The Teen Years

On the 23rd May 1996 our first child was born and what joy she brought into our daily life experience.. It is now 13 years later and the baby girl has grown into a wonderful and very beautiful young lady.. Yes our daughter Larnelle has entered the TEEN years. 

Some have said to me that I now have a teenager in the house.. My response is that I have a young lady in my house who is 13 years old.  You see I am persuaded that using the term teenager does not help a young man or young woman as they face the many physical, mental and emotional changes that are experienced in the years 13-18.  On thing I desire is that Larnelle has no confusion about the fact that she is a young lady going through many changes.. Teenager has no gender, no indication of experience and it is way too generic for my liking.. When I call my daughter young lady I do a few crucial things;

1. I confirm her gender. She is a lady, a woman.  This helps her understand her sexual identity and also affords us as parents the opportunity to instruct and guide this young lady as she meanders through this period of life and has to negotiate the many changes and also make decisions.  She is a young woman not some generic and fairly meaningless teenager !

2. I confirm her level of maturity and experience - she is young, inexperienced and needing guidance. It also reinforces the God established order in the family of having parents who are to guide and instruct and train up their children in the way they should go.  Is Larnelle capable of making wise and grown up choices ?  YES she is.. However her limited experience, youthfulness and continuous changes cause her to be unable to consistently make wise and adult choices..   Larnelle is aware, that at this crucial time when she, like a tender shoot is growing into maturity and in preparation to face life, she will need Godly counsel and Wisdom to help her pass through this phase of her maturing process and emerge on the other end with much wisdom and few scars.   

Faye and I realise that our children are and will be our primary focus for some time.. We also are very conscious of the reality that unless God imparts to us a spirit of wisdom, insight, understanding and revelation then we are most likely going to blow it with Larnelle.  Pray for us as we walk this road.. Many of our friends have children who have passed through these teen years, some have seen their children do well and others have agonised as they saw their children experience pain and hardship- Your prayers for us as we begin this new era in parenting would be so greatly appreciated..

Larnelle invited some of her friends over for a movie night to celebrate her birthday and of course dad and mum had so much joy helping her prepare for her night with close friends..  We were there to prepare and set the tone for the evening and then we withdrew and left them to enjoy themselves.. It pleases me to let you know that everybody had a great time and we did not have any complaints from parents.  

Sydney and Joshua have helped me to keep a youthful and adventurous view to life.. We experience some temper tantrums as the two of them tussle over control of the toys, that particular cup or plate etc etc..  Sydney is realising that her younger brother is fast becoming somebody that she is not able to freely push around..  They both love to sing and on Sunday mornings as I often lead worship I see them clapping hands, dancing and singing to the Lord.. The joy this brings is just about beyond description.

Both Sydney and Joshua are adventurous and whilst we have been doing construction work at the training centre we have found it necessary to regularly go outside and check that they are fine.. We find them on the piles of sand, playing with water, trying to get at the cement.  Of course it goes without saying that all their enjoyment and fun does come at a price- DIRTY CLOTHES, FREQUENT CLEANING OF THE HOUSE- would I change it ? Absolutely not !!

Faye and I have had the joy of being invited to minister at some churches in Windhoek, and having a wife like Faye who is a constant encourager is the best.  In addition to having the joy and privilege of presenting God's Word to other believers we have so enjoyed building relationships with new people.  One of my regular statements to our leadership and believers in the local fellowship is this:  'Life is Relationships!'     The quality of my life is vested not in the position or possessions I have, but rather in the depth, meaning and excellence in the relationships I have.   

