"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

New Opportunity

I am totally in awe watching our God work. He never ceases to amaze me ~ I pray the same is true for you.

When my sister was diagnosed with cancer and told she couldn't travel to Botswana, I prayed that God would make a way for Karla Hafner to join the MBC team to Gakuto. GOD did just that! When He opened the door for Karla to come to Botswana He also opened the hearts of her friends and co-workers to supply many many needs in the school at Gakuto. As Karla spent the week with the teachers doing some training, some assisting and just getting to know them, God opened another door. The teachers were all given a Bible and were VERY excited to have their own. The teachers approached Karla about someone coming to lead a Bible Study for them at the school. Karla told them that she knew just the person - ME!

This afternoon I will go for the first time to meet with the teachers and begin our Bible Study together. Teaching is NOT my gift!! I don't mind talking, facilitating, or leading discussion but teaching is way out of my "comfort zone"!! I am trusting GOD who made the way, opened the door and led me to this, to carry me through it! Please pray for me. I feel like Moses complaining and whining to God that I can't do it or I'm not the one. I know that is OK because 2 Cor 12:9 tells me "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

I am asking all of you my dear friends and prayer warriors to please join me in praying for this study, for God to work through me, for these 13 teachers lives to be transformed by the power of Christ.

Thanks for praying!! ~ Tonya

Friday, June 17, 2011

Gakuto Impressions

The Dream Team for Gakuto.

Family and friends working in our mission was great.

I had a hard time putting words together describing yesterday and I think I can do it. Honestly, Tonya does a much better blogging and putting a personal view of what we experienced. I am giving it my honest perspective. The photo here shows impression made in the sands of photo.

I wanted review what difference we made in Gakuto and did we impact not just relief but development and rehabilitation. I see as I look at the sand foot prints of 288 children who had not been on the grounds in years. We sponsored the first children's bible school in Gakuto teaching about faith and trust. I see 14 teacher prints taking a first step on the church grounds. They were there because we partnered with them bringing supplies, teaching aids and a teaching specialest. Foot prints of a team of SC 10 friends and family mingled with children from every direction. Shipes family foot prints, Hunter's big feet jumping all around playing games with children. Foot prints of Naledi Baptist Fellowship members on their mission trip to Gakuto. Foot prints of elders and church members feeding children and watching with huge smiles seeing life in the church again. The foot prints tell such a story for me.

After 5 days, we encouraged 14 teachers with bibles and gave them basic tools to help their students learn. 300 children performed for us as a gift of thankfulness for reaching out to them. Gakuto Baptist will be holding a children's event every Saturday to continue what we started. I will train 5 people and provide the curriculum they need to continue. Tonya will hold a Bible Study with the teachers once a week. The pastor will work to be there full time. Millbrook Baptist Church, Harmon Class will support the needs for the Pastor to make this happen. The church will grow through the children of Gakuto. There was such a presence of the Holy Spirit with us this week.

We did not pour out typical American gifts to energize the children. We prayed, sang, taught Jesus to them and in return, Jesus showed up. It is what they needed and God provided. Finally, the foot prints I see that makes me stand in awe, are the nail scarred footprints that danced among us. You go God!

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your work.

Scott and Tonya

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Gakuto Day 3

We had a great day. The van we were using for the team quit working. Changed vans but put us there an hour late. Rushing to get things in place, wind blowing name tags everywhere. Kids showing up early and lunch was late. So much chaos going on but yet we all had a job to do and a message to share. The children arrived and we started following our plan for the day.
The greatness of the day was watching the local ladies prepare our lunch of traditional food. Watching Tonya stir the cast iron pots of melebe and beef. They embraced and enjoyed her laughter and smiles as much we do. Food tasted great, we ate quickly, and started letting the children enter to the church and begin eating.

When it was all said and done, 288 kids showed up today and heard another message about faith and God's plan for their lives. Today was unique in the kids did not keep a distance from us like yesterday. They wanted to be close to us and touch us. They embraced us and embraced our message we had to share. Hilarious when the little ones were watching the story time skit and bolted toward the door when Abraham (Stan Harmon) entered the room. We learned they are afraid of white men, crouching in a room wearing a long white beard.

It was a great day in Gakuto. Pray as we prepare for Day 3. Pray as we speak more boldly of God's Word. Pray for our lunch with the teachers tomorrow will be a blessing for all of us celebrating the gifts and bibles the team presented. Pray our energy level remains strong. Pray that children will have a desire to know the Lord.

Thank you for your prayers,


Scott and Tonya

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Day 2 For Gakuto Team

God showed up today. First, I dropped off a photo I took of the chief that I had framed for him. He was so excited and showed it to everyone in the Kgotla. He expressed how the church is good friend to him and his village. He felt this would be a special blessing because of our visit. Pray for Abdul, he is not a believer and does not know saving grace of Jesus Christ.

