Namibia Companion Trip 2010
by Gwynn and Taylor Barger
Cultural Differences by Tayor Barger February 28, 2010
5 months. 5 months until we are on our way to London, the first stop of our Namibia travels.
This past Saturday, February 20th, we had our second Namibia group meeting. The theme for the day was Cross-cultural Relationships. We broke into two small groups to discuss our own cross-cultural experiences and then to do an activity. From the discussion and activity, I realized our culture and the “norms” for our society are different from other parts of the world. I really thought about how some of our American cultural ways may seem offensive to people from other cultures.
Along with reflecting on this activity, I though about Namibia and my eagerness to open myself up to their culture, which may be so different from ours.
The activity we did on Saturday included 26 index cards, each with a value on it. The point was to separate the index cards into two columns, one with American values and the other with other countries’ values. Below is a list of all 26 values. Try to separate the values into two columns (13 for each) and check your answers by e-mailing Taylor at
tbarg68@yahoo.com. Good Luck!
Tradition
Spiritualism/Detachment
Personal control over the Environment
Materialism/Acquisitiveness
“Being” Orientation
Fate
Formality
Future Orientation
Past Orientation
Time & its Control
Idealism
Practicality/ Efficiency
Human Interaction
Cooperation
Equality
Directness/Openness/Honesty
Self-Help
Indirectness/Ritual/”Face”
Competition
Group’s Welfare
Individualism/Privacy
Informality
Birthright Inheritance
Action/Work Orientation
Hierarchy/Rank/Status
Change
Hint: Each American value has a counterpart in the other country’s values.
Travel Doctor and Expectations- February 1, 2010
Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid, Polio Booster, Tetanus shot, Malaria medicine, Cipro, Zpac… We called the travel doctor today. It is thought provoking to me that we will try and fully protect ourselves against all of these diseases and yet we will visit with people who are at risk everyday because of a lack of protection.
In my opinion, expectations are like worries. I have had issues with worrying throughout my life and it is now as I approach this “mature age” that I have a better hold of it. I have
Philippians 4.7- framed by my kitchen sink. Every day I read that we should not worry, but praise God and “give it to God”. It helps.
I spent time watching a small boy a couple of years ago. One day we were food shopping and he asked what a grapefruit tasted like. I said we would buy one and he could try it. When we got home he sat down and gave it a try. He said, “It’s not what I expected, but I like it!” That now has become a familiar phrase around our home, with all of us often repeating it.
This year we have a lot of new things going on and it is a natural time to have expectations. I’ve chosen to try to not expect and “give it to God”. I don’t think my expectations will come close to the experiences, so why waste the time!
When we tell friends and family we are traveling to Namibia two questions are always asked-where is that and what will you be
doing. The map shows where Namibia is located. It is in southern Africa surrounded by South Africa, Botswana and Angola as well as the Atlantic Ocean.
The “what will you be doing?” question is a little more complex. How do you say, “We might be doing nothing”? We are not painting, building, feeding, or teaching.
This is an accompaniment trip. We will be “walking” with our brothers and sisters in Namibia. “We are called to walk with our companions...not ahead, telling them what to do…not behind, pushing them at our pace rather, we walk beside them, to hear their stories and share our own. We share our joys and sorrows our frustrations and challenges as we work to support one another in ministry.”* We are humbled to have the opportunity to do just this.
*From Walking Together, January 2008
If you would like to read more, check out the
Synod site. Previous article- January 15, 2010
Exciting! That word keeps coming up. We are so excited to be traveling to Namibia to meet our Lutheran brothers and sisters. Our adventure began in October when we filled out and sent in our applications. We waited. Then in December, Bruce sent us our Flight itinerary:
Leave Philadelphia 3:00 pm, Monday, July 26 (7 hr flight)
Arrive London 6:20 am, Tuesday, July 27
Tour London
Leave London 6:35 pm Tuesday, July 27 (11 hr flight)
Arrive Johannesburg 6:20 am, Wednesday, July 28
Leave Johannesburg 12:00 pm, Wednesday, July 28 (2 hr flight)
Arrive Windhoek, Namibia 1:00 pm, Wednesday, July 28
“Exciting!” says Taylor. “Daunting!” says Gwynn.
Next we had our first meeting. Exciting! Our travel companions are great.
Bruce – Leader of our pack, assistant to the Bishop. He was on the first companion trip in 1990 and this will be his 10th trip!
Mark – Pastor of St. John’s in Ocean City. He will be our fearless driver. He has been to Namibia multiple times.
Tracie – Assistant to the Bishop. First trip to Africa was to discuss women’s issues. Has been back to Africa numerous times.
Ethan – 16-year-old, high school sophomore, son of Tracy, first time leaving country.
Olivia – 17-year-old high school junior, daughter of Tracy, first time leaving country
Lynn – Chair of the Synod's Namibia Team
Here are some interesting facts we learned:
• Namibia is roughly the size of two Californias lying next to each other.
• 80-90% are Christian and 10-20% have indigeous beliefs
• 7% speak English, 30% speak German, Africaans is the common language.
• Namibia was liberated from South Africa in 1990.
• Namibia HIV/AIDS is a health concern with 19.54% of Adult population living with AIDS.
• Life expectancy: men-44, women-41, infant mortality 72.4 per 1000 live births
• 1 physician per 4,594 people
• Compulsory education 6-16 years
We will visit two Lutheran church bodies. First is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN). Located mainly in the north and where our sister church in Epembe is located. Second is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN), which is located in the central and southern regions.
Websites:
www.youtube.com (type in Namibian Lutherans to see videos from past trips)
www.govnet.gov.na/intro.htm
www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies
www.republicofnamibia.com
http://www.namibian.com.na/
Coming soon: Maps, itinerary
