Dressember

It’s good to be writing something on this blog again.  Hello!

Half the craziness of first term at university is merely working out how you will fill your time, particularly with extra-curricular activities and societies or groups.  I became involved with a group called ‘JustLove Durham’ about 5 weeks ago, but it was a simple dedication of time really. Their focus as a group is social justice and, alongside outreach, they meet every Monday for ‘JustLunch’ (see what they did there..!) to eat soup, share testimonies of how they have been challenged ethically in the week gone by, and talk about how everyday social justice fits with the bible.  Social justice is important to me, so I want to truly start challenging myself with every-day ethical decisions.

You may well have seen on my Facebook a post and indeed, photos, about something called ‘Dressember'.  I’m wearing dresses each and every day of December to raise awareness and support - both financial and prayerful - for organisations that actively work to stop the exploitation of women around the world. One such organisation is International Justice Mission, who I have admired for a while.  They come alongside victims of violence to help them - rescuing victims and representing them in court are just two ways in which they do this.  However they go beyond this and partner with authorities to help fix problems within the justice system. A21 is another organisation that will benefit from the money raised in the Dressember campaign, specifically working to end human-trafficking. Turns out that around 27 million men, women and children are in bondage across the world.  Only 1-2% of those people are ever rescued.

My being involved in Dressember sprung from my involvement in JustLove, with some of the girls from JustLove deciding to take part, alongside girls across the world.  A friend of mine pointed out that we would probably raise more money and general awareness if it were men who wore dresses for the whole month!  However, besides not knowing any man as yet who would be willing to go quite that far (I’m sure you’re out there!), there is a beauty and power in our being able to celebrate our own femininity as we cry out for justice for those women who struggle to celebrate that.  

The women we are doing this for are being abused.  As a woman is sold, she loses her identity.  As a woman is raped, traded, oppressed or abused in any way, she loses her freedom.  

Similarly to a friend of mine, the only times I will not be wearing a dress this month is when I run, and when I sleep.  I wanted to share what she said:

“The only times I will not be wearing a dress this month is when I’m sleeping, a time that for me connotes peacefulness, and when I’m running, for me a very literal expression of my freedom – enabling me to feel de-stressed from work and re-energise. Women who are victims of abuse and trafficking never feel these emotions. Their world is full of fear, despair, and dependency.”

I am so aware that these issues of exploitation and abuse affect men just as much as women in some cases.  However, putting on a dress everyday is helping me to keep women in my heart and reminding me to be praying for them specifically this month.

This was a little bit of an update blog post.  To be completely honest with you, I have been wanting to get back to my laptop and write something like this since August! Finally… I hope, ideas and thoughts are starting to trickle back to the laptop and my little blog that roots back to a cool Africa trip shall hopefully continue (read previous if you have no idea what I’m talking about).

I’d LOVE for you to consider supporting the rest of the Dressember campaign.  Visit the website if you’d like to hear more stories about this.  If you feel able to support IJM & A21 by giving to my Dressember page too, that would be brilliant!

Here’s my donation page: https://support.dressemberfoundation.org/fundraise?fcid=573860

Thanks for reading, lovely people.

A Dressember picture with Phoebe and Jill

Namibia: Reflections

*very long and sentimental blog post alert*

It’s been two weeks since Mum, Geoff, Caz and I were sitting in the sun at Heja Game Lodge.  With just an hour or two spare before catching a plane home to England, I was looking out on a beautiful lake and reminiscing on an equally beautiful nine weeks.  I think I cried at six different intervals on that overnight flight.  To be honest, I called Namibia ‘home’ from the first day I arrived (mostly to help myself cope), but it had become so familiar to me that the idea of ‘returning home to England’ wasn’t evoking the same feelings as it might usually.  As cliche as it sounds - and I think I knew this would happen - a part of my heart has been left in Namibia.  

I’ll be honest, I’ve been putting off writing this blog post for a while.  I thought two weeks distance would help, but the prospect of summing up my time in Namibia is still just as hard; in fact, with some of my clear memories beginning to fade and without the sufficient space to look on my trip in hindsight, this may perhaps be the worst time to try and finish my ‘Namibia blog posts’!  However I would love to continue blogging about other things (even if just for my own thought-processing!), so it’s probably best that I finalise this chapter.

