Praise Update

Hard to put into the words what God has been doing in Botswana lately. Our summer (winter here in Botswana) has been BUSY to say the least!! We have spent the past 2 weeks without internet so our sharing has been delayed. We just came off of an incredible week with 46 children’s ministry leaders from Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia for our very first Children’s Ministry conference. We were blessed to have Todd Fleming, Beth Beal, and Chylene Burdick from ADBC join us to teach and lead during the conference. The conference started on Monday with registration, introductions, and orientation. The Children’s leaders were a part of a bigger Pastor’s Conference where over 200 Pastor’s came from as far as the DRC (Congo) and Kenya to be equipped and encouraged. The breakout sessions for Children’s ministry began on Tuesday and ran through Thursday where all of the leaders were eager to hear about the importance of Children’s Ministry. Not knowing what to expect we were overwhelmed with the participants’ willingness to interact with us. They asked very good questions and all took part when we had them “practice teach” or pretend to be the children being taught. They loved learning new songs, dances, and games that they could take home to share with the kids in their churches. They were filled with anticipation and excitement at the possibility of starting Scripture Memory Clubs in their churches. They caught the vision of taking in all we could share so they could be vessels to pour out into the kids. Being able to put curriculum into their hands and give them new teaching tips and techniques left them so grateful.
One participant wrote us a thank you note at the end of the conference. She wrote: “When people asked me how the classes are, I’d answer, I am being born again as a child. This is the best way to express what has happened to me these past few days. I would be lying if I said I wish it could go on for longer. I have been thoroughly equipped and have got all I need to do what I need to do. Thank you for all you did, all you said. More than the materials, it’s what we heard you say, what we saw you do and what you had us do. Something has exploded within me, the wells have become unstopped and rivers of living water are about to flow. If someone had told me years ago that I would forfeit a Pastors Conference for a children’s leadership training, I would have called them a liar, but here I am more passionate about the baby fishes than the big ones. This is amazing on its own for me. Thank you for what you have done. Thank you for what I have become. Only eternity can testify to the ripple effects of your awesome act of love and devotion. If I never meet you again on this side of heaven, let us live in such a way that we will one day meet in heaven before the throne of grace, and I will declare, there is the one who set me on this path. May God richly, richly, richly bless you! You have caused my passion to come alive, to find its expression in the things you taught us. I have touched heaven and will now begin to touch earth and impart a little of this love upon these dear little ones.” Another participant commented, “You and your team transformed my world in Christ. I’m touched and encouraged to surrender more to God.” The closing of the conference on Friday morning included saying all of our goodbyes, giving out certificates of attendance, and being blessed by a traditional African thank you where the women bowed at our feet and gave thanks to God for us. Needless to say this was very humbling and overwhelming.

Along with the excitement of the Children’s Ministry Conference I have had the privilege to lead Bible Study with the teacher’s at Gakuto School. The teachers had asked if I could lead a Bible Study with them after we had been there in June and passed out Bibles. Getting our dates and timing together was a bit frustrating but the blessing of seeing God at work in these ladies has been worth it all. The first lesson we did was “being confident of your salvation” there was a lot of discussion about works verses grace. I was overcome with emotion as I watched the Spirit move in that room and had so many of them understand for the first time that their relationship is secure in Christ Jesus and to have them understand that He would NEVER leave them or forsake them. I left them with some homework and some memory verses. We had our second meeting on last Tuesday. There were more teachers present at this meeting and I was very encouraged with those that completed their study at home and did memory verses. This session we looked at verses that showed how sin could interrupt our fellowship with God but would never break our relationship. Again I was astonished to get a glimpse of the transformation God was already doing in their lives. Just the difference in the prayer requests was incredible. The first week the requests were all about them being blessed this week they were are asking for God to reveal His purpose in their lives, for God to have His way with their lives, and for them to have total surrender to Him. I have to admit that I easily fall in love with people and this group of ladies is of course no different. I am really enjoying just getting to know them and call them my friends. I am so blessed to be a witness to their budding love relationship with our Lord. I always leave them praising God for his love for us and being completely grateful for his grace, provision, and His mighty work in people’s lives – including my own!!

We love all of you so much and are so thankful for your love, prayers, and support. My prayer is that you see God at work and get a glimpse of His using you in that work. Scott and I are reminded over and over again that none of this is by our own doing but completely by God’s magnificent design. Our prayer and complete trust has been that He would work through the hearts of His people to accomplish his purposes. We thank you for your part in that.

