The eagle has landed

We received a bulk email (Tuesday afternoon) letting us know they made it safely. No other details as of yet, but following is the content of that email:

Dear Friends and Family of WorldTeach Namibia Volunteers!!!

Your loved one arrived safely in beautiful Hosea Kutako International Airport in Namibia this afternoon. I cannot express to you how excited I am to work with them over the coming year! The Namibian government, as well as the schools, are already so grateful for the personal contribution that your friend or family member is making to the Namibian education system.

We are now in Windhoek and the volunteers are settling into our home base for Orientation, Backpacker Unite. We will spend the next three weeks covering topics like teaching, culture shock, Namibian languages and health and safety. Although we have a jam-packed orientation planned, there is some free time for them to get a needed fix of Internet connection…so I anticipate you will hear from them soon. Please trust that I have taken great time and consideration in preparing for their arrival. I have been in close touch with their schools, who are also eagerly awaiting them.

Thank you for supporting these volunteers’ endeavors as they dedicate a year of their lives to assist Namibian teachers and students. I know firsthand what a rewarding experience this is, and they will have so many stories – funny, sad, absurd, eye-opening – when they return.

Best,

Jocie Jungers
Field Director

A travel update (and boy was Sam wrong)

So, about 7 hours after I (Sam) posted about J&S likely having a smooth set of flights... we got the call. Apparently, although I checked everything at JFK International, I overlooked checking on Bloomington having plane de-icer (I should've known to check this, right? lol)

Well, from what I gather, after a flight delay out of Bloomington they left for Detroit - and then after having missed the first of all connections were routed somewhere through Connecticut and finally on to New York - where they basically had to wait for the next day's flight to Johannesburg. At this point, however, it should be around 4:30pm where they currently are in Africa and they should've arrived there (weary, worn out, and hopefully still with some degree of sanity) sometime this morning (their time).

Any prayers for no further travel 'hiccups' are appreciated to be sure. I'll update more if and when we hear more.

A message from Sam

Jim and Sharon won't likely have internet access for the next 3-4 weeks as they will be orienting to their new surroundings and upcoming duties. Given that, I figured I'd make a guest post (which may happen more than a few times in the upcoming year lol) to let everyone know what little I know.

Maureen took them to the airport in the wee hours of the morn today, and from what I gather they passed security and got on their way without issue. I checked, as best I could, their itinerary against weather reports and reported delayed/canceled flights... I didn't see any conflicts, so I assume that they are across the pond and doing well at this point.

Maureen made comment that they both were very calm and very at ease this morning... which was definitely comforting to hear. They will be dearly missed by everyone here, but they will be blessing and enriching the lives of others in the same way that we all know so well.

I'll post more as we learn more (in case they are unable to do so). If anyone has any direct questions, concerns, or comments, you can reach me at smbka_1@yahoo.com.

today

Eight days to go. lots to do. So, messing around with this instead of getting things done!
Later

and then there were 10

Only 10 days left til these crazy kids take off on their adventure. I'm (Sam) hoping that they are able to, and will, keep us well informed (hint hint). I'm posting this now just because it's been 6 months since anything was last posted (although there was no reason for anything to be posted prior to now).