Mum and I were able to end our trip with a bang - on safari, camping in Erindi Game Reserve: we heard lions roar as we lay in our tents; witnessed a crocodile catch a baby warthog at the waterhole (sad times); used Geoff’s bird app to coerce an eagle owl out from behind the perimeter fence; sat with the Shaves as they caught their first sighting of an Aardwolf; went on our own game drives in search of the big 5… it was incredible.

Geoff, Caz, Emily and Nate were my rocks while I was in Namibia. To be able to return from each daily adventure - whether that be from the school, the children’s cancer ward, a trip into Katatura, even just a meet-up with friends - and process with them was a true blessing.  The Shaves’ became my home while I was away… and home, in most circumstances, is a very painful place to leave.  My heart was changed pretty deeply while I was living in their house, so it holds a special little place on the timeline of my life.

There were two key experiences that were happening for me in Nam: an increasing understanding of Namibia, its culture and its people; and relationships built with people I encountered along the journey.  I am grateful for the students who work with CCC on their campuses - they have totally inspired me in my journey of faith, acting as real guide-posts for me while I grappled with lots of questions while I was away.  I am grateful for the teaching we had on the Old Testament during staff retreat (thanks Simon!), which revolutionised the way I look at the bible.  However, I think out of everything, I am most grateful to have had the independence, time and space to continue blossoming into my genuine self.  I didn’t see that one coming.  I am so, so glad that I didn’t have my trip hugely planned out.  It left so much room for God to surprise me and use me in different ways and places.

In reality, my experience was so good that despite the sad separation from the place and people, I look back at the memories and just beam from ear to ear.  The whole trip filled me with an energy to approach my life with joy, seeking God’s will in everything I do.  I wouldn’t change a thing.

My highlights:

• standing at the top of a sand dune on my first week, marvelling at God’s incredible creation and smiling a very big smile;

• playing Taylor Swift in the car and laughing at Caz’s inability to learn song lyrics (love you Cazza);

• visiting Petrus and his family at their home in Katatura;

• spending time on Prayer Mountain with 30 students praying aloud simultaneously;

• late-night conversations with Tjino in a Wendy House;

• playing with little Edina at the children’s cancer ward;

• seeing what a beautiful, fun-loving girl Nea has grown up to be since meeting her as a new-born;

• being able to hand-over 130 blankets to the Red Cross to bless vulnerable people in the informal settlement of Havana;

• going to the Queen’s birthday party at the British High Commission;

• talking about life and faith with Dana;

• sharing very happy memories with the students at my ‘goodbye picnic’;

• the reunion with my Mum;

• (and this one will be no surprise) …the sunsets.  All of them.

Starting the journey home

I have a hunch a lot of people relate to the way I feel right now… though my experience was so real and life-changing, there is definitely that sense of ‘returning back to normal’ - just like how I imagine my brother will feel returning from Soul Survivor tomorrow (a really amazing youth camp). I also imagine it’s not too dissimilar from the feeling my friends get when they come home from uni - perhaps a little bewilderment at returning to a place that used to be all they once knew… they are returning with new perspectives, perhaps changed hearts, to a place that probably hasn't changed with them.  One of my biggest pains is trying to describe my experience, when any words that I form never seem to do the experience any justice.

Saying that, the most amazing thing is that I somehow feel I'm still moving with the same momentum I had in Namibia. It's taken a few days of weird conversations, break-downs and downright confusion with these two worlds clashing in my mind.  However Mum's advice from 3 weeks ago continues to echo in my mind: “You are not going back to your old life.  You can continue moving".  I’m reading more books, I'm having more conversations; I'm doing more in my life to keep me moving forward.  I have been reminded that there is so much opportunity here at home, perhaps more than I can imagine right now.

So, in the confusion that I now find myself in, the question is this: what is my purpose in England?  A: To do exactly as I did in Namibia…

Spending time with a vulnerable family in Katatura? 

- Speaking to the homeless man on the ramp near Moor Street train station. 

Donating blankets to those who need it in Windhoek? 

- Donating my excess belongings to a place that will take them in Birmingham. 

Meeting students at UNAM and chatting to them about what Jesus means to them personally? 

- Meeting students at Durham and chatting to them about what Jesus means to them personally. 

Being more open about the faith I have in Jesus, and choosing to follow him each day? 

- Being more open about the faith I have in Jesus, and choosing to follow him each day.

I’m well aware that the UK is starkly different to Namibia. However my trip could not have been more timely.  The best thing about it?  Approximately 15 years after I chose to live my life fully committed to God and His plan for me, He met me in the desert-land of Namibia and captured my heart again.  I can say wholeheartedly that I feel more alive than I have ever felt before and for that, I can never repay Him.

