I had the opportunity to preach at Open Baptist Church today. Words can not describe how much of a struggle that was for me. I have such high respect for the elders here and how strong in the Word of God they are. What could I teach and share with them? I spent a lot of time in prayer as I struggled over this and decided to shared my personel testimony of how God used my life to put me in Botswana. During the first service, after 4 microphones and computer shutting on and off, I was asked by a man from China who was in Botswana and questioned what he could do. He was there because of his wife's job. He prayed how God could use him, a computer programmer and video graphics. After he saw a video I played, he said, "I can do that". He thanked me for sharing and is going to see how he can be part of OBC's ministry. So many people were encouraging and appreciated the work we are doing here.
While I was preaching, college students were presenting the Gospel to the children. 100 children made a decision for Christ today. There will be a lot of follow-up with them and their families. Pray for them as the decision made. Pray as they are discipled to better prepare them for their next steps with Jesus. ~ Scott
Please pray as we have many opportunities this week. Scott is going with Moruti James the pastor at Old Naledi to meet with the city council about getting the permits needed to finish the building of the orphan feeding station. Please pray that this would be resolved. The building has been at a stand still since the teams left because paperwork wasn't handled properly. Scott and Moruti need to make some amends to smooth things over in order to progress. Please pray that God would go before them and grant them favor with the councilmen. We have meetings with a couple of other ministries in Gaborone about working together to go into schools to reach Children with the Gospel. Please pray that we would know if, with whom, when and where to partner. We will be holding our first children's volunteer training session at Old Naledi next Sunday. Please pray that our time would be effective and encouraging to the volunteers. This will be the first of many. We are having Kaz (the young lady that is feeling called to the mission field from OBC) over for dinner on Wednesday night - we are looking forward to spending time with her and hearing her heart for ministry. Please continue to pray for Yuko (the Japanese exchange student I met at the immigration office when we first arrived). We finally connected and she came and spent the day with us on Saturday. She loved being with our family, hanging out, swimming and just getting away from dorm life. She and I got to go to lunch at a little deli. We shared a lot of good conversation and had some interesting spiritual conversations too. She says that she doesn't believe in God at all because she never grew up knowing anything about God. She said a lot of people have approached her at UB asking her if she was a Christian. She told me that one girl told her to pray with her and just repeat after her. She said she had no idea what the girl was doing. It is so hard for me to comprehend never knowing anything about God. Makes me really grateful for the Christian heritage I have. She is willing to go to church and has actually gone with some girls from school - because she wants to see all of the African clothing. She is going to go with us some Sunday soon. I am really praying for her and for my witness to her. Please join me in praying for her salvation.
Such exciting times seeing God at work in Botswana. Thanks for reading and praying!!
~ Tonya
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Where do I begin?
Sometimes there is so much to share I ask myself where should I start? Today I am starting where I left you on the last post. I asked for you to pray for several things that we were facing and am happy to report that God has answered your prayers in mighty ways.
We had the wonderful privilege to host a team from Highland Baptist Church in Florence, AL that were here to survey what God is doing and see where God would have them partner. Scott spent most of his days with the team and enjoyed getting to know them and see their hearts desire for ministry in Botswana. We loved worshipping with them at GWest Baptist Church last Sunday and fellowshipping over lunch. Scott and I had been praying about the place to launch our ministry and were really feeling led to GWest. We were invited to dinner with the Alabama team and the GWest pastor and elders on Tuesday evening. It was incredible to see how God is putting all of these people together. Highland Baptist had a very clear understanding that GWest was the partnership for them to pursue. Pastor Modise (from GWest) and the elders gave us a very clear vision and mission of the church. Scott and I were both affirmed that GWest was a great launching place for our ministry. We are very excited about the possibilities that God is orchestrating with us, GWest and Highlands Baptist. Please continue to pray for this partnership.
