We are coming out of our Winter in Botswana (Summer in USA) - It literally happens overnight here. We go from mild days and cold nights to HOT!! To say we were busy this winter wouldn't seem to do it justice. Since the arrival of my sister on May 23rd to putting Makenzie on the plane home on August 19th, we have had someone at our house the whole time. Although it can be very tiring to host so many, overall we love having people with us.
This Winter we hosted 4 Kids Camps in 4 different villages. We were the leaders of the Children's Ministry Conference held at Open Baptist Church in early August. We have hosted 2 college interns and 2 short-term mission teams. Thanks to the gifts of others we handed out over 75 Bibles this Winter alone, and assisted with the logistics, coordination and finally the delivery of the food packed in the states for orphaned and vulnerable children of Botswana. During all of this, we were bless to have vacation with friends from the states and have a wonderful 3-week visit with our Daughter. Just typing it all makes me say "whew"! We Praise God for His Strength that is made perfect in our weakness! Without Him none of this is possible!!
We posted earlier about our 1st Kids Camp in Gakuto alongside the Millbrook Baptist mission team. Our 2nd Mission team came in July from Alice Drive Baptist Church. It was neat to serve with our sending church (even though we only knew 2 of the 7 members). We got to know all of them very well during their 10 day stay. The ADBC team did 2 kids camps with us - one in the village of Molepolole and one in the city of Gaborone at the Learning Centre School. Despite having the full-blown flu in the house and among the team, we served over 400 kids that week and 14 young teen girls came to know Jesus as Savior. We praise God for His saving Grace!!
When Makenzie came we travelled north to the village of Mosojane to do a Kids Camp there. We had about 150 kids come each day. I always love serving with my own kids. Chandler ran Recreation, Scott did the Bible Teaching, Parker & Makenzie did Music, Kayli (summer intern) did crafts, and I was in charge of the 150+ PBJ sandwiches made each day! This is the 3rd time we have had a Kids Camp in Mosojane - so the kids are getting to know us. We are thankful for the Pastor and His Wife that minister to these kids on a weekly basis. We Praise God for His provisions!!
On the home front this winter we celebrated Josh & Joe's 7th Birthday, Scott welcomed the Big 50, the kids finished their second term of school, and Joe lost his first tooth. We praise God for His faithfulness to us!!
As the summer approaches we are preparing to start the last term of school and Scott is preparing for a long to trip to Zimbabwe. He will be traveling throughout the country doing kids camps and leading the 1st Children's Ministry Conference in Zimbabwe.
Please pray with us for the Conference in Zimbabwe, for traveling mercies for Scott, for the everyday life of the rest of us, for our kids in the States - Hunter started his freshman year at Charleston Southern and Makenzie started her senior year. Pray for us as we plan and prepare for the future of our ministry. We love you all and are grateful for your prayers, love and support.
~Tonya
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