In the heightened altitude of Windhoek, on top of the sand dunes in Sossusvlei, at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, in the company of new friends, I experienced a deep closeness to God that I cannot deny.  My challenge coming home is to seek the same closeness with God throughout my daily life in the UK.  While my time in Namibia was a special one - an experience I cannot possibly repeat in the same way again - I know that my relationship with Jesus is a choice, and I wish to seek God here in the UK, just in the same way I sought Him in Namibia, every single day of my life.  If you ask me what was the main thing that I will take away from my trip, truthfully, that is it. 

Thanks for travelling the journey with me.

Lots of love,

Charis

Namibia: Week 8

I’m back in the serenity of Okapuka, drinking a vanilla milkshake and attempting to write my final blog post from Namibia (at least until I’m back here again… which is happening for sure).

I have learnt first-hand to believe the person who once said: “time flies when you’re having fun”.  The fact that I have been in Namibia for about as long as I’ll be in Durham each term blows my mind.  Is it too cliche to say that Namibia now feels like a home to me?  Has that been blatantly clear to you all this whole time anyway..?  I suppose I'm pretty transparent!

The long-awaited Cheesman girls reunion was as I expected: dramatic, tearful and totally, totally wonderful.  I was waiting at the airport in anticipation on Sunday night as the arrival doors suddenly swung open, Momma walked out, I defied the “please wait behind this red line” stickers, ran to her and, let’s be honest… of course I cried.  We both cried bucket loads.  Having her in my world is so good.  We had scheduled in an official ‘catch-up date’ on Monday but on Sunday night it was too much of a struggle to hold in half the things we were wanting to share.  The phrase: “I’ll tell you more tomorrow, but…” was used many times that evening.

Reunions are the best!

Despite a very exciting 'hello', this week is all about goodbyes.  Frankly, the 8 weeks of adventure seem to be catching up with me and I feel pretty exhausted (in a good way though).  

Saying goodbye to the students in particular has been the epitome of ‘bittersweet’.  Lots of us went for a picnic last Thursday in Parliament Gardens (idyllic setting for a goodbye) …although I hadn’t realised that one of the main reasons for this gathering was to say goodbye to me - probably should have cottoned-on a bit faster, really!  I can honestly say that the love the students have shown me in just 8 weeks has absolutely astounded me and I am deeply changed as a result.  My friend, Tjino had arranged for me to have a book of messages from many of those I’ve met (my heart…) and I was ready to say a little thank-you speech to them all as she gave it me.  Little did I know there was so much more planned.  Another of my friends, Job stood up to read a poem he had written for me and I wanted to bawl my eyes out - in thankfulness and in laughter at how accurately it depicted my character.  How have they come to know me so well in such a short space of time?!  My favourite line is: “An accent that spoke so kindly, so polite; Saying “Sorry” and “Thank You”: morning, day and night”.  What can I say… I’m a Brit through and through.  Eleven others wanted to share something before I could thank them… they told me of their thankfulness for the way I have impacted their lives (do they understand how much they have impacted me?!), joy at the friendships that have blossomed and their hopes for me to return quickly back to Namibia.  Sadly I am going to be a poor student for many years to come… perhaps a trip to England is in order for them all.  I am so excited for the way I believe these students are going to impact university campuses with their amazing message of God’s love.  I hope to hear many stories on WhatsApp.

Tuesday

Tuesday was a very special day for Mum and I.  It meant a lot to have her join me in some of the places I’ve been to… to see some of the people and places that have changed me most deeply.  

Some kind friends from home had donated some money specifically for the children’s cancer ward that I visited during my second week in Namibia.  Mum, Dana and I were able to take some parcels of money, phone credit, socks and a bible verse (classic John 3:16) to the cancer ward, handing them out to each of the mums that were sitting with their sons or daughters.  The mums are used to receiving gifts for their children so many of them were taken aback in confusion that these gifts were actually for them to keep themselves.  It was a special hour, yet successful in breaking all of our hearts once again: Mum and I will continue to think of a little boy with cancer in his jaw - a visible representation of the evil that exists in this world and brings destruction to so many and so much.  I know how difficult Mum found the experience as she went for the first time, but even Dana, someone who comes to the ward regularly, told us that she will never get over the pain of visiting… it is significantly harder for her as she makes deep and personal connections with these children and more often than not must grieve their deaths.  This place is painful, but important to be aware of.

