Fathers and Sons

The Other day Faye was going through some draws and found a picture of my dad and I. It immediately got me thinking of a picture taken of me with Joshua.. Well you have a look and tell me what you think.

One thing is for sure, my dad was a real good looker in his younger days - I am so glad I take after him.

A Spin Doctors Paradise..

This family web page was started as a means to afford our family, friends and ministry partners a means by which to keep updated on developments with us in ministry and to generally stay informed about us.. I must confess however that I am loathe to write updates about our family and ignore the situation back in our homeland - Zimbabwe..

29th March 2008 we followed the news coverage on Zimbabweans casting their votes.. Almost 3 weeks later we like many others are wondering at what is going on in our wonderful country which has become a spin doctors paradise.. SADC gives the election a clean bill of health yet for some reason the full results are yet to be released - One spin -the results are being rigged to keep the existing regime in power.. Other spin- due to the importance of the election results due care must be taken to ensure that the results are correctly verified and so delays in announcing are normal and legitimate.. Whatever the spin, the fact is that the full results, which were posted outside polling stations (after being verified at the polling station) have not been officially released. Fact is that Zimbabwe is in an economic crisis.. Yet amazingly an African head of state announces, with a straight face and very calmly that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe ! Tell that to the folk in Zimbabwe (without hiding behind Presidential Protection) and see how far you get..

The protracted withholding of Presidential results, the conflicting public statements a plethora of commentators giving their analysis of the unfolding events has served to distract me to some measure from the work I believe God called me to do. Nonetheless I have started our Short Term Leadership Development (STLD) programme.

Seven students are in training and four more students are awaiting the granting of entry visas before they can join us for the remainder of the training which runs through until the end of July.
Our first week was spent looking into essential disciplines to be used when interpreting God's Word (The Bible).. It was quite an intense week and I am very happy to report that we ended the week on a very positive note with the students commenting they had learned something very helpful..

Our two youngest ones have been unwell due to the changing weather. There is a chill in the morning air and we can tell that winter is on its way in. Joshua is cutting more bottom teeth and is making a concerted effort to walk.. It won't be much longer before I report that he is walking.

Sydney spends the whole day at kindergarten and enjoys learning to speak German. Two weeks ago we attended their school evening presentation which was (as expected) an evening of fun as proud parents spent the evening watching their precious little angels keep us entertained.

Larnelle is in a wonderful time of transition which is very challenging for Faye and I. At times she demonstrates levels of mature thinking and action that makes us very proud.. and then she will demonstrated levels of immaturity that cause us to be a bit concerned .. Yet this is the wonderful and challenging responsibility of being a parent. Praise God we do not have to attempt to fulfil this responsibility on our own, but can rely on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us and endow us with wisdom for the task.

To all who read this post, I extend the invitation to pray earnestly for Zimbabwe... Thanks so much.

These shoes Are Meant for Walking..

Well Hello there, this is Joshua at seven months old..He has four teeth and is crawling all over the place.. Dad does not have to go to the gym because he gets all the exercise he needs by keeping up with Joshua. Joshua crawls to a place where he can pull himself into a standing position- check out the picture !

Faye and I are so very thrilled with Joshua and are doing our best to enjoy all the developmental stages he is going through. He has a most enjoyable temperment and is literally always smiling.. As I write this post at 10:00pm Joshua is asleep on the carpet about 2 metres away from me, Faye and Sydney have been cutting up carrots which will then be packed and frozen or use later when our Short Term Leadership Development Students arrive for training. Larnelle is away for the Easter weekend at a farm. She has gone there with some friends and will be back on Tuesday..

We have experienced so much rain in this region of late it has been quite something. The countryside is wonderfully green and lush and the mosquitoes are out in force.. The rivers have been flowing and we took some time out recently to spend a Sunday afternoon at the river..

The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and even Joshua had his time in the river...

Sydney and Larnelle attempted to build sand castles and we had our work cut out for us trying to prevent Joshua from eating the sand.. The river is a great place to collect smooth pebbles to lay around the flowers. Of ourse Faye collected pebbles and some sand for use at the Training centre..

This looks so cool, and our children truly enjoyed themselves, they say that a family that plays together has a great time.. Well we certainly enjoyed playing together and yes we had a great time...

Check these two darlings. Sydney trying to instruct her baby brother on how to really play in the water, and of course Joshua is determined to do it his own way..

Our days have been full, preparing for the Short Term Leadership Development school which starts soon.. This past weekend we have had 12 students on site for Choose To Wait training. Faye and I shared the load of ensuring that coffee, tea and food were available and the meals were served on time.

You will recall that my car was damaged in a collision on the highway.. My car goes to the panelbeaters on Tuesday after easter and I hope it will be completed within a few days. Something that has been such a blessing has been my dealings with the other driver who was at fault. There has been no complications with obtaining the money to cover repairs and all the discussions have been pleasant and friendly.. I have to admit I am looking forward to seeing my car repaired and looking good again..

