Greetings my dearest Family and Friends!
I hope that this past week was as enjoyable for you as it was for me! I had a very good time visiting with Thomasine. I went to pick her up in Oshakati on the Wednesday before last and we came back to Rundu the next day. On Friday we walked into town and I was able to introduce her to my friends and all the people that I stop to talk to along the way. One of the funniest moments for me was when my friends from Zimbabwe told her that she knew how to speak better than me and that they could understand her better, that she didn't talk through her nose like I do. What was funny about this you ask? She's from Chicago! I laughed and told them that the part of America where she comes from they talk through their nose much worse than I do and that they wouldn't be able to understand her if she hadn't been in Africa for the last two years! They didn't believe me, but I knew it was true!
Sunday found us traveling in the public taxi to Windhoek. The music was way too loud for us to be able to talk but we rested for a large part of the trip and we arrived safely so we felt blessed! Monday through Wednesday morning we were in downtown Windhoek during the day and enjoyed the comforts of staying with the Rineer family in the evenings. I love staying with Mick & Suzanne and the kids! They are so great at making me feel at home, comfortable and a part of the family! The kids thought it was very cool that Thomasine lived in Madagascar so they made her feel welcome as well! We visited almost all of the historic sites of Windhoek including the old prison which isn't really a museum, it's just that the building still stands (it was converted into office space in the 60's). After getting permission to go into the lobby and look at the plaque that gives information about the building we decided to walk a little farther in until someone stopped us. Then from out of nowhere came a nice man who gave us a little tour! He showed us into the old kitchen area, the one old cell that remains (but is being used for storage) and just around the building. It was built in the early 1900s and it was cool and a little sad to touch the walls and think about everything that the walls had been witness to.
On Wednesday we took Thomasine to the airport and I said my goodbyes. I was supposed to head home on Thursday, but Mick thought my passport was ready to be picked up from the office of Home Affairs and asked me if I wanted to stay an extra day. How could I say no to getting my passport back?! So I got to spend an extra day in the city and did a little more shopping. I arrived safely back in Rundu on Friday evening and then had the pleasure of hosting Gary & Elizabeth Wilkins for the weekend.
The Wilkins are independent missionaries that are living in Tsumeb (sue-meb), a town about 4 hours away from Rundu. In May they are having a team of church elders come to do some leadership training and were here getting things set up. They are originally from Birmingham (or a little south of it) so it was fun to have some Southerners in my home. I even made sweet tea! :-) I look forward to having them again when they come back in a few weeks!
I bet many of you are wondering how I am doing. I am doing well, thanks for asking! I feel really settled (although I still anticipate moving into the hospital housing in less than a month and am not looking forward to packing and moving again) and am getting into a good routine. I know this will change once I start at the hospital, but for now it's working for me! I have not been having problems with the roaches. I still see them occasionally but nothing major. The dogs are still the dogs, but there's nothing I can do about them. (right now the female is in heat and I am having a grand time keeping them separated)
Other than that language is at a little bit of a stand still right now. Imelda is a school teacher and they are in between semesters right now so she is in Windhoek visiting her boyfriend (I got to have lunch with her while I was there). So I think this week I am going to take the time to learn some Bible verses in Rukwangali and hopefully learn that way.
I hope this finds you well! I look forward to hearing from you!
hugs and kisses,
kimmie
Praises:
Thanks for your prayers during all of mine and Thomasine's traveling, we are both safely back home
Buford is healing well from his surgery
Rob & Alisa (and tribe) traveled safely to Windhoek today
Prayer needs:
My friends Michele & Matt Anderson just their second baby a few weeks ago and their daughter Audrey is having heart surgery on the 8th of May
My ex co-worker who is undergoing chemo
Mick & Suzanne Rineer- for guidance, wisdom and patience and for safety for Mick as he travels to some meetings this week in South Africa
Rob & Alisa will be picking up her parents from the airport today (Monday) and will be doing some traveling here in Namibia, seeing the sights. Please pray for their safety as they travel and that they will be able to cherish each moment they have together.
My friend Joy has a very busy week with multiple meetings each day. Please pray that she will be patient and full of grace and wisdom during these meetings and that she will have endurance to last the entire week!
Kimmie Tibbetts
Serving the people of Namibia at the Rundu State Hospital
http://thekimmieconnection.tripod.com
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Posted by thekimmieconnection
at 1:07 AM BST