Last week Flying Mission gave me permission to live at an orphanage in Botswana. And I got permission from the orphanage as well. It was quite the week man…unfortunately I was specifically told to not describe the going ons. But if you can remember in your prayers the orphans of Botswana…that would be good. It’s a dark place in more than one way…especially spiritually. It felt like fighting a forest fire with a squirt gun. You'll just have to get the details when you come visit me. I am in love with Botswana and the people and it is going to do my heart some serious damage when I rip it away. Ah! I don't want to think about it, but it is plaguing my head.
One of my friends here, who recently (like 3 weeks ago) committed her life to Christ, mom just passed away. Please please pray for her that this tragedy will send her running to God and not further away.
Thanks for all the love and prayers sent my way! You are an encouragement to me !
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Camp Chaos
My apologies to those of you who are faithful followers of this blog and have been missing updates. It has been quite awhile! So let me dive into a fast and furious update on my life happenings - I finished my social work internship, via email I heard the news I graduated, and I am now a full time short termer with Flying Mission. My weekly schedule now looks like:
Monday: Playgroup at Baylor
Tuesday: Teaching income generating crafts to home based care clients in various villages surrounding Gaborone
Wednesday: Tumelong orphan feeding program
Thursday: Home based care work from 9-2 and SOS children's village from 3-6
Friday: Old Naledi orphan feeding program
OH! You have to hear about camp!!!!
The week after I finished my internship I was invited to be a counselor at a camp for OVC's (orphans and vulnerable children). I thought I was going to a camp kind of like the one I had been counseling at for the last 3 summers. WRONG totally wrong. Well I suppose there were a few similarities, such as the kids are all from disadvantaged homes, they come for free, there is food, I don’t shower much (in this case at all) and I am in the minority. God was hard at work and so was the devil this week. First of all the camp was not Christian, second of all it was not Christian - the counselors (not all of them but a majority) were out drinking every night - the girl counselors had different men in their beds (the same room as the girl campers and I) nearly every night. This was so painful for me to watch go down, but nothing I said (and if you know me, you know I said strongly) changed anything.
The purpose of the camp was to educate on issues of HIV, drug abuse, some other issues (it was all in Setswana so I didn't catch much) and also to do some psychosocial work with the orphans who had lost family. The differences in Western and African culture were highlighted when I arrived at camp and there really was no plan. The counselors were in a group talking and the kids were scattered around the camp just doing whatever. I thought maybe it was just the settling in day, but the camp continued this way the rest of the week. Everyone just hung out. It was so laid back and chill..whenever a counselor felt like playing a game, they got the kids together and played it, when the counselors thought maybe they should teach something - they rounded up the kids and taught. It was so so different than an American camp where every minute is planned out down to time for changing clothes and going to the next activity! There are positives and negatives to both, but this really took adjusting for me! The go-with-the-flow strategy of Botswana really worked to my advantage in the end giving me ample time to pump out Gospel to these kids who are malnutritioned in more than one way.
Night one I read a bible story to the kids around my bed at night. Night two the word got out about the bible study and there was about 15 kids, 14 girls and 1 boy that all sat quietly as I read and another counselor who had become my friend translated. That night I woke in the middle of the night to feeling the worst pain I've felt in a long time, plus I had diarrhea 1 minute and the next I was throwing up. I took that as a sign that doing something right and I was where I was supposed to be because obviously the devil did not want me there! They wanted to send me to the clinic in the morning then home and there was a part of me that really wanted the comforts and privacy of home, but all the reasons for staying were so much better than my self considering reasons for leaving. Also! One of my girls said "Erica don't go we are begging you" other than being shocked by her English sentence I was surprised that she cared so much "why " I asked and then came the biggest surprise "we want you to read the Bible to us." and that was it. No clinic, no home, I was not leaving that camp. Although I was useless all Wednesday being so weak from the sickness - God gave me energy at night when I needed it to read the Bible. Thursday was quite the day. I had a few really good conversations with the counselor that was translating my Bible stories at night, finding out about her life it was plain to see the pain. Anyways I was able to tell her about what a sweet friend I have in Jesus. She was interested but I did not want to force anything on her (sometimes people here just go along with whatever you say even if they don't understand or do not want to, in order that they do not offend you) I told her to just let me know and I could hook her up. She had grown up being forced to go to church by her grandma, but she hated it. So she knows a lot about Jesus but doesn't have a personal relationship with Him. She seemed to think that was probably enough, but a light bulb seemed to turn on in her head when I explained that just like a celebrity we can know all about them, but not have a friendship with them. Also on Thursday, the camp conducted a death and bereavement counseling session. Nearly 80 kids shared their stories of how they dealt with the death in their family - not one eye was dry leaving that circle including my own. There is nothing like death to get you thinking about eternity! I had talked with one girl after the session and told her a little bit about my friend Jesus who had promised to "never leave her or forsake her" and left it up to her to come and get me if she wanted to know more. A few hours later she did and she knew exactly what she wanted. God gave me the privilege of being right there while He drew his lost child to Himself! Although her prayer was in Setswana - there is no mistaking the smile she had on her face afterwards!!
God really just brought one kid after another to me to share the Gospel with. The kids were starving for spiritual food! I've never had an experience like this. At camp MT in Michigan, the Bible reading part of the day was like the boring part and if they could get out of it they would (for the most part - there are some exceptions, but those are rare.) Here they were literally begging me! I was in awe and still am.
The counselor who I mentioned is now a good friend of mine and attended church with me last Sunday - she still has not committed her life to Christ so be in prayer for her please!
God's latest lesson for Erica:
We are commanded to "think the same way that Christ Jesus thought."Phil 2:5 And something God is teaching me is that there are two parts to doing this. The first is to stop thinking immature thoughts, which are self-centered and self-seeking. The Bible says, "Stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults."1Cor 14:20 Babies by nature are completely selfish. They think only of themselves and their own needs. They are incapable of giving; they can only receive. That is immature thinking. The Bible says that selfish thinking is the source of sinful behavior Rom 8:5. And the second half of thinkin like Jesus is to start thinking maturely, which focuses on others, not yourself. In his great chapter on what real love is, Paul concluded that thinking of others is the mark of maturity; "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." 1 Cor 13:11 The core of our Christian lifestyle is not so much having biblical information and doctrine packed in our head - while that is one measure of maturity its not the whole story - our core is found in thinking of others before ourselves like Jesus did. God has been revealing to me that I am still a toddler. I have so much to learn in this area, but lucky for me I have His Spirit helping me along..I just have to be walking in that Spirit every moment!
Monday: Playgroup at Baylor
Tuesday: Teaching income generating crafts to home based care clients in various villages surrounding Gaborone
Wednesday: Tumelong orphan feeding program
Thursday: Home based care work from 9-2 and SOS children's village from 3-6
Friday: Old Naledi orphan feeding program
OH! You have to hear about camp!!!!
