40 Days

On November 18, 2010, I began a Word document entitled “40 Days Until Namibia.” In it, I took note of the important things that happened each day – some big some small – in the days leading up to Namibia.

Guess what today is? 40 days since arriving in Namibia!

In honor of 40 and its significance, I wanted to share with you some of the highlights of the 40 days before Namibia and the 40 days since Namibia.

In the days leading up to Namibia...:

Day 40: life-changingly delicious dinner at Puckett’s Grocery and NEEDTOBREATHE concert

Day 39: flat tire, misery, and rescue by Rooms, followed by Pei Wei (typical dinner in these 40 days)

Day 34: our 6-gallon turkey brine exploded in the fridge the night before Thanksgiving; general shambles and laughter ensued

Day 31: a particularly great day – “picked up Christmas tree; Caribou Coffee; set up for Christmas; ‘Elf’ in bed with Jen”

Day 29: wrote an 18-page database manual in one day from Roast Inc, Crema, and Fido – three favorite Nashville coffeehouses

Day 28: first real breakdown about Namibia

Days 27 and 12: Andrew Peterson’s “Behold the Lamb of God”

Day 26: last women’s Community Group gathering

Days 25, 22, 19, 18, 17, 13, 12, and 11: many glorious Christmas parties

Day 24: crisp winter day hiking the ridge at Radnor

Day 22: first real excitement about Namibia

Day 18 (or was it 17 at this point?): 2am Opryland adventure

Day 16: last morning at Grace

Day 14: last Fido-turned-Bongo breakfast

Day 12: last Krispy Kreme breakfast

Days 12 and 11: the big goodbyes to friends

Day 6: bridesmaids’ dress shopping for Mandy's wedding

In the 40 days since arriving in Namibia...:

Day 2: learned about the W curve and wrote limericks; celebrated new year in Namibia

Day 3: started two awe-inspiring devotionals since it’s Jan 1

Day 5: first Namibian roadtrip to Tsumeb

Day 6: first day of practicum; no kids showed up

Day 9: felt more at peace about post-orientation fears after great talk with KJ

Day 10: first communication with home! Dad & Jen on the phone, and Skype with good friends

Day 11: saw a lion. Remember that time we saw a lion? That was the best.

Day 13: first fat cakes & kapana

Day 14: “today is the first day that I actually think I will be ready to go to my site soon.”

Day 15: four hour prep for traditional dinner

Day 16: celebratory goodbye dinner at African Fusion; got to eat chapati

Day 18: arrived “home” in Ohangwena

Day 20: start of the low points of the W curve; strongly doubting my decision to come here

Day 22: girls’ choir singing; peace that God is still with me, even here

Day 24: first KFC in Namibia – America in my belly; Ohangwena already feels like home

Day 25: first day of teaching (I didn’t die like I thought I would)

Day 28: first tolerable day!

Day 31: first solo trip to Oshikango

Day 32: first run in Namibia – marathon, here I come!

Day 38: reunion with 7 vols in Okalongo

Day 40: first day that I feel GREAT being here!!!

Coincidence that Day 40 in Namibia is the first great day? Definitely not. All our sweet Lord’s provision. Can’t wait until I can find the words to share with you the personal and spiritual stretching that has occurred these past 40 days!