JOY

The theme for our VBS week in Mosojane was JOY.  How do you describe Joy to someone?  Joy is not something you can give to someone else, it is not something you can make someone feel in the same exact way that you do, it is not happiness.  It is a feeling that most of us understand but still have a hard time describing. It is that deep-seated contentment, peace, and excitement that wells up inside us.

These past few weeks I have been filled with Joy.  Makenzie was able to join us in Botswana for Christmas.  She arrived last Sunday night.  We were all overfilled with Joy to see her, to hug her, to share some time with her.  She was overwhelmed with all of us the first night.  She said, “slow down guys I can’t hear everyone saying Makenzie, Makenzie, Makenzie all at one time.”  We all wanted to tell her something or show her something.  Makenzie commented how impressed she was that everyone already knew so much about Gaborone and Botswana in such a short time.  I thought about what she said and in my heart really agreed.  It is pretty impressive at how much our boys have experienced, learned, and understand already.  I am very proud of all of them for the way they have adjusted.

My “Moma” Joy was on overload on Tuesday night.  It is one of times that I will always remember.  I think Mary in the Bible described it as pondering these things and storing them in her heart.  We were all together listening to music, basking in the Glow of the Christmas tree, and working on getting supplies ready to head to Mosojane to do VBS.  It was a wonderful thing to experience all together.  I have done plenty of VBS prep in my life but never have I done it with just Scott and all of my kids.  To see all of them involved and really enjoying being together and serving our Lord at the same time was an incredible experience.  It truly was one of those “priceless” moments.

On Wednesday morning we packed (or maybe I should say “loaded down”) the Suburban and made our 7-hour trek north to the small town of Tshesebe where we would be staying in the Stop Over Motel for 4 nights.  After unloading we headed to Mosojane – about a 20K trip down a long and winding “washboard” dirt road.  Moruti Andrew, his wife Elizabeth and some very joyful and excited children greeted us. We got things ready and set to begin on Thursday morning.  The festivities were supposed to begin at 9:30am.  When we arrived in Mosojane at 8:15am there were already over 70 kids anxiously waiting for us to arrive and get things started.  At 9:30 we had our first Opening Celebration.  Over 100 kids joined us and rotated through 4 stations.  Music – led by Makenzie and Parker; Recreation – led by Chandler and Hunter; Bible – led by Moruti Scott Shipes; and Crafts – led by me.  Josh and Joe were participants at the VBS and enjoyed moving around in their group and getting to know some of the kids.  It is an indescribable Joy to be a part of hosting a VBS for kids that have never had anything like that before. We were privileged to teach them where real Joy comes from - A God that keeps His promises and sent His one only Son Jesus to this world to save us from our sins. We taught them that Joy comes from putting Jesus first in your life, putting others second, and yourself last.  We were so blessed to watch them praising the Lord through songs such as "Joy to the World", "Give me joy in my heart keep me praising",  "I've got Joy down in my heart, deep deep down in my heart"...to name a few. The kids at VBS ranged in age from less than 1 to 15.  All ages seemed to loved it.  New kids joined us everyday and we really liked getting to know those who returned each day.  We learned names and faces and even little personalities.  We returned in the afternoons to play soccer and field games.  The girls played “Duck, Duck, Goose” while the boys joined in the friendly competition on the soccer field.  I think the pictures do a better job of showing the Joy than my feeble words do at describing it. 

At the end of VBS each day we served lunch to everyone.  Pastor Andrew was very grateful.  He thanked us for not only meeting spiritual needs of the kids but also their physical needs. He told us for most of them that would be their only food for the day. Really puts into perspective how blessed we are!! 

Sunday morning we held a Celebration Service during church.  The kids enjoyed getting a certificate, a candy cane, and a “silly band” thanks to Mrs. Karla and Mrs. Lisa who gathered supplies in the states and sent them for us to do VBS.  

Four days went by in a blur and we got attached to some sweet little kiddos. After lots of hugs and "high fives" we said our goodbyes and left with the promise to return in the Summer (Winter for them).

We thank God for all He accomplished this week in Mosojane.  We thank Him for the Joy He fills each of us with through His Son, Jesus.  We thank Him for allowing us to be a part of spreading His Joy with the Children of Mosojane.  We especially thank Him for you - For your prayers, your financial support, your words of encouragement - it was not only us sharing Jesus in Mosojane - it was all of you!!!