The week after I finished my internship I was invited to be a counselor at a camp for OVC's (orphans and vulnerable children). I thought I was going to a camp kind of like the one I had been counseling at for the last 3 summers. WRONG totally wrong. Well I suppose there were a few similarities, such as the kids are all from disadvantaged homes, they come for free, there is food, I don’t shower much (in this case at all) and I am in the minority. God was hard at work and so was the devil this week. First of all the camp was not Christian, second of all it was not Christian - the counselors (not all of them but a majority) were out drinking every night - the girl counselors had different men in their beds (the same room as the girl campers and I) nearly every night. This was so painful for me to watch go down, but nothing I said (and if you know me, you know I said strongly) changed anything.
The purpose of the camp was to educate on issues of HIV, drug abuse, some other issues (it was all in Setswana so I didn't catch much) and also to do some psychosocial work with the orphans who had lost family. The differences in Western and African culture were highlighted when I arrived at camp and there really was no plan. The counselors were in a group talking and the kids were scattered around the camp just doing whatever. I thought maybe it was just the settling in day, but the camp continued this way the rest of the week. Everyone just hung out. It was so laid back and chill..whenever a counselor felt like playing a game, they got the kids together and played it, when the counselors thought maybe they should teach something - they rounded up the kids and taught. It was so so different than an American camp where every minute is planned out down to time for changing clothes and going to the next activity! There are positives and negatives to both, but this really took adjusting for me! The go-with-the-flow strategy of Botswana really worked to my advantage in the end giving me ample time to pump out Gospel to these kids who are malnutritioned in more than one way.
Night one I read a bible story to the kids around my bed at night. Night two the word got out about the bible study and there was about 15 kids, 14 girls and 1 boy that all sat quietly as I read and another counselor who had become my friend translated. That night I woke in the middle of the night to feeling the worst pain I've felt in a long time, plus I had diarrhea 1 minute and the next I was throwing up. I took that as a sign that doing something right and I was where I was supposed to be because obviously the devil did not want me there! They wanted to send me to the clinic in the morning then home and there was a part of me that really wanted the comforts and privacy of home, but all the reasons for staying were so much better than my self considering reasons for leaving. Also! One of my girls said "Erica don't go we are begging you" other than being shocked by her English sentence I was surprised that she cared so much "why " I asked and then came the biggest surprise "we want you to read the Bible to us." and that was it. No clinic, no home, I was not leaving that camp. Although I was useless all Wednesday being so weak from the sickness - God gave me energy at night when I needed it to read the Bible. Thursday was quite the day. I had a few really good conversations with the counselor that was translating my Bible stories at night, finding out about her life it was plain to see the pain. Anyways I was able to tell her about what a sweet friend I have in Jesus. She was interested but I did not want to force anything on her (sometimes people here just go along with whatever you say even if they don't understand or do not want to, in order that they do not offend you) I told her to just let me know and I could hook her up. She had grown up being forced to go to church by her grandma, but she hated it. So she knows a lot about Jesus but doesn't have a personal relationship with Him. She seemed to think that was probably enough, but a light bulb seemed to turn on in her head when I explained that just like a celebrity we can know all about them, but not have a friendship with them. Also on Thursday, the camp conducted a death and bereavement counseling session. Nearly 80 kids shared their stories of how they dealt with the death in their family - not one eye was dry leaving that circle including my own. There is nothing like death to get you thinking about eternity! I had talked with one girl after the session and told her a little bit about my friend Jesus who had promised to "never leave her or forsake her" and left it up to her to come and get me if she wanted to know more. A few hours later she did and she knew exactly what she wanted. God gave me the privilege of being right there while He drew his lost child to Himself! Although her prayer was in Setswana - there is no mistaking the smile she had on her face afterwards!!
God really just brought one kid after another to me to share the Gospel with. The kids were starving for spiritual food! I've never had an experience like this. At camp MT in Michigan, the Bible reading part of the day was like the boring part and if they could get out of it they would (for the most part - there are some exceptions, but those are rare.) Here they were literally begging me! I was in awe and still am.
The counselor who I mentioned is now a good friend of mine and attended church with me last Sunday - she still has not committed her life to Christ so be in prayer for her please!
God's latest lesson for Erica:
We are commanded to "think the same way that Christ Jesus thought."Phil 2:5 And something God is teaching me is that there are two parts to doing this. The first is to stop thinking immature thoughts, which are self-centered and self-seeking. The Bible says, "Stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults."1Cor 14:20 Babies by nature are completely selfish. They think only of themselves and their own needs. They are incapable of giving; they can only receive. That is immature thinking. The Bible says that selfish thinking is the source of sinful behavior Rom 8:5. And the second half of thinkin like Jesus is to start thinking maturely, which focuses on others, not yourself. In his great chapter on what real love is, Paul concluded that thinking of others is the mark of maturity; "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." 1 Cor 13:11 The core of our Christian lifestyle is not so much having biblical information and doctrine packed in our head - while that is one measure of maturity its not the whole story - our core is found in thinking of others before ourselves like Jesus did. God has been revealing to me that I am still a toddler. I have so much to learn in this area, but lucky for me I have His Spirit helping me along..I just have to be walking in that Spirit every moment!
Two of the girls who shared my bed with me! Tendie and Morina
More of the group
How the boys got to camp...a 2 and half hour drive with over 20 of them packed in the back!! The girls and I were in a combi.
How the boys got to camp...a 2 and half hour drive with over 20 of them packed in the back!! The girls and I were in a combi.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
a divine appointment
April 25, 2009
So today was teens club in the morning into the afternoon. I helped lead a small group of younger teens on the topic of friends and peer pressure. It went really well.
Tonight was bible study with the Flying Mission short termers, but tonight was different than usual we had 2 new friends who attended. Mapula and K who are both from SOS children's orphanage. They are both in their teens now so they are allowed more freedom and can stay out late so they took advantage of this freedom to come to our bible study. Mapula is one of my good friends at SOS, but I had never met K before. During the study I noticed that K was extremely quiet, only speaking when spoken to and even then the response was as short as possible. At one point he did speak to ask what a specific verse meant, but you could hear the nervousness in his voice when asking. In attempt to figure this kid out my social work self accidently made a few awkward eye moments during the study. After the bible study part of bible study I sat by K and tried to lessen his nerves with conversation - I failed - he seemed to become even more nervous. So I started talking to the people around who would talk back until I got a tap on my shoulder. It was K. He said softly "Let me tell you my story." "OK" I replied and I tried to turn to help myself focus on only him as there were people conversing all around us. He slowly, quietly, a few words at a time, began unfolding his heart wrenching life story to this girl he had just met. His mother had died the day after giving birth to him. His dad did not want him. His dad's family and mom's family fought over him because they all wanted the assistance that would come from his being an orphan. He was taken from the aunt that had ended up with him when she was found drunk and K neglected. He was brought to SOS when he was only 4 months old. He was allowed to go home a few times during holiday when he was 13, but his mom's family would not allow him to sleep in the house unless he brought them money. He had no way of getting money so he went to his dad's family who sent him back to his mom's family, but he knew that he could not go in so he went back to the orphanage. That same year he asked his house mom at SOS if he could go to church. He wasn't sure why he wanted to, but he did. His house mom told him that if he went to church he would not be given meals for 3 days and he would have to stay in his room. He asked why but she was silent and just walked away. He went to church anyways. He didn't know where church was, but he just started walking. It was far, but he made it ok. He continued going after that day and got involved in the choir where they gave him his first Bible. He said "Jesus is always with me." He explained that some people call him a prophet and there has been a few times where he has known things that he didn't know why he knew them. Tears were rolling down both my cheeks as I listened to how God had scooped up this child of His and guided him so clearly to Himself.