Momma and Baby Petrus

Katatura was the next place I wanted to see.  The town has really been on my heart since I visited with the team from Texas and I wanted to go there once more.  This time I was allowed the privilege of visiting the house of a new friend, Petrus and his wonderful family.  From the excruciating sadness of a cancer ward, we were welcomed into a small, dark tin house owned by a very joyful, God-loving family.  Their house is simple: no lighting and only one bedroom for Petrus, his wife and their six children.  Caz, Mum and I were moved by their love and joy despite the fact that they have so little. Petrus’ 2 year-old son named… Petrus, immediately stole Mum’s heart with his cheeky smile and infectious giggle.  Petrus has built a church (a tin building off the side of his home) which about 30 from Katatura attend each week.  He has such a passion to speak to his neighbours about Jesus and I am so encouraged by the simple, yet effective way he brings church into poverty-stricken Katatura.  Petrus is the definition of humble.  

My day was rounded off wonderfully as I sat in a student bible study with girls I’ve truly come to love and who inspire me hugely in the way they live their lives, the way they relate to one another and by how much they truly love Jesus.  By the end of Tuesday my heart was full.

On Wednesday I had to say a sad goodbye to my Grade 4 classes and was honestly quite touched by their sadness at my leaving and their kind words in regards to my teaching…there’s another career path to confuse my post-uni decision-making!  See pictures below of some of the coolest 10 year-olds in Nam.

Grade 4A

Grade 4B

Some very happy girls!

All that’s left of my Southern Africa adventure is a final weekday to bid farewell to the CCC team and pack my bags, a weekend at Erindi (there’s no better way to finish my time here than camping by a water-hole) and a goodbye coffee with the Shaves before Mum gently nudges me onto a plane.

I can’t tell you how painful this goodbye is going to be on Monday. 

But, as for today… it’s Christmas!  Time for a Namibian-winter celebration with Christmas dinner, Christmas presents, Christmas music and great friends.*  

Lots of love,

Charis

*yeah, I know it’s July… some of the Brits in Namibia have a bonus Christmas celebration around this time of 
year since December in Namibia is absolutely boiling (not that it’s exactly COLD here right now!  Haha.)  Really though, Mum and I would celebrate Christmas every month if we could. 

Petrus' wonderful family in Katatura

Grace and Baby Petrus being totally cute

Some of my good friends in Parliament Gardens

Namibia: Week 7

Being back in Swakopmund after six years reminded me just how much life I’ve lived since my last visit.  I love Swakop.  It’s the beachy part of Namibia that I know, filled with cutesy souvenir shops and colourful houses.  The Shaves and I spent a few days of escape there this weekend to play on the beach, take hundreds of photos of flamingos (well, a good 70/80!), wander about the shops, look at pink salt pans, play games and eat good food.  If you’re ever passing through Namibia (as ya do…), be sure to visit The Tug restaurant near Swakop’s jetty and also Anchors, a cafe in Walvis Bay.  Good meat and chocolate can be found in abundance.

I really don’t know how I will bear the parting from Namibian sunsets, I’m telling you… I was graced with a sunset from the top of a sand dune and two from the beach this weekend and I truly think I’ve discovered an earthly heaven.  Even as I write this, Caz has just called me outside of our house to look at another… and it’s blazing orange.  England, you’re lovely, but I’m sad to say you’ll never impress me with your sunsets in the same way again.  Africa is where it’s at.

Quality time was also spent with two particular girls this week: my Namibian-adopted little sister Emily, who traipsed many Swakop shops with me in search of cute gifts; took some lovely snaps on my camera; and strolled along the beach with me, talking about life and all its adventure.  She reminds me so much of my 13-year-old-self and is such a wonderfully compassionate girl with a big heart for other people.  She also really makes me giggle (and so does my adopted little brother, Nate).  Glad to have spent eight weeks experiencing what life might have looked like with a little sister!  I also got the chance to have coffee today with a gorgeous girl (inside and out) called Haley, who I think is basically an American version of myself.  We talked of our mutual love for ballet, love for God, confusion about life, and hearts for Africa (not necessarily in that order!)  I think meeting new people is a favourite pastime of mine.  Thanks for being a new friend to me, Haley!

beautiful Emily

I’m also speeding through a great book at the moment called ‘Out of the Black Shadows’ - an autobiography of a man, Stephen Lungu, who fell into deep trouble and despair as a young boy, became heavily involved in a violent gang as a teen, but speaks in his book of the way he ‘met God’ in the middle of all this, one night in Zimbabwe.  It totally changed him and within a day, his life became solely about telling others his story - of the day he discovered who Jesus was and the way he could change lives.  It’s one of those stories that is so shocking it takes your breath away… yet one that is hard to deny.  These are the kinds of books I want to read at the moment.  I’m gripped.

