I just got back from a long trip training in the village of Selebe-Phikwi and wanted to share what a great experience I had during this trip.
First, the travel was crazy, with all the business of payday and everyone driving wild on the roads to get where they wanted. Took way longer than I expected to reach my destination. My first stop was to visit the Brazilian missionaries who have been watching over my belongings in Palapye after the Suburban broke down (yes, it is still in the shop. Waiting on parts from the US to arrive.) Wonderful family establishing church in their home and reaching 45 children and 23 adults. When they found out our ministry, they were very interested and requested we do a training next year for them. They will organize other baptist churches in the area who need this type of training. Opportunity impact of reaching 150 to 200 children in the churches alone that have no established children's ministry. That Suburban is building my ministry and the kingdom of God by my fuel pump breaking down. I pray the Lord will be done with it soon so I can get it back to help in transportation back in Gaborone. I'm loving what he is doing but sure miss my car.
Because of the late driving, I ended doing something I should not do, drive at night in rural Botswana. Death from driving accidents involving animals is the largest in Botswana outside of HIV. From the main road to Selebe-Phikwi I traveled a road so full of life stock I felt like I was driving trough a farm instead of a road. Cows (dikomo), donkey (ditonki) and goats (dipudi) were everywhere. The locals were driving through as if they were not there, just the flashers going off. I had my hands at 2 and 10 o'clock and my head in the windshield looking out for them. They were in the road walking, sleeping. They were beside the road and even saw a few Impala jumping across the highway. The adrenaline was over the top. I finally arrived and was welcomed by Rob and Mary Grindley, with Branch Ministries to a nice steak and a good nights rest.
The training was with Branch Ministries who asked me train three churches in their ministry. The churches were: Church Of The Harvest (the existing ministry); Botshabelo and Tobane. They are working to develop children ministry in two of them and grow the ministry in the third. There are 140 children attending the churches represented. Branch Ministries was established in 1996 by Robert & Mary when they answered the call to preach the Gospel in Africa. Since that time they have been involved in many types of ministry. Their ministry is primarily in Selebi-Phikwe, a mining town in central Botswana with a population of approximately 65,000. Branch Ministries now includes works and projects of church planting, evangelistic outreaches, leadership conferences. Selebi-Phikwe is an area known to be surrounded by witchcraft and the spiritual battle is very real for all ages. It is a battle field most of us can understand nor begin to comprehend. This is a stronghold capturing many generations.
The next day was a wonderful day of training. Eager participants and who grasped what was taught and a vast desire to learn. A day was not enough for this group. Our mission here is to help establish effective children's ministries in churches. Watching the churches work to organize themselves, determine the roles they were to fill and define their mission, vision and values right in front of me was impressive. I wish Pastor Clay Smith was with me to coach me through the last part. He is the beast at it. I am grateful this grasshopper had a good teacher. God showed up and it was working great as they eagerly got busy putting the work together. Pray for the three churches as the work their next steps in their children ministry and define the direction God wants them to take. The 3 churches have the opportunity to impact 1,600 children that attend school them. I look forward to seeing what God will do here. Pray the next training will be done soon before we head home for the holidays. They want to learn more about creative teaching methods and finalize their mission, vision, values statement. Such a joy to be part of something that is 100% what we provide to churches here in Botswana.
The drive home was uneventful, praise God, with not issues. Glad to spend the night with family and enjoy time with friends who were visiting.
Pray for Hunter's last weeks here and the transition all of us are going to face when we leave him in the US and head back to Botswana in January. We love tall, competitive boy so much. He has such a presence in the family that will be greatly missed.
Scott Shipes
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
It is Hot in Botswana
To all our friends and supporters, man it is hot here. Calling for 104 every day until the rains get here. For the rain to come it has to get hot. You have to take the heat to get the rain. Praying for that rain to get here soon. Not only is it hot but the sun is so intense. It takes the energy out of you quickly when you are out and about in it. Enough of my whining about being hot.
Yesterday I had the privilege to teach 49 teachers at Believer's Destiny Academy about children's leadership. It was such a joy to have that many teachers willing to learn under a tent which was 110 degrees for 2 hours. I was able to share the core of our ministry and why they should work to be part of it. They have the ability to reach 40% of the population in Botswana about Jesus Christ who mostly ignored in churches, children. This work should be done with passion, the right attitude, with a team and with honor.