He stopped and looked at me in the eyes and asked "Can you help me?" I asked "Help you with what?" "I do not like people. At my house when people are in one room I go to the bedroom and when people come to the bedroom I go outside." I told him that I couldn't help him, but God could and I asked if he had talked to God about it. God brought 2 Timothy 1:6 to mind "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but of power, of love and of self-discipline." We read the verse together. I knew that this was a divine appointment and could sense God's presence was heavy upon us. Our whole group prayed for him. By the end of the night he was singing and joking and really seeming to have a good time. Praise God! His story was really an encouragement to me and I know that he will be telling it to thousands at a time one day!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Release your grip and get ready for a trip!
April 9, 2009
Wow I do not even know where to start. God has really been at work in my life lately. I wish I could tell you this in person because I feel that although there is not a way for me to fully express my experiences to you, at least in person you would be able to see in my eyes and know that what I am telling you is sincerely coming from my heart and has truly moved the deepest part of my soul.
I have been deceiving myself. "the heart is deceitful above all else. Who can know it?" Yes, its true that I have been living an adventure here in Africa. I have gone many cool places, seen amazing things, met a lot of really cool people, but I have not been giving my all for Christ. Yes, I've been reading my Bible, sometimes not, but mostly because I know that this is "the right thing to do" and I do long for a deeper relationship with Christ. However, breaking my life down into the small choices that I have been making everyday - I was considering myself first - my flesh was winning many choices that arose.
This Monday God graciously drew me back to Himself. I was reading my usual Bible chapter for the day, not going too deep and feeling distant. My prayer was this "God, where am I?" What is going on with us?" I was not doubting that He was with me. What I was doubting was myself and for good reason. His reply was simple "You know what you have to do before I can walk with you." And He was right - deep down I knew. I had two specific sins come to mind that I had been trying to forget about and sweep under the rug before I had even come to Botswana. I cried out to God, asking forgiveness and declaring in my heart to take care of whatever I needed to in order that I could walk closely with my Savior once again. My prayer was this. "God, I'm so sick of this life without you at the center! I can't do it! It's meaningless. But at the same time I feel I don't have the courage to do it with you. Please take over! Be with me!"
Okay now let me back up and give some history on this. Last summer God guided me to the Nashes. I saw Christ moving in their lives and was drawn to that. One day while I was at their house, Jaren, 6 years old at the time took my hand and said "Erica, I want you to come to Bangladesh with us." Aaaw that is so sweet I thought to myself as I quietly dismissed the thought, I was excited for the ministry their family would have, but had not really considered going myself. My mind quickly scanned for the best excuse and landed on the easiest "Oh, I would love to Jaren, and if I had the money I would."
"OH! I have money!" she exclaimed, face beaming, as she dropped my hand and ran upstairs to her room. My heart skipped a beat when I saw that she returned with her piggy bank! She poured it out, put it in a zip lock bag and proudly handed it to me. "THERE! Now you can come!" I was at a loss. I looked at Jesse, who had seen the whole thing take place, to help me out, but he totally took her side or was it God's side? All he said was "now, how can you not pray about coming with us after that?"
SO I did. Kind of quickly said the words that night, but didn't linger on the issue if you know what I mean. The next Sunday was my birthday celebration. I got to choose my birthday dinner (KFC), and my fam got me some really sweet presents including an IPOD! Any normal person would be ecstatic at this, but as soon as the family started cleaning up and I could get to my room , I balled. Not that I didn't want the IPOD, I did. I had actually asked for it, and most people at work had one. BUT I knew that this comfortable, cushy life with every need met and all of my desires satisfied nearly instantaneously was not what God had called me to. I knelt down by my bed and told God, what I was feeling, I felt lead to confess sins (sound familiar?) I then asked God "what now?" the reply "Go to Bangladesh." my reply "WHAT?" His reply "Go to Bangladesh" then I balled my eyes out. A few nights later during prayer I told God of my deep desire to rely on Him for my needs. "Then go to Bangladesh." A few nights later - the same thing "then go to Bangladesh" This time instead of replying with a head of doubts I said "OKAY I'll go! When?" His reply was a picture of the words "now" and "1 year" floating together. It didn't really explain anything to me but upon telling Dad about the picture he explained what it sounded like to him "prepare now to go in 1 year." As soon as he spoke those words my spirit knew he was right. I did that semester with Bangladesh in my mind. The opportunity to go to Botswana for my internship came the day after God told me to go to Bangladesh.
Back to the present days here in Botswana. The best way for me to get a visa for Bangladesh would be to go to the Bangladeshi Consulate in person, and since we don't have one in Botswana I would need to go to South Africa. I don't have a car, and it is dangerous to go by yourself on a bus or combi, and my roommate did not want to drive sooo I just said "God if you want me there work it out." Friday the 3rd I found out that one of the guys I work with was going to South Africa on Wednesday and was willing to bring me to the Bangladeshi Consulate. Over the weekend I got everything I thought I needed for my application for visa. Wednesday I traveled to South Africa with two amazing people of God. I went to the Bangladeshi Consulate, I did not have 2 out the 5 things I needed for my visa or the 1180Rand I needed for the processing fee. The man from work and the woman I had just met on this trip( her middle name is Faith) forked out all the Rand (south African dollars) they had and it was just enough to pay my fee! (they had about penny left!). It usually takes 5 days to process a visa, but I needed mine the same day so that I could travel back into Botswana with my passport. Everyone traveling with me said it was a miracle that:
I GOT MY VISA!!!!!!
(this is Mostabisa (sp?) who issued my visa) I was so excited and tellling him how he blessed my life he couldn't refuse when I asked for a picture. I look a little more happy about this than he :)
I am going to Bangladesh at the end of July. Why? Because God wants me there. For what? I'll find out when I get there - something to do with the poorest of poor people. For how long? Until God wants me to leave.
The church I attended tonight had a guest speaker and choir. I did not know this until I got there, but the speaker was from India and the choir's song was in Bengali!