Despite my car being damaged I have been able to use it - reminds me that even though life, family or friends may let us down and cause us injury (damage), if we will, God will still use us for His purposes..

Faye and I wish all our family and friends a blessed and enjoyable Easter break.. yes Jesus died and was buried in a tomb - But Hallelujah He rose again on the third day and now sits at the right had of God the Father making intercession (speaking on our behalf) to the Father for us..

Jesus Died to give us life - May the significance of Christ's death and resurrection become more real and more clear this Easter..

Community Living

Life here at the International Training Centre has taken on a very international flavour.. Desmond Marshall, who has just joined the International Office staff come from Ireland, Assed Josephat who is here for Leadership Training hails from Tanzania, Hennie and Jannie come to us from the Netherlands, Helen is a Namibian and of course we are Zimbabweans. We have allocated dinner duties to each of the folk on site and so we get treated to exotic dishes like Irish Stew, Namibian Fat Koek, Tanzanian delicacies and Dutch 'Hashi' (Excuse my spelling)..

This past week I met with Pastor Derek Moore (who leads Manna New Covenant Church) to talk about issues of leadershp within the local fellowship and the role that Faye and I could fill. These are exciting days and the challenge for Christian Leaders is at its highest. We are truly convinced, as never before of the need for Christian leaders to get involved within the community rather than simply see themselves as leaders exclusively in the church.. The word that comes to mind is engagement..

Joshua is on the move, he is pulling himself along the floor and we expect that he'll be crawling within the next week or so. he is moving so quikly that this morning I installed a gate which we can close off the the bedroom area upstairs and thus be able to leace Joshua to crawl about upstairs without worrying that he will fall down the steps.

Sydney is quite thrilled that she gets to go swimming during her morning at 'school'. Today she impressed us all by swimming on her own (with the aid of inflatable arm bands). Of course our ever adventurous daughter is already talking about swimming with the arm bands !!

Larnelle has had some of her friends from school stay over for the night. We decided to make yesterday (Friday) night a movie night. Friends were invited, boerewors rolls (easy to prepare) were served for dinner and we had most enjoyable night of entertainment..

Faye and I would love to hear from friends and family - So do get in touch with us..

How Time has flown..

A man was found hanging in a room.. There was no table or chair in the room, no bed or anything of that nature in the room.. Investigators were desperately trying to figure out how he had actually hung himself. What also puzzled them was the fact that on entering the room they found the floor covered in water several centimetres deep.. So how did he hang himself ? I couldn't figure it out either until my daughter (Larnelle) solved it for me.. He stood on top of a large block of ice !!

So what does this have to do with this post ? Nothing except the challenge that as we face a new year with all the many challenges and uncertainties we wll find ourselves in seemingly perplexing situations the answers to which appear impossible to find. The key appears to be thinking outide the box. This year by God's grace we plan to deliberately think outside the box an dare to believe we'll find solutions.

These opening months of 2008 have been a busy time for Faye and I.. Aside from having to find a new school for Sydney we were very busy with the preparations for Prayer/Fasting and Country Directors Summit. This is a time set aside by the International Office of Christ's Hope to gather our Country Directors and Representatives for a time of spiritual input and encouragement as well as training and equipping for greater effectiveness in ministry. You may be familiar with the story of the old wood cutter who was challenged by the younger one to see who could cut the most trees by the end of the day. The old man won and pointed out to the younger man that the key was taking time out to sharpen the axe.. This is our time to sharpen the axe and hear from God.

The event was successful and benficial for all who attended. Representatives came from Zimbabwe, Zambia, The Netherlands, USA, Tanzania, Kenya and of course Namibia. Two somewhat sad events took place during the training period. Our Kenyan Country Director was compelled to return home after the violence in Kenya flared up after a period of relative tranquility. Elfie, the International Training Centre Facility manageress returned to her native Germany to be with her sister who had been diagnosed with cancer.

Our children continue to be a blessing to us and to inspire us. Sydney has become quite the singer and whether we are travelling in the car or simply sitting at home this little angel is always singing. Larnelle is the young lady in the house. Joshua is the smiler and even during his recent episode with measles remained a generally cheerful lad and only gave us a sleepless night or two.

More updates will be posted during the coming weeks and this mainly due to the fact that Faye's laptop has been returned to us from the USA and is working perfectly. Secondly, with prayer/fasting and leadership summit behind us we will have more opportunity to set aside time to keep this site up dated and allow you to follow the developments in our lives and ministry..