I had the joy of speaking at a children's camp at the beginning of this month and was thrilled to have the opportunity to present God's Word to children who live in one of the three Arks that Christ's Hope runs here in Namibia.    One of the young lads asked me where I was from.. My response was to ask him if he had any ideas.. Well at first he thought I came from Rehoboth, then it was Windhoek, followed by a string of of towns in Namibia.. Finally he decided that I must be from Cape Town !   The look on his face was priceless when I told him I was from Zimbabwe..  Of the 18 or so young men who attended the camp, six indicated they wanted to commit their lives to Christ and be born again - 

I end this post with news about a friend who recently went in for a medical examination and was found to have a very large tumor in his pelvic area. So serious was the view of the doctor that he recommended that my friend return to the USA for further tests and treatment.  Lon has been serving in Namibia for more than 10years and in recent months he and I were working very closely together to bring leadership gift to the church where we fellowship.  Lon was leading one of the recently launched cell groups and was a regular when it came to preaching on Sunday mornings.  We are praying for Lon and his wife Val and are trusting that God will make a way for them and bring healing to Lon.   For those of you on Face Book you can find Lon Garber and read more from him..

Till the next post - walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, live at peace with all people (as far as it is up to you) and above all seek to bring praise and glory to Christ in all that you say and do..

Easter Break

This has been a very refreshing and relaxing Easter Break for the Garnie family.  Jennifer and two of her friends spent the weekend with us here in Okahandja. Jenny decided that she would make a Poitjie (pronounced Poikey).. She did an excellent job of it and we all ate to our hearts content.

The disciples saw Jesus arrested, they watched from a distance as he was tried and beaten and then nailed to a cross.. As they watched him die it must have seemed as though their world had come to an end.. This man with whom they had spent the past three years was now dead and their future probably seemed bleak.. In the depths of their sadness, discouragement and despair along comes a woman, early in the morning to tell them news that was so seemingly crazy and outrageous.. Jesus, whom they had seen die was alive !    Yeah Right !  

Despite the doubts and the questions and the uncertainties, it was true:  He (Jesus) is Risen !   

Still today there are many who respond to Jesus in cynicism, skepticism and doubt, and yet Jesus is ALIVE and HE is still in the Resurrection business -  I was a speaker at a men's camp two weeks ago and witnessed a man turn from despair and doubt as the glorious message of Christ penetrated the outer veneer he had created to keep others at a distance.   The resurrection of hope is an amazing event to see..  Could it be that as you read this short post you have become aware of something in you- a dream, hope, a relationship etc has seemingly died and you are feeling discouraged and despondent.. Well the Good News is that Nothing is dead until Jesus says it is.. Others around may see it differently BUT what you and I really need to is to ask God to open our eyes to see what HE sees..   Jesus Said- I am the way the truth and the LIFE..  If Jesus (Who is life) is in any given situation how can there be anything in that situation BUT life..

The church we attend is going through some very exciting times as it continues to grow.  We are on the threshold of adopting a new name which we believe is indicative of the type of church we are becoming..   Exciting because we are introducing house churches within the next two weeks..   Exciting because we are seeing lives change !!

During the past three months I have started playing tennis at the local courts in town.  It has been good to get some much needed extra exercise and to play a game that I thoroughly enjoy . The most enjoyable blessing has been that the tennis court has been the place where we have met some Zimbabweans who are living here in Okahandja - Denver and his wife Progress, Jabulani, Herbert, Nixon and Mattheus.. We have enjoyed making new friends (from home), hearing news from home through the stories they tell and really to simply extend our network of friends and countrymen/women.  

Along with others I lift my voice to pray for Resurrection to come to Zimbabwe... Won't that be a glorious day ? 

Movie Update

Hey there, check out this very low budget movie of the family..  LOL

Update is Coming !!

This blog will be updated within the next 7 days.. We have not left - we are still here !

Facing 2009..

The prophet Isaiah says..

Isa 43:18-20

18 "Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.

19 "Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.

20 "The beasts of the field will glorify me; the jackals and the ostriches; because I have given waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.  (NAS)

What a call from this Old Testament Prophet -- A major DO NOT..

Do Not Live in the Past..

