teaching is going well and I am really enjoying getting to know the staff and the children. They are all so friendly and go out of their way to speak English to me.

Something really encouraging happened on Thursday. I was telling my class some Bible stories. At the end a girl came to me and said that she believed everything I was saying. I was surprised because earlier in the week she had told me some other really sad things that had happened to her so out of everyone I thought she may find it hard to accept. I asked her why she believed and she said she couldn't explain it but as she heard the stories something was happening in her heart!

These children have all had to deal with alot of death in their young lives yet there is so much potential and hope for each of them. Please pray that I can help them see a future and draw them closer to God.

My host family are great. I really get on so well with them! Will send a newsletter and photos soon!

Keep in touch

Catherine

PS Have to type v fast as time limit so sorry if spelling is poor!!

Orientation!

I've been back in Windhoek for a week's orientation! It has been so interesting. We've been learning about our aims with AIM, culture, AIDS, mentoring, history and have even been tested for AIDS. This was so that we could experience what it would be like for someone to go and get tested. It was a scary experience! My results were negative but it was still an intimidating time.

A bit like the Philippines - you can go from a Western shopping centre to a shanti- town within minutes. The poverty here is huge. Yesterday we walked through the shanti -town. It really reminded me of Manilla. The small houses made of metal sheets.

I have been teaching in Rehoboth for 2 weeks now. That has been such a whirlwind of experiences. I have felt discouraged somedays with my own lack of understanding as to where these kids are coming from. It wasn't until I took some advice from my Mum and entered their world that things started to change.

I asked them to write directions to the local 'gliding stone'. They did this and then we followed them. On the way they took me to their houses which again were just huts made of metal. They showed me how they eat sap and berries from certain trees. The told me the names of trees and birds and animals. Suddenly I was the ignorant one and they had the knowledge. It was amazing to see their eyes light up when I said 'Wow I didn't know that'.

These children are great - I love them already and am really looking forward to getting to know them more. It's great to think that people at home are praying for them. They would be very moved by that too I know.

Thanks for reading! Keep in touch!

I'm Moving!

Hi! I'm off to Rehoboth on Saturday and I start teaching in the farm school next week. I will be living with a Namibian host family for the first month or so which will help me with my Afrikaans and understanding of the culture. I will pay rent but be involved in their family life.

After that I will be living with a lady who has been here for a year already with AIM and is renting a house in Rehoboth.

Rehoboth is a closeknit community with many social problems. The children I will be teaching will have a variety of backgrounds. I am not totally sure what the situation will be yet.

Am really looking forward to going and getting stuck in but would really value prayer for my relationships within the family and at the school. I think also that I manage the cultural differences well and sensitively.

Dangkee - Thank you in Afrikaans!!

Catherine

:-)

AIM Conference

I'm back from the AIM conference now which was held in Windhoek. Was great as I met all the people working with AIM throughout Namibia. Feel like I've made contacts in lots of places now. The team are great and I really felt a part of it. The conference was a mixture of study/ learning/ testimony time and fun/ games time!

Am back at my host families house for now in Windhoek. I leave for Rehoboth in a few days. It looks as though I may not have internet access there for a few weeks so if my blog is quiet, that's why! If you would like to write to me though you can write to:

P.O. Box 40267, Windhoek Namibia

Hope you are all well - let me know what's going on at home too!!

Catherine

xx

Photos to follow - just have to work out how to do it!!!

Adventures So Far!

Hi people! I am sorry I am being bad at updating this already!! I've been here a week now can you believe? So far I have done a mixture of things, some touristy and some more serious things. I went to visit Rehoboth which is where I'll be teaching which was really interesting. I've also been to the shanti town and visited an orphange there. That was overwhelming as there were little babies and toddlers everywhere.

I've also been clothes shopping as it's actually quite cold here at the moment - it's winter!!! Gets dark at 6pmish and although is still warm gets cold in the evenings. More sleeves were definitely needed!!

Today I have been to visit the famous sand dunes which I attempted to climb. Got to the top in the end but got very sandy in the process!! I think the highlight so far was seeing a giraffe, well 4 actually out in the wild - amazing!!

I am off to the AIM conference tmo and then start teaching after that. This week has been a gentle introduction to Namibia.

Thank you for leaving comments and taking time to read my blog!! PLEASE check it as I will update it every week or so!!

Catherine

xx

Here's a scenic view of Namibia!

Hi peeps! I now know a bit more about what I'm doing when I first arrive on Thursday. I am staying with a family for a week and then go to a conference run by AIM. All the people out in Namibia with AIM will be at the conference! There's a talent show one evening so I'd better think of something quick!! Then I start teaching at the end of August!

Keep the comments coming!! :-)

C
xx

This is the school I will be teaching at. Toko Koopman Primary School based just outside of Rehoboth which is about 80km south of Windhoek.

Nearly Time To Leave!

As you all know I'm off to Namibia on the 13th August with AIM. I can't believe how quickly the time has come round. It would be great to hear from you on here and I will do my best to keep you informed as to what I'm doing!!

Catherine
xx