Back again,
Sorry about the spelling mistakes in the last message!!! Am off school for a few days with horrible hayfever so thought I'd catch up on here a bit!
At the moment we have a fairly large team of missionaries out here in Rehoboth but people are always coming and going. Unfortunately the two girls that arrived a week after me are leaving in a month or so which will be really sad. Am doing as much as possible with them before they go back to the States. They have been a real blessing to me!!!! Love you girls if you are reading this!
I think that's one of the hardest things about being here - people coming and going. In these situations you bond quickly so it's sad when people go. However I now have alot of connections around the States and Canada!!!! That's cool!!!!
So I'm just chilling out at home today, listening to music and relaxing. I have to stay away from the farm and grass for a few days so that I can breathe again ! :-) :-)
What else has been happening. Well last weekend was Independence weekend. Namibia celebrate their freedom from South Africa. In 1990 they became Namibia and gained Independence. The celebrations at school were so much fun - loads of singing and dancing!!!!! We also raised the Namibian flag and sang the National Anthem. It was a great morning. The parents came and watched and then we had Friday off school - like a bank holiday! There were also celebrations in the town on the Saturday.
For Easter weekend I'm heading up North for the weekend to Rundu. There are 2 volunteers there (lovely girls). They came to Zambia with us so it will be really cool to see them and see what they do there. It is a very remote village with hardly anything there so will be an experience. We will see where they live, visit their church (which I hear goes for 5 hours) and just meet people and kids there. Rundu is about 5/6 hours north of us and cultures are more tribal there. The further North you go the more tribal living becomes. The girls there are running an after school club and just reaching out within the community where they can too!
Well I think that's it for now! Hope this finds you well!
Hope there are less mistakes in this post than the last!
Keep in touch - thank you so much for all your letters and prayers. I really appreciate any support you can give even though it may not seem like it at times. Communication isn't the easiest thing out here as you can probably imagine!!!!
Thank you though!!!
Catherine
PS - Flight home is booked - August
Friday, 27 March 2009
Thursday, 26 March 2009
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
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
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
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
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
Friday, 19 December 2008
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!!!
Saturday, 13 December 2008
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
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
Friday, 7 November 2008
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
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
Saturday, 11 October 2008
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
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
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