When my mom was younger, she moved to Texas to get her masters at UT. She packed up and started the drive from Ohio down to Texas all by herself, and she started feeling a little unsure, a little scared. She said on the drive she asked God, “are you sure lord, do you really want me here?” Then God opened up the sky, and rays of sunlight peaked through the clouds. She felt that God was showing her, she is exactly where He wants her to be.
In the same way, I was nervous about Botswana. It’s daunting having to move somewhere you’ve never been before, and have no idea what to expect. I was looking forward to going, but part of me was scared.
On our first of the five buses to get us from Johannesburg to Seronga, Botswana, I was looking out the window feeling apprehensive, and suddenly, the sky opened up and rays of sunlight peaked through the clouds. I know that God wanted me to see that. He wanted to remind me his hand in my moms life and reassure me, that I am exactly where I am supposed to be: ) It was ridiculously kind of the lord to show me his promises in a gentle and personal way. He’s a great dad.
We made it to Seronga! Only took 5 buses, 1 ferry, and 2 “buckeys” (Seronga term for pick up trucks), over the course of two full days… wow. But we made it : )
A few quick things I didn’t know about Botswana:
A lot of it looks like texas. Cows are everywhere and fences and fields and big blue skies.
But there are also some interesting additions, like elephants and monkeys and hippos and crocodiles, which can’t be found in my home state.
The sun sets and rises in brilliant shades of red.
Most people speak small bits of English.
It is quickly developing. They just got a post office, woohoo!
Some people in this area even have cell phones!
Bugs. Bugs. Bugs. Lots of bugs. However, very few are dangerous. Praise.
Ah, when we arrived on the land we will call home for two months, all of us were blown away. The land is large and beautiful. Our hosts have the coziest home. And we actually have our own living space!! It’s incredible. We even get to cook for ourselves in our own kitchen for breakfast and dinner.
We are staying with our hosts, three incredible women. Estelle is the mother, who we sometimes call Ma Willie, which is a term for the wife of someone, in this case, the wife to Willie. She has two daughters in their early twenties, Arrista and Simone. Arrista has been training us each day how to share the gospel, how to build relationships with the people of this community, and how to serve them. Even though I’ve been on the race for two almost three months, practicing the things that Arrista is teaching, I can honestly say I’m learning and growing in really big ways! With the training she’s led, I am understanding the depth of sharing the gospel, how important it is to leave no room for confusion, especially when speaking to a person who believes they are already saved, but truly on judgement day the lord will not know them. Arrista also leads children’s ministry on Monday-Thursday afternoons, which we will get to join for the next two months. Along side evangelism and children’s ministry, we get to be part of something brand new for this family. They have been given a large piece of undeveloped land. The long term goal is to one day live on it, instead of the land which they have now since it’s not theirs to calm their own. The short term goal is to build a border, a small building, and plow part of the land by the start of 2018. Botswana made a new law saying that any land without a border, building, and plowing, will be taken for the governments use. So! Our teams, all 11 girls and I are going to help these three women, and their two paid workers, dig holes and place poles for fences, build a structure, and plow on this land before 2018 begins! Girl power, am I right? Not only do we have the deadline of the start of 2018, but this area of Botswana is about to enter the rainy season and so we would like to get as much work done as possible within the next two weeks, before it starts raining everyday. We are really really excited that our teams get help them start what one day will be their home.
I think that’s all for now : ) I thank you for keeping up with me, and what the lord is doing here. Sorry for three blogs in one day, but I’m not caught up:) I know more wonderful things are ahead, and that the Lord is teaching me really cool things, which I can’t wait to share with you all. God bless y’all! Love you guys!
Happy late thanksgiving : )
very thankful for you all
