Moving, ministry, and manual transmissions

So we haven't blogged now in a few weeks ... sorry! But if you're wondering why, it's because we are busy! Busy, busy, busy! So we'll take this time to catch you up on some ministry updates and some personal updates before another week sneaks by without a blog!

Hanging out at the Hangar: a Ministry Update

Marcel has been super busy at the hangar, doing some necessary inspections on the 182, helping to build hangar doors, and doing general hangar organization. It's been quite a few long days, as Lowell is here from the Canadian office to do some training with the pilots and Marcel as well. Over the past couple months, the planes have seen quite a few hours in the air, mostly delivering doctors to various rural hospitals and clinics.

Last night, we (meaning three out of four of the MAF families) had our monthly team meeting--and this one was a special team meeting with Lowell here to share the MAF Canada report on the future work of MAF in Angola. It was encouraging to hear that the board and MAF Canada staff are behind the MAF Angola team, and have a vision to expand the program in the partners we serve, the hours the planes fly, and even adding new runways! I, Kelly, was also encouraged to hear that the board would like to encourage and promote short-term teachers to come to Angola to serve with the International school! (Wink, wink ... please come and live with us!)

Speaking of the school, last week, I had the opportunity to go in for the morning and see the International school and students. I'm looking forward to starting at the school in January part-time! Many of these students are the future leaders of Angola, and I look forward to being back in the classroom and helping these students to achieve their education goals and learn more about Christ.

Finally, on the ministry front, today was our first staff Bible study without Tammy and Gary here helping to lead both the Bible study and the English lesson after with the staff. Fortunately, the Bible study went very well, as we talked about the Christmas story, and Marcel even hijacked the English lesson away from me, taking on the role as "professor" and helping explain the difference between "see" and "look". We both love these weekly Bible studies and English lessons, as it a time of staff bonding and improving our Portuguese. The staff here truly are amazing!

Moving on up: a Personal Update

On a personal front, it's been a busy few weeks! First, our neighbours moved back to Canada. They were such an important part of our transition over here, and we are going to miss them a lot as our apartment complex feels kind of empty without them. The Goertzens served for several years here, and will be missed by many who knew them and experienced their kindness and genuine hearts! We also said goodbye to two other missionary families, one of the families being the Helmholdts, who were working on the runway project here. We are also sad to see them go, as their energetic family brought such life to Lubango! Between helping them move and then moving ourselves, it's been busy. We moved into the Goertzens' old apartment, directly beside ours, and we're happy to report we are loving the upgrades! Just to name a few: couches that don't scare us to sit on (let's just say our others had seen better days!), mosquito nets that don't hang in our faces, a TV (!!!!!!) and a screen door to let in some air!

Ethan is itching to move too ... crawling that is. He's not quite there yet, but he is definitely more mobile! He's got many new friends here as well, including a recently adopted little girl only a few months older than him! Ethan now sleeps through the night, but has a harder time falling asleep without cuddles from mommy! Having a little baby has been such a blessing for us in our transition to Africa, as he helps us meet new people who are curious about the big, white baby! It's been hilarious at times to hear people's reactions, or to see Ethan react to theirs!

Finally, on a personal front, I, Kelly, have learned to drive standard! This has opened up much more freedom for me, as I am now able to drive our vehicle around town for groceries, visits, or to pick up/drop off Marcel at work. Driving is still quite stressful here, as the roads contain many dangers like potholes, speedy motorcyclists, and crowds of mini-bus taxis, not to mention the fact that I still stall pretty frequently! However, it is impressive how smooth things can run with only two traffic lights in the whole city (yes, that's more than a month ago)!

With Christmas coming, but the weather outside sunny and warm, it's been a weird feeling to try and get in the Christmas spirit, but we're getting there, slowly. First, we put up our Christmas tree ... and no, it's not a GREEN Christmas tree, but a BLACK one! How weird is that? Then, I baked some Christmas cookies with the Hall girls, and I've been playing Christmas music almost non-stop. But the real thing that got me in the Christmas spirit was reading through Luke's account of the birth of Christ with our staff yesterday. What a great reminder of the true meaning of Christmas ... it's not about snow, decorations, or even FAMILY, but about God's Son and His saving grace!