Thank you, by the way, to those who prayed for my strange aches and pains last Friday.  I chose to visit the doctors in the end, feeling slightly anxious as I searched for my travel insurance and remembering my hope that I would never have to dig out those papers!  Thankfully the doctor said it was merely a strange reaction to a Namibian bug, so I’m all recovered and back to normal after a little bit of rest.  I told Caz on Sunday that I was feeling “more better”, at which point she suggested that I’ve been living in Namibia too long!!

Also, after receiving some very kind donations from church friends at home, I finally ventured out to purchase a bulk-load of blankets today for a Red Cross appeal in Namibia.  The guy in the shop jokingly offered us as many blankets as we needed: “even a hundred”… Caz and I paused with a grin on our faces and said: “er… yes please!!!”  He was a very sweet guy, totally taken aback by our request but so willing to help us out. After stuffing 109 thick blankets into the car (see photo), we still have 20 more to buy!  The Red Cross team are so excited to have them and I’m so looking forward to dropping them off on Friday.

But of course, the big news of the week is that MY BEAUTIFUL MOMMA IS COMING OUT HERE TO NAM ON SUNDAY AND I’M GOING TO GIVE HER THE BIGGEST SQUEEZE EVER.  I fear the end of an 8-week separation is going to be rather too much to handle and that all the people heading to Windhoek Airport on Sunday should perhaps brace themselves.  Cannot wait to be reunited.

Here’s to my final week in Namibia.

Lots of love,

Charis

Swakopmund 2009

Swakopmund 2015

Namibia: Week 6

Here’s the challenge: to sum up 7 days that brought me such a fullness of adventure and experience in a blog post that’s succinct enough to keep everyone awake… ne?*

Katatura has been on my heart and mind this week.  I found a new segment of Windhoek’s heart when I visited on Thursday, joined by a wonderful, fun group of teens from a church in Waco, Texas.   Katatura is Windhoek’s largest township, yet it’s name literally means “where one does not wish to live”.  Curious why..?  It formed in 1961 following the forced removal of Windhoek’s black population from Hochland Park, which is where I’ve been staying during this trip.

I actually found an article about Katatura on The Independent this week, written by a British woman who visited an American volunteer working in the centre of Katatura to help and support school children. The writer talked of the “cheerful chaos and beautiful laughing children… and the stories of their tough lives” and I can completely see where she’s coming from.  The Texans and I took a bus there in the morning to visit a lady known as Ouma**, who (on her own) feeds and cares for about 100 children (many orphans) every day when they are coming home from school.  Her house really isn’t a big place, but she has no fear of filling a room up to the corners with children from Katatura.  We all just went along to sing songs with the children and dance around the room with them, followed by a good 45 minutes of playing with them on the street outside.  One 13 year-old named Anna came up to me as I was standing watching the children playing in a big circle - she only came to say hi, but I wanted to know about who she was and what her life was like.  She was a quiet, reserved girl with a very good understanding of English and told me that she walks two hours to get to school each day.  I didn’t know how true this story was, but did it really matter?  She wanted to stand around with me and hug my waist, almost breaking my heart when she asked to hug me through the bars of Ouma’s gate as myself and the group were getting back onto the bus.  I feel that just ten minutes of conversation with Anna has exposed me to all the children’s lives in Katatura.  Though I don’t know how or if I ever could, so much of me wishes I could have walked home with some of these children, discovering where they were living, meeting their families and hearing all about their lives.  I wasn’t uncomfortable at all - I yearned to know more.

Katatura kids outside Ouma's <3

Myself, Anna and two other girls from Katatura

As we drove from Ouma’s, Bryan (my Namibia church pastor) drove us through the centre of Katatura - past Evelyn Street, only a 1km long road yet I was told it accommodates over 180 bars; past the never-ending informal settlements formed with tin and plastic where many of the children I had just met were travelling to; and past a shop where a woman was dragged from a taxi by seven men and bundled into a van (since we only drove by this incident though, it really isn’t right for me to say anymore - for all I know, this was a very drunk woman being assisted home).  I found it tough to believe there and then that this township could possibly be as joyous as the Independent writer described.  Yet when I think of Katatura, I’ll think of the children at Oma’s.  I’ll agree with the writer to a certain level… despite the hardship that is known to exist in these places, there really is a lot of joy too.  What an extraordinary thing. 