The teachers were engaged, asking questions and wanted more of what we have to provide and willing to come every week for 2 hours in the heat or not to learn. They want to take this teaching to their churches they attend and build their children's ministry. God has shown me the opportunities are out there. We must continue to pray for discernment and His direction as they become apparent to us.
The owner of the school has a vision of running children bible schools on Saturdays at 4 villages where she operates schools for 2 hours. She wants leaders trained to do this work starting the new school year. Tonya, the boys and I ran one of the bible schools for her on Saturday last week. 78 children were there without any advertising or pushing it throughout the village. Just word of mouth. Teaching them they are a child of the King, made in His image and His friend was so much fun. They were excited to hear this and joyful repeating this message to me. They were children who do not attend her school, so this is truly an out reach for the owner. I see God confirming her vision and joyful we can be part of training leaders to help this work.
Pray for the remaining training sessions we have with them. Pray for the energy it takes to pour out to this number of people. Pray for the leaders to connect to the vision to reach the unreached children who do not know God and His son Jesus. Pray for our boys as the final month of school for the year is here and their preparation to be home in the states for the holidays. Pray for my Suburban to get back on the road again before we head home. Pray for my son Hunter who will be leaving Botswana to finish high school in the US to prepare for university.
Thank you for all your support, love and prayers.
Scott Shipes
Yesterday I had the privilege to teach 49 teachers at Believer's Destiny Academy about children's leadership. It was such a joy to have that many teachers willing to learn under a tent which was 110 degrees for 2 hours. I was able to share the core of our ministry and why they should work to be part of it. They have the ability to reach 40% of the population in Botswana about Jesus Christ who mostly ignored in churches, children. This work should be done with passion, the right attitude, with a team and with honor.
The teachers were engaged, asking questions and wanted more of what we have to provide and willing to come every week for 2 hours in the heat or not to learn. They want to take this teaching to their churches they attend and build their children's ministry. God has shown me the opportunities are out there. We must continue to pray for discernment and His direction as they become apparent to us.
The owner of the school has a vision of running children bible schools on Saturdays at 4 villages where she operates schools for 2 hours. She wants leaders trained to do this work starting the new school year. Tonya, the boys and I ran one of the bible schools for her on Saturday last week. 78 children were there without any advertising or pushing it throughout the village. Just word of mouth. Teaching them they are a child of the King, made in His image and His friend was so much fun. They were excited to hear this and joyful repeating this message to me. They were children who do not attend her school, so this is truly an out reach for the owner. I see God confirming her vision and joyful we can be part of training leaders to help this work.
Pray for the remaining training sessions we have with them. Pray for the energy it takes to pour out to this number of people. Pray for the leaders to connect to the vision to reach the unreached children who do not know God and His son Jesus. Pray for our boys as the final month of school for the year is here and their preparation to be home in the states for the holidays. Pray for my Suburban to get back on the road again before we head home. Pray for my son Hunter who will be leaving Botswana to finish high school in the US to prepare for university.
Thank you for all your support, love and prayers.
Scott Shipes
Friday, October 14, 2011
God is so Amazing!
Just wanted to update a continued saga concerning the Suburban's fuel pump failing. After the repair in Francistown by my new found friend Darren, the team picked it and headed to Gaborone. It worked great. Then the new pump decided to stop working properly 170km away in Palapye. It had worked fine until just before the team had to stop at a Hoof and Mouth Prevention station. This process is a lot of fun (not), getting out of the car, stepping in fungicide, spraying the tires and getting back in the car. Once they made this stop and headed down the road, it started to failed again.
When they arrived in the next village, Palapye, where they decided to drop the Suburban at the nearest shop. A God moment was beginning to happen. The team missed the first service station they wanted to use and had to pull into the second one available. There is a bus stop located beside the second station. A gentleman got off a bus near where they stopped the car and offered his assistance. He was concerned the people there would take advantage of them and stayed with them to watch and help. One of the pastors asked him about his salvation. His response was, he had been waiting for Jesus and had not found him yet. He decided he needed to change his life and stopped smoking and drinking beer several weeks ago. Since then, he has been waiting for Jesus to come in his life.
If you know Ken Galyean, with Call to Africa that did not take long after hearing his story. In all this confusion of car failure, this man announced he was a sinner in need of a savior. He is now a born again believer after Ken led him through the plan of salvation and the sinner's pray. A local pastor/missionary arrived shortly after this had happened. One of the team members who knew him and had called him to asked for his help. As they introduced him to the man, the man asked if he knew of a church near where he lived so he could find a church to attend. As God would arrange it, the man lived just down the street from this pastor and his church. Amazing how God can arrange all this to happen at the right moment using my Suburban's fuel pump failure as a catalyst for transformation. The cost of what we experienced to help a lost soul find an internal home, is priceless. God had already been working in his life weeks before they arrived with a broken down vehicle. God used His servants to finish His work.