Working late at the hangar on the doors

We were so excited that Ethan was actually awake for Tundavala!

Our little family in great big Angola!

The not so glamorous ...

Wow ... one month here already. It's passed quick ... and slow. A lot of you have already watched Marcel's awesome video documenting some of the unexpected aspects of our life here: eg. garbage everywhere, beautiful scenery, constant barking of dogs (in hindsight, the sound clip does NOT do this item justice), friendly guards ... a mix of AMAZING, weird, and  ... well, stinky ... things that characterize our life here. If you haven't watched the movie, here's your chance.



But I really want to use this blog post to talk about the not so glamorous parts of our life here--not that garbage and dogs are "glamorous", per se, but what I want to talk about is just some things I'm struggling with in our transition here. And they are not "glamorous missionary struggles" like drawing my water from a well and lugging it home, or eating strange insects and getting sick ... no, it's just kind of the "real life", semi-boring struggles.

So here it is ...

I'm struggling with being a stay-at-home mom. I'm not gonna lie ... it feels super weird here. In Canada ... it felt normal. I mean, a lot of my friends were doing it, it was expected, and there was a huge move to prepare for. Now that I'm here, I'm dealing with all these feelings I didn't expect to feel.

For example, the feeling of being REALLY stuck at home. In Canada, I could go places like the park, church, friend's houses, pool, etc. Here, we don't have a vehicle yet. There's not really any parks or pools or cool events for that matter (something I'm missing a lot, like when people post pics of Halloween or long adults retreats). I don't have my same friends, and none of my friends here have babies the same age as Ethan. I can't really go for a leisurely walk with Ethan. Our yard isn't exactly kid friendly ... it's mostly cement. And with Ethan being so young, we have to be careful with him around all the neighbourhood kids for health and hygiene reasons. Oh ... and I'm a foreigner. I'm always going to be "different" ... an outsider.

The other feeling I wasn't expecting to deal with is this feeling of helplessness. What I mean is, there are a lot of opportunities and need around me ... I mean, there's neighbourhood kids right in front of our compound who don't get a good, healthy meal every day. There's people on our street who are dealing with poverty. So many people want to learn English and get a better education, but don't have the money.

The "go getter" part of me is just dying to do something!!!! But I'm kind of restricted. I haven't really mastered the language yet. I don't know the culture (in fact, I'd still categorize myself as CLUELESS about the culture). There's security concerns. I have a baby who needs almost constant attention. And there's this HUGE warning sign going off in my head: don't just jump into something before you really think it out. The last thing you want to do is hurt people in an attempt to help them. Before you start anything, make sure you've really listened. Really looked. Really prayed, and studied, and considered.

And that requires patience. And reading books. And being willing to sit still, to move slowly. To do the boring background research. To ask questions. And to wait ... and if you've followed our blog for any amount of time, you know I hate waiting.

But waiting is super important. Experienced missionaries have even encouraged me to wait several months, even a year (!) before starting anything! It sounds like crazy talk. It sounds painful, and slow! But it also sounds very wise. Just ... difficult. And ... not so glamorous.

So, at last, I'm writing this post to share this frustration with you, and to ask you to pray for me. Pray for patience, and a willingness to wait on God's leading with timing. Pray that I will realize the wonderful gift of motherhood, and treasure it even when it's kind of boring. Pray that I will listen and learn, and be okay if God has different things in store for me than I had planned. Pray that I will embrace life here, and love life here.

Okay ... post over. Hope that this didn't come off as a complaining session, but more of a "heart sharing" session--maybe some of you moms or missionaries out there will relate. I am 100% confident that I won't always feel this way, and before I know it, life here will feel normal ... and dare I say it ... busy with so many cool things. Our God is good, and He's already at work here in my life and the city of Lubango. Praise God for His faithfulness, and His power through weak, clueless vessels like us. :)

Day-to-day Week #3 ...