I pleaded with God to take over my life on Monday. He hasn't stopped blessing me since.
That was a long story but the important thing is this. God refocused my eyes on Him. Everything is clear once again. It is only in His will that we are free. My life is not about taking care of myself, my life is meant to be a delight for my Jesus. I want to give everything I can to Him who gave everything to me on the cross. Life is so much more full when you are not living it for yourself! When you surrender all and die to yourself that is when God multiplies. John 12:24 "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." Release your grip on your life, and get ready for the trip God will bring you on!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
An Easter to remember
April 11, 2009 Happy Birthday to my baby sis Lindsi Lou my lil boo.
So Yesterday was Easter. I've always heard it is the holidays when you miss far away family the most. It is SO true! This morning I had to ask God's forgiveness for having self pity. Do you know that it is prideful to have self pity? It totally is. Thinking that we deserve something other than death is pride. By ourselves we are dirty rotten sinners who deserve death. Christians can not have self-pity. The self was killed on the cross. So this morning I poured my heart out to God, asking His forgiveness for feeling bad for myself that I wasn't with my family on Easter and my lil sis' B-day and how I missed cuddling with my friends.
ANYWAYS as I finished that prayer…maybe even while I was still praying it - Beatrice (who I just met on Wednesday on the trip to South Africa) sent me a text saying she was picking me up in 20 minutes. From about 11am to 11 pm I spent the day with an amazing group of God-fearing Kenyans (who speak English). They totally accepted me into their home from the very beginning, we ate breakfast together, lunch at a park, took walks, played games, ate dinner together, and there were two beautiful lil girls named Nuru (meaning light) 3 yrs, and Nema (meaning grace)2 yrs who invited me to their birthday party within the first 5 minutes of meeting them and who cuddled with me all day!!! At the end of the day I heard them say a few times "I want to be like Auntie Erica." Along with Auntie I was called sister, adopted daughter and friend. I was totally adopted into their family just when I needed one most. God cares about everything in our lives. Don't hold back your feelings from Him, He is always there and waiting to bless us.
So Yesterday was Easter. I've always heard it is the holidays when you miss far away family the most. It is SO true! This morning I had to ask God's forgiveness for having self pity. Do you know that it is prideful to have self pity? It totally is. Thinking that we deserve something other than death is pride. By ourselves we are dirty rotten sinners who deserve death. Christians can not have self-pity. The self was killed on the cross. So this morning I poured my heart out to God, asking His forgiveness for feeling bad for myself that I wasn't with my family on Easter and my lil sis' B-day and how I missed cuddling with my friends.
ANYWAYS as I finished that prayer…maybe even while I was still praying it - Beatrice (who I just met on Wednesday on the trip to South Africa) sent me a text saying she was picking me up in 20 minutes. From about 11am to 11 pm I spent the day with an amazing group of God-fearing Kenyans (who speak English). They totally accepted me into their home from the very beginning, we ate breakfast together, lunch at a park, took walks, played games, ate dinner together, and there were two beautiful lil girls named Nuru (meaning light) 3 yrs, and Nema (meaning grace)2 yrs who invited me to their birthday party within the first 5 minutes of meeting them and who cuddled with me all day!!! At the end of the day I heard them say a few times "I want to be like Auntie Erica." Along with Auntie I was called sister, adopted daughter and friend. I was totally adopted into their family just when I needed one most. God cares about everything in our lives. Don't hold back your feelings from Him, He is always there and waiting to bless us.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
April 2, 2009
April 2, 2009
Today on my way to SOS orphanage I had 2 proposals of marriage. One of them even confessed that he was "in love" and when I laughed he said "baby you see I fall in love fast…2 minutes!" It was quite funny except that they would not let me off the combi without getting my phone number soooo…Dad, you may be getting some calls from Africa because I gave them yours! In the States something like this would have taken me a week to get over, here it gives me a chuckle to start the morning and is shrugged off within minutes.
Today at SOS I helped one of the family social workers deliver supplies for his beneficiaries(needy families affected or infected with HIV) to build fences around their plots. I really love the program that SOS has created. They do not just deliver groceries every month like many organizations I've found doing, but instead they work with the family and the amount of resources that SOS gives them matches the families willingness to work. SOS starts off giving the family the supplies to make a fence around their house, and teaches them how to do it, then the family is responsible for putting it up. Once the family has the fence up (for some this takes months, for some days) SOS teaches them how to start a garden, once the family has done that, SOS supplies them with seeds, and once the family has a flourishing garden SOS considers meeting other needs that the family is presented with. BUT in order for anything to happen the family has to put in effort. This is important so that the family can eventually become independent of aid.
time for internet has ran out!
LOVE YOU ALL!
Today on my way to SOS orphanage I had 2 proposals of marriage. One of them even confessed that he was "in love" and when I laughed he said "baby you see I fall in love fast…2 minutes!" It was quite funny except that they would not let me off the combi without getting my phone number soooo…Dad, you may be getting some calls from Africa because I gave them yours! In the States something like this would have taken me a week to get over, here it gives me a chuckle to start the morning and is shrugged off within minutes.
Today at SOS I helped one of the family social workers deliver supplies for his beneficiaries(needy families affected or infected with HIV) to build fences around their plots. I really love the program that SOS has created. They do not just deliver groceries every month like many organizations I've found doing, but instead they work with the family and the amount of resources that SOS gives them matches the families willingness to work. SOS starts off giving the family the supplies to make a fence around their house, and teaches them how to do it, then the family is responsible for putting it up. Once the family has the fence up (for some this takes months, for some days) SOS teaches them how to start a garden, once the family has done that, SOS supplies them with seeds, and once the family has a flourishing garden SOS considers meeting other needs that the family is presented with. BUT in order for anything to happen the family has to put in effort. This is important so that the family can eventually become independent of aid.
time for internet has ran out!
LOVE YOU ALL!
deadly virus
April 1, 2009
Blood and guts do not bother me, I can watch my hand being cut and burnt (when its numbed) and am excited at the surgery scenes on TV, but this week ooooo I had problems.
I have been finding out that social work in Africa is quite different than the States. The resources and people are not always readily available and so the role of the social worker is stretched to fit the need.
Lately, the need has been medical nurse and masseuse. Every Wednesday I make house visits with Holy Cross Hospice. The nurses attend to the medical needs while the social worker assess the patients living conditions, physical, mental, social, and spiritual health. Sometimes however, all hands are needed on the medical end...
Today I took temperatures, blood pressures and helped massage a man whose muscles have been eaten away by AIDS. His legs have really bad cramps sometimes that force his muscles to contract and stay that way. Last week while I was visiting him, all hands were required and I helped the nurses push one leg down at a time while they formed a plaster cast that would help to keep his leg straight. The man cried out in profuse pain and flailed his arms to try to get us off. Seeing this pain, being apart of his pain - now that made me sick. This week when we returned, the cast had been broken and his leg was still bent. One of the cramps he had was so strong it broke the plaster cast. But this week while massaging his legs, I could see how he was already able to flex more. So it is working, but we will need to make a new cast.
