- WhereWeWork

By Provision’s Africa headquarters is located in Tsumeb, Namibia. The headquarters moved from Ondjiva, Angola to Tsumeb, Namibia in 2007. By Provision continues to work in both Angola and Namibia, as it plans to continue expanding into surrounding countries of Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.

Namibia’s northern border is with Angola and is southern border is with South Africa. Its entire 1,572 km western coast runs with the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa. The land mass is 825,418 sq km or slightly more than half the size of Alaska. Namibia is mostly desert; hot, dry with sparse and erratic rainfall. Less than .01% of land mass is arable. Natural fresh water resources are very limited. The interior of the country has no surface water whatsoever. The rivers are dry. There are only 2 lake systems in the country and one of them has been dry since 1985. The only rivers with year-round water are on the northern and southern borders. Interestingly, many of the dry river beds have underground streams flowing underneath. There is an adequate aquifer but it is very deep in most places, under lots of layers of rock. Boreholes (wells) have to be dug over 100 meters deep in many locations. Prolonged periods of drought are common. Desertification, the encroachment of the ever growing desert, decreases the chance of survival for 47% of the population depending on agriculture. Namibian’s survival depends on water.

The interior of the country has no surface water whatsoever. The rivers are dry. There are only 2 lake systems in the country and one of them has been dry since 1985. The only rivers with year-round water are on the northern and southern borders. Interestingly, many of the dry river beds have underground streams flowing underneath. There is an adequate aquifer but it is very deep in most places, under lots of layers of rock. Boreholes (wells) have to be dug over 100 meters deep in many locations.

The population is 2,055,080: black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5% About 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups includes Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%. The UNDP's 2005 Human Development Report indicated that 34.9% of the population lives on $1 per day and 55.8% live on $2 per day. This low income is largely due to the scarcity of water with which to grow crops and livestock.

Life expectancy is 43 years old, slightly more for males and a couple of years less for females. The median age is 20 years old. HIV/AIDS and water borne diseases account for nearly all deaths. More than 20% of adults tested have HIV/AIDS, most people do not get tested. In August of 2006 there was a nationwide celebration about the downturn in HIV/AIDS rate. The newspaper report said the HIV/AIDS rate was now estimated at 30%---a major victory! There are many contributing factors to HIV/AIDS. In Africa there is an additional factor: traditional customs and practices (“witchcraft”) involving old needles, cutting, and burning the body both for celebrations and “healing”. These practices transport blood from the sick to the healthy, carrying HIV to uninfected people celebrating birth, puberty, wedding, and other life passages rites. Evangelical Christians practice new ways of living, healing, and celebrating that elevate life instead of threatening it.

Other major infectious diseases are bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid, schistosomiasis, and malaria. All of these are waterborne. Clean, safe water is key to improving the health of Namibians.

The most recent CIA report indicates religious preferences as: Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%. These numbers are highly subjective. The Lutheran Church counts every person born in its provinces as church members. The people don’t get to choose. They are told what religion they must be. This kind of interpretation of religious affiliation is not in keeping with By Provision’s understanding of a Christian, as a believer of free will with a personal relationship with Christ. Therefore when Namibians say they are “Christians,” By Provision follows up with a clear gospel presentation. We have witnessed pastors and ministers accept Christ. Namibian “Christians” clearly need to be told about the one and only way to heaven: Christ, the Living Water.

Angola is about twice the size of Texas. Cunene is a province in central southernmost part of Angola about the size of Alabama. There are 600,000 people in this wilderness trapped by the 30-year civil war that ended in April of 2002. Land mines planted through out Cunene shut it off to the outside world. The Kwanyama are the major people group in the area. This people group also extends into Namibia. The political boundary between Angola and Namibia was imposed on the Kwanyama people and also separated family members from each other.

The infrastructure of Cunene was lost during the war. The closest source of running water is the Cunene River that marks the northern border of the province. There is no system for water distribution. Most people live 100 or more miles south of the river, because the military occupied areas around the river during the war. Electricity is only available in a few villages and is unreliable. The north/south tar road connecting Cunene to the rest of Angola is barely existent. Four wheel vehicles have beat out a parallel dirt road beside the old tar road making transportation possible during most of the year. Schools are being established, but many are without teachers or facilities meeting under trees and in churches wherever someone is willing to offer their services. Most hospitals have not opened back up yet. The only hospital open at the moment is in Ondjiva. Patients must supply their own water, food, bed, and supplies. Sometimes the hospital has medicine on hand, but many times does not. This is a hard place to survive, much less prosper. Past stories and images of better days fuel the Kwanyama people’s heart to remain, reclaim, and rebuild their land. Meanwhile, present day hardship takes their very lives.

Evangelicals were targeted during the war, so the area has been void of the Gospel for nearly four decades. Clean water and a clear message of salvation through Jesus Christ is the only hope for the Kwanyama and other people groups in Cunene.