For the last two weeks we have been tenting in the middle of the Kalahari desert in Maun, Botswana. We have been working with a ministry called Love Botswana, its vision is to “launch leaders and to build nations.”
Botswana is a beautiful place filled with lovely and inviting people. Many people from surrounding countries and all over the world have come to call Botswana home. They come for its beauty, but most of all for its political and economic stability. Although this country has a bright future and a lot of potential it has a major problem clouding its prospects, HIV/AIDs. One in every four people here has the disease, leaving the life expectancy at 37 years old. It is very rare to find someone who has not been affected by this disease in some form.
Love Botswana believes that the solution to the AIDS crisis is education coupled with behavioral change. They have founded an international school, a Bible School, a home for abandoned babies, as well as sexual education abstinence clubs for teens, in addition to other community outreaches.
Love Botswana has been invested in the people of Botswana for the last twenty years. But there vision is bigger than just reaching this country; they hope to be a launching pad to develop leaders and programs in the twelve countries that surround Botswana. That is their long term goal, and they are in the beginning stages of this process.
The International School serves those in the community as well as children from all over the world, as they also have boarding facilities. They are currently recruiting teachers. If interested visit their web site.
The Bible School seeks to equip local pastors as well as those who come from the bush and more rural communities, as they usually do not have much Biblical training or support. They also plant many churches and encourage and equip people to go out into the bush and establish them.
The house for abandoned babies has not officially opened yet, they are still waiting on a permit. They already have 15 babies ready to be placed there, when the doors open.
They have a prime location as they are close to a hospital. Abandoning babies in Africa is another problem. Many babies are left in the hospital and some are found abandoned.
This home seeks to be a place were a child can be taken with no questions asked, but if they desire help and want to talk they will provide that as well.
Like most African countries, It is very hard to adopt in Botswana. Those outside of Botswana are only allowed to adopt if they first come a live here for a year, then take care of the child as a foster parent for a year, then live here for one more year before being allowed to leave the country. The majority of abandoned children go into orphanages or foster care.
While we have been here we have helped put the final touches on the house for abandoned babies, soke to some classes at the International school, interact with the Bible students, do prison ministry, as well as minister to the locals we have met in town and in the surrounding communities. It has truly been a blessing to work with people with such faithful dedication and vision.
If you want to help support this ministry or have any questions about it please visit
www.LoveBotswna.org