This virus is a killer. I walked through this house seeing pictures of a dream couple on the wall. Wedding pictures where both faces shined so bright. Then turning the corner I saw that same healthy, handsome, strong man from the pictures transformed into the sickest man I've ever seen laying flat on his back in a diaper. He is now totally dependant on his wife for every need. This virus is a killer.
Blood and guts do not bother me, I can watch my hand being cut and burnt (when its numbed) and am excited at the surgery scenes on TV, but this week ooooo I had problems.
I have been finding out that social work in Africa is quite different than the States. The resources and people are not always readily available and so the role of the social worker is stretched to fit the need.
Lately, the need has been medical nurse and masseuse. Every Wednesday I make house visits with Holy Cross Hospice. The nurses attend to the medical needs while the social worker assess the patients living conditions, physical, mental, social, and spiritual health. Sometimes however, all hands are needed on the medical end...
Today I took temperatures, blood pressures and helped massage a man whose muscles have been eaten away by AIDS. His legs have really bad cramps sometimes that force his muscles to contract and stay that way. Last week while I was visiting him, all hands were required and I helped the nurses push one leg down at a time while they formed a plaster cast that would help to keep his leg straight. The man cried out in profuse pain and flailed his arms to try to get us off. Seeing this pain, being apart of his pain - now that made me sick. This week when we returned, the cast had been broken and his leg was still bent. One of the cramps he had was so strong it broke the plaster cast. But this week while massaging his legs, I could see how he was already able to flex more. So it is working, but we will need to make a new cast.
This virus is a killer. I walked through this house seeing pictures of a dream couple on the wall. Wedding pictures where both faces shined so bright. Then turning the corner I saw that same healthy, handsome, strong man from the pictures transformed into the sickest man I've ever seen laying flat on his back in a diaper. He is now totally dependant on his wife for every need. This virus is a killer.
Monday, March 30, 2009
still here
SORRY its been so long! I've been busy with school and Africa and orphans and making friends..getting sick then getting better...you know the cycle. God is still good, still working, moving and active! I'm learning, growing, stretching, changing.
I do have a quick prayer request: Transportation for short termers at Flying Mission. We have 1 car right now, and 5 short termers but we are all involved in separate ministries. So whoever does not get the car for the day has to take combis and that could take up to 2 1/2 hours to get where you need to go! There are also some villages that are inaccessable by publilc transportation - if we want to get the gospel there we need to be there but to get there we need a car!! So if you could pray that God will provide for this need - that would be awesome! OR if God impresses you to help with meeting this need - that is even awesomer!
LOVE YOU ALL - KEEP PRAYING!
I do have a quick prayer request: Transportation for short termers at Flying Mission. We have 1 car right now, and 5 short termers but we are all involved in separate ministries. So whoever does not get the car for the day has to take combis and that could take up to 2 1/2 hours to get where you need to go! There are also some villages that are inaccessable by publilc transportation - if we want to get the gospel there we need to be there but to get there we need a car!! So if you could pray that God will provide for this need - that would be awesome! OR if God impresses you to help with meeting this need - that is even awesomer!
LOVE YOU ALL - KEEP PRAYING!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Random
Those of you who know my love for animals will laugh at this! My house is like the stray dog hang out place! There are about 5 regulars. Three in particular follow me wherever I walk to. Umtana, Omantletle, and Fruede all follow me to the combi stop nearly everyday. This may surprise most of you, but I actually really like it. My body guards: Umtana and Omantletle walking me to the combi stop (Fruede always walks in front of me so I couldn’t get them all in the pic).
Friday, while I was walking home, I heard my Setswana name (Malebogo) being shouted from far away - Tiva and Brandon, two of the kids in my Sunday school class had spotted me. The speed they ran at reminded me of Saiko and gave me nice big hugs! I invited them in for some juice before their long walk home from school.
OH Sunday school was SOO good on Sunday!!! I was teaching about creation and how we are all made in the image of God. We had an extremely small group on Sunday...only 11, but I think God knew I needed a break! It made such a difference. The kids listened really well...i was so proud of them! And we had extra time because the adults went longer, so we practiced a skit to show next week to the other kids about the fall. Thank you to those of you who prayed! 
Mosquitoes are not the only thing that these nets keep out!!! I was went to climb into bed one night and found this! 
Don't worry I didn't eat it :) But I did catch myself wondering what this one would taste like fried!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Combis rock!
Here is the combi stop I go to everyday. Combi’s are how most people get around here. As you can see they are the same size as our 15 passenger vans except these are capable of holding 19 – well maybe they are not made to, but they definitely do! Today, I actually thought I was going to fall out at one point because I was the 4th person in the row right next to the sliding door and the door was wide open while we were cruising 30 mph down the road! These drivers are wild awesome! A lot of people do not like combi’s because they do not feel safe what with all the crazy driving-shouting and crowded seats, but I personally LOVE combi’s and take them whenever I can. I love watching the creative ways they try to get where they are going faster and I love the fact that I am totally smooshed between strangers – laughing is really unavoidable at times.
Monday, March 2, 2009
God is good OH so good!
I don’t think I’ve introduced you to Golygonne (little bit)yet…the lizard who sleeps in my room! He is very shy so I usually just see him at night, but we are good friends.
I just want to say thank you for reading my blog! It is so encouraging when I see your comments and a good reminder that I have sisters and brothers in Christ who are going with me on this journey! If you have any questions about what I am doing, where I am living, what what what (a phrase they say here all the time kinda like blah blah blah) please ASK! This is the 1st blog I’ve ever done so I know I’m probably leaving out some important things, but I don’t know what. So your questions are very welcome, just right it in the comment place or shoot me an email.
I am going to need some mad prayer for this Sunday school thing I can tell you that one for sure! Although we split up the kids this morning older from younger, I still had 19 eight to eleven year olds with me! I prepared a lesson about Joseph but forgot the coat of many colors at home along with the lesson plans! OH it was bad! The kids got bored so easy and wanted to go to the lue (toilet) every 5 seconds! It doesn’t help that we are in a room that is so close to the main service that I have to talk loudly so the kids can hear me above the adults, and at the other end of the room is the smaller children who are going crazy as well…at one point I just stopped talking because nearly every kid was looking past me to the other side of the room, I turned around to see four small ones in a toddler pile up, one kid jumping over another’s back and no teacher in site! I laugh about it now, but at the time I was a bit panicked. And I had such a good plan too. I was very discouraged afterwards. But tonight I rode with my neighbor Raurau to church and on the way he blessed me with a word from God that spoke straight to my heart. First he spoke about how he was praying and fasting all of Feb for something he had been struggling with and how overcoming a struggle is not done easily with a one time, simple prayer…it takes work. And I really needed to hear that. Then he spoke about how God does not expect us to be perfect just available and try our best. God knows we are weak humans, and if you look at who He was friends with in the Bible – all of them messed up big time at some point. God does not expect perfection just honesty and effort. Oh wow – if that was the only word I received last night it would have been enough, but it didn’t end there. I was greatly encouraged by the sermon as well. I love worshiping with my African brothers and sisters!!! Although City Bible is a more conservative church, they still leave plenty of room for the spirit to move. I wish I could describe it in words, but…you’ll just have to come here and experience it for yourself!
