My month in Botswana started with an amazing retreat to northern Botswana with 14 college students from University of Botswana CRU(Campus Crusade for Christ). After a 12 hour bus ride we arrived to a land where elephants roam free and antelopes and zebras play. It was a surreal experience to be driving down the road and see a herd of elephants on the side of the road, or see some friendly zebras at a watering hole. I felt like I jumped into the Lion King but it was real life! During the retreat we got to know the students and do outreach projects alongside them, as well as partake in the cooking crew. These students have incredible hearts for God and it humbled me to see their passion and trust in God.
After a great week in Kasane, we traveled back to Gaberone where we finished out the month in the capital city working with BotsCRU on campus at UB(university of Botswana). Our objective for month was to evangelize. Aka, walk up to strangers and tell them about Jesus. You might be thinking this should be easy and I probably should have already done this by month 7 on the race but nope, definitely a first for me. The first week was intimidating but I got into the swing of things and it turns out people were interested in talking about God. It’s not really a hot topic but it turns out people were pretty open to the subject and most of the people I talked to considered themselves Christians.
I wish I could tell you that every time I talked to someone about Jesus they were saved. Even one person accepting Christ would have been great. But that didn’t happen. At least not in front of my eyes. And I’m ok with that because it’s not me that changes people’s hearts, its God. And what I’ve learned a lot in the past year is that God does things in his timing not ours.
I actually liked it better that way. Not trying to convert people, just getting to know them. I engaged in some incredible conversations with students that not only provoked their thoughts but challenged me to solidify my beliefs. I asked them questions that I ask myself.
Who is God? What do you believe about him? Are you satisfied with your life? What does it even mean to be a Christian? Do you consider yourself a Christian? Does life look different when you believe in God? What is your hope in? Can God change your life? Do want him to?
After listening to their thoughts, I was able to share some of my beliefs. Share where I place my hope and how a whole lot of grace and even greater love, changed my life.
So what did I do in Botswana? Planted some seeds. A seed of hope. A seed of love. A seed of grace. A seed of curiosity. There is so much more to life than ourselves, and I think that no matter who you are, we all long for more than ourselves.
It’s hard to have amazing conversations with people and then leave them. To tell them about new life and new hope and see their thoughts change, their hearts soften, and their minds open…and then say goodbye. It’s the downfall of long term, short term missions.
But I did leave them with a promise. That no matter where you are in this life, you’re not alone. God is waiting to fill every hole you have in your heart, and offer you a clean slate.
What I learned in Botswana is…it’s a lot easier to share my faith than I always thought J
Matt 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Share the good news people 🙂