Wow, the third week already! Seems like it's been much longer ... as the "honeymoon" wears off, and the real day-to-day living begins! What does that look like right now?

Usually, Ethan and I wake up at 5:30/6 am ... not by choice, but hey, there is something beautiful about Lubango in the early morning. It's light already and quiet. I usually get in a workout while Ethan plays, and definitely get the coffee started. For breakfast, I tried my hand at homemade yogurt (so easy and so cheap, and DEFINITELY the missionary thing to do) and homemade granola, which has become our favourite breakfast staple.

Next week, Marcel will start work at the hangar full-time. Until then, we've been exploring our new world. Day-to-day this might mean grocery shopping, chatting with our guards, going to church with a new family each week, eating ice cream with our neighbours, walking downtown, going to pizza night, or just setting up our home. Things that don't sound particularly "missionary-ish" because they're not. They're the day-to-day items of "setting up a new life" and mentally/physically/and emotionally making Lubango HOME.

My work lately has been to push through some really important books and absorb as much knowledge as possible about the culture. The first book was African Friends and Money Matters by David Maranz. Such a key book to understanding and APPRECIATING life in Africa--emphasis on the appreciation part, because without some background knowledge, there are so many things that could drive a Westerner crazy!

My other reading project is When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. This book is meant to be done slowly and meticulously ... and I'm soaking it up like a sponge as fast as possible. Why? Because it's amazing ... and because we now live in the midst of poverty, I feel like I better learn as much as I can from this book about other people's mistakes while helping the poor BEFORE I make my own mistakes! Seriously, if you are moving to Africa, I highly recommend both of these books. They are GREAT! Anyone else have recommendations?

Between taking care of Ethan, who is happy to demand tons of attention, and reading/observing/taking care of the day-to-day essentials, it's not hard to put in a full work day. It's work ... but it's enjoyable. The people around us make it enjoyable. There's some amazing missionaries here, and not only that, but some amazing Angolans too. The view here doesn't hurt either. We have an impeccable view of Cristo Rei and the escarpment. We overlook much of the city. At any point during the day I can sit out on our front porch and watch kids playing, or on the steps out back and watch lizards scurry around. Every day is sunn, and most days end with a well-deserved rain in the afternoon/evening.

That being said, I have a lot to learn, and I'm learning lots. Just last week, I had a "learning hurdle day" (that's me using nice terms to describe a mentally and emotionally draining day). Apparently, there's a lot here that doesn't work the same way as it would in North America. Like walking places, and vaccinations, and making friends, and sharing food. Or the fact that Lubango, a city of thousands of people, HAS NO STOPLIGHTS! Basically, you just have to have an open mind, a prayerful heart, and a willingness to learn.

So, since I don't feel like I "naturally" take any of those stances, pray for me. Pray for us. Pray that we have humility. It's crazy to think how much pride we carry with us day to day, and how moving to another country helps reveal that--especially a less developed nation. Verses like Philippians 2:3-5 challenge me every day: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus ..." Every day, I am challenged by what it means to have the mind of Christ. Pray for us as we grow into our new lives and our new roles, as well as counter old habits and beliefs that may hinder us in this new country. Thank you so much!

And now to end with a few random shots from the last few weeks of our life ... Enjoy!

Marcel, Alex, and Marijn try their hand at biking in the African "outback" (or "mata").

While on a weekend trip to Hungaria Falls, we stopped by some women at the river. This one had a baby of her own,
but took some time to hold curious Ethan.

Does it get any better than this? Hungaria Falls, 2.5 hour drive from home.

Morning quiet time: Coffee, When Helping Hurts and African Friends and Money Matters.
Oh, and a great view of Lubango.

Just so cute ... and desperate to crawl and stand. He's growing so much!

More animated every day! He particularly enjoys time with daddy, tickling, and wearing his Hawaii shirt!

The view from the front of our house of the escarpment. 

Cristo Rei and the LUBANGO sign (like the Hollywood sign). View from the front of our house.

Never thought I would say this ... but the bread here rocks!
Portuguese buns, fresh from the oven ... and so cheap! No time to be gluten free! 