The scripture for you is from pastor Les, who preached last night. John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” The enemy wants us broken and in despair, he loves when we dwell on our faults and weakness that we have. BUT God’s desire is that we have an abundant life. One that is full and bubbling over with the fruits of the spirit and touching everyone it is near. If that does not describe you…what needs to change so that it does?
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light!
An excerpt from my journal last week:
God,
I don’t know why you do what you do
Why you give what you give
Take what you take
Allow to happen the things that you do.
But I trust you.
Although it hurts when I can’t understand your ways
and I may even ask through my tears “Why?”
There is something deep inside that always knows the truth:
You are good,
You are here even though I can’t feel you,
You love me,
You created me,
And everything you allow me to go through is in my best interest.
You are all powerful,
You know every detail of my life,
You have a plan for my life
and You will save me.
God, help me to never doubt in the dark what you told me in the light. Help me to keep my eyes on you even when they are full of tears.
I’m not doubting I’m choosing to trust you and its not easy! My brain doesn’t stop working so that I can take a blind step of faith – NO! It works, turns analyses, rationalizes and it is often loud – so I have to shout louder “I choose to trust!”
I debated showing you all this but I do want you to know better the place that a few of my experiences has brought me to. I do not think that you have to leave the country or even your house to feel what I have and I have no doubt that everyone of you has felt that way at some point. Please take this as encouragement – God IS good, and there are some situations (because of our human short comings) where it is harder for us to see, but He IS.
God,
I don’t know why you do what you do
Why you give what you give
Take what you take
Allow to happen the things that you do.
But I trust you.
Although it hurts when I can’t understand your ways
and I may even ask through my tears “Why?”
There is something deep inside that always knows the truth:
You are good,
You are here even though I can’t feel you,
You love me,
You created me,
And everything you allow me to go through is in my best interest.
You are all powerful,
You know every detail of my life,
You have a plan for my life
and You will save me.
God, help me to never doubt in the dark what you told me in the light. Help me to keep my eyes on you even when they are full of tears.
I’m not doubting I’m choosing to trust you and its not easy! My brain doesn’t stop working so that I can take a blind step of faith – NO! It works, turns analyses, rationalizes and it is often loud – so I have to shout louder “I choose to trust!”
I debated showing you all this but I do want you to know better the place that a few of my experiences has brought me to. I do not think that you have to leave the country or even your house to feel what I have and I have no doubt that everyone of you has felt that way at some point. Please take this as encouragement – God IS good, and there are some situations (because of our human short comings) where it is harder for us to see, but He IS.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Village life
The rooster that woke me @5:00 sharp in the morning!
Mma Edith worked with Home Based Care aswell and went on a few home visits with me.
Rra Molabasti being funny!
how we got the water for baths!
Mma and Rra Molabasti
Mma Edith worked with Home Based Care aswell and went on a few home visits with me.
Rra Molabasti being funny!
how we got the water for baths!
Mma and Rra Molabasti
This week I stayed out in a village called Oste with one of the sweetest most precious couples you could imagine Mma and Rra Molabasti. They had 9 kids who are all grown now and moved into the city so they had an extra room for me to stay in. They are both in their sixties, but both are still working hard. Rra goes to the cattle post everyday and Mma is the maruti (pastor) at Home Based Care. Mma loves Jesus with a passion that brings tears to my eyes.
They were so kind to let me stay in their house for a week, and I cannot imagine the amount of patients that was required to teach my English speaking, westernized mind! Some of the tasks that Mma assumed were common sense like feeding the chickens and heating up the bath water– she had to re-explain or show me before I could do it by myself, but she was very gracious with me. Mma taught me how to cook a few types of maze (paletche, pop,) but I have to come back some time so she can teach me how to make paampata (Botswana bread) and morocco which is like a vegetable paste and happens to be her favorite food. On my last night there they also cooked goat! It was so delicious – it was like beef roast except the meat was around different shaped bones and had a slightly different texture. When I first arrived I was like a guest, Mma served me tea and we talked about her testimony (she speaks English well), but after the first night my status switched from guest to daughter and I was then expected to serve and do chores. I loved it! Whenever we had visitors over Rra would look at me and that was my cue to start making tea. I had to stay conscious that my status as a woman and their ‘child’ was lower, so if someone came into the room who was older I needed to give up my seat and asking questions was not always appropriate. OH and this language is really cool – there is no word for ‘please’! There are many commanding words kla kwano (come here) tsena (enter) but few hedging words like ‘can, if, maybe,’ so at one point I had to take a minute and remind myself that Mma was not angry with me, she is only telling me what to do. I appreciated the directness, but it did catch me by surprise a few times. Its amazing how such a difference that little word ‘please’ makes. And ‘thank you’ is only used for younger people talking to older people not the other way around.
OH can I just tell one more food story? Mma was so excited one morning to give me an ‘American’ breakfast – Cornflakes! Which is awesome…except that there was no electricity and no electricity means no fridge which means no cold milk. She so kindly boiled water and poured in the powdered milk. Boiling hot milk puts a whole new twist to Cornflakes let me tell you what…wow.
For some reason (Mma said it was because I was white)they assumed that I am an a professional in all that I do. Mma told them I was a social worker - So my first day at Home Based Care (a place that sends nurses out to care for HIV/AIDS patients) the head nurse sent me out with some nurses to a home situation that was bad so that I could ‘solve the social problems.’ I thought I was going to observe. Mma told them I love Jesus - so they asked me to preach one morning! I didn’t want to disappoint them so I gave it a shot. It was fun, especially because I knew they did not know what I was saying so I could say anything I wanted as long as I said it passionately and loudly they would love it.
There is so much more I could say, but so not enough time! Maybe the pictures will help. I love you all! Thank you for your prayers!
