More from Namibia

I hope everyone is doing well at home. Enjoy the cold for me, please. Yesterday it was 124* F. in the sun. The top so far. Today we received our air conditioner & it's quite lovely--84* feels like heaven.
We still have not found a faith community. Jim met a Coptic Orthodox priest at the grocery store. He stopped by our flat to visit & it was a very interesting time. I did a little research & had high hopes that this would be what we were searching for. We went to Mass Sunday. There were only children there. After awhile not more than 10 adults arrived. While they believe in transubstanciation, the service seemed to be over & Father mingled among the people w/ a plate of flat bread (not flat like our hosts) & tore pieces off to give to people as they chatted. Somehow I invisioned something closer to our Communion. We somehow have to figure a way to get to a nearby town for 7AM mass on the 1st 2 Sundays of the month--it will even be in English!

I will be sending out a mass e-mail, but thought maybe this would be a good venue...many people told us before we left that if there is something we need to let them know. Well, my Grade 8 English class of 40 learners has 13 text books which they share. Their command of English is deplorable. Some days I want to cry. My Grade 6 English class (also 40) is blessed with 18 ( but about 4 of them are an older edition & things have to be adapted for them). We are doing okay in Social Studies (same Grade 6 class) with 2 learners per text. What I would love to do is buy 40 texts for Grade 8. The text that they do have is boring & of course there is no teacher's guide, but I found a test that is much more appropriate for 14 year olds.
I would also love to be able to buy each of my 80 learners their own dictionaries. The library has a few, but of course they are reference books & cannot be checked out. In fact, right now, the librarian is on sick leave & no one is able to use the library (I get books occasionally, but it is risky--there is no quarantee that the learners will return them to me).
So, this is my wish list. Both the textbooks & dictionaries run about $15 each (US $). If there is someone out there who would like to spearhead a fundraiser, that would be great. I don't expect to get all that I want...my first priority is the Grade 8 texts. I believe I will order them soon & figure out the finances later.
Jim bought texts for his Grade 5 English class--they were sharing 2/text & driving him crazy! This class is quite a challenge, & sharing didn't help. My Grade 8 is also a great challenge. I am not saying the texts will make everything wonderful, but I can't believe that they won't make a difference.
I hate asking, but these kids are winning my heart! Some are beginning to confide in me, some are asking questions about class material, some give me the biggest, most beautiful smiles you can ever imagine. And when I discipline them, they still talk in class, leave the room without permission, pass notes, paint their fingernails, tell me 15 min. into the lesson that they left their book at home (meaning that at least one other learner is also without a book!). But I love them,
and don't believe that they are getting a fair shake.
We ran out of internet time a few days ago, & at this rate, we will run out again, soon. So I will sign off. We are very thankful for your prayer support. We have needed each & every prayer---some days we can't even pray for ourselves!
Grateful for you,
sharon