Marcel adventured to the "praca" or marketplace with Basilio to find some tools. It's like Trail's End Market ... on steroids!

The Case for a 4x4

I (aka Marcel) have been putting this off for a while now, and it has been easy to do with so much to take in since arriving in Lubango 11 days ago. Language, culture, weather, friends, altitude... life; everything has been a whirlwind of trying to figure out where to place our focus. Thankfully it has been a good adjustment, and we don't have to worry about focusing on one particular thing right now.

The thing I've been putting off is updating the ministry vehicle fund situation, mostly because, well, I don't particularly enjoy asking people for money. In a way it seems strange because if you think about it, most people are happy to get a very nice vehicle for a very reduced price, and that part does make us extremely thankful. However from a different angle, I can't help but think that people are going to say "Why in the world do they need a $50,000 vehicle?"

First of all, We want to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed already. So far, just over $26,500 has been raised, which means we are over halfway there! I for one am blown away by the generosity of people since we have done very little to create awareness for this vehicle. Many people have gone way above what we expected or deserved. It also serves as a reminder to me that anything we've done so far has little to do with what we do, and everything to do with what God has done for us.

For those who still have questions regarding what this vehicle fund thing is all about, I am going to attempt to answer a few of the more common questions we have received while campaigning for this ministry vehicle. Here we go:

Why is the vehicle so expensive? It just is. Everything here is more expensive. Buying a vehicle here isn't like North America where you can go to a local dealership, or check kijiji for something used. Shopping around, you have limited options here, basically it's Toyota or Land Rover. Importing a vehicle means it has to be 3 years old or newer, and that's going to cost a lot anyway. Buying a vehicle that is 10-15 years old can still cost fifteen to twenty thousand dollars, and with a baby on board, we would like something a little more reliable. Buying a new vehicle will simply cost more than the one being offered us. The good news is, re-sale value is still high! (just trying to think positive here).

What kind of vehicle is it? The vehicle we are purchasing is a 2013 Toyota Hilux that currently belongs to one of the MAF pilots. They no longer will be needing the truck, and are willing to give us a good deal on it. It has all the features that are good to have in an African vehicle too...

• Diesel engine - which is more common here 
• 4x4 - to help when driving through the rivers that the roads inevitably turn into
• Bull bar - for the mild game of bumper cars that can happen in downtown traffic
• Upgraded suspension - so we can drive on our road without feeling like we have square tires
• Extra fuel tank - so we can occasionally drive somewhere outside the city, and make it to the next gas station
• Cap - to prevent something from getting stolen, and then having to re-purchase it at the market

... the list goes on.

What will be the vehicles primary purpose? Since we live close to downtown, getting to the airport at the east end of the city for work, or to Mitcha Compound where the school is and other staff at the north end of the city, will likely be the most common use of the vehicle. There are other options for transportation, and that includes the moto-taxi's, which are the one-person designed mopeds that incidentally have an entire ward at the hospital designated for these riders. We've been warned, DO NOT TAKE THE MOTO-TAXI!

How do I donate? The simplest way is online. You can go to https://mafc.org/missionarypages/boers/ and scroll to the bottom of the page. There is a form there. Under the "Donation Amount" column, fill in an amount for "Other", which will automatically designate it to the vehicle fund. Calling the office directly at 1-877-351-9344 will do the trick too. Gayle and Anna are very nice people.

Will I get a tax receipt? You certainly will! So if you're looking to make an early year-end donation, we would certainly appreciate it.

When do you need the vehicle by? The earlier the better. The sooner we have the vehicle, the sooner we are able to get around town and do things like groceries without tying up other people's schedule by needing a ride.

That's all I have for now. Thanks for reading this far, and if there's anything I have left out, please send us an email with your questions - mboers@maf.org. If you'd like to see what the driving conditions can be like, check out the video and pictures below!

The truck (above), and our road (below) during a typical afternoon downpour

Challenges, Portuguese, Spiritual Leaders, and Neighbours

Yesterday was overwhelming in so many good ways ... that I felt inclined to blog as soon as possible, before it all faded away with the start of yet another day in our new normal.