What did I learn? Our obedience can be uncomfortable, expensive and painful but worth the cost to see God's work fulfilled around you. Not only was one man's life transformed, all of us know God a little more and ready to take a next step with Him. How do I feel? Amazed that He loves me enough to use me and those around in such amazing ways that can not be explained by any other way but, "Go God".
Continue to pray for the work needed to repair the Suburban to get it properly running. Please pray for us not to be discouraged and wait on the repair. I hate using the word patience. I don't like praying for it but we need for us to embrace it right now. Pray for my muslim brother who became a believer 7 days ago. Pray the bible I gave him speaks knowledge and wisdom of Christ to his heart and mind.
Thank you for your love and prayers,
Scott
When they arrived in the next village, Palapye, where they decided to drop the Suburban at the nearest shop. A God moment was beginning to happen. The team missed the first service station they wanted to use and had to pull into the second one available. There is a bus stop located beside the second station. A gentleman got off a bus near where they stopped the car and offered his assistance. He was concerned the people there would take advantage of them and stayed with them to watch and help. One of the pastors asked him about his salvation. His response was, he had been waiting for Jesus and had not found him yet. He decided he needed to change his life and stopped smoking and drinking beer several weeks ago. Since then, he has been waiting for Jesus to come in his life.
If you know Ken Galyean, with Call to Africa that did not take long after hearing his story. In all this confusion of car failure, this man announced he was a sinner in need of a savior. He is now a born again believer after Ken led him through the plan of salvation and the sinner's pray. A local pastor/missionary arrived shortly after this had happened. One of the team members who knew him and had called him to asked for his help. As they introduced him to the man, the man asked if he knew of a church near where he lived so he could find a church to attend. As God would arrange it, the man lived just down the street from this pastor and his church. Amazing how God can arrange all this to happen at the right moment using my Suburban's fuel pump failure as a catalyst for transformation. The cost of what we experienced to help a lost soul find an internal home, is priceless. God had already been working in his life weeks before they arrived with a broken down vehicle. God used His servants to finish His work.
What did I learn? Our obedience can be uncomfortable, expensive and painful but worth the cost to see God's work fulfilled around you. Not only was one man's life transformed, all of us know God a little more and ready to take a next step with Him. How do I feel? Amazed that He loves me enough to use me and those around in such amazing ways that can not be explained by any other way but, "Go God".
Continue to pray for the work needed to repair the Suburban to get it properly running. Please pray for us not to be discouraged and wait on the repair. I hate using the word patience. I don't like praying for it but we need for us to embrace it right now. Pray for my muslim brother who became a believer 7 days ago. Pray the bible I gave him speaks knowledge and wisdom of Christ to his heart and mind.
Thank you for your love and prayers,
Scott
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Great Things He has done!!
Scott and I returned home from our trip north on Sunday. To say the week was wonderful, eventful, God-filled, and blessed doesn't begin to describe it. Our travel on Tuesday was safe and smooth - a sweet time of "one on one" for us. We meet up with the rest of the team in Francistown for lunch. The team consisted of 4 men from the states that traveled with www.calltoafrica.org , 6 Rally Team members from Face the Nation, and 3 members from OBC. After unloading at the farm in Sebina where we called home for the week we trekked into Masunga. Every evening of the trip we were part of the team doing Evangelistic Rallies in different villages. Tuesday night started in the market area of Masunga. We set up lights, sound systems, keyboard, and puppet stage in front of a small grocery store. The FTN rally team performed and Ken Galyean shared the gospel. We celebrated with Several new believers that night. Below is a picture of me with a young woman (in red stripes) who decided to follow Jesus.
On Wednesday the Pastor's Conference and Children's Ministry Conference began. We were happy to have 12-14 leaders spend 3 days of intensive training with us. Scott did an excellent job as always explaining the importance of Children's Ministry, equipping them with new ideas on teaching, and providing them with 2 years of curriculum. I was glad to be there to assist him and encourage the leaders. Wednesday evening our evening rally was held in Mosojane a village we have served and invested in this past year. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in that place despite the high winds and sands about blowing you down was incredible. Many, many more people made first time decisions to follow Christ including many of the children we have worked with the past 3 times we visited. Scott was able to pray with the children and encourage them in their walk with Jesus. Please continue to pray for these children to grow in their knowledge of Jesus and to be discipled through the local church. I am attaching a few pictures of the conference and the mosojane rally.