"What has 4 months in Africa done to your marriage?" - Clay Smith

Scott and I have a weekly Skype session with our pastor Clay Smith from Alice Drive Baptist in Sumter, SC.  Clay is who Scott and I report to and he is not only a friend, a great boss and leader, but he is also an incredible spiritual advisor.  I am so grateful we have Clay as a sounding board and guide.  This past week Clay ended our Skype session with an assignment.  He asked both of us to think about what 4 months in Africa has done to our marriage.  Wow - Thanks Clay!!! He always challenges us to learn, to grow, and to lead.  He also challenges us personally to care for ourselves, our marriage, and our family.  When Clay asked us to think about the effect on our marriage I immediately responded with, "well I haven't killed him yet."

My good friend Becky had recently asked me how it was to always be together?  You know, Scott not having a 7:00 -5:30 job to go to everyday.  I told Becky and shared with Clay that being in a foreign country and basically only having each other, I was actually enjoying having Scott around.  I know people who really struggle with all of a sudden having their husband at home.  I think if we still lived in SC my story might be different.  I might see him as "cramping my style".  In SC I would have to share my friend time, my phone time and my running around time and I'm not so sure I would have liked that too much.  But because we are in Botswana and we only have each other I like having Scott to spend my days with.  We spend time reading, planning, praying, and preparing. We usually go to meetings together.  We lead training sessions together. We even run errands together. Now I'm not the only one who goes to the grocery store or picks up the kids. We work together to make things happen.  It's kind of a nice balance in the family.  I think it has been harder on Scott.  Going from a "same time everyday" kind of routine to one that is more flexible is strange for him.  I sense his need to be doing something or going somewhere.  It is hard for him to sit, prepare and plan for later.

Four months in Africa has brought new meaning to the "leave and cleave" verses in the Bible.  Looking back over the almost 21years of our marriage I realize I didn't embrace the "leave and cleave".  I wanted to have it all. I never planned on leaving anything I loved and I wanted to be cleaving to my moma and daddy, my sisters, my friends and to Scott (sometimes in that order too).  I wanted to be married but I wanted to have life as I had always known it.   I remember those early years of marriage.  As soon as Scott headed out of town on business I headed out of town to stay with my family. We lived in Johnsonville, SC the first year of our marriage.  I clearly remember telling him that I was moving home.  I told him that He could either find a job in or near Aiken and move with me or we could have a long distance relationship.  I certainly didn't put him first.  I put my desires ahead of his.  I had no idea how to follow and therefore never let him lead our family or our decisions.  I'm so grateful for the tender way God worked in my life to change me.  By His grace, He didn't just call me from Aiken (my hometown) to Botswana.  I love how He moved us first to Sumter and let me come to realize that I could live away from my family and friends. I love how He showed me through the lives of our friends that life in a foreign country is "doable".  I love how He gave me time to change and grow.  I have never felt "snatched" around by God.

So now it's very different, very different in a right way.  This didn't just happen because of 4 months in Africa.  This has been a journey.  But I can say today that By the Grace of God, I am letting Scott lead. I am following his decisions.  I am waiting on him to choose and decide.  I can certainly see how God is using this call to Botswana and these 4 months to make many changes in us.  By leaving everything and everybody we knew and loved we are now cleaving.  It's not all "bliss".  There are those days when I look at him and think "What in the world have I done following you all the way around the world?"  But I have complete peace knowing that this right where God wants us to be.  And I am happy to be married to a man that loves Jesus with all of Heart and is willing to sacrifice everything for HIM!!

These 4 months have also revealed a lot about our personalities and I see so much of how we complement each other. God said in His Word that our spouse is our "helpmate".  I see us living this out  more than ever before.  Scott is very much the relational, talking, people person in our family.  I am the planner, organizer, and preparer.  Seeing these gifts working together through our ministry is really neat.  I see how God made us a team to accomplish His plan and purpose in Children's ministry in Botswana.

So Clay my answer to your assignment would be that 4 months in Africa has had a "God" (aka. good) impact on our marriage. (Now ask me in 6 months and my answer might be different). But our God is ever changing us into His likeness.  He is grooming us with His grace.  I am very grateful to be sharing this journey with my helpmate, friend, and man!!!   I love you Scott!!!   ~ Tonya