tlcinhisservice: Reflection after 2 years in Namibia...

We are approaching our two year mark at Children of Zion Village in Namibia Africa and our first furlough to see our families. We guess it is natural to have mixed emotions at this time. There is the excitement of seeing our families and friends and sadness of leaving our new family and missing 3 months of growth and learning that will take place in our children. We also know that we cannot just pick up where we left off in the states. We have changed and our friends have changed. We are thankful of the memories; the memories from before we left the states and now, the memories of our time in Africa.

When we first arrived here, it was exciting and new. Every day we learned something (and still do!) It was an adventure. The challenges were big but still the newness kept us going. Once we were here for a while, the challenges still remained. Some days we did not know if we could make it another minute. Some days we were so discouraged because we worked so hard but no one even notices. They just expect more. We know we are not here for us and that we are here to serve but we are human and we also get tired. Sometimes God calls us to our lowest so that we have to rely ONLY on HIM! And, guess what, He always provides and it is always perfect. As soon as we would get to our lowest, God provided the most wonderful blessings that boosted us so high we could soar above all of the difficulties. And, God’s timing was always perfect. From the border crossings without a work permit to the cars that continued to break down but at reasonable places and not somewhere in another country, to children that hate you because you say “no” and then love you because you just keep loving them to missing family and friends so much and then receiving a care package with goodies just like we were home in America.

We reflect on when we came here and how there was not a connection into the community. We knew there were many bridges to build because our thinking was that our children cannot be successful without the community and without their relatives that are still around. Now, the community is coming to Zion.

They are coming with donations, they are coming to camp with church children, they are coming to see what we are all about and they are coming to bring their children to the Zion Mission School. WOW!! God is doing amazing stuff and the bridges are being built and the barriers are being broken down.

When serving as missionaries, one has the privilege of touching life at most tender points… of walking with discouragement in dark valleys… of proclaiming truth in its purest form… of experiencing the highest of highs and the lowest of lows… modeling integrity through its hardest extremes --- while everyone is watching as well as when no one is looking. It is no wonder why it requires a God-given calling before one enters full time ministry or why such a struggle accompanies leaving it – even for a short time. We thank God for the work He has done in us, through us, for us – and sometimes in spite of us!

We are so thankful and so Blessed! We love our new African family, the staff, and the community.

We also Thank God for all of you that God has touched your heart to partner with him in this mission in Namibia. We cannot be here without your support, prayers and love. We know who holds the future and we thank Him for our past.

Most of all, we love the LORD our GOD, Your GOD! We are one in the spirit; we are one in the LORD!

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel form the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:3-6

If you are wondering “where in the world are Travis and Lorna?” we have the following schedule (always subject to change).

We thank you for your prayers during our travel and for the village in our time away and for our families and friends and churches as they receive us stateside.

Dates	Location
24 - 25 Aug	Drive from Namibia to Botswana; Fly from Botswana to Johannesburg and Johannesburg to Lesotho.
27 – 30 Aug	Attend The Mission Society Conference in Lesotho
1 Sept	Fly from Lesotho to Johannesburg; Fly from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth
2 – 7 Sep	Tour Southern Coast of South Africa
8 Sep	Fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg Fly from Johannesburg to Kruger
8 - 9 Sep	Safari Camp in Kruger
10 Sep	Fly from Kruger to Johannesburg; Fly from Johannesburg to London
11 Sep	Fly from London to Atlanta
12 Sep – 12 Oct	Atlanta
13-18 Oct	Pennsylvania
29 Oct – 5 Nov	Maryland
5 Nov – 9 Nov	Atlanta
10 Nov – 17 Nov	Destin Florida
18 Nov – 23 Nov	Atlanta
24 Nov	Fly from Atlanta to London
25 Nov	Fly from London to Madrid; Fly from Madrid Seville
26 Nov – 30 Nov	Spain
1Dec	Fly from Seville to Madrid: Fly from Madrid to London; Fly from London to Johannesburg
2 Dec	Fly from Johannesburg to Kasane; Drive to Katima Mulilo (Home)
7 Dec	End of School Celebration at Katima LA Hall
10 Dec	Leave with Children of Zion Mission School for one week education tour of Namibia

So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today – to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul – then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. Deuteronomy 11: 13-15