See what God's been up to in Botswana ~ 2012

Sitting here this morning Praising God for all He has done!! I am amazed that HE is able to use two ordinary, yet willing people to accomplish what HE has planned and purposed! “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!” Eph 3:20-21

Join us in Celebrating His Work in our ministry and lives in Botswana ~ 2012:

January – We said our goodbyes and left our boy Hunter (for the 1st time) to return from our stateside visit on Jan 11th. We kept 3 sweet Missionary kids (Meredith, Micah & Peyton) for their parents to go to a Missions meeting for 2 weeks, started homeschooling Parker, and celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary.

February – Scott ran 4 weeks of training at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, did teacher training at Believers Destiny Academy, we kept 2 more sweet girls for missionary friends of ours (Maddy & Myah), and Chandler went camping in the Central Kalahari with the Lions.

March – Ministered to a family we love as a part of “Remembering Wills”, Ran training in discipleship for 3 weeks at Desert Streams Fellowship, Scott preached at DSF, hosted the hors d'oeuvres for the MK prom, continued with 3 weeks of training at Believers Destiny Academy, did a weekend of training with Branch Ministries in Silibe Pikwe, Chandler and Scott were part of a hunting/purity retreat for Missionary kids – Chandler killed his 1st impala.

April – Celebrated Good Friday at Desert Streams Fellowship with a baptism service, Scott spent 10 days in Zambia leading a Children’s Ministry Conference, celebrated Chandler’s and my Birthday, and ended the month heading to the Okavango Delta to camp with friends (in Wild Botswana).

May – Scott led a weekend training in Francistown, we said goodbye to a great friend of the boys – Micah Davis – as he headed home for college, celebrated Parker’s 13th Birthday, led training at Growing Faith Church, welcomed my sister Felicia for a 2 week visit, welcomed and helped a team from Highland Baptist serving at GWest, welcomed our 1st intern of the summer – Drew.

June – We welcomed our dear friends the Keeltys who came to serve and vacation with us, We welcomed and served alongside our friends from Millbrook Baptist Church, did a week kids camp in Gakuto village with MBC, Keeltys, and Drew, went on a safari and to Victoria Falls with the Keeltys, celebrated Scott’s 50th Birthday and the twins 7th, welcomed our 2nd intern of the summer – Kayli, and said TOO MANY Goodbyes.

July – we did Sunday School leaders training at Open Baptist Church, welcomed a team from Alice Drive Baptist church, Ran 2 kids Camps in 1 week alongside the ADBC team (despite having the Flu), and welcomed our girl – Makenzie – back to Botswana.

August – traveled north to run a kids camp in Mosojane, led the 2nd annual Children’s ministry conference at Open Baptist Church, spent some precious family time with our girl, said goodbye to Kayli and Makenzie, and did 2 days of teacher training at The Learning Centre School.

September- Scott preached at Tati River Baptist in Francistown, we helped with the 20th Birthday celebration at The Learning Centre School, Scott spent 10 days in Zimbabwe serving with “Call to Africa” leading Children’s Ministry conferences in 3 different locations, kept Peyton and Meredith so their parents could go to a mission meeting, Chandler and Meredith starting dating, Chandler and I went to “Passion World Tour” in South Africa our friends, our family went camping at “Warm Baths” in South Africa, I became the leader of “W.O.W”(women of worth) ministry and had our 1st Bible Study, and Parker went back to school to start his 8th grade year.

October – Started “Hope for Gakuto” – spent my Saturdays in the village taking pictures and getting kids sponsored, Scott led Sunday School leaders training and preached at Tati River Baptist, welcomed Clay Smith our lead Pastor from ADBC, spent a week of ‘vision casting’ with Clay, hosted the 2nd ‘W.O.W.’ Bible Study, Scott preached at DSF and we kept some sweet MK’s again!
November- spent an afternoon of vision casting with guys from Johnson’s Ferry Baptist, shopped and packed gifts for ‘Hope for Gakuto’, Scott preached at Tati River Baptist in Francistown, hosted the “WOW” Christmas party and Bible Study at our house, went to Lobatse to help teach sewing to women that run an orphan care center, and hosted a surprise Birthday Party for a sweet young Missionary - Allison.

As we wrap up our 2nd year here – we will Host the ‘Hope for Gakuto’ Christmas Party on Saturday complete with Jumping Castle, Great Food, and Lots of Gifts and Smiles. We depart Botswana on the 20th to head home for holidays. We look forward to seeing our kids we miss so much and our families. We will see lots of friends and family and return to Botswana in January to continue the work God has called us too.

Please Praise God with us for what HE has done. We give all Glory to HIM!! We are thankful for the way HE works in and through us. Please continue to pray for our Next Step in our service to HIM. We love you all and are thankful for your part in our lives and ministry!! ~ Tonya