On Thursday Scott took me early in the morning to visit my sweet friend Elizabeth who runs a daycare in the small village of Malambakwena - 5K from Masunga where the conference was happening. Due to transport I ended up spending the day there with Elizabeth, teacher Grace, teacher Kate and 20 precious children. Elizabeth and Grace had both been part of the Children's Ministry Conference we led in August at Open Baptist Church. I enjoyed helping Elizabeth cook, reading to the children, and hearing everything they have learned this year. I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed my time there.
The rally on Thursday was held in Malambakwena. There was a small crowd due to the "unseasonably" cold winds but we Praise the Lord for the one teenage girl who made a public profession of faith. Please pray for her and the others that heard the gospel message. Pray for transformation for this entire village. After the rally we packed up as we did every night and headed back to Sebina for bed. This night I was blessed to have little visitor spend the night with me. Natasha (Elizabeth's 5 year old) wanted to go with me - so of course I took her! ( You never have to twist my arm to take a little girl home with me)!!
Friday was the last day of the conference. We had a few things to do around the villages including going back to the daycare center to repair an awning over the playground and deliver some food that Mr. Brian had bought for them. The conference was a success and the participants left feeling equipped, encouraged, and empowered to continue the good work in their ministries. That afternoon I had the opportunity to go to a prayer meeting at the local high school of Masunga. There were 1200 students in attendance to be prayed over and encouraged before they started their final exams. Friday night was our last rally and was held in the village of Sebina. The farm we had been staying at was owned by one of the local pastors and she had told us of the prayers she had poured out over this village. She shared her heart about Sebina being very oppressed but her vision of it being won for Jesus. I know I have said this many times before but it is hard to put into words what the Lord did that night. As the rally began I sat in the chairs among the people and was soon surrounded by 3 or 4 young kids. After the Ken shared and invited response to the message the little girl in front of me turned around with tears in her eyes and asked me to go with her to the front. It was my honor and privilege to do just that. As the Holy Spirit continued to move many, many others came forward to begin their walk with our Lord Jesus. We prayed with them and took their information to give to a local church for follow up. As this was happening the crowd of people began to grow. Many walked over from the bar next door to see what was going on. Feeling led by the Spirit, Ken decided to start the rally again since so many had gathered. The outpouring of the Spirit that night was beyond belief. One woman testified to having issues with alcohol. She said I have a beer in the car that I am drinking. She went to the car and poured the remainder out. She said I want this Jesus and I want to live for Him!! We prayed with many and counseled many more. Scott was witness to a Muslim man praying the sinners prayer and was able to talk with him and put a Bible in his hands. How can I describe this night? Only one way - "GO GOD!!!" Here are few pictures from Friday.
Saturday morning Scott and I packed up to head home to our boys. The rest of the team ran a soccer tournament with the local schools. We made it back to Francistown, got some gas in the car and started the 4 1/2 hour trip home. About 3K out of Francistown the Surburban just stopped. Scott was pushing the peddle and the engine was running but nothing was happening. We made it to the side of the road where it totally stopped. We just looked at each other and said "now what?" with no contacts in Ftown we called the team we left in Masunga. We then called Elizabeth and her husband Pastor Andrew. They started making some contacts with people they knew and before long a pastor and his wife came to help us. We had the car towed and the Pastor helped us get into a motel and gave us some vouchers for dinner and breakfast. In the mean time our sweet friends Andrew and Elizabeth had "hitch hiked" to Ftown to be with us. They wanted to make sure we were OK. We were so grateful to have them with us. We finally got the Suburban to a car repairman that works on electrical issues - which was the problem. In God's divine way the mechanic was also a lay leader of a church and is called into missions himself. We spent some time with he and his wife listening to their testimonies and God stories. Darren (the electrical mechanic) reminded us that God was looking out for us because had we been farther down the road we could have have been stranded and been unable to get back into Francistown before things closed for the day. He also shared of deciding to turn his phone off for the weekend so they could rest and how his wife was the one that called by the other pastor to see if they could help us out. Do things happen by chance? I think NOT - God has divine appointments for all of us. After dinner Andrew and Elizabeth headed back to Mosojane where they live and we had an evening alone with nothing but REST... Something we have a hard time getting!! That night before bed we realized our laptop was missing so we spent much of our "supposed rest" racking our brains on when and where we last had the computer. At this point we were really feeling "under attack" - after all, messing around in Satan's territory doesn't come without opposition. The next morning we continued to try to locate the computer, making calls to places we had been and people we had been with. After we checked out of the motel we were to meet up with the rest of the team on their way back to Gaborone. While Scott was checking out I was looking at our bags and realized one of mine was not there. I told Scott that I thought the bag was in the back seat of the Suburban and that the laptop was in it. He called the mechanic (whose number we now had ourselves) and sure enough it was!!! Relief!! The team made it to Ftown around lunch time and we got in the church van with 7 of them. We arrived back Late Sunday night - so happy to see our boys again. We are blessed to have some really good friends in Gabs that came on Saturday when we got stuck and took them to stay at their house. The boys had fun and we didn't have to worry. We left the Suburban in Francistown to be repaired and are praying to have it back by the weekend. Here is a picture of Darren and Diane with Scott this was our ride into town to meet the rest of the team.