We started the day with 13 teachers receiving 7 suitcases full of school supplies. They said songs of praise and danced. We filled the room full of supplies, teaching aids and books. The biggest celebration was when we provided them with NIV Bibles with Old and New Testament. The head master just sat and rubbed the bible page by page. With joy she explained it is her first Bible and she wanted to read from it. She read Psalm 103 verses 1 & 2. "Praise the Lord". How many Bibles we own and take for granted the gift of having one to read.

At least 275 children showed up for VBS. We fed them physically and spiritually. They were so great to be with. We were blessed to be part of this event. The team taught them about "Faith" and trusting in a God you can not see but believing in the things you can see. The teachers came to the church with Bible s in hand and laughed with joy as they watched the children express themselves. They were so proud how well they responded to what we were teaching.

Naledi Baptist Fellowship helped put this together as their first mission trip. They were so excited and looking forward to us doing the same program their next week. Mhathata said this was the best children's experience he had ever been part of doing. The message and stories spoke directly to him and the children and what they needed to hear.

Pray the team maintains the energy they need for tomorrow. Pray preparation needed for more children to arrive tomorrow, there are 35 more who did not show up. Pray for God's Word continues to be boldly expressed in Gakuto. Pray the children will understand and comprehend what we are teaching, this is always a difficulty for Botswana. Pray the teachers, now empowered with the Word of God, will continue what God has started in Gakuto today.

Thank you,
Scott and Tonya

Monday, June 13, 2011

Day 1 for the Gakuto Team

We had a fantastic day with our team of 10 people from Aiken, South Carolina. Met with the Chief of Gakuto, church elders, church leaders, the school teachers and all of the community leaders (or should I just say all of the community). The team got a taste of the "laid back" time schedule of Botswana. They did great and were very flexible and "go with the flow". It was so nice to have the whole team at our house tonight for dinner. We are very grateful that God brought our friends and family to serve here. Tomorrow begins the actual VBS. Please join us in praying for everyone that will be impacted by this team. Pray that many will come to know Jesus as savior!!! This team is so prepared and we know without a doubt that GOD is working through them. Gakuto- a small village that could seem forgotten... God didn't forget!! He put together and sent one of the best teams of people to love on them, serve them, and show them JESUS!!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Busy Season

I know some of you can relate to this being a busy season. I remember plainly the month of May in the states being as busy as the month of December with all of the end of school year stuff. Seems like everything has to get crammed in to one month. Tests, field trips, parties, programs, and graduations all at once!! In Botswana the month of May is a different kind of busy. As everyone in the states is winding down for some summer fun we are "ramping up" for some summer serve!

In 10 days we will welcome our first short term mission team. Are we thrilled?? You bet!! The team is coming from Millbrook Baptist Church in Aiken, SC. We can hardly wait to serve our Lord alongside close friends and family from my hometown. Hosting a team is a highlight for us but requires a lot of prep work on this side. Please pray for us as we continue to daily put together the necessary arrangements, secure supplies, build props, paint posters, plan meals and meet with the local leaders.

Please pray for the team that is coming: Mike, Makela, Susan, Ricky, Stan, Joan, Janet, Lindsey, Justin, and Karla. Please pray for safe travel, for prepared hearts, and for the kids and community of Gakuto. We are planning to serve 300+ kids. I told Susan as we were making some preparations, "We are trusting GOD to supply the kids, the energy to reach them all and the supplies we will need." Pray that God would use this camp week to change lives and an entire village for His Glory. Pray that children would meet Jesus and would be drawn into a life-saving relationship with HIM. Please pray for the teachers in Gakuto as well. These 13 ladies are the ones that invest into the lives of these children on a daily basis. Pray that their lives will be touched by Jesus and they will be the leaders, mentors, examples for these kids everyday ... even after we leave. We will be providing Bibles for them, presenting some teacher training workshops - thanks to Karla, providing some school & teaching supplies. Pray that we not only leave with physical needs met but more importantly that their hearts and lives will be changed by Jesus.

As we anticipate the arrival of this team we are also planning and preparing for others. Continue to pray for the Alice Drive Baptist Student team and the Highlands Baptist Team that both come in July.

Please also pray for us as we prepare to lead our first Children's Ministry Conference in August and for the Alice Drive team that will come to assist us in that.

Our call to Botswana and our prayer has been for the church leaders of Botswana to catch the vision and passion to reach children for Christ and to begin Children's ministries at their churches. Join us in Praising God for answering our prayer. We have been approached by some church leaders to be a part of the Gakuto kids camp so they can learn and then run one at their own church. Please pray that God continues to burden the hearts of church leaders to reach the next generation and that more and more ministry to children will be started and sustained.

Busy, Busy, Busy but filled with so much anticipation about what OUR GOD is doing in lives of Children, Church leaders, and even us here in Botswana.

We love you all and are thankful for your prayers!! ~ Tonya

Phl 4:19-20 "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."