NAMIBIA CONTINUED.....................
21 March  (Friday)  We drove over 850 km from east of Rundu to the Western Coastal city of Swakopmund.  

Namibia is a beautiful country!  This year the rains have been plentiful.  Last year there was no rain at all.  The Country was very dry and brown.

Germany "colonized"  Namibia in the 1800's.  In some areas you will see influences of that time, such as the dress of these Herero ladies.  

The tribe's now traditional costumes are seen by anthropologists as a fascinating subversion of their former rulers' fashion, showing how the tribe survived a concerted effort by German colonialists to wipe them from the face of the earth.

The history of Herero clothing is extraordinary. Rhenish missionaries first introduced Victorian dress, which the tribe gradually accessorised by adding, for example, cow horn headdresses.  Later, during the 1904 war with Namibia's German colonisers, Herero tribe members claimed the military uniform of dead German soldiers.

Germany officially claimed their stake in a South African colony in 1884, calling it German South-West Africa until it was taken over in 1915.

The first German colonists then arrived in 1892, and conflict with the indigenous Herero and Nama people began.

Between 1893 and 1903, the Herero and Nama peoples' land as well as their cattle were seized by militarily superior German forces who regarded them as subhuman.  Then in 1903, the Herero people learned that they were to be placed in reservations, leaving more room for colonists to own land and prosper.  By 1904, the Herero and Nama began a disastrous rebellion that lasted until 1907. During this time the Germans devised a plan to annihilate the Herero nation.

Experts estimate that around 80,000 Herero lived in German South-West Africa at the beginning of Germany's colonial rule over the area.  When the revolt was defeated, they numbered around 15,000. In a period of four years, approximately 65,000 Herero people perished.  Those who survived, once freed from concentration camps, were robbed of their lands, segregated from whites and forced to work in slave-like conditions.

German rule ended in 1915 when the German army was beaten by the South African - but, once liberated, the Herero men began not only dressing as much like their German oppressors.  Herero women also affected the styles and the airs and graces of the Christian missionary ladies who had come among them in the 1890s.

At the 100th anniversary of the massacre, German Minister for Economic Development and Cooperation Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul apologised for the crimes on behalf of all Germans.

But the clothes the Herero choose to wear, both men and women, are a permanent reminder of the great scar gashed in the tribe's history when they came close to being exterminated.  Anthropologist Dr Lutz Marten said: 'Wearing the enemy's uniform will diminish their power and transfer some of their strength to the new wearer.

'This is in part assimilation to European culture, and also in part appropriation, a coming-to-terms with, and overcoming of history and the colonial experience,' he said.

Speaking about the clothes Herero women wear, he said: 'A correctly worn long dress induces in the wearer a slow and majestic gait.'

Today, there are around 250,000 Herero peoples in south-west Africa and the tribe is thriving.

As we watched these ladies walk, their movements were very regal!

I really like the art!!!!!

We dined that evening at the Tug restaurant, delicious seafood. We checked into Voegelstand Guesthouse where we stayed two nights.

22 March (Saturday)   We met Johannes, who works for Tommy, and accompanied them on Tommy’s Deseret Tour.  We learned much about Sand Dunes and the plants and animals that live in the desert.   We then visited Dune # 7, a gigantic Dune by Walvis Bay.  That night we dined at the Wreck Restaurant.  (it was not a wreck, we had delicious seafood again)

Some of the air was let out of the tyres so the vehicles could drive on the sand

Johannes

Tommy LOVES the desert!

Can you find the Iguana?

Iguanas are becoming endangered.  They are caught and identified with a chip.  They make a hissing noise.

I was very thankful that his mouth stayed shut!

This snake is not poisonous!!!

Scorpions, too!!!  Very Poisonous!!!

This iguana shows how the color can change!

This snake is a Side Winder.  He is very poisonous.  We did not hold him!

The elements that blow in the sand make the different colors.  This is Iron particles picked up with a magnet.

The sea shore is beautiful!

This little guy has beautiful eyes.  His skin is very fragile.

Back into the hole!