On a very different note, there seriously ain’t no party like a YWAP party… (S Club fans with me?  Anyone..?)  The youth group I’ve been going to had their ‘One Day’ event on Saturday with good food, incredible teaching and loads of crazy dancing to some new worship songs the Texas group introduced.  I had some helpful faith discussions with Dana in particular that day, who really helped me to look at some of my God questions in a different way.  I will treasure my YWAP One Day t-shirt for ever as a little memory of the day - and a shout-out to the Texas team: thanks for letting me hang out with y’all for a few days - you are genuinely inspiring people who have such a passion for Jesus and I have LOVED getting to know you and adoring Namibia with you.

Texas Team - can I come to Baylor with y'all?

And the last few days… literally don’t even know where to begin on this.  The SLM Student Project was awesome, in short.  I was so looking forward to hanging out with these students after not having seen them since Week 2 of the trip.  They took me in as though I were another Namibian student, taught me Oshiwambo, made me eat bone marrow (I’ll forgive them for that…), yearned to know about my life in Britain and the way I came to be a Christian, took endless photos with me, dragged me round with them as they danced and sang songs of worship around the campfire, helped me to understand  the culture of Africa as they explained tradition and heritage, shared some of their deepest thoughts, confided in me, comforted me, rejoiced with me… and so much more richness I can’t even summarise.

During my time away, I really enjoyed things that should have made me feel anxious -  travelling an hour outside of Windhoek with people that really, I didn’t know well; sitting on a hot bus with no seatbelt that truly looked as if it would fall apart; eating meat off the bone… this is a bit of silly one I know, but it’s always been a little worry of mine.  All I really felt the entire time was a deep joy, that I was still in Namibia and that I was able to completely immerse myself in the lives and culture of these people.  I have my friend, Tjino to thank for a lot of this.  She invested a lot of time in talking to me and loving me and I’m amazed at how similar we are despite our lives being so far removed from each-other.  She’s got a very big heart for God.

Two highlights:

1) Understanding.  The best part of the project was probably the time spent learning more about who God is and talking to each of the students about their own stories of faith.  I truly understood more of what it means to be a Christian over the last few days.

2) Prayer Mountain.  This is a mountain (aha - obviously…) just 10 minutes walk from Rock Lodge.  The whole team went there on our last morning to pray together, holding hands in a circle around three huge crosses.  The feeling of unity between us and the bursting of love for God from each of the students was something really special.  It was a moment of real hope for us all as we looked ahead to our next semester (or first term, in my instance) of university.  They’re a massively supportive and caring bunch that I so enjoyed being with.

Spot the white girl

Also, my bible finally came loose from it’s spine after ten years (*sob, sob*) - I have been loving reading it this week… a bit too much from the sounds of it!

The Shaves and I are now off to Swakopmund for a few days.  Help please… how am I supposed to spend another few weeks with these people?! (HA only kidding guys - you know I want to cry just thinking about leaving you all).  Swakop was a highlight of my family holiday 6 years ago so I’m excited.

Lots of love,

Charis

*check out my Oshiwambo language skills… “ne?” means “right?”

**Ouma means “Granny”, as Christine (her real name) is known by all the children.  I loved this.

Namibia: Week 5

I’m currently sitting outside the Shaves’ house in a perfect temperature of Namibian warmth, reflecting on just how grateful I am to be here.  I’m sure I’ll talk about this in my last ‘Namibia’ blog post at least, but I’m feeling so glad right now that I chose to take a gap year and had the chance to experience such a rich amount of life before I go to university.

It’s funny, Namibia continues to surprise me and teach me yet I feel so comfortable and used to being here now.  It’s really lovely.  With the plans and trips I have in place for the next few weeks, I know the rest of my time is going to fly by extremely fast.  I feel like I’m trying to savour every moment I have left, even with four weeks still to go.  I won’t dwell on it though as I genuinely want to cry a little just thinking about it... oh dear.

I have been enjoying the best of my day-to-day Namibian life this week.  I just had pretty much the most amazing hair appointment ever, complete with head massages, a view over the Windhoek hillsides, a super helpful hairdresser and a killer new haircut which makes me feel awesome. Seriously Namibia, you’re not allowed to give me any more reasons to make me want to stay… okay?

