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By Narayan Mitra
MOTIVATED by Jesus’ Great Commission to make
disciples, Pete and Charlene Knightley sold their home in Kamloops, packed
a container and headed for the African nation of Angola with their four
children.
This happened in 2005. Since then, their desire to
serve Christ has led them to the neighbouring nation of Namibia. For most
of the past year, they have been taking a break from Africa, visiting
family and friends in Canada.
When Angola beckoned, Pete left a steady job as a
sheriff, in response to what he calls “a call from within.”
But Angola provided some hard lessons in bureaucracy
and infrastructure. The couple faced serious obstacles in striving to carry
out their missionary mandate in the poverty-stricken land.
“Before leaving Kamloops, we had not factored
into our plans the mountains of red tape to climb in order to get permanent
residency,” Charlene told BCCN. “We were sad to say goodbye to folks in Namibe,
Angola – where we made some good friends in one year.”
‘Plan B’ set in, and the Knightleys sold
their Canadian truck to move once more, this time to Namibia. A
southwestern African nation of two million, Namibia is a former German
colony; it gained independence in 1990. It has the highest percentage of
Christians in the continent.
When in Africa, the Knightleys are based in Okahandja,
which is close to the capital, Windhoek. They assist Christ’s Hope
International (CHI) in several types of ministry. Pete is the administrator
of Choose to Wait, Care and Compassion, and the ARK Children’s Home.
Charlene helps with CHI’s public relations initiatives, and works
with women in vocational training.
“The country has lots of churches and a 90
percent Christian population, but not many evangelicals. Many of the
churches control the lives of people – and their pocketbooks as
well,” Charlene asserted.
The drastic shift from one country to another still
gives her cause to reflect. “We went prepared to live in Angola for
the long term, but God had other plans. We don’t feel it was a waste
of time. We learnt much in our debut mission work of one year there. There
was a lot of stretching and learning.
“One cannot imagine what Angola is like unless
they have been there. Even those in Namibia have a difficult time
envisioning things; there’s steady power and water there, and nice
roads. But Angola is a different story. The capital, Luanda, is the second
most expensive city to live in the world.”
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The Knightleys have been taking time off to build up
both support and energy. Pete is in full-time secular employment in
Alberta. Eldest child Talitha has just graduated from high school. When
they return to Namibia in January, two younger children will accompany
them.
Upon their return, they will do rural work with a local
leader named Lazarus. They will work with older people, and more
community-based projects.
“Lazarus wants to help pre-schoolers enter public
school, learn the official English language, and get ready to join
Namibia’s industrial boom as useful Christian witnesses. South
African money is fuelling the boom,” said Charlene.
Whereas evangelicals in Angola are fairly integrated,
there’s still subtle segregation of the blacks,
‘coloureds’ and whites in Namibia. According to Charlene, many
of the locals are afraid of whites and other foreigners.
While Pete works in Alberta, Charlene is at her
family’s home in New Brunswick. She is preparing herself and the
children, emotionally and spiritually, for their role in influencing a part
of Africa for Christ.
“We are here on this earth for such a short time.
Life is a breath, and then we are gone. There are so many in our world who
are suffering and in need of the Saviour.”
For more information, contact knightvision6@gmail.com.
November 2008
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