Happy Africa Day and a Sad Farewell to Rundu...

Our last week in Rundu went so fast! It was fun being able to spend time with many of our friends, but it was difficult to say goodbye. Rundu has been a great place to call home these past 8 months, and it is hard to imagine us living somewhere else now!

Saturday was our final Bible study at Ndama Church. We decided to have a one-day study on what is true salvation. Mark and I spent much time preparing for it and were very happy with how the day went. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and asked so many questions that the discussion ended up being 4 hours long! We were able to have a great time talking about some confusing issues within our faith, and really share the Bible with them. We've really been surprised by how much the Bible study has helped our personal faith grow here, and have been really blessed by it. We have been able to discuss the Bible and life issues with many different youth from various villages within Rundu and through it have grown close relationships that we cherish. This past Saturday we even had two elders from the Church come who only spoke Lucazi. It was great being able to include them in our "youth" Bible study! :)

Saturday night we went to the Kavango River. It is a stunning place to watch the sunset over the River that separates Namibia from Angola. It was close to our home when we stayed in Tutengeni and since moving to Ndama village we haven't seen it as often as we once did. It was great going back for one last sunset...

 

Sunday was out last church service in Ndama. We had to say goodbye to some very kind people and we thought the best way to do that was in Lucazi! So our trusty dictionary Pepe :) helped us out to translate our farewell in advance so we could practice the words together. So, Mark and I stood up in front of the congregation to thank them and said goodbye in Lucazi and in response to us going the entire congregation waved to us to send their greetings along to our family and church when we return home. :)

Sunday afternoon we were able to have an awesome Tanzanian lunch at my friend Moza's home. Moza is a friend from the hospital and her and her daughter have lived in Rundu since October! We have both been learning the language together, and have become quite close. Mark and I had a great time at her home and ate absolutely amazing food! We ate so much food I felt like it was Thanksgiving dinner... just without a turkey!

Rebekka, myself, Aina, & Kawali

Monday was my last day working in Casualty and it was definitely a tearful goodbye. I've grown so close with the staff there... and actually can't imagine not working with them in the future. It really is a close knit group, and the mix of personalities make work almost not work with how well we all got along and how fun it was together.  At the end of my day I became overwhelmed with emotion when the Casualty staff threw me a surprise going away party! Of course, I cried. :) They gave speeches and made some yummy yummy food. Mark was able to bike down to share in the party and made it just in time for my farewell gift! Rebekka handmade me a traditional Kavango dress... a gift from the entire department. It fit me perfectly, and when I asked how she even knew my measurements she said "I've worked with you everyday my dear... I know you." I will miss everyone dearly, and hope that one day I will be blessed enough to see them again.

Our last two days in Rundu we spent in the village with our family. Mark and I wholeheartedly feel that the people we've spent the last 4 months with in Ndama are our family... forever. We feel extremely blessed to have met them and right now find it almost impossible to leave them. Two of those people very close to our hearts are our brothers Pepe and Kambinda. We have spent most of our days and nights together doing absolutely nothing and absolutely everything together! Pepe is 17 years old and finishing up his grade 12 this year, and Kambinda is 20 and finished his grade 12 this past year. Both are hoping to attend University together in 2012. They are truly amazing, intelligent, kind, loving, and fun guys and to say "they will be missed" is an understatement.

We love you guys!

Our last night...

 Wednesday was our last day in Rundu and turns out it was a continent-wide holiday... Africa Day! :) Being a holiday,  there was no school so it was a great day being able to just hang in the village with everyone. Mark and I got as many hugs and high-fives as we could squeeze in in a day and began the process of saying goodbye. That night after dinner, all of us gathered around the fire and talked about our time... sharing stories, laughing, and crying together. The most touching moment for me was when Pepe's mother Elizabeth said to me... "From the beginning, I never saw our differences... I only saw you as my sister."

The family who took us in under their wing: Paulus & Elizabeth, Pepe, Kina & Tani!

Mark with Kabumba & Paulus

Thursday morning Mark and I were up before the village and even the roosters to finish packing up. Mark even made a bike trip out to town to drop off our bedding and pillows to the mission home at 4:30 am to start his day! :) We said our final goodbyes to all the kids before they headed to school... each one showing up at our doorstep in their school uniforms to give us a hug. Kambinda, Elizabeth, Cecilia, Ana, Nsamba, and little Paulus, Kabumba, and Zeka came with us to the combi stop while we waited for our ride to Windhoek. We think winter finally arrived that morning! All of us were so cold we could barely stand still. :) While waiting we had a few more hours together joking around and playing with the kids... something we will miss terribly.

As the combi drove away Mark and I were both fighting back the tears. This experience has been much more than an "experience." It was been our life and home for 8 months. We will miss our Namibian family very much and will forever hold each one of them close to our hearts.  We hope that God will continue to bless them and we pray that we will be fortunate enough to be with them again in this life.

We want to thank each and every one of you who have supported and prayed for us along this journey. We are very sad to leave Rundu, but are happy to be reunited with you again soon! In three weeks we will be returning to American soil :) after a bit of travel here in Africa. We hope that during this time we can reflect on our experiences in Namibia and prepare for our return home.