Seeds of the dollar plant.  Open is without rain fall.  Closed is when it is wet.

Dune 7 real family fun!

23 March (Sunday)  We attended church at Swakopmund Group with the Noble Family and Hercules family and two individual members.  Brother Noble is the Group Leader.  The Nobles have a son on a mission in West Africa.  We bore our testimonies, and had part of the time in the third hour to tell about self reliance, and what we do.

Sister Hercules, actually Hercules is her husband's given name.  Don't know what her's is.






Sister Hercules took us to a State run Orphanage in Walves Bay

Two children to a bed room.

The babies were in a room together.

Nice Bathrooms.

The older children were in a separate building, with the boys and girls separated.

Brother Hercules was a diver for a company seeking treasure in the sea.  However, last September, their boat capsized and some of his ship mates were drowned.  He was miraculously saved, but has had a slow physical recovery and suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.  

We journeyed back to Windhoek and the Hotel Alexander.  That evening we had dinner with Kenneth Mofokeng, Humanitarian Project Manager from the Area Office.

#1 Preschool

24 March (Monday)  we accompanied Laura and Josephine from the Namibia Council of Churches and visited Pre schools and Kindergartens.  It was a driving rain storm and we were visiting schools in aluminium shacks.  Many of the children were in bare feet and the floors were mostly dirt with some old carpet pieces.  The Church is considering a project to help with water and toilet facilities.

No toilet facilities. The children just go out in the "bush."  one half of the yard is for playing, and one half for pooping.

This is the view outside the school.

The children sang for us.........

The school room walls.

You sang for us, I will sing for you.  "You Are My Sunshine" is always good!

 # 2 Preschool

Pieces of carpet cover the dirt floor.... Notice the bucket of water........

The Kitchen

Cardboard wall covering......

You pay Nam $50.00 ($5.00 US) for a charge on your water card.  It allows you to get about 5 gallons a day 5 days a week for 4 weeks.  For many it is very expensive.  At the first 4 daycares we visited, a five gallon bucket was to last for the whole group for one day.  Plus meet the home needs for the preschool owner.  Washing, cooking, cleaning, drinking I will never let the water run while I brush my teeth again!!!!  I will always keep a pitcher of water cooling in the fridge.

The water tap.  Not only is it expensive, you have to carry it home.....

#3 Preschool

A little bit of garden, some tyres to play on.

A VIP Loo.  What a blessing! (Ventilated I is for something Pit)

 #4 Preschool

Is it nap time, or are we covered up because we are so cold?

Adding a flash made a difference!

Singing is so fun!!!

She also had quite the dance moves!!!!

Sorry to leave you in the dark and cold!!!

Workers traveling in the rain.

Local produce stand.  At least 50% is saved by buying off the street instead of in a store.

Leaky walls and ceiling?  Plastic to the rescue, but it is very dark inside.

#5 Preschool and Day Care

This is one Day Care that the Namibia Council of Churches has been involved with.

WATER from a tap!!!

A DRINKING FOUNTAIN!!!

A FLUSHING TOILET!!!!!!!!!

Kitchen with a fridge!

"Only Jesus"  beautiful song!!!

Sister Eggett, Laura, The owner of Omusati and Elder Eggett

25  March (Tuesday)  We met with the Katatura and Windhoek Branch Presidencies and instructed regarding the new PEF Self Reliance Initiative.  They were welcoming and already doing much to teach their members Self Reliance.  Brother Noble, Group Leader Swakopmund, was also in attendance.

Katatura Branch Presidency

Windhoek Branch Presidency and Brother Noble group leader in Swakopmund

26 March (Wednesday)   We participated in a “hand over” with the National Ministry of Health and Social Services and Dr. Indume and their team with the Eggetts.  It is amazing what LDS Charities is doing throughout the world and what couples like the Eggetts are doing here in Africa to meet Humanitarian Needs.  We later flew back to Joburg and our friends, Elder and Sister Adams, picked us up at the Airport.

The Eggetts with the National Minister of Health and Social Services for an official hand over of the eye surgical equipment.

Back home again to Johannesburg.