Saying that haha… I know this one isn’t exactly day-to-day.  Wednesday of course held the big occasion at the British High Commissioner’s pad - the Queen’s Birthday Party!  Amongst chatter of Prince Harry’s rumoured arrival at the event (which I regret to inform you didn’t actually happen), I was totally in my element.  We were greeted by the British High Commissioner and the Deputy HC who looks oddly like David Milliband… (anybody know what Dave’s up to these days?!)  The whole event was so wonderfully British… sarcastic comments from the guests; chatter in the garden with Pimms and nibbles being devoured; and, my absolute favourite moment, when the backing track to our national anthem started to play in the silence that preceded the High Commissioner’s speech… the awkward moment when next to no one started to sing and I just burst out laughing.  Ah, it was a fabulous afternoon. 

Thursdays are my chill days; days when I can take time a good chunk of time out to read a bit of the bible and reflect on what it says.  Caz joined me on my ‘Thursday chill’ this week and we ventured to Okapuka Lodge, just outside Windhoek.  I came to Okapuka six years ago when we were here on holiday, so I remembered what a perfect place of escape it was.  We even saw giraffe - yay!  Caz and I sat in the car for a good 20 minutes watching them and I can say that they really are such beautiful and unusual animals.  Those three hours in Okapuka were well spent watching warthogs wander about the grounds of the lodge (they're so cool), reading the bible and chatting about lots of faith questions with Caz.  Definitely bringing my Momma here when she comes to visit in three weeks!

Okapuka Lodge

We went to a big tourist exhibition in Windhoek on Friday; it’s quite a major event that most in the city seem to attend at some point in the week, so much so that the city just seemed empty that evening.  The Shaves go every year and they totally love it - loads of freebies, food, drink and competitions… they’d be walking around and constantly saying “ooh is this another competition? Let’s enter…” - haha.  While we’re on the subject, please vote for Emily’s photo here! 

http://premium.easypromosapp.com/voteme/33150/620560822?fb_action_ids=1443217562647158&fb_action_types=og.shares

She’d love you forever..!

On Friday evening I joined Emily at her church youth group called ‘YWAP’.  One of my favourite things about this trip is being able to meet loads of young adults and chat to them about their lives… at events like YWAP, I hear so many encouraging stories from people about what they've experienced throughout their lives as Christians and I absolutely love that.  The church even have a group of teens from Texas joining them this week to get involved in various things and I’m really hoping to get to spend some more time with them if possible.  The opportunity I'm having to meet so many young Christians from across the world, hear that they experience such similar things to me and realise that I’m actually pretty normal is really, really cool.

This week was also the first Saturday where we didn’t really have anything going on, so we made the most of the freedom and, courtesy of Mr Geoff Shave, ate pancakes for breakfast and a cooked breakfast for lunch!  Oh yes.  After a worship band rehearsal in the afternoon, Caz and I had just enough time to leg-it (well, drive-it) to the top of one of the hills in Windhoek, where there’s a lovely restaurant with blankets for the chilled Namibian evenings.  The Shaves and I spent a little bit of down-time there watching the sun go down over the city and chatting about life together.  It was quite breath-taking.  Saturday was also fab as I got to hear a little from my boyfriend, Alex, who just moved to Virginia for 9 weeks to help lead one of the summer camps.  He has zero wifi at the camp but of course managed to find a Starbucks (classic America) and at least type something to me through Skype!

I can also announce to you all that finally, five weeks in, I had the guts and determination to get my running gear on and actually attempt some exercise.  Hear the trumpets sound!!  I found out Mum’s been running at least 3 times a week back home and I’m not going to lie to you all and say that it didn’t encourage me, even just a little bit, to get out and run too.  There’s a school opposite the Shaves’ which is great for doing laps (about 1km round).  Granted, I only circled the school twice yesterday… and perhaps only half of that was running… but at least I made it out of the house with those running shoes on!  This is progress!  I blame the altitude. .. 

Caz is also helping me with learning to play guitar, as I’d love to get to the point where I could lead worship at church with a guitar as well as sing.  It’s embarrassing how weak my fingertips have gotten though; it’s been far too long since I’ve played my poor violin.  This trip is certainly a personal development in all areas, I’m telling you!

I’m heading out on another few days of retreat next week with some of the university students from UNAM and Poly.  It means I probably won’t blog until next Thursday (kinda surprised I’ve managed to keep to the schedule this far anyway!) Please be thinking and again, praying if you’re someone who prays, that this would be another great time of learning and transformation for me (if I can possibly ask for any more!)