I have to share my funny story (funny now that it's over) that happened with the Highlands team. On Thursday night we were having the Highlands team and another team over to our house for a cookout. I had worked all day getting things ready and preparing side dishes. There was a scheduled time before the cookout for the teams to go the Game Reserve but someone had to be here doing the grilling and someone had to be the driver. So I decided it would be best if Scott grilled (since he is the grill master) and I drove the team through the reserve. Bless their hearts! We got there before 5:00 and knew that the reserve closed at 6:30 not to mention we planned for everyone to be at the house to eat at 6:30. To make a long story short I got us very lost in the reserve and we could not find our way out. I had been told on other trips that I had taken in the reserve that if you don't get out by 6:30 they lock you in for the night. As the time got closer and closer to 6:30 I began to get very nervous. I told the guys in the car that we would be locked in - I think I put a little panic in them too. I just kept going in circles - or least that is how is seemed. 6:30 came and we still hadn't found the gate. I was going very fast through the reserve and the animals were scurrying every which a way. We were running down ostriches and telling Kudoo to move so we could go. We finally found our way out at 6:40 and were so grateful that the guard was there to let us out. Thanks Chris and Keith for being so patient with me – enjoy telling your stories!! We finally made it home to house full of hungry people waiting on us to eat!
On Saturday we traveled with Donna Chisam and Ruth Minetree north to a border town called Mosojane which is about 7 hours from Botswana. We were greeted at our little roadside motel by pastor Andrew. He had hitch-hiked from the village to the motel. He rode with us the 20+ kilometers to the village. He told us as we approached the village that children had gathered to greet us. He said that some of them had been there since 9:00 that morning so excited that visitors were coming. It was close to 5:00 by time we arrived and were totally overwhelmed at the warm greeting we received. There were more than 50 children of all ages standing there clapping and jumping and singing. It was very emotional and very humbling. We got out of the car and they all surrounded us - everyone wanting to shake our hands to greet us. Scott and I were able to share a few songs with them and Scott told them the reason we came was because Jesus loves them. We just couldn't get over how happy they were to have visitors. We felt so undeserving of their attention. We felt like we could never live up to that kind of hunger for attention. We invited them all back to church the next morning and told them all goodbye. They departed at sunset scattering in all different directions across the village. We spent the evening driving through the village with Pastor. We were able to see the second day care center and spent some time in prayer with them. The second day care is not open at this time because it didn’t have enough bathrooms. They are in the process of putting in an outside bath with 4 toilets. Please join us in praying that this project is completed quickly. There are many, many vulnerable and orphaned children that need that daycare center as a safe place to be while their siblings that take care of them are at school. Even with 70 kids and only 2 workers it is better than being on the street at 2, 3, or 4 years of age. This is so hard for us to comprehend...How in the world do you do anything with 70 kids and 2 workers in 2 small classrooms? We didn’t get to see the daycare in action because it was the weekend. We are hoping to go back during the week at some point to see the day care center and see how we might be able to help them. Sunday morning we went to the church. The church is held in one of the classrooms at the primary school. All of the children (75) sat on one side of the room and the adults (40) sat on the other. We were once again given such a warm welcome. Scott and I had the privilege of taking the children out after the music where we taught them from Psalm 139 – How fearfully and wonderfully made they are. How they are unique and created for a purpose. We split them into 2 groups and I did a craft with them while Scott did some games. I asked some of the kids if they had ever been taught this lesson. They all said No they had never learned that they were fearfully and wonderfully made. After we finished with our lesson, craft, and games we joined the adults where we got to witness the Pastor handing out New Testaments to some of the adults.
The New Testament has only been in translated into their native language, Khulunga, for the past 2 years and this was the first time many of them had held it in their hands. Tears rolled down my cheeks as these people took their Bible and clutched it to their chests. They got back to their seats and opened them and began to read the Word of God for the very first time. I cannot even describe the emotions. I was just thinking how many complete Bibles I have at my house and I take that for granted. Never even thinking about all of the people in this world that don’t even own a Bible or have it translated in their language. After church we shared juice and cookies with them and said our goodbyes. We then headed to visit with the Chief of the village. She was very gracious to us and welcomed us to her village. She shared with us the many concerns she has for the people of Mosojane. She invited Donna to help her with a strategy for the whole village. Incredible to watch since that is exactly where God has gifted Donna. We had a time of prayer and asked her if we could come back in December to run a VBS with kids. She was delighted and said we are most welcome. Please pray for us as we prepare to return in December with all of our children to run a 5 day VBS. This will be challenging because of the accommodations in the area. There is only the one small motel (which makes the red roof inn look like the Hilton) and no grocery stores. We are up for the challenge but know that it will take a lot of prayers and creativity to pull it off.
