Greetings Friends,

Last you heard from me I was in Lusaka, the capital of …………….. (a test for you), travelling with Steve from Sydney. We headed east from there, and next day crossed into Malawi, where they say they are “the warm heart of Africa”. And they could be right, as others also remarked how welcoming the Malawians were. We had a night in the small capital, Lilongwe, then to a campsite on Lake Malawi. I knew SU has been developing a Camp Centre on the lake for some years, but was amazed when told by some locals that it was 200 metres along the beach. It was on the same village’s land! So I had a chance to see it, and meet the manager, who was making more bricks for a bit more building. They have been doing that for 13 years, and still a good way to go. But they use it still.

Then we drove through country that reminded me of the Papua New Guinea highlands, where I first lived overseas 33 years ago. We went up, up to Mzuzu, then down, down back to the Lake, but further north. Fantastic scenery all day.

Next day we crossed into Tanzania, and 2 days of driving across to Dar es Salaam, the business capital (can you tell me the national capital?). It’s a big, sweaty, chaotic place, somewhat more what people outside Africa expect. Thankfully Dar was the end of the overland truck and of camping for us – 10 days was about a week too long!! Why? Read 2 Timothy 3:2-4 – we were living with it – yuk. And the tent novelty wore off quite early, as we had to take it down, travel, then put it up, almost everyday. Many days we were up at 5am for long days on bumpy roads. My physio has seen me a fair bit as a result…

The positive: it was good to take in the vastness and natural beauty of some of Africa, and so different to Namibia’s desert beauty. And seeing the standards many people live under, made clear that Namibia has many good things that others in Africa do not. Our roads are smooth, and there is clearly a bit more money in our villages (seen by more brick and iron-roof houses, and that there are usually a few cars in Namibian villages, but none in these other countries, and we have little shops rather than crowded open-air street markets). Our towns are much cleaner and in a better state of repair, and we have school space for all kids. And Windhoek is bustling and building (and has much better cafes).

Anyway, next we took a high-speed ferry for 2 hours to Zanzibar, and its capital of Stone Town. We had 2 nights in this old and very fascinating city, and 2 nights at a beach resort in the north. A good finish, especially with proper rooms and beds!
Then Steve and I were on our own to Moshi in north …………….. (which country?). We had an evening with some of the SU crew there. Next day Steve set-off for Mt Kilimanjaro. He made it to the top, just, as the weather was atrocious – minus 15C in icy wind and cloud. But that made it even more of an achievement. Well done, Steve. (3 days later I saw Kili in full sunshine from the plane home)

Meanwhile, I went on to Nairobi for the first-ever Scripture Union Africa Leadership Summit. My Chairman Mike arrived by plane at the same time, and we joined 80 other SU National Directors and Chairmen from 34 African countries. It was a most encouraging time, if not a bit too packed with programme. Could have used another day and a bit more time to interact as time went on. Very worthwhile overall, and especially for Mike, who had not had SU contact outside Namibia before. We finished with 2 more nights in the Anglican Guest House near mid-city, where Mike and I and our Zambian counterparts, and then Steve, became tourists briefly, after attending one of the 4 morning services at All Saints Anglican Cathedral. Our service had 2000 people, and there was a youth service, a teen service and a Swahili service happening in other buildings at the same time – amazingly good.

We flew home, and South African Airways even threw in an upgrade for the Joburg to Windhoek flight – a nice way to finish. It was so good to get home to Namibia (and smooth roads).

Now, to SU Namibia –
May in SU Namibia is quiet – it’s not only school holiday, but also the public holiday month, so I wasn’t missing too much. Now we are busy getting out to schools, and I am busy helping the field staff to do that. Tomorrow I will drive 200km for an afternoon with our coastal worker Boniface, and his regional Chairman. A prac student with us is heading north-east to his town for leave and will visit schools there. And Elmo is off south for a month visiting far-flung schools, with help from Phill one week, and me another week.

Last Sunday night Boniface started SU at a school hostel. 50 students made commitments to walk with Jesus, and now he is discipling them and training the SU Teachers. A great worker. Wonderful opportunities here – just need to build the team and their support.

25-27 June we have our SU National Conference, the first adult SU event for a long time. Please pray that our advertising will reach many, and they will come, and get behind the ministry today, and thousands of Namibians have been SU members in school days. Otherwise, I am staying-put in Windhoek this month. Might watch a little football, like Aussie booting Germany this Sunday … GO SOCCEROOS

Great tour director, Maretha from Cape Town, and Steve, and waiter in Zanzibar resort.

Blessings to you and yours,
Graeme

For a full picture-rich copy of Graeme’s newsletter see below.