We are home now reflecting on the Great Things HE has done!!
Please continue to pray for the people of North East Botswana. Pray for all of those that made decisions to follow Jesus. Please pray that others would come to know Him as Lord. Pray that all who attended the conference will be fruitful in their ministry to children. Pray for Red Hills Daycare as they seek to reach the youngest, very vulnerable children. Pray that God would meet their financial needs so they can minister to more. Pray for Pastor Alan and wife Lindy as the minister in a church in Francistown. Pray for Darren and Diane as they minister also. Pray that God would supply everything they need to do the ministry he has given them vision to do. Pray that Darren would be able to fix our Suburban quickly and cost effectively. Praise God with us for all of HIS provision on our trip. Praise him for our boys being well cared for by Kez, Mercy and Vivian. Praise him for the Davis Family that kept them on Saturday and Sunday. Praise him for all of His promises including the one we clung too during our time of attack ~ "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." 1John4:4
We love you all!!! ~ Tonya
On Wednesday the Pastor's Conference and Children's Ministry Conference began. We were happy to have 12-14 leaders spend 3 days of intensive training with us. Scott did an excellent job as always explaining the importance of Children's Ministry, equipping them with new ideas on teaching, and providing them with 2 years of curriculum. I was glad to be there to assist him and encourage the leaders. Wednesday evening our evening rally was held in Mosojane a village we have served and invested in this past year. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in that place despite the high winds and sands about blowing you down was incredible. Many, many more people made first time decisions to follow Christ including many of the children we have worked with the past 3 times we visited. Scott was able to pray with the children and encourage them in their walk with Jesus. Please continue to pray for these children to grow in their knowledge of Jesus and to be discipled through the local church. I am attaching a few pictures of the conference and the mosojane rally.
On Thursday Scott took me early in the morning to visit my sweet friend Elizabeth who runs a daycare in the small village of Malambakwena - 5K from Masunga where the conference was happening. Due to transport I ended up spending the day there with Elizabeth, teacher Grace, teacher Kate and 20 precious children. Elizabeth and Grace had both been part of the Children's Ministry Conference we led in August at Open Baptist Church. I enjoyed helping Elizabeth cook, reading to the children, and hearing everything they have learned this year. I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed my time there.
The rally on Thursday was held in Malambakwena. There was a small crowd due to the "unseasonably" cold winds but we Praise the Lord for the one teenage girl who made a public profession of faith. Please pray for her and the others that heard the gospel message. Pray for transformation for this entire village. After the rally we packed up as we did every night and headed back to Sebina for bed. This night I was blessed to have little visitor spend the night with me. Natasha (Elizabeth's 5 year old) wanted to go with me - so of course I took her! ( You never have to twist my arm to take a little girl home with me)!!