We had the wonderful privilege to host a team from Highland Baptist Church in Florence, AL that were here to survey what God is doing and see where God would have them partner. Scott spent most of his days with the team and enjoyed getting to know them and see their hearts desire for ministry in Botswana. We loved worshipping with them at GWest Baptist Church last Sunday and fellowshipping over lunch. Scott and I had been praying about the place to launch our ministry and were really feeling led to GWest. We were invited to dinner with the Alabama team and the GWest pastor and elders on Tuesday evening. It was incredible to see how God is putting all of these people together. Highland Baptist had a very clear understanding that GWest was the partnership for them to pursue. Pastor Modise (from GWest) and the elders gave us a very clear vision and mission of the church. Scott and I were both affirmed that GWest was a great launching place for our ministry. We are very excited about the possibilities that God is orchestrating with us, GWest and Highlands Baptist. Please continue to pray for this partnership.
I have to share my funny story (funny now that it's over) that happened with the Highlands team. On Thursday night we were having the Highlands team and another team over to our house for a cookout. I had worked all day getting things ready and preparing side dishes. There was a scheduled time before the cookout for the teams to go the Game Reserve but someone had to be here doing the grilling and someone had to be the driver. So I decided it would be best if Scott grilled (since he is the grill master) and I drove the team through the reserve. Bless their hearts! We got there before 5:00 and knew that the reserve closed at 6:30 not to mention we planned for everyone to be at the house to eat at 6:30. To make a long story short I got us very lost in the reserve and we could not find our way out. I had been told on other trips that I had taken in the reserve that if you don't get out by 6:30 they lock you in for the night. As the time got closer and closer to 6:30 I began to get very nervous. I told the guys in the car that we would be locked in - I think I put a little panic in them too. I just kept going in circles - or least that is how is seemed. 6:30 came and we still hadn't found the gate. I was going very fast through the reserve and the animals were scurrying every which a way. We were running down ostriches and telling Kudoo to move so we could go. We finally found our way out at 6:40 and were so grateful that the guard was there to let us out. Thanks Chris and Keith for being so patient with me – enjoy telling your stories!! We finally made it home to house full of hungry people waiting on us to eat!
On Saturday we traveled with Donna Chisam and Ruth Minetree north to a border town called Mosojane which is about 7 hours from Botswana. We were greeted at our little roadside motel by pastor Andrew. He had hitch-hiked from the village to the motel. He rode with us the 20+ kilometers to the village. He told us as we approached the village that children had gathered to greet us. He said that some of them had been there since 9:00 that morning so excited that visitors were coming. It was close to 5:00 by time we arrived and were totally overwhelmed at the warm greeting we received. There were more than 50 children of all ages standing there clapping and jumping and singing. It was very emotional and very humbling. We got out of the car and they all surrounded us - everyone wanting to shake our hands to greet us. Scott and I were able to share a few songs with them and Scott told them the reason we came was because Jesus loves them. We just couldn't get over how happy they were to have visitors. We felt so undeserving of their attention. We felt like we could never live up to that kind of hunger for attention. We invited them all back to church the next morning and told them all goodbye. They departed at sunset scattering in all different directions across the village. We spent the evening driving through the village with Pastor. We were able to see the second day care center and spent some time in prayer with them. The second day care is not open at this time because it didn’t have enough bathrooms. They are in the process of putting in an outside bath with 4 toilets. Please join us in praying that this project is completed quickly. There are many, many vulnerable and orphaned children that need that daycare center as a safe place to be while their siblings that take care of them are at school. Even with 70 kids and only 2 workers it is better than being on the street at 2, 3, or 4 years of age. This is so hard for us to comprehend...How in the world do you do anything with 70 kids and 2 workers in 2 small classrooms? We didn’t get to see the daycare in action because it was the weekend. We are hoping to go back during the week at some point to see the day care center and see how we might be able to help them. Sunday morning we went to the church. The church is held in one of the classrooms at the primary school. All of the children (75) sat on one side of the room and the adults (40) sat on the other. We were once again given such a warm welcome. Scott and I had the privilege of taking the children out after the music where we taught them from Psalm 139 – How fearfully and wonderfully made they are. How they are unique and created for a purpose. We split them into 2 groups and I did a craft with them while Scott did some games. I asked some of the kids if they had ever been taught this lesson. They all said No they had never learned that they were fearfully and wonderfully made. After we finished with our lesson, craft, and games we joined the adults where we got to witness the Pastor handing out New Testaments to some of the adults.
