“When are you coming back?”
August 5, 2005
Hello again from the slightly warmer Gaborone , Botswana
Wow, July went by really fast! The big reason for that is the 2 long
weekends, one being a four day weekend! (Something we aren’t used to having in
the western world) July 1st
is a public holiday they call “Sir Seretse Khama Day” who was the first Botswana
So now to tell you what I’ve been doing
this month. On the night of July 1st
I was invited to a night vigil in the small village of Gabane Gaborone Botswana 4am
I was pretty much out of energy and fell asleep. Now I know how Jesus’ disciples felt the night
before his arrest! Despite my lack of
energy it was a great night (and morning I guess).
A few of my friends here in Botswana (myself
included) have purchased African drums and we decided it would be cool to have
an “African style” worship night and just play our drums to some worship
songs. My friend Michael (German
short-termer) brought his guitar and we had a great time playing our drums and
worshiping the Lord. It was a great
night of worship and was something I really needed. It was good to have some fellowship with my
fellow ex-patriots and hear about some of the things God is teaching them.
Once again this month was another month of
good-byes. One of the families that have
been here working for Flying Mission for 4 years decided it was time for a
change and left for the United States on July 13th. The family that was running the SIM Botswana
office left for New Zealand last week (more on that later). As well my buddy Benji from Germany
As I said earlier the family running SIM
Botswana decided to move to New
Zealand
Speaking of finances I was going to report
back to you when I new more about my finances for next year. Well, unfortunately I can’t report much at
this time. My cost estimate is still in
process as FM (Flying Mission) is considering adjusting how much I should need
and we are also in talks about raising money to purchase a car here next year
(something FM said I need to do). Once
these two things are discussed and decisions are made I will report back to you
more on my finances. I will once again
suggest to those who have been supporting me financially or even to those who
may want to support me next year to begin praying and putting this decision
before the Lord. I was so blessed to
have such a supportive team of people help with my finances this year and I
praise God for how He has enabled this year to happen. In Acts 20:35 we are told that it was Jesus himself who said, “It
is more blessed to give than to receive.”
How much more blessed are you my supporters than myself! May you be witnesses of this truth in your
giving.
This week has been great so far! I have been invited to a HIV/AIDS workshop
put on by Samaritan’s Purse and a local organization called the Evangelical
Fellowship of Botswana (EFB). Churches
from all over Botswana have been invited to this workshop and being a leader in
my church I was invited to participate and learn more about how we can reach
our communities with regards to the HIV/AIDS pandemic presently occurring in
Botswana. So far it’s been a very
informative workshop and I’m looking forward to what the rest of the workshop
has in store for all of us. Today we had
25 people from the conference go for testing to set an example for everyone
that people have nothing to fear because they will still be loved and accepted
by the church. There is a lot of stigma
in Botswana
The number one question people have been
asking me as of late is, “When are you coming home?” Well I finally have your answer! Many of you are already aware that I will be
returning in September. I will
officially be back in Canada Toronto Toronto Edmonton 11:25am
for those who wish to meet me at the airport.
As far as what I will be doing once I get home, its still in the
planning phase. I will definitely be
visiting all the churches that have supported me this year so some of you can
expect to see me in September or in October depending on where you live. The plan right now is to return to Botswana
Just before I close I have a few prayer
requests:
1)
Pray for Botswana Botswana
2)
Pray for my departure/arrival – Leaving Botswana will be tough but at
the same time it’s a bitter sweet kind of event because it will be great being
home. Pray that I would “leave well” and
that my time spent at home would be joyful as well as productive.
3)
Pray for upcoming support raising – Last year support raising was
something I was totally not looking forward to doing and yet it turned out to
be a great experience. Pray that this
year would be just as encouraging.
4)
Pray for The Flying Mission – There are a lot of things happening within
the mission right now (too much to discuss at this point). Pray that more people would come to help
share the burden and that the management team would make godly decisions as to
the direction of the mission.
Hey, I was able to say everything I wanted
to say in less space this time! For
those who enjoy my “wordiness” I apologize.
For those who complain about my “novels” well, this month you get a
treat. Once again I want to take time for
those of you who pray for me, support me financially, take time to write me, read
my letters….there are so many ways that I have been encouraged by you and your
thoughtfulness. It may sound repetitive
but I hope that in that you see the appreciation I am expressing. Thank you so much! (or in Setswana, “Ke a
leboga tata!”) God bless you all!
Peace and prayers,
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