Trying to move forward with eyes fixed on what is behind is an exercise in futility.. God reminds us here not to allow the past to so fill our thinking and our vision that all we do is repeat the past..  The past has happened and there's nothing we can do in the present to change it, the best we can do is to learn from the past..   The past teaches us some important things - i) What we ought not to do  ii) What we ought to do..  iii) What we can and cannot do  I am sure there are many more important lessons the past can teach us.. 

The past is however a seemingly attractive place to remain.. perhaps because it is so familiar..

The future however carries with it a significant degree of uncertainty and unpredictability..

To help us and motivate us to embrace the future - after all, that is where the rest of our life will be spent, God gives Isaiah a Word for us ..

> I am doing something NEW

> I will make a way in the wilderness, a place where no roads exist

> I will create rivers in the desert

> I will do these things so that MY people will have drink (provision)..

The one certain reality that we have as we face 2009 is the character and nature of God.. There can be no greater security..

In 2008 some had hope in an election process - It failed

There was hope in a negotiation process - it has failed

There was hope in an economic system - It has failed

Those who placed there hope and trust in the living God have learned one GREAT thing - HE HAS NOT FAILED and HE NEVER WILL.. 

So I am facing 2009 with the confidence that the Lord Jesus, who never changes and who promises to be with me every day will sustain my family and I.  I am looking forward to the NEW things HE is doing, for the means of provision in the face of a global recession, rising inflation and shortages of food.. for his roadway through a year where nothing seems set.. He will make a way for His people and they Will have drink (Provision)..

Faye and I are saying goodbye to a year that has been very challenging, and at times overwhelming YET our God has sustained us.. Now we face 2009 with even greater confidence in Him, in His Call to us and His Committment to us.. Our committment to HIM is stronger today than yesterday..

my Motto for this year: 

His Promises and Provision are Mine in 2009 !

It's Christmas Time..

What a year it has been and how time appears to have flown by at the speed of light ! 

Sadly we will not be celebrating Christmas with our family and friends in Zimbabwe but rather with our new friends and colleagues right 

here in Okahandja Namibia..   We of course have sent greetings and messages of our love to many of our family and friends (really not the same as face to face interaction)..

Regardless of where we are physically located at Christmas time does not take away from the wonderful GOOD NEWS that we will celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.. Now that is Good news..

We are thankful to God for His providential care through this past year, for the excellent health we have enjoyed, for the many trials we have faced (these have made us stronger and increased our faith), for the new friends we have made here in Namibia and also for the privilege of playing an active role in the local fellowship we attend here in Okahandja..

As always we really do look forward to mail and news from our friends and loved ones and if you are ever in Namibia please do give us a call - at a minimum it would be wonderful to see you and hear your voice..

The Prophet Isaiah declared Jesus would be called :  IMMANUEL

Isa 7:14

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. (NAS)

The Angel told a confused Joseph:

Matt 1:23

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which translated means, "God with us." (NAS)

My family and I joyfully proclaim HALLELUJAH as we also acknowledge that JESUS is IMMANUEL - GOD WITH US !  

May you enjoy and experience God with YOU this Christmas !

All our love and best wishes for 2009 !

Eric & Faye

Garnie

Larnelle,

Sydney 

&

Joshua

The Adventure of I DO continues - 15years later.

Today is a very special day for Faye and I.  YES we remember today the anniversary of our wedding which took place at St Francis Anglican Church in 1993..  Fifteen years have passed since we declared our vows to each other in the company of God, our family and dear friends.. 

We have been blessed with three wonderful children - Larnelle (12) Sydney(5) and Joshua (17mths).  

As we celebrate this day we have a mix of emotions from great joy, to deep concern for our beloved Zimbabwe, especially for our family and friends and of course we are saddened that we are not able to celebrate this joyful and significant day with our family who are now spread across in various countries..

To all of those who sent us congratulatory messages - THANK YOU !!

With God before us we look forward to the next 15years with eager anticipation and excitement.