The New Testament has only been in translated into their native language, Khulunga, for the past 2 years and this was the first time many of them had held it in their hands. Tears rolled down my cheeks as these people took their Bible and clutched it to their chests. They got back to their seats and opened them and began to read the Word of God for the very first time. I cannot even describe the emotions. I was just thinking how many complete Bibles I have at my house and I take that for granted. Never even thinking about all of the people in this world that don’t even own a Bible or have it translated in their language. After church we shared juice and cookies with them and said our goodbyes. We then headed to visit with the Chief of the village. She was very gracious to us and welcomed us to her village. She shared with us the many concerns she has for the people of Mosojane. She invited Donna to help her with a strategy for the whole village. Incredible to watch since that is exactly where God has gifted Donna. We had a time of prayer and asked her if we could come back in December to run a VBS with kids. She was delighted and said we are most welcome. Please pray for us as we prepare to return in December with all of our children to run a 5 day VBS. This will be challenging because of the accommodations in the area. There is only the one small motel (which makes the red roof inn look like the Hilton) and no grocery stores. We are up for the challenge but know that it will take a lot of prayers and creativity to pull it off.
We stopped by the Khama Rhino Reserve on our way home and enjoyed getting to see some of the animals of Botswana. The highlight was sitting at dinner and seeing a huge Black Rhino come to the swimming pool for a drink. He was within 50 feet from where were sitting. The people working there called him Naughty - because he comes to drink from the pool.
Last night Scott and I were invited to Old Naledi Baptist Fellowship for their prayer meeting. How incredible to walk in to the room filled with voices singing praises to our LORD in perfect harmony. I just bowed my head and took in the beautiful sound. After the prayer service we had a chance to talk with Moruti James and Julian (elder/deacon). They asked us to come to Old Naledi and help train their Sunday School leaders. We are very excited about the opportunity to help them take their next step in establishing a sustainable children’s ministry. Please be in prayer about this. The pastor and elder are supposed to select their potential leaders and we will schedule some training times.
All of a sudden it feels like we have so many places that need and want our help. Please join us in praying for God’s guidance as we prepare for VBS in Mosojane, training at Old Naledi, training and possible VBS at GWest. This is a big task that will only be possible with our Big GOD!!
We love you all and thank you for your prayers, your love, your encouragement, and your financial support. Thanks for being a part of what God is doing in this corner of the world we call Botswana.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Home!
Home? What is home? Or should I say where is home? Is it a feeling or a physical reality? What comes to your mind when you think of home? Is it your house – the bricks and mortar? Is it the people in your house – your family? Is it the place you currently live? Or the town you grew up in? Or your Momma and Daddy’s house? Is it the place you are most comfortable? Or just the place you lay your head at night? I’ve been thinking about home a lot these past few days. Not in a homesick – missing home kind of way – just pondering Home. There are so many things that come to my mind when I hear or say the word home. I asked myself recently where is my home? After spending several months without a “bricks and mortar” house and no official place to call home, I’ve wrestled with the answer to that question. I’ve heard it said, “home if where your heart is” and “there’s no place like home” but even those sayings didn’t answer my question of home. I have thought about Sumter and the previous house we lived in – while we were there it was home. I have thought about Aiken and my parent’s house - it was home while I lived there. I have thought about Aiken and my sister’s house (which used to be our house) it was home when we lived there. When I think of all of these places now – I say to myself – No that’s not my home, no that’s not my home, and no that’s not my home. I have been thinking about home so much because I have a new place to call home in Botswana. I have thought about Abraham in the Bible – when called to a new land, how he obeyed and went even though he did not know where he was going. I have wondered what Abraham thought about leaving his home? I wondered if He questioned whether he would ever get to go home again or did he assume he was going to make a new home?
