The month of April finds us in Botswana. As was the case a few months back in Thailand, our team has been assigned to Unsung Heroes duty – to find new ministries with whom our organization can partner and send future volunteers. We arrived in Maun late on the night of April 1st and were immediately greeted by 30 straight hours of rain. This, combined with the fact that we are tent camping this month, led to a soggy and slightly disheartening start. We managed to find some dry space at the hotel (on whose grounds we were camping) to do some necessary training and ministry prep. Eventually, the rain stopped and we were able to dry out our tents, our gear, and ourselves.
While our main objective was to reach out to local churches and ministries, we also sensed very early on that God wanted us to be His presence at the hotel at which we were camping. Late one evening, I shot an e-mail to Alan, the owner, explaining our purpose and asking how we might be able to bless the staff and their families. The sun down and the mosquitos biting, Chrislyn and I decided to retire to our tent to watch a movie on the laptop before calling it a night. Right around 9pm, we saw the headlights of a car come to a rest just outside of our camp site. “Knock, knock. Mr. Chris! Mr. Chris!” I poked my head out of the tent to see Connie, the hotel manager. “Alan’s daughter is wanting to meet with you,” she said. “Right now?” I asked a bit incredulously.
Five minutes later, Connie returned with Alan’s daughter. Pelonomi, who goes by the English name Blessing, explained how her father Alan had passed my e-mail on to her. It just so happened that while Alan is himself an atheist, Blessing and her mother are Christ followers. She went on to share with us about her own church and about the ministry she runs for youth out of her home here on the grounds of the hotel. She shared her enthusiasm about our e-mail because she herself has so often wished to do more ministry using the hotel grounds and resources, but finds herself short of hands and short of time. Blessing has three young children of her own, but has also opened her home to several youth who are in need. In addition to those who actually stay in her home, there is a constant stream of youth going in and out of her house for sports training, swimming lessons, Bible studies, worship nights, warm meals, and sometimes, just a place to hang out and feel loved.
(Blessing is in the middle with the headband. Photo credit: Molly Bell)
As we crawled back into our tent that night, still digesting what had just happened. We couldn’t help but grin and marvel at how awesome our God is. We came to Maun with the express purpose of connecting with local churches and ministries that are doing God’s work. Before we had even called or e-mailed a single pastor or ministry contact, God brought Blessing into our lives (pun most certainly intended)! We hadn’t done anything beyond praying and asking God to direct us to the ministries and people that had need.
In the weeks to follow, we would have the opportunity to run programs and play sports with the youth as well as to have times of prayer, worship, and Bible study together. We were able to share our own stories and to hear theirs. We were able to discuss deep theological questions that came up in conversation and study. There is no doubt in our minds that God brought us into relationship with Blessing and her youth. It’s becoming more and more clear to me that as I listen to and OBEY God’s voice, my faith will continue to grow as I am blessed to see how He is working all things together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
(Some of the youth. Photo credit: Molly Bell)
