In case you missed the Facebook photos & status’s myself & my team have been posting- we really fell in love with Botswana. Our 3 weeks in Botswana we partnered with a community of young adults that are planting an incredible church movement called KINGDOM CITIES in Gabarone. There is five other Kingdom City Churches in the world (Perth, Kuala Lempur, Cambodia, Singapore, & Philippians). It’s a really awesome movement and it was so neat to be a part of.
What made it the best though, is the community of people we did life with for three weeks. Who knew God could create eternity friendships in that short of a time?
I had a hard time thinking of a way to really write a blog on how much our time with them meant- so to give you guys a picture of our time in Botswana I am writing an open letter to them. I actually read this out loud to all of them the night before we left & I think it will let you into a bit of our hearts.
A letter for my KC Botswana family,
After nine months of traveling and wearing ourselves out we arrived in Botswana last week. We have been talking a lot about the time that is to come for these last few months and how we want it to be the BEST- but, sometimes those are just words you say to motivate yourself when you realize all you have been doing is missing home and just barley surviving day to day.
But then something happened, we get to Botswana and meet the staff and people who are planting Kingdom Cities church and it is as if God has orchestrated a lot of this trip for such a time as this. The hearts of you all, your gift of compassion, hospitality, and love for the Lord is like nothing we have ever seen before. We laugh, have bonfires, sleepovers, do out reaches, go to villages, hospitals, and see healing happen- and we are just doing life. It’s no pressure or assigned hours each day- it’s just literally doing life with you guys.
A big part of my story is birthed from community. A few years ago when I experienced the Body of Christ for the first time is really when my life transformed. It was when I visited my brother at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry and met all of his friends. These were people who didn’t even know me- but they lavished love on me, they spoke truth & life over me & the same exact Spirit I remember encountering at Bethel with my brothers friends is in this community.
That point in my life when I visited Bethel was exactly a moment in my life when I needed that community and love most and I think such is true for this month with Kingdom Cities, God knew this community during this month would be absolutely what I needed most.
This community is created of a group of people who get it. You guys get the Gospel. You eat, breathe, and live out radical gospel lives that aren’t just for Sunday mornings, but are for everyday of the week. You selflessly love and selflessly lay down for each other. You push each other to be better by giving incredible and well thought out feedback that is a display of love. You invite Jesus into everything you do. You start simple logistical meetings with spontaneous Spirit led worship where God meets people in the room. You made me, an exhausted 23 year old feel loved, embraced, and known in ways my heart has been desperate for.
That’s family. Thats unity in the Body of Christ. That’s Acts 2. That’s what I want to be a part of for the rest of my life. I know for a fact that when people see how you guys as a family live out lives for each other people will be changed. If every person who comes into a room where this family is and feels the kind of love they have- there is no doubt they’ll experience the Kingdom.
I’m confident that God will use Kingdom Cities to rise up a generation in Botswana that is passionate about Jesus Christ and bringing the Gospel to this earth. I am confident that each person- Pastor Matthews, Boago, James, Boitumelo, Eugene, Rhoda, Neo, Ofentse, Tule, Sadie, Phatismo, Tumelo & Wabo (& everyone else) will be used to transform the nation of Botswana. We love you guys & believe in your hearts and vision SO MUCH.
With all my love,
Sprads (& the team)
So, one more thing! God did a cool miracle allowing us to go to Namibia. When God originally told this team two countries they started making plans to go to both- but budget issues prevented us from going. SOOO… we totally surrendered everything to the Lord & said God if you want us there You have to make it happen! And He did- God provided free housing and food for the time we are here. So we said yes and are here from obedience and expectant for Him to move in really cool ways. With less than five weeks of my year left- please be praying for myself and this team for perseverance strength, & trust.
THANK YOUUUUUU