When we boarded that plane 2 months ago to follow God to Botswana (an unknown for me) I wondered how long it would take for this to “feel” like home? I really wondered if it ever would feel that way. I wondered if we would ever feel settled here or if we would always feel like temporary residents… strangers in a foreign land on a temporary assignment? Today as we mark our 2 month anniversary of living in our new home, I have concluded that home is a choice. A heart choice!
Through all of this thinking about home God has reminded me that our real home is not anywhere on this earth. We are all only temporary sojourners traveling through until God calls us to our real HOME in heaven. Even our heavenly home is a choice – we can choose to accept the free gift of God’s grace through Jesus Christ and receive our eternal mansion that He is preparing for us – or we can choose not to accept it. That is what home comes down to – a choice. When God sends us somewhere we can choose to accept the place he has us as our home or we can pine and ponder and never settle in our new home. I could choose to “wander in the desert for years” or I can choose to say this is my home – Botswana, Africa. I am content with where I am and grateful for the home He has given me. So for today and until He calls me to my forever home, I have settled the question in my own heart and mind and I am happy to say “THIS IS HOME"! 15602 Broadhurst ext. 44, Gaborone, Botswana. You are welcome in our home anytime!!
I am so grateful for all of you that read our blog and pray for us. Please continue to pray for our ministry here. We have just starting meeting with the leaders of G-West Baptist Church where we will be launching a new Children’s program. Our goal in coming to Botswana was to help as many churches as possible take their next step in establishing a sustainable Children’s Ministry. This is our first step in accomplishing our mission. Please pray for G-West, for the pastor, Modise (Mo-dee-say), for the elder’s and the current Children’s leaders. Please pray that everything we do they would grasp as their own and would lead the children straight to JESUS!! To Him be all the Glory!! Please pray for the team we are hosting this week from Alabama. They are here to survey what is happening in Botswana and are praying about a partnership possibility.
Scott and I are also traveling this weekend to Mosojane (mo-so-john-ee) – a small village in Northern Botswana. We are going to meet with a pastor and his wife that run 2 “daycare” centers. They have asked us to come and see how we might assist them. From what we hear Mosojane is one the most impoverished areas and these are probably more like orphanages than daycares. Please pray that we would have God’s wisdom and discernment while we are there. Pray that we would see very clearly how we might further help or assist them in their ministry.
Thanks again for praying! Tonya
When we boarded that plane 2 months ago to follow God to Botswana (an unknown for me) I wondered how long it would take for this to “feel” like home? I really wondered if it ever would feel that way. I wondered if we would ever feel settled here or if we would always feel like temporary residents… strangers in a foreign land on a temporary assignment? Today as we mark our 2 month anniversary of living in our new home, I have concluded that home is a choice. A heart choice!
Through all of this thinking about home God has reminded me that our real home is not anywhere on this earth. We are all only temporary sojourners traveling through until God calls us to our real HOME in heaven. Even our heavenly home is a choice – we can choose to accept the free gift of God’s grace through Jesus Christ and receive our eternal mansion that He is preparing for us – or we can choose not to accept it. That is what home comes down to – a choice. When God sends us somewhere we can choose to accept the place he has us as our home or we can pine and ponder and never settle in our new home. I could choose to “wander in the desert for years” or I can choose to say this is my home – Botswana, Africa. I am content with where I am and grateful for the home He has given me. So for today and until He calls me to my forever home, I have settled the question in my own heart and mind and I am happy to say “THIS IS HOME"! 15602 Broadhurst ext. 44, Gaborone, Botswana. You are welcome in our home anytime!!
