Light for the Children|Namibia

After the independence of the country of Namibia, a man from the Mbukushu tribe went to look for a job 1200 km. from where he was born. In Gobabis, where he worked as a brick-maker, he learned through Bible study of the all sufficiency of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross. He embraced Christ in faith.

Out of joy and thankfulness, he and his wife started to help poor children all around them even though they themselves were, by any standards, very poor. They were some of the people who started Light for the Children.

Eight years ago, they went back to their home village in Mbukushu, in the far North of Namibia. His old, blind father recognized the faith in Jesus Christ as his heart's longing and invited people from Gobabis to come over and help.

Many people assembled. The demons of Satan also tried to discourage them, by instigating quarrels and bringing strange manifestations. But the Spirit of Jesus overcame. A congregation was established. More congregations were established. Kind visitors from far away helped to put up a roof structure. Some in the area are enemies, but if God is satisfied with a man's ways, he will make even his enemies stay in peace with him.

The leaders of this new church came together and decided: God has called us to do something about the plight of the children in the area of Mbukushu, along the great Kavango river, that starts in Angola and ends in the desert. And, out of thankfulness, they founded "Bright Future Children's Ministry."

The simple man from Mbukushu who came to look for a job, became a father of many, like Abraham.

About 18 years ago, Jolene August was seriously ill and doubting her future on earth. But God's Word came to her and she embraced life according to the word: "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2: 20). 

God provided health, strength according to the task and a task according to the strength. She became a church and Scripture Union youth leader who organized camps all over the country, and also became one of the founders of Light for the Children, when it was still situated in one of the worst parts of town.

She suffered a lot when a child living with their family in the house was overrun by a car and died, being a lover of children and the weak and poor.

God provided for her a wonderful husband in the person of Zachary Kabamba, a Christian refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and currently they are living in Cape Town, South Africa. As Jolene Kabamba  is still living day by day in faith, keep her in your prayers and praise God for her.

Last 3 months I've been at Light for the children in Gobabis. I am a dutch girl who studied sports, but suddenly I was the English teacher, teachers trainer, woodworker, painter, typist, camerawomen and wedding photographer :) Main work I did was teaching the children English, using the Cool English for kids program, and introducing this program to the teachers.

For me (In holland I am one of the les organized persons) it was quit a big difference to live here. It was my second time in Gobabis, but first now I recognized the things that are going on beyond the surface. At first sight I didn't see how much their background still influenced their way of living and thinking. But later I recognized that something that looks lazy, or very relaxed was a way of thinking that was caused by their pasts.

I new that everything is going on a more chill tempo here, but that this means that even elections start 2 hours late, government ministries just don't come when they promise it and so on... was something i didn't expect. I really learned a lot of this time here!

I think the project is a very good thing because of 2 reasons:

-its raised and runned by local people. the children are not the only ones who learn here. also the people who work here.

- It gives children new chanches for their future. For a lot of parents its too expensive to send their children to school, but they can send them to light for the children. At light for the children the workers get to know them and can help them to find a school or even sponsors for the schoolfees.

I loved to work with the children, to do a little something that contributes to a better future. Some children are so hungry to learn, its a big pleasure to help them with their work! (look at the two big smiles on the picture :)

greetz! marjolein