Yesterday ... where do I start. It was a great day, but not because it was easy. It was challenging, life-giving, and mentally draining.

I met Maria, our single mother neighbour who cares for two beautiful children, Eddie and Latinha. Timid and, doubtless, living in dire poverty, she cooed over Ethan while I played with Eddie. But what do two young mothers talk about who live so close and yet come from two totally different worlds? Not only that, but two different languages? Children and being a mother, I guess. We sat with Tio Loorindo, our incredibly humble, funny, and hard-working guard. He is so eager to learn English and has been so helpful in making us at home in Lubango.

Later, I wandered down the street while Ethan napped, and brought our beautiful illustrated Portuguese-English dictionary with me. I found a few neighbours I had previously met, and we poured over the book, talking about my dislike of birds, favourite animals, and the danger of scorpions. All in Portuguese. It was one of those moments I could never have pictured in my future ... until now.

Our empregada, who comes to clean the house, came for the first time yesterday. Yet again, my Portuguese was challenged as I showed her how to use our fancy washing machine and we sat all together and ate lunch, making small talk and laughing at Ethan's attempts to eat the table.

I needed a nap after all of this. Then, the afternoon brought a party of all the MAF staff celebrating our arrival in Angola. If I thought I was home free to speak English the rest of the day, I was wrong. Almost 24 people sat and shared cake, "salgados" (little Portuguese pastries filled with meat), Cokes, games, and a report on the future of MAF Angola. And almost everyone there was a national--except ourselves and two other missionary families. Our guards, the office staff, and the hangar staff, all in one place, and it was a party! Our quiet guards became animated when we played the dice game (my sisters know this game ... it's competitive) and BINGO. It was a hoot. Adelino shared some sort of hilarious, animated story that Marcel and I completely missed the meaning of, but everyone else laughed hysterically. Ze fell through one of the chairs and there wasn't a dry eye we were laughing so hard. A few of the staff gave us wisdom for adjusting to life in Angola that I will forever cherish--the most simple, and profound of which was to pray always, and constantly. Give it up to God.

Finally, our day ended off in the most Canadian way possible: pizza and Settlers of Catan with excellent company. We needed that. My heart was full as Ethan played with Judah and Salome, the children of another Dutch MAF family. It was past his bed time--and yet he didn't cry. He was too absorbed in watching the older kids play with him and his toys. Later, they tucked into bed all in the same room until our game was done. I won.

This morning, I woke up surprisingly well rested. I actually found time to open my bible and pray BEFORE breakfast. I am reading Hebrews, and I'm in chapter 13. This verse stuck out to me (verse 7): Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. It stuck out to me as I struggle daily to discern how I will serve here in Angola. Am I called to teach at the missions school? Do I carry on the work of our neighbour Tammy, who is teaching the staff English? Is there some sort of meaningful way I can get involved in the neighbourhood with the neighbourhood kids? I don't know ... but this verse reminded me to think like and look to the leaders in my life, and put myself in their shoes. What would Graham do? What about Angela or Dave? My parents? Marcel's parents? Or the new leaders I've met here in Angola? Uncle Steve? Tammy and Gary? What would they do?

As I thought of these people, and the faith they have, the way they live their lives, I was greatly encouraged. In this world I am not alone. We are not alone. Not only do we have the Creator of the Universe who knows us personally and walks with us minute by minute, but we are also surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. I don't know what the future holds for us in Angola ... but I need not worry or fear. Instead, I will pray, watch, learn, and imitate the faith of those many witnesses around me. Because of them, I--we-- have the courage to soar.

Party in our backyard! 

Playing BINGO (good practice for numbers in Portuguese)

The crazy, wild dice game where our quiet staff became incredibly animated and competitive!

Honoured by this amazing cake ... and amazing staff.

Ethan making friends with Tchavuka (I know he doesn't look happy, but he was a few seconds before)

Because of so many people ... we have the courage to soar! (Had to add this one ... it's just too cute!)