I am so grateful for all of you that read our blog and pray for us. Please continue to pray for our ministry here. We have just starting meeting with the leaders of G-West Baptist Church where we will be launching a new Children’s program. Our goal in coming to Botswana was to help as many churches as possible take their next step in establishing a sustainable Children’s Ministry. This is our first step in accomplishing our mission. Please pray for G-West, for the pastor, Modise (Mo-dee-say), for the elder’s and the current Children’s leaders. Please pray that everything we do they would grasp as their own and would lead the children straight to JESUS!! To Him be all the Glory!! Please pray for the team we are hosting this week from Alabama. They are here to survey what is happening in Botswana and are praying about a partnership possibility.
Scott and I are also traveling this weekend to Mosojane (mo-so-john-ee) – a small village in Northern Botswana. We are going to meet with a pastor and his wife that run 2 “daycare” centers. They have asked us to come and see how we might assist them. From what we hear Mosojane is one the most impoverished areas and these are probably more like orphanages than daycares. Please pray that we would have God’s wisdom and discernment while we are there. Pray that we would see very clearly how we might further help or assist them in their ministry.
Thanks again for praying! Tonya
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Tsolamosese – (so-la-mo-see-see)
I visited a village of about 1,500 people who live on the city limits of Gaborone. Its name is Tsoloamosese. The reason for my visit was to see first hand what an article in the local paper had described as residents facing hardships because they had no running water provided by the city to their homes. When I got there I saw the villagers toting water 2-4 kilometers round trip. In this culture, men do not carry water, only women and children do. The ladies I met along the road said they do this twice a day to have water in their homes for cooking, cleaning and drinking. The water is carried in 5 gallons buckets or containers on wheelbarrows, on heads or in hand. What makes this task difficult is not the 40 plus pounds of water in each container but the paths they walk are not straight or even. They look like old goat paths moving from side to side in every direction. The land is typical Botswana terrain going from sand to rutted clay to small rocks back to sand within 100 meters. Handling wheelbarrows in this terrain is hard work for any person.
I was blessed to have met Rhumoyame and her family. She was quick to tell me her name means, “richness”. She has a 1 year old daughter whose name is “Lily” like the flower. Lily is barely over a year old and after looking at her I knew something was not normal with Lily. Rhumoyame said she had a difficult birth and Lily was born still. She has what we would diagnose as cerebral palsy. She is motionless and non-responsive to anything going on around her other than eating. Rhumoyame will not take her to a doctor because she does not trust them. They take babies away and experiment on them is what she told me. She does not want to happen to her Lily plus she does not have money to travel to a doctor or pay for it. We prayed over Lily and asked God’s healing hands to be on her so she could be reacting to her mother like babies should with smiles and laughter.
This was a hard prayer for me because the moment made think back to the time when Chandler, my third child, was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and we were faced with the unknown. A new believer relying on God to show us what He was doing and trusting others to help us through it. We received a miracle healing with Chandler that I honestly never expected one to happen. As I was praying on this day, I thought God you can heal her right now. But first, we need to know what are doing and she needs a church to surround her. I also remembered something else, Chandler’s illness and healing 13 years ago was my first step in walking with the Lord that has led me to Botswana as a missionary in 2010. I remember someone teaching God uses people and circumstances to get us involved in what He is doing. Thank you God for the people you have put in my life to guide me through my circumstances.
After riding around the area on all the winding roads, I discovered why they did not have running water in their homes. All of the people there are squatters. They settled there over 30 years ago and built rude housing which later eventually became more stable and solid buildings. The problem is because they did not purchase a plot from the government so they legally do not exist there. If they do not legally exist they do not need water since no one is supposed to be living there. Rhumoyame worked to get a deed and plot organized for her house and was successful this past June in doing so. The government now wants 10,000 BWP for the taxes and rights to the land. She has no income and her husband runs a Tuck Shop that is like a Quick Shop the size of large dining room table that sells various items to people. They make about 1500 BWP a year ($250 USD). She is heartbroken to know that after all the work she went through to get the paper work done because she does not have the money someone can purchase the deed from under her if she does not pay it by the end of the year. Her family could loose everything and have nothing after 37 years. We prayed for God to secure her land and give her peace about where she was going to live.