Please continue to pray for our family. We are facing some family decisions with Hunter’s graduation approaching this November. We continue to need direction in our pace of life here – finding a balance with ministry and family. We have opportunities for more Children’s Conferences in Botswana and surrounding countries. Please join us in praying as we begin to plan and prepare about these opportunities. Our boys will start their last term of this school year on September 5th. Please pray that they would finish well. Please continue to pray for our aching hearts as we are miles apart from our daughter Makenzie and her husband Tyler and the rest of our families. This is by far the hardest part of what we were called to do. Thanks again for praying and for being a part of what God is doing in Botswana.
~Tonya

Serving with the Shipes

This post is by Leandra Livesay, recent team visitor to Botswana. We asked her to summarize their team's experience for us. Here is their story:

12 days ago the Alice Drive Baptist Church Student Team left Sumter to make our way to Gaborone to minister to the children of Botswana and serve with the Shipes. Scott and Tonya are allowing us to share with you just a little bit of what we have been able to experience. The entire trip has been amazing for all of us - from the 3 days it took to get here, to seeing giraffe, rhino and impala on game drives, to shopping in the market, to just getting to be together and spending time with the Shipes. But most of all, it has been incredible to experience God in real and tangible ways - on another continent and in the lives of the children and people here.

We left Gaborone on Tuesday morning to head 8 hours north to the remote village of Mosojane. Mosojane is a village of 3000 people, 490 kilometers North of Gaborone, with 233 children between the ages of 6 and 12 enrolled in the school. Education in school is below par because of difficulty comprehending and reading English. The Shipes are working with Moruti Andrew Mwima the pastor of Mosojane Baptist Church and his wife Elizabeth to minister to the children of the village.

Our group of 11 students and 3 adults ran VBS for the children at Mosojane Primary School. We prepared craft materials, snacks and supplies for recreation for 180 children - 200 at the very most. It was amazing to see how God supplied each day, just like the 'loaves and fishes' as we were able to have just enough to minister to close to 215 children! The children in Mosojane were excited to have a group come and be there just for them. They were very attentive, soaking in the Bible stories and having fun with our students. Much like the children of Old Naledi, many of the Mosojane children are orphaned, have been abused and often go hungry. We also fed them each day - both physically and spiritually - giving them an actual treat they wouldn't normally have as well as the chance to hear the truth of Jesus Christ.

One highlight of the trip was the chance to go into the children's classrooms to see what school is like for them - school without electricity and very few books or supplies. Some of us were surprised when they unexpectedly asked us to actually TEACH the children! Our incredible students did a great job teaching English, Math and Science on the spot! In the classroom and at VBS, our students encouraged, uplifted and loved on the children - something they don't often experience. As much as we had the chance to give to them, the children of Mosojane gave to us through their sincere appreciation for everything they had - even when it wasn't much - and being so thankful for us just being there and spending time with them.

We returned on Sunday evening and over the last two days we have worked at the Old Naledi feeding station and gone to the village of Gakuto. Many have read Tonya's previous blog about the time they spent working with and ministering to the teachers there. When they asked Karla Hafner if someone would do a Bible Study with them, she knew Tonya would be the right person and she was right! Due to a bit of miscommunication, today was actually the first day that Tonya had a chance to lead the Bible Study and I (Leandra) had the amazing privilege of being there.

What an amazing time we had - talking, teaching and spending time with those teachers in the presence of God. Doing a cross cultural Bible Study is a little intimidating - not knowing how they will respond, wondering if they are coming because they think they should, rather than because they really want to. But any fear of that was quickly put to rest. They asked deep questions, interacted with us and were sincerely trying to understand and work out issues of faith and what it means to have a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ. The two hours we spend with them flew by as we felt the presence of the Holy Spirit open their eyes and hearts to the truth of His word!

Today's Bible Study was about having CONFIDENCE in your salvation - that it comes only from God through His son and knowing that once you have been saved, there is nothing that can ever change that. We believe that many of the teachers do know the Lord, but there were many "ah ha!" moments as they continued to understand more of what it means to know God. The most moving moment came from a teacher who shared that she now understands that NOTHING could ever separate her from the love of God - that because she knows Jesus He will always be with and never leave her. Our prayer for the teachers of Gakuto is that they will continue to grow in the Lord and share their love for Him with their students.

Going on a short term mission trip is an awesome experience that everyone should have. But it is so different from LIVING on mission in a foreign country every day. That is not always easy or fun and I'm sure sometimes it is pretty discouraging - being far from family, friends and the comfort of "regular" life. Today, though, I had the chance to see the Shipes on Mission - to watch God work to fulfill the incredible purpose that He has called Scott, Tonya and the boys. Tonya explained to the teachers why they live here and what they are doing as Children's Missionaries - that they can't minister to every child in Botswana - but by ministering to those teachers, the children in their classes will be changed, changing the village, changing the country. What an incredible example the Shipes are of what they are trying to help the people of Botswana understand - total faith, total trust, total obedience to the ONE true God. We are so thankful for the awesome privilege of being just a small part of the work God is doing in and through them.