During the month of July Team Bling and Team Spectacle spent our time in Botswana. For the first few days
we cleared out a field in what would be the Garden of Eden, as our
contact Len put it. After a few days spent in Lobatse, Bling and
Spectacle parted ways, both teams heading into different areas of the
bush. 
The morning of our departure, Liz and I made a quick stop to the
grocery store to get food for the 10 days we would be in the bush.
After buying food suitable for campfire cooking, we hopped on our first
bus of three to get to Shoshong where Khumbu (our contact) would pick us up
to take us into the bush. After meeting Khumbu we crammed ourselves
and our luggage into his Toyota 4×4 and headed into our new home. Which
by the way, I’ve laid my head down in over 50 locations so far this
year and still counting!
Arriving to Moralane we saw dusty roads, huts made of straw and
homemade bricks, and a people in need of a Savior. The people in the
village of Moralane are plagued by drunkenness and sexual immorality.
Khumbu spends his days sharing the gospel and often times not seeing
much fruit of his labor, and yet he still perseveres. Although our
ministry was to share the gospel with the people of Moralane, I also
believe we were sent to bring encouragement and restoration to Khumbu
and his family. Khumbu and his wife are originally from Zimbabwe and
although they know they are called to this area, it does not mean the
road before them isn’t difficult.
Khumbu and his wife, Sandra, and their children (Tino and Prince) are the
only connection the people of Moralane have to learning how to have a
relationship with God. Speaking with Khumbu and having him share
his heart showed me what dedication they have in the Lord. Getting a
glimpse of Khumbu’s life made me realize…well for one I don’t know if
I could (or want) to do it. How can I pour out myself to these people
knowing that many will never change? And then it dawns on me how easily
Jesus will leave the ninety-nine sheep to find the lost one…how could
I contemplate sharing His love with others even if it might mean only one has ears to here? 
This past month we’ve painted, gardened, varnished doors, played
volleyball and other games with the kids in the village, performed
songs and bible stories, as well a little evangelizing. Each of us had
a night where we went out into the village to share a word with the
people. It’s funny how God works. When it was my turn I shared my
testimony and spoke about having true repentance, as I had seen on
previous days, many villagers would come up for prayer during our
services drunk out of their mind. A few days later, Khumbu asked me if
I and another person would like to attend a service he was speaking at.
So about 15 minutes later Shannon and I are headed into the village
with Pastor Khumbu. He then proceeds to tell us that we are going to a
funeral service (wake) and wanted to know if we had any words of
encouragement to share. Our initial reactions were, “Was the person who
passed away saved?” “No” stated Kumbu, but if you have a word or verse
to share that would be great. Neither Shannon nor I felt extremely
comfortable sharing, but I said ok Lord what do you have for them?
When we arrived to our destination, The verse in 2 Corinthians 1 about
God being the Great Comforter came to mind. I shared the verse with the
family and friends of the deceased and ended up turning the sharing
session of comfort into a sharing session of the Gospel. I realized how
often whenever I have to share about God, I feel like I need to have
time to prepare and God reminded me that His Words are the only words
they need to here, and He will give them to me. Preparation is
important and needed, but allowing the Holy Spirit to do His thing is
even more important. I may not be the most eloquent speaker, but if His
words are what is heard by the lost, then I am but a vessel and
thankful for it. 
Overall this was one of my favorite month’s of the race (Next to
Thailand of course). We saw God’s faithfulness in so many ways this
month: in His provision for all of our transportation throughout the
month, providing a place to stay in the 11th hour for our two teams for
debrief at the end of the month, and protecting us from any harm. It’s
funny but simple….when you ask you WILL receive. There were a lot of
logistical things this month that didn’t always work out as planned or
hoped, but God came through every time and it ended up being more than
we could ask for. And that’s just it…we presented our needs to
God…and He answered above and beyond what we asked. It reminded
me…why do I worry? If He says He’s got me, then He does, even if I
don’t see it right away. Faith is truly not
based on our feelings or present circumstances, but on the Truth..and
the Truth is that “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that
in all things
at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” ~2 Corinthians 9:8. So keep fighting the good fight! ☺