Here is the amazing part of her story. We discussed the reason for my visit, not having running water, and her answer surprised me. She said her family has been toting water for 37 years from the borehole. The village, in English, means “take off your dress”. It was so named because for over the past 50 years it was the only borehole for many kilometers. When the women arrived to get their water, they were tired and a bit intolerant to bad behaviors like cutting in line or taking more than could be carried. A fight would usually break out among the women. In order to keep from damaging or soiling their dresses, they would take off their dresses and fight. Struggling and fighting through hardships and for water was nothing new to her or this village. I was also that take off your dress did not mean something else!
Then she took me over to a fenced in area not far from the borehole that is used for a Shebeen, an illegal bar. There were nearly 30 men of all ages drinking beer and homemade brew (for my Southern friends, Moon Shine) in the middle of the afternoon. They were sitting around drinking and playing cards in the shade doing nothing. Rhumoyame started to get irate and explained this was the biggest problem in her village. When she was a little girl, men worked to provide for the family. They did not do odd jobs to get pocket money so they can have drinking money and gamble. She said they need a church that teaches Jesus. It is the only hope for them. The only church there is Zionist Christ Church which is characterized by an emphasis on divine and faith healing, purification rites, dancing, night communion, river baptism, the holy spirit, prophesying, and so on. A lot of mixed up stuff based on deeds and going back to tribal roots to get to heaven. Churches have come to Tsolamosese but only for a few weeks for what we call revival then tell the people to ride the bus into town and attend their church in Gaborone. A bus ride is $0.50 per person one way. In US terms, it would be like the Shipes family spending $80 round trip a week to go to church. They do not have the money so they go unchurched every week.
Dr. Clay Smith, my pastor in Sumter, SC always asks “what did you learn?” and “how do you feel?” I learned there is always a story if you take time to hush and hear it. I found a place that is not looking for what the public thinks but a desire to hear the gospel where they live. I went because someone wrote a story about people without running water. I learned about a people without living water. I feel encouraged to know God is control and inspired me to share this long story to express how grateful I am to be part of His work.
Please pray for Tsolamosese and the unchurched people there.
Monday, October 4, 2010
So much to be excited about!!
The excitement began this week with the country of Botswana celebrating it's 44th year of independence. Since it was independence day the kids had a 4 day weekend which was very exciting for all of them - no waking up at 5:30 am. Woo Hoo!!
Another very exciting thing this week was being a part of the first Missions Conference ever to be held at Open Baptist Church here in Gaborone. Open Baptist is the church that issued us the invitation to come to Botswana to serve with Children. OBC had the privilege to have the Senior Pastor from Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, GA, Bryant Wright as guest speaker. Bryant is also the current President of the Southern Baptist Convention in the US. It was an honor to have him and his wife in Botswana to represent Johnson Ferry Baptist who has been on mission here for 5 years at Open Baptist Church through Face the Nation http://facethenation.org/blog/about-ftn/.
Another very exciting thing this week was being a part of the first Missions Conference ever to be held at Open Baptist Church here in Gaborone. Open Baptist is the church that issued us the invitation to come to Botswana to serve with Children. OBC had the privilege to have the Senior Pastor from Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, GA, Bryant Wright as guest speaker. Bryant is also the current President of the Southern Baptist Convention in the US. It was an honor to have him and his wife in Botswana to represent Johnson Ferry Baptist who has been on mission here for 5 years at Open Baptist Church through Face the Nation http://facethenation.org/blog/about-ftn/.
Bryant spoke to all of us during the conference about how God's Word calls us to be ministers and how we are all called to go tell. Everyone has a place to serve and share the message of Jesus Christ. After hearing him speak and preach all week, I am glad he is the President for the convention. He believes churches should be sending missionaries and not just giving to one organization and depending on them to do all of the work.
The most exciting part of the missions conference was the 5 year celebration of Face the Nation. Bryant also spoke at this event and we had another guest of honor, Sir Quett Ketumile Joni Masire and his wife. Sir Masire was the second President of Botswana and the Patron Supporter for Face the Nation. He was instrumental in Botswana gaining their independence and was a key figure in setting up Botswana as a Christian nation. In Botswana, the gospel can be shared anytime and anywhere without fear.