They were so kind to let me stay in their house for a week, and I cannot imagine the amount of patients that was required to teach my English speaking, westernized mind! Some of the tasks that Mma assumed were common sense like feeding the chickens and heating up the bath water– she had to re-explain or show me before I could do it by myself, but she was very gracious with me. Mma taught me how to cook a few types of maze (paletche, pop,) but I have to come back some time so she can teach me how to make paampata (Botswana bread) and morocco which is like a vegetable paste and happens to be her favorite food. On my last night there they also cooked goat! It was so delicious – it was like beef roast except the meat was around different shaped bones and had a slightly different texture. When I first arrived I was like a guest, Mma served me tea and we talked about her testimony (she speaks English well), but after the first night my status switched from guest to daughter and I was then expected to serve and do chores. I loved it! Whenever we had visitors over Rra would look at me and that was my cue to start making tea. I had to stay conscious that my status as a woman and their ‘child’ was lower, so if someone came into the room who was older I needed to give up my seat and asking questions was not always appropriate. OH and this language is really cool – there is no word for ‘please’! There are many commanding words kla kwano (come here) tsena (enter) but few hedging words like ‘can, if, maybe,’ so at one point I had to take a minute and remind myself that Mma was not angry with me, she is only telling me what to do. I appreciated the directness, but it did catch me by surprise a few times. Its amazing how such a difference that little word ‘please’ makes. And ‘thank you’ is only used for younger people talking to older people not the other way around.
OH can I just tell one more food story? Mma was so excited one morning to give me an ‘American’ breakfast – Cornflakes! Which is awesome…except that there was no electricity and no electricity means no fridge which means no cold milk. She so kindly boiled water and poured in the powdered milk. Boiling hot milk puts a whole new twist to Cornflakes let me tell you what…wow.
For some reason (Mma said it was because I was white)they assumed that I am an a professional in all that I do. Mma told them I was a social worker - So my first day at Home Based Care (a place that sends nurses out to care for HIV/AIDS patients) the head nurse sent me out with some nurses to a home situation that was bad so that I could ‘solve the social problems.’ I thought I was going to observe. Mma told them I love Jesus - so they asked me to preach one morning! I didn’t want to disappoint them so I gave it a shot. It was fun, especially because I knew they did not know what I was saying so I could say anything I wanted as long as I said it passionately and loudly they would love it.
There is so much more I could say, but so not enough time! Maybe the pictures will help. I love you all! Thank you for your prayers!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
laughing kids and testimonies!
January 28th
My roomate Ruth and I! Quite the pair - we can't cook and we can't sing, but we have a blast trying to do both!
So funny story: Ruth and I have been running in the morning, but yesterday we got a late start and so it was the same time as the children are walking to school. I had no idea what a show we were about to put on! Nearly every group of kids we past laughed out loud at us! It was hilarious! Some of them stopped walking, starred and then burst out laughing! I guess they do not see too many white girls running! As soon as we would calm down and stop laughing from the last group of kids, another group would come and start it all over again! It was so cute to hear their little laughs as we ran along. I have never laughed that hard while running before!
It is quite strange weather for Africa lately. Rain, and a lot of it! It is very obvious that people are not used to having rain because it doesn’t even have to pour hard before nearly every car has their 4 way flashers on and several cars are pulled off to the side! Heaven help these people if they ever had to encounter a Michigan blizzard!
These week is orientation at Flying Mission. All the new short and long term volunteers are being trained together. All together there are seven of us. Three new pilots, two pilot's wives, Sam who is a general short termer, and me! They are a fun group and I enjoy hearing their testimonies. Yesterday during orientation I heard some AMAZING testimonies of the Botswana employees at FM. I wish I taped it because there is no way I could convey to you with words what Lillian expressed with her smile as she told her salvation story. I'll give you a sum up: Here dad was a witch doctor ad their family held traditional practices of protection for the family cutting on the arms, neck and several other places. There were two Christian families in their village who were continually mocked for their faith and for simply being different, but Lilian thought they were brilliant, beautiful and to her these people "just shined." There was something in them that she wanted. "They just were shining so bright" (at this point Lilian's eyes and bright smile were radiating in the orientation room!) She snuck out of her house one night to go to a Christian service and accepted Christ while she was there. She went home and for the first time all the chaos of life, busy thoughts, and fears were gone - everything was different - she felt a peace. She says what had made the biggest impact on people is watching the way Christians live out their lives. This has transformed her family and Botswana.
John Lupe who is the founder of FM also told us some of his life story including the beginnings of FM! He left us with some inspiring advise taken from Exodus 4 when God was speaking to Moses about the giant plans that awaited him in freeing His people from Pharaoh. "Moses answered. "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, "The Lord did not appear to you?" Then the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" John asked us the same question. "What is in your hand?" I just love that because It doesn't matter what it is…all Moses had was a stick and God used that to free a nation from slavery! Whatever gifts, abilities, talents, whatever you have - if it is surrendered to God, He can use it!
It is quite strange weather for Africa lately. Rain, and a lot of it! It is very obvious that people are not used to having rain because it doesn’t even have to pour hard before nearly every car has their 4 way flashers on and several cars are pulled off to the side! Heaven help these people if they ever had to encounter a Michigan blizzard!
These week is orientation at Flying Mission. All the new short and long term volunteers are being trained together. All together there are seven of us. Three new pilots, two pilot's wives, Sam who is a general short termer, and me! They are a fun group and I enjoy hearing their testimonies. Yesterday during orientation I heard some AMAZING testimonies of the Botswana employees at FM. I wish I taped it because there is no way I could convey to you with words what Lillian expressed with her smile as she told her salvation story. I'll give you a sum up: Here dad was a witch doctor ad their family held traditional practices of protection for the family cutting on the arms, neck and several other places. There were two Christian families in their village who were continually mocked for their faith and for simply being different, but Lilian thought they were brilliant, beautiful and to her these people "just shined." There was something in them that she wanted. "They just were shining so bright" (at this point Lilian's eyes and bright smile were radiating in the orientation room!) She snuck out of her house one night to go to a Christian service and accepted Christ while she was there. She went home and for the first time all the chaos of life, busy thoughts, and fears were gone - everything was different - she felt a peace. She says what had made the biggest impact on people is watching the way Christians live out their lives. This has transformed her family and Botswana.
John Lupe who is the founder of FM also told us some of his life story including the beginnings of FM! He left us with some inspiring advise taken from Exodus 4 when God was speaking to Moses about the giant plans that awaited him in freeing His people from Pharaoh. "Moses answered. "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, "The Lord did not appear to you?" Then the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" John asked us the same question. "What is in your hand?" I just love that because It doesn't matter what it is…all Moses had was a stick and God used that to free a nation from slavery! Whatever gifts, abilities, talents, whatever you have - if it is surrendered to God, He can use it!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Onaladi village
January 25, 2009
Well I have now been in Africa 1 week! God has already been stretching, teaching and growing.
Today, I went with the other short termers (Ruth, Sam, Yohannes, and Philipus) to Onaladi, the poorest part of Gaborone. There we helped serve a meal at a meal site and then got to hang out with the precious kids for awhile. One look at these dear dear children and they have your heart for good. These kids were a little different than the others I had met so far, at the school we visited. The orphans at Onalady have been taught or have learned on their own how to survive. I could not finish my portion of lunch so I gave my plate to one of the girls, before she could sit down she was pushed this way and that while the other little ones were trying to rip the plate from her and grabbing handfuls of rice off the plate. They were very kind to me, but not so much to each other. One darling little girl came and sat down by my feet, she pointed at a few sores I had on my ankles as she looked up at me and I smiled and made a cringing face. That sweet heart then traced her finger around my foot and blew on my sores. This girl is an orphan, she comes to the meal site so that maybe she can get at least one meal a day, and she is blowing on my rich feet! I learned more from her in that 2 minutes than the pastor I listened to today for 3 hours!
