After four months in South East Asia, Ethiopian Airlines landed us all in South Africa on May 5th. Thus began some of my fav moments on the Race so far!
Dad being from South Africa made this time feel like a homecoming of sorts. Made sweeter as I’ve never really fully explored that half of my heritage. My haerenga (journey) in Te Ao Maori at home focussed me far more on Mum’s side of my whakapapa (genealogy) – as it was her family that planted me in Aotearoa (New Zealand) in 1831. But in these past two months of African landscapes, sunsets, vast culture, and conversations, I felt myself coming into wholeness in massive new ways. I was reminded of Augustine’s quote “Grant, Lord, that I may know myself that I may know thee.” More from a place of knowing the story into which I am grafted, knowing the testimony the Lord has given me, and knowing the image of God that I carry – not at all a self-centred, feel-good version of faith.
Sooooo – here’s some of my fav stories from our month in Botswana.
Johannesburg, South Africa
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Team Deep (Hunter, Lindsay, Ronny, Sam, me, + alumni Squad Leader Kate) was sweetly reunited after the guy/girl split of Indonesia. Our bus to Botswana required a night in Johannesburg, and crikey it became the most beautiful ‘layover’. We stayed with a connection Sam had and were welcomed by her whole family with a braai + dogs + the sweetest hospitality. In our brief time with them, significant spiritual conversations were had and hope was imparted both ways. Travel days on the World Race tend to breed apathy or a ‘checked out’ spirit as we slowly plod along from point A to B. But this night in JoBurg was the best reminder that on Unscripted (and tbh in the Kingdom) there are no travel days! Every single moment presents opportunities to partner with the Holy Spirit in loving those to whom He leads us.
Notwane
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A faulty AirBnB booking landed us in the living room of another team’s lodging for our first night in Botswana. We instantly fell in love with the hosts, Sally & Doug, and worked out to stay with them in house for the next few days. This became the sweetest relationship! I loooove seeing how the Lord weaves new plans together when ours fall apart. His way and timing is truly the best. Their garden was the perfect place to dream and discern our plans for where to go/what to do in Southern Africa. Our team was vibing like never before as we shared nuggets from our separate times in Indonesia.
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Personally it was a time of sweet rhythm and wholeness marked by early mornings in the kitchen with their maid Mary, long walks in the red dirt, intense sunsets, cultural & spiritual conversations with Mary and Sally. Ya girl even baked a cake for Sally’s birthday – how at HOME is that. No longer in Asia where street food was affordable and accessible, we began cooking together. Those times in Mary’s kitchen – wowowoww what a slice of heaven. Realising how much I love the discipline of cooking; firstly as simplicity in synthesis from limited supply, secondly as creativity, and thirdly as service & generosity in feeding others.
Tlokweng
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After deciding to stay in Botswana for the month, we moved to a missionary connection Kate had in Tlokweng (another small village near the capital Gaborone). Peace & powerful humility are words I’d use to describe our time with Clark & Hazel – the most kind older couple from Ireland who have been serving Botswana for 37 years. We each were deeply impacted by how simply & beautifully they live in local culture. The Lord for sure redeemed any lasting cynicism I had around Western missions with this tender couple. They learnt Setswana (local language) early on and provided medical care as a Dr and Nurse in rural villages, respecting and flowing with the many traditions. Joining in with church & their weekly ministry, we witnessed the genuine love and honour in which the locals hold them. We also spent a day at the university, walking in 2s meeting students and praying over upcoming exams.
Gabane
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Our final week in Botswana was spent in a neighbouring village with another missionary connection (shoutout to Kate). The Booyse’s had just moved to Gabane from the Okovango Delta after a rough rough season in which their father, sister, and grandfather passed away. We were able to have some beautiful conversations around grief & the Lord’s presence. Some of us stayed with their neighbours, the Freemans. Missionaries from Australia, the Freeman’s have spent a lot of time researching honour/shame culture in Botswana – so they imparted a tonne of practical knowledge in how to firstly interact there, and how to communicate the gospel effectively. Being with Aussies felt a little like home (lol can’t believe I just said that). We hung out at their church a fair bit, serving at youth group & a sunrise hill climb were highlights for sure!
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One day at the local market, Sam and I met a lady just starting to sell clothes & we planned to bring the team back for a photoshoot to help her out. The next day was legit one of my favourite times on the Race! Ronny (photographer) took photos, Lindsay (dancer) & Sam modelled, Hunter (business consultant) shared valuable marketing insight and had a really cool Jesus convo. THE BEST EVER. This is Unscripted, this is why we’re out here!!!! Moving as the body, using our strengths to bless those the Lord leads us to, spreading Jesus hope in every interaction.
Botswana felt pretty different to the first few months of the Race, as we spent a lot of time with missionaries/churches. It was beautiful to see our team wrestle through how Unscripted fits into more structured environments – and to realise that this lifestyle is truly applicable anywhere. It just looks like starting each day with some listening prayer, asking the Lord “who’s on your heart” and keeping open eyes to that throughout whatever the day holds – work, school, church, kids ministry, grocery shopping, bible study, driving, cooking. So SO cool. Was also rad spending time with v different styles of missional engagement (from Clark & Hazel to the Booyse’s & Freeman’s) and affirming beauty in both.