Bryant shared from Acts 5:15 how our shadow leaves an impression on others and how our shadow can be for good or our shadow can be for evil. He asked us to consider how long our shadow will be based on the people it has touched. Just thought of this, the closer you get to the light the bigger your shadow grows. Being obedient by being a minister by going where God is at work helps make our shadow expand and move to touch others for the Glory of God. Sir Masire inspired us with his wit and charm, reminding us that various bodies of Christ need to work along side one another to save this continent from HIV-AIDS. He also reminded us that by changing the character of the lost people around us, we can change this country. Sir Masire recognizes that the only hope of that character change is through Jesus Christ. Sir Masire is the man who inspired me about reaching the children of Botswana when he said, "the security of the future of Botswana is in its children". Sir Masire is part of my testimony of how God called me to Botswana. He is the man who sat beside me on the airplane home after I had been invited to come to Botswana to help in Children's Ministry. He believes like me, we must reach and teach children that they are valuable and their character could save a continent.
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The excitement doesn't end there. On Saturday around noon our time we received a phone call from a very excited daughter in SC!! She was engaged!! We were thrilled to be able to share in her excitement. Tyler her fiance had come to Charleston and taken her to the beach to see the sun rise. He gave her a Bible and had highlighted in Ephesians 5 how a man should love his wife as Christ loves the church. Tied to the ribbon marker in the Bible was her ring. He asked her to marry him and she, of course, said Yes! So sweet and so exciting. As many of you know one of our prayer requests when preparing to come to Botswana was that God would send Makenzie a friend that would be there to encourage, support and love her. We knew before we left that God had answered our prayers through Tyler. We have prayed for Makenzie and her future mate for many years and have total peace and assurance that this is God's will for her life. Makenzie has very strong convictions and seeks to honor God with her life. She knows that Tyler is the man God has ordained for her and is excited about their future together. They both love Jesus and seek to make Him first in their lives! They both have a hearts desire to serve Him where ever He leads. What more could a parent ask for? Thank you Lord for answering our prayers.
I remain in awe of how God orchestrates such powerful things around me to show me again and again, everything rests on His shoulders. How wide, glorious and strong are His shoulders. This is why He is Jehovah Jireh, He provides and continues to provide so many needs we can not comprehend them all. As we start to spread our hands out into where He is at work, we pray not to mess it up by thinking we are supposed to make a difference. He is making a difference in us and He makes the difference in our world.
Thanks for sharing in our excitement. Thanks for continuing to pray for us and for the children of Botswana.
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The excitement doesn't end there. On Saturday around noon our time we received a phone call from a very excited daughter in SC!! She was engaged!! We were thrilled to be able to share in her excitement. Tyler her fiance had come to Charleston and taken her to the beach to see the sun rise. He gave her a Bible and had highlighted in Ephesians 5 how a man should love his wife as Christ loves the church. Tied to the ribbon marker in the Bible was her ring. He asked her to marry him and she, of course, said Yes! So sweet and so exciting. As many of you know one of our prayer requests when preparing to come to Botswana was that God would send Makenzie a friend that would be there to encourage, support and love her. We knew before we left that God had answered our prayers through Tyler. We have prayed for Makenzie and her future mate for many years and have total peace and assurance that this is God's will for her life. Makenzie has very strong convictions and seeks to honor God with her life. She knows that Tyler is the man God has ordained for her and is excited about their future together. They both love Jesus and seek to make Him first in their lives! They both have a hearts desire to serve Him where ever He leads. What more could a parent ask for? Thank you Lord for answering our prayers.
I remain in awe of how God orchestrates such powerful things around me to show me again and again, everything rests on His shoulders. How wide, glorious and strong are His shoulders. This is why He is Jehovah Jireh, He provides and continues to provide so many needs we can not comprehend them all. As we start to spread our hands out into where He is at work, we pray not to mess it up by thinking we are supposed to make a difference. He is making a difference in us and He makes the difference in our world.
Thanks for sharing in our excitement. Thanks for continuing to pray for us and for the children of Botswana.
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