Until next week…

Lots of love, 

Charis

CCC Namibia Staff Retreat last week!

Leading worship with Caz and the band

Hanging out with Emily & Nate at EXPO

Namibia: Week 4

I’m going to be honest on the outset here and say this blog post feels harder to write than ones previously.  It’s not that anything particularly tough has happened, but this week’s been a bit different and I feel as though I have fewer day-to-day stories and musings this time.  I’ve also missed home a lot over the last couple of days and certainly feel a change in mindset as I now look towards my final 4/5 weeks and the things I may want to do or change.  So to shake off writer’s block and hopefully give me some inspiration, I’ve decided to write this like an acrostic poem… 

I think these Wednesday primary school lessons are getting to me…

N is for “nature”

Yet again, I have been blessed with more of Namibia’s incomparable scenery and wildlife that surrounded us during the CCC staff retreat.  We stayed on a farm which was miles and miles long and I’ve already decided I want to come back here on my honeymoon (ONE DAY… before any rumours arise and Dad rings me up hahaha).  I hope the photos at the bottom of this post give you an idea of how beautiful it was.  We saw Golden Oryx while on a game drive too which was really exciting, as they’re quite rare - sadly my pictures weren’t brilliant so maybe you could google them if interested.  On the wild cat front, I’m still yet to see one on my adventures.  I really don’t know if that’s a good thing or not!!

A is for “afternoon tea” 

Perhaps England will feel a little closer tomorrow as I join the Shaves on a trip to the British High Commission for the Queen’s Birthday (the Queen shall not be attending by the way).  I literally have no idea what to expect from this but I miss my lovely home… and who could say ‘no’ to free scones, tea and cucumber sandwiches?  I promise I’ll take pictures if allowed.

M is for “Miss Cheesman’s fab English lessons” 

I really enjoyed teaching the Grade 4’s last Wednesday.  They’re a great bunch of kids and share my love for Disney films, so the Finding Nemo lesson starter went down a treat.  I don’t know if they actually learnt anything useful from me, but I suppose I’ll know for sure after I’ve marked all 60 summaries of ’The Spiderwick Chronicles’!  Kudos to all teachers reading this; I have never before realised how much creativity teaching requires!  I’m already stuck for new ideas for tomorrow and this is only week 3… help, please.

I is for “I can barely contain my excitement”

Yeah that one was a bit desperate, haha.  BUT, news broke yesterday that Prince Harry is coming to Namibia … and he’s coming before the end of the month, people!  Yes… I know I live in the same country as him and yes… he may just be too busy to visit on this occasion (though I’m sure my name features on the proposed itinerary somewhere).  However with a population of less than 3 million in Namibia, surely my chances of meeting Harry are statistically far higher here than in the UK?  Right..?  I believe there is hope yet for a Charis Cheesman/Royal-family-member selfie.

B is for “battle, blood and brilliance”

Just to clarify before I write any further, I am not inferring here that battle, blood or war is brilliant or worthy of any praise.  While on the staff retreat we were studying the book of ‘Judges’ in the Bible.  This book is gruesome and if you have read any of the stories yourself, you’ll know what I’m talking about (Ehud and the belly fat anyone..?) I really couldn’t have imagined at the start how we were going to understand a deeper meaning behind these ancient stories of violence and toilet humour.  However Simon, who is the principal of the Bible college here in Namibia, did an absolutely brilliant job of leading us through the spiritual and moral issues that underly this book and I have come away utterly dumbfounded by the things I have learned.  It was a fascinating study of humility, transformation and faith and I have such a different appreciation for the Old Testament.  I’m really looking forward to delving deeper into more of these books.

I is for “incident”

On the way home from our retreat we were forced to stop suddenly as three large warthogs ran out into the road.  With what felt like such a small bump, I hadn’t really processed that one of the hogs had been hit by our car until I looked back.  Sadly with the blessing of so much wildlife here, accidents on the road are in turn difficult to prevent.  We were grateful for our friend’s calm manner and skill in stopping the car so quickly, as it dawned on us the accident could have been so much worse.  I won’t go into details of what had to be done, but I struggled to relax as we drove the rest of the way home and naturally, I know the memory will remain at the forefront of my mind for a little while.

A is for “amazing grace”

This week I stepped right back to look at some of the basics of my faith as a Christian, as I was reminded of God’s grace that lies at the beginning and at the centre of my life.  Goodness I could go on about this one… perhaps another time.

Until next week,

Lots of love,

Charis