2 weeks in Botswana my team and I were just about settled in, when suddenly disaster struck a thief had robbed us in the night. Alyssa lost a laptop, Kyla lost her phone, Joe lost his laptop, Zane lost his laptop, Kelly lost her wallet, and I, of course, lost a very long list of my belongings the thief had stole my backpack which had my iPad, camera, wallet containing my cards, drivers license, passport, other important documents, I lost my journal that had so much written about my journey, my bible that was very marked up, and other various random objects. We quickly packed all our belongings in the morning then left the hostel in Gaborone and moved to a neighboring village called Kumakwane with another team. The robbery created chaos amongst our team there was definite attacks from Satan the next week was more stressful than I have ever had. I spent countless hours in the police station, taking long bus rides into town, talking to my parents trying to figure out what I’m going to do about all my missing information. The team was shaken to say the least and the fact that we moved to a new location with a new team created more tension amongst my team it was all too stressful. The whole time however I held on to the fact that God would bring good out of this and did my best to stay cool headed. After plenty of bad news God finally blessed me with some good news the amazing detective on our case had found my iPad I was so excited to finally win a little bit. Zack Thayer took me to the police station and we were sitting waiting. When suddenly the detective came in with a man he was rather short, had a scruffy beard was wearing dirty jeans and t-shirt, no shoes and the most depressed look on his face instantly I knew this was the man who had taken our stuff. I was so surprised to see him the detective had called me and told me they arrested him and that awhile back the man had helped build the park we did ministry at, he also knew the house we were staying very well because a man from Canada who owned it and uses it as a hostel had been ministering to him because he had trouble getting into drugs and stealing that was the sin he battled with, God sees no sin different so his struggle is the same as mine as I have my own fight with different sin and in this case he had lost to temptation. I had remembered hearing he had helped build the tables and chairs in the park so after some time of just sitting with the man I could tell the Holy Spirit was burning in me to talk to him. So I asked “do you know Nathan?” (Nathan being the man from Canada who hired and work with him). It was as if he couldn’t look at me from shame and answered in a meek voice “yes.” I then asked for his name “Wayne.” Was the answer. I told him mine and Zack said his followed by us shaking his hand. I felt the spirit guiding me through this encounter my heart was pounding it all felt to perfect I said “I just want you to know God forgives you and all of us for our sins and I forgive you for this” after I said this Wayne seemed to brighten up, a detective and woman sitting in the office smiled laughed and remarked “Hunter you are being to nice to him” I said nothing but knew there is no way I could be nice enough so began to ask Wayne about the chairs he built at the park, he told us that carpentry was his real passion he loves working with his hands. I began to explain that he should meet my teammate Zane because he also loves work like he had explained. We continued to talk and he told us he got wrapped up in drugs and struggles with the sin of theft he said how embarrassed and hurt he was. I continued to tell him you aren’t defined by your sins Jesus died so that no sin can keep us from the glory of God but we should ask for forgiveness and fight for a Christ like life. Zack was helping too, he had even wrote a bible verse down on a card gave it to him and explained it. Suddenly God planned it perfect, Zane walked in to get his laptop. I instantly knew I must introduce Wayne to him but I made sure not to say this is the thief for he is not a thief or defined by this sin he only struggles with it. The standard I use for judgement is how I will be judged keeping this in mind I made sure I told Zane “Zane this is Wayne he is the man who built all the chairs and tables at the park and loves to work with his hands just like you.” Which struck some conversation then shortly after we prayed for Wayne holding his hands then said our goodbyes and left. It was so humbling knowing God put us in the midst of this man and to be able to help him through his sin and to forgive him as God forgives us truly I could tell God cared about Wayne so he allowed us to meet so we could try to bring him closer to God. The Holy Spirit was present and guiding us I will never forget Wayne and ask if you get a chance to pray for him to repent and come closer to God. I Praise God for the carpenter who struggled with sin and our divine appointment.