One week of the new norm

Wow ... has it been one week already since we left Canada? So much has changed already! What does our new life even look like now? I thought about how to best write this blog, and eventually I settled on Q&A style ... since likely, many of you would ask fairly similar questions. So here's a little snapshot into EVERYTHING that's happened over the last week!

What's it like in Angola?

Oh wow ... different than even I could have expected ... and I've lived in Africa! Lubango (our city) feels about the size of London (Ontario), but with more people. Thus far, it's been quite dry, as we are at the end of the dry season and transitioning into the rainy season. It's dusty. When it rains, it pours.

It's dirty here. Dusty, and dirty, with lots of garbage everywhere. And yet, there's lots of beauty. Houses are painted in bright colours. People are beautiful: with exquisite hairdos, sharp fashion, and a happy kindness to them. In the city, nature is non-existent ... it's been stamped out by houses, roads, and garbage. But look up to the escarpment, and you see incredible cliff faces and natural beauty (just search Tundavala, a location only a half hour from Lubango).

Everyone speaks Portuguese, or a tribal language. At least everyone we've met. English is limited. Stores are small, and sell everything and nothing at the same time. There's a lack of organization to the city that would drive Westerners nuts ... yet everything seems to flow. No stoplights ... yet an understanding of how traffic works.

We go to sleep every night to the sound of loud music playing somewhere ... sometimes the church, sometimes the bar. Oh, and the sound of dogs constantly barking. We wake up to the rooster crowing, or Ethan crying.

View from the front of our apartment (note: our bumpy dirt road and the beautiful escarpment)

What have you guys been doing?

Adjusting. Need I say more? Setting up our house, shopping for things we need, exploring, relaxing (because you need some down time in a big transition). Eating dinner with fellow staff members. Gleaning advice on everything from where to buy eggs to how to love our neighbours. Talking about future vacations and current paperwork. Hanging out with Ethan and helping him adjust. Learning how to filter our water and how NOT to kill cockroaches.

Hike to Tundavala, only a half hour out of the city, and we get this view!

How were the flights?

Long--but good. If you ask Marcel, the best flight was the last one with MAF from Windhoek to Lubango. It was in the MAF Caravan. It was approximately four hours, broken up by one stop on the border of Angola. We could see everything for miles--including the desert and the Etosha Pan. But ask Kelly, and she'll say that one was the worst ... because of the volatile weather (lots of up and down drafts) the flight was anything but smooth. And ... she threw up.

Yeah ... not so happy to be taking a selfie

 Have you used your Portuguese?

SIM!!!! Yes, yes, yes!!!! Every day.

How is Ethan?

Good! He seems to be adjusting well. We're going to have to watch his sun exposure (his sweet delicate skin!). He's teething, so he's really fussy sometimes ... or at least, we think he's teething. Other than that, I guess the only way to know he's adjusting well is if he's smiling, pooping, and eating. And he's doing all three (not at the same time ... usually).

How can we stay in touch?

For now, Facebook, email, and Skype. We might be slow to respond (time difference ... busyness ... occasionally weak Internet). Oh, and come visit us!

Okay, that's all for now. Stay tuned for more updates! Thanks for your prayers, love, and support!

Thanksgiving 2015

Is it really Thanksgiving Weekend? The summer weather here sure doesn't feel anything like it.

We had dinner and some really good conversation with our neighbours next door last night. They - and many other staff - have been very helpful in the adjustment process here in Lubango.

One of the most surprising things I've learned so far is that leaving home comes with a grieving process. I believe it's healthy to let the emotions out when they come, just now to dwell in that. I couldn't really figure out why there is so much emotion in something like this, but now realize a big reason is that a part of me knows I will be a different person when we return. Kelly, Ethan, and I will be different had we stayed. everyone at home will be older, kids will have grown up... everything will just be a bit different partly due to experiences we will have here.

Sometimes change is something to be thankful for too. I expect to learn a lot from this experience, and trust that God will provide what we need when we need it most. Maybe I should be more thankful for that now.