Friday was the last day of the conference. We had a few things to do around the villages including going back to the daycare center to repair an awning over the playground and deliver some food that Mr. Brian had bought for them. The conference was a success and the participants left feeling equipped, encouraged, and empowered to continue the good work in their ministries. That afternoon I had the opportunity to go to a prayer meeting at the local high school of Masunga. There were 1200 students in attendance to be prayed over and encouraged before they started their final exams. Friday night was our last rally and was held in the village of Sebina. The farm we had been staying at was owned by one of the local pastors and she had told us of the prayers she had poured out over this village. She shared her heart about Sebina being very oppressed but her vision of it being won for Jesus. I know I have said this many times before but it is hard to put into words what the Lord did that night. As the rally began I sat in the chairs among the people and was soon surrounded by 3 or 4 young kids. After the Ken shared and invited response to the message the little girl in front of me turned around with tears in her eyes and asked me to go with her to the front. It was my honor and privilege to do just that. As the Holy Spirit continued to move many, many others came forward to begin their walk with our Lord Jesus. We prayed with them and took their information to give to a local church for follow up. As this was happening the crowd of people began to grow. Many walked over from the bar next door to see what was going on. Feeling led by the Spirit, Ken decided to start the rally again since so many had gathered. The outpouring of the Spirit that night was beyond belief. One woman testified to having issues with alcohol. She said I have a beer in the car that I am drinking. She went to the car and poured the remainder out. She said I want this Jesus and I want to live for Him!! We prayed with many and counseled many more. Scott was witness to a Muslim man praying the sinners prayer and was able to talk with him and put a Bible in his hands. How can I describe this night? Only one way - "GO GOD!!!" Here are few pictures from Friday.
Saturday morning Scott and I packed up to head home to our boys. The rest of the team ran a soccer tournament with the local schools. We made it back to Francistown, got some gas in the car and started the 4 1/2 hour trip home. About 3K out of Francistown the Surburban just stopped. Scott was pushing the peddle and the engine was running but nothing was happening. We made it to the side of the road where it totally stopped. We just looked at each other and said "now what?" with no contacts in Ftown we called the team we left in Masunga. We then called Elizabeth and her husband Pastor Andrew. They started making some contacts with people they knew and before long a pastor and his wife came to help us. We had the car towed and the Pastor helped us get into a motel and gave us some vouchers for dinner and breakfast. In the mean time our sweet friends Andrew and Elizabeth had "hitch hiked" to Ftown to be with us. They wanted to make sure we were OK. We were so grateful to have them with us. We finally got the Suburban to a car repairman that works on electrical issues - which was the problem. In God's divine way the mechanic was also a lay leader of a church and is called into missions himself. We spent some time with he and his wife listening to their testimonies and God stories. Darren (the electrical mechanic) reminded us that God was looking out for us because had we been farther down the road we could have have been stranded and been unable to get back into Francistown before things closed for the day. He also shared of deciding to turn his phone off for the weekend so they could rest and how his wife was the one that called by the other pastor to see if they could help us out. Do things happen by chance? I think NOT - God has divine appointments for all of us. After dinner Andrew and Elizabeth headed back to Mosojane where they live and we had an evening alone with nothing but REST... Something we have a hard time getting!! That night before bed we realized our laptop was missing so we spent much of our "supposed rest" racking our brains on when and where we last had the computer. At this point we were really feeling "under attack" - after all, messing around in Satan's territory doesn't come without opposition. The next morning we continued to try to locate the computer, making calls to places we had been and people we had been with. After we checked out of the motel we were to meet up with the rest of the team on their way back to Gaborone. While Scott was checking out I was looking at our bags and realized one of mine was not there. I told Scott that I thought the bag was in the back seat of the Suburban and that the laptop was in it. He called the mechanic (whose number we now had ourselves) and sure enough it was!!! Relief!! The team made it to Ftown around lunch time and we got in the church van with 7 of them. We arrived back Late Sunday night - so happy to see our boys again. We are blessed to have some really good friends in Gabs that came on Saturday when we got stuck and took them to stay at their house. The boys had fun and we didn't have to worry. We left the Suburban in Francistown to be repaired and are praying to have it back by the weekend. Here is a picture of Darren and Diane with Scott this was our ride into town to meet the rest of the team.
We are home now reflecting on the Great Things HE has done!!
Please continue to pray for the people of North East Botswana. Pray for all of those that made decisions to follow Jesus. Please pray that others would come to know Him as Lord. Pray that all who attended the conference will be fruitful in their ministry to children. Pray for Red Hills Daycare as they seek to reach the youngest, very vulnerable children. Pray that God would meet their financial needs so they can minister to more. Pray for Pastor Alan and wife Lindy as the minister in a church in Francistown. Pray for Darren and Diane as they minister also. Pray that God would supply everything they need to do the ministry he has given them vision to do. Pray that Darren would be able to fix our Suburban quickly and cost effectively. Praise God with us for all of HIS provision on our trip. Praise him for our boys being well cared for by Kez, Mercy and Vivian. Praise him for the Davis Family that kept them on Saturday and Sunday. Praise him for all of His promises including the one we clung too during our time of attack ~ "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." 1John4:4
We love you all!!! ~ Tonya
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