This past Tuesday was quite a day for me.. At about 9:00 am I was on the main B1 highway to Windhoek when I was faced with an oncoming vehicle that was in my lane and headed toward me. By God's grace and providential care a head on collision was avoided and my car was subjected to a side swipe. Both myself and the other driver were uninjured and the other driver has admitted responsibility and committed to pay for the repairs to my car. The repairs are quoted between nine and twelve thousand Namibian dollars. Several years ago two of my really good friends were killed in a head on collision outside of Bulawayo- As I spoke to the other driver and then went about getting my car on the road to go back to Okahandja I thought of Lester and Freddie and gave thanks to God that He was gracious enough to spare me and to spare my family the trauma of either having me seriously injured or even killed. Join with me in giving thanks to God for His care and protection, and may you today experience the Lord's pleasure and His favour.

We'd love to hear from you..

Christmas 2007

It's Monday morning, Christmas Eve 2007.. The year has passed swiftly and is hurrying to a close..

As a family we had really hoped to travel home (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) for Christmas and New Year.. But it just seems it was not meant to be. Despite submitting our work permit renewals a few months ago, they have unfortunately not been finalised and this has meant we could not leave Namibia and travel home.. How do we feel about it? Pretty disappointed and saddened.. However I have to confess that in the midst of the sadness and disappointment I can see how God is at work to care for us.. I was asked to conduct a wedding on Saturday 22nd December and because we were still in Namibia I was able to do so.. At the evening reception a lady came over to me and asked if I was from Zimbabwe... on finding out that indeed I was she immediately told me she had a message for me from some friends in Johannesburg.. my dear friends Mark Pendy, his wife Cassandra and her brother Mark Bismark.. Now here's the interesting thing.. She saw my friends in January 2007 and somehow was unable to get hold of me and find me- until Saturday.. My heart was so filled with joy that at a time when depression was like a rain-filled cloud hanging over our heads we get this message which brightened up our day/night.

Some friends from Okahandja came to see us the other day and asked if we would keep an eye on their house and make sure to feed their dog (Odie).. They also gave us permission to use the swimming pool and to make use of the DSTV, essentially be at home and make use of the house. Once again the Lord reminds me that He will seek to bless us... If that was not enough, a farmer friend called us and asked if we would stay at his house for about a week whilst he and his family are away on vacation.. We said yes and now will be able to take some time away from the centre and relax and as a family just enjoy some down time...

Finally, we received an email advising that one of our ministry partners in the USA had sent us a significant financial gift - just before Christmas.. In all of these things we have seen the blessings of God. We have also acknowledged that whilst we are saddened at not being able to go home for Christmas there are many whom God would have us minister to right here in Namibia this Christmas..

My family wishes all of you a blessed Christmas and may 2008 bring you much joy and success.

ps Please do continue to pray for Zimbabwe.. The time is nigh for change and I am praying that God will set the ball rolling soon and we will see Zimbabwe rise from it current state and its people experience peace and freedom in 2008.

Eric K. Garnie

Leadership is Being There to Care !

The first day of December is set aside on the World calendar as " World Aids Day".. All across the globe on a variety of stages there are messages declared concerning various aspects of this Global Pandemic. Movie stars, Media Icons, Presidents and Prime Ministers alike all take to the stage to make a plethora of calls to bring about a halt to the Aids pandemic.

Many are the ways that each espouses and one can be critical of each.. One thing however is very clear and common to all is the reality that Aids is a global reality that requires a multiplicity of responses to bring about a reduction in new infections, care for Orphans and vulnerable children, reduction of stigmatisation toward those living with Aids, prevention of transmission from mother to child, provision of appropriate counselling and care for those who become aware of their positive status etc etc.. The list is seemingly endless.

This years theme placed the focus exactly where I believe it should be.. LEADERSHIP !!

The theme for the day was: Leadership is Being There to Care..

When leaders lead well, even the most serious of situations or most troubling of conditions have a greater chance of being taken care of.

It was my privilege to travel with Berdian Beukes (Country Director- Namibia), to the Southern town of Keetmanshoop. The Governor of the region visited our children's home - The Ark and spoke to our staff and children. After being presented with a John Maxwell Leadership Bible

the Governor joined the children outside to plant a tree.

Our children helped make the speech time more bearable by providing entertainment for the the guests, in the form of some very enjoyable and wonderful dance presentations..

All in all it was an enjoyable afternoon meeting and we are thankful for the opportunity to have brought our home to the attention of the Governor. Governor Boois pledged a financial gift to the home and also gave a special gift towards a Christmas party for the children..

Larnelle and Sydney are both very pleased that it is now school holidays and Larnelle is particularly please because it means she can spend lots of time with her friends.. Sydney of course spends a lot of time with us and presents us with quite a challenge as to maintaining a balance with work and ensuring she does not feel neglected or left out.

The weather at the moment is extremely hot and we are very hopeful for the rains to begin within the next week or so. We need a healthy rainy season this year..

So let's be there to care, not only for those with HIV BUT also for our families and our friends. After all we all need to know we are loved and to have the experiential reality of that fact..