On our way out, one of the guys friends named Lami gave us a tour of the village. Right after he finished explaining how Onaladi is a very unsafe neighborhood, there is quite a lot of violence and frequent robberies happen because the people there have nothing really to loose, and they are often hungry…our car broke down! It was quite humorous to me, but I held in my laugh for the sake of those around me. I was a little skittish about getting out of the car at first, but we were not stranded more than 5 minutes before the first little girl came to us. She came back later with a few more friends and before I knew it I was surrounded by about 20-25 little ones! So while the guys worked on the car, Ruth and I had a blast chillen with the kiddies. We sang songs, and I got some free Setswana lessons! They showed us their fruit that grows on most of the trees in their village called Malapo (its what they eat to survive sometimes) it was like a sour grape with a thick peeling, and for some reason they got such a kick out of me trying to eat it! It was a blast! Oh yeah the girls love to
touch white people hair so as soon as i sat down they had my hair out of the pony tail and were running thier fingers through! i ended up with a bunch of small braids...it was cool!
Yesterday, in my devotions I read 2 Corinthians 13 about Paul’s thorn. Paul cried out for God to take his thorn away three times, and for some reason God decided to not remove it. I often pray for my small thorns to be removed. Example: God please take my stomach ache away, God will you please help my face stop growing pimples. But God gives us thorns for a reason and His grace is sufficient. I often need to remind myself that I am not here to be happy I am here to know God more so I can worship Him more thoroughly. I am here to glorify Him, to bring Glory to His name. Nothing in our life is insignificant. Everything that happens is an opportunity for character development, to love more deeply, to depend more on God.
P.S I share a room with a lizard…I’ve named him Golegonnye (that means ‘little bit’ in Setswana) we get a long quite well J
Well I have now been in Africa 1 week! God has already been stretching, teaching and growing.
Today, I went with the other short termers (Ruth, Sam, Yohannes, and Philipus) to Onaladi, the poorest part of Gaborone. There we helped serve a meal at a meal site and then got to hang out with the precious kids for awhile. One look at these dear dear children and they have your heart for good. These kids were a little different than the others I had met so far, at the school we visited. The orphans at Onalady have been taught or have learned on their own how to survive. I could not finish my portion of lunch so I gave my plate to one of the girls, before she could sit down she was pushed this way and that while the other little ones were trying to rip the plate from her and grabbing handfuls of rice off the plate. They were very kind to me, but not so much to each other. One darling little girl came and sat down by my feet, she pointed at a few sores I had on my ankles as she looked up at me and I smiled and made a cringing face. That sweet heart then traced her finger around my foot and blew on my sores. This girl is an orphan, she comes to the meal site so that maybe she can get at least one meal a day, and she is blowing on my rich feet! I learned more from her in that 2 minutes than the pastor I listened to today for 3 hours!
On our way out, one of the guys friends named Lami gave us a tour of the village. Right after he finished explaining how Onaladi is a very unsafe neighborhood, there is quite a lot of violence and frequent robberies happen because the people there have nothing really to loose, and they are often hungry…our car broke down! It was quite humorous to me, but I held in my laugh for the sake of those around me. I was a little skittish about getting out of the car at first, but we were not stranded more than 5 minutes before the first little girl came to us. She came back later with a few more friends and before I knew it I was surrounded by about 20-25 little ones! So while the guys worked on the car, Ruth and I had a blast chillen with the kiddies. We sang songs, and I got some free Setswana lessons! They showed us their fruit that grows on most of the trees in their village called Malapo (its what they eat to survive sometimes) it was like a sour grape with a thick peeling, and for some reason they got such a kick out of me trying to eat it! It was a blast! Oh yeah the girls love to
touch white people hair so as soon as i sat down they had my hair out of the pony tail and were running thier fingers through! i ended up with a bunch of small braids...it was cool!Yesterday, in my devotions I read 2 Corinthians 13 about Paul’s thorn. Paul cried out for God to take his thorn away three times, and for some reason God decided to not remove it. I often pray for my small thorns to be removed. Example: God please take my stomach ache away, God will you please help my face stop growing pimples. But God gives us thorns for a reason and His grace is sufficient. I often need to remind myself that I am not here to be happy I am here to know God more so I can worship Him more thoroughly. I am here to glorify Him, to bring Glory to His name. Nothing in our life is insignificant. Everything that happens is an opportunity for character development, to love more deeply, to depend more on God.
P.S I share a room with a lizard…I’ve named him Golegonnye (that means ‘little bit’ in Setswana) we get a long quite well J
all the kids LOVE to get thier picture taken!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
social work and school visit
Today is the 22nd incase this blog gets confusing.
I have already had a tour of Botswana, visited a nearby village, worked with children after school, made 3 house visits with Roberta and had a meeting with Baylor Clinique staff. Yesterday, I had an awesome meeting with Roberta my supervisor, the psychologist Linsday and the social worker Bachani at Baylor Clinique. They are all phenomenal people who share my passion for people and I am so excited to be able to work with them. Lindsay and Bachani had so many ideas of how to use me and I was excited by every possibility. Evidently they are in dire need of extra hands. So it looks as though I will be spending the majority of my hours working with the Clinique. Bachani has had social work interns many times before so she has a good plan for me. They are interested in getting me trained quickly so I can begin to take my own cases as soon as possible! I will first have to be trained in HIV/AIDS care as nearly every client at Baylor is HIV positive. Some other possibilities mentioned at the meeting were:
- Working with the teens program/support group
- Job shadowing other social workers in the area (Backani’s contacts)
- Assisting Lindsay with extra house visits to inform her on what is happening at the home of clients
- Assisting in training for caregivers of HIV positive patients
- Organizing a survey to put numbers to the cause of virus
Yesterday, after the meeting Roberta and I went back to the FM office. There I met up with the rest of the short termers (Ruth and the 3 guys from Germany) and headed out to the school in Pakgalani. At Pakgalani we put on a program of singing, told a Bible story, played some games and then just talked with them. Many are starved for attention so as soon as we arrived we were ambushed by a mob of smiling children each telling me about their day in Setswana all at one time. It was hilarious all I could do was laugh when they pulled me to the ground so that some could sit on my lap! It was cool to watch how the older children watched out for the younger. At one point two girls were each holding onto one of my arms and sharing quite nicely until a third girl came in and pushed one out of the way so that she could take my hand. Before I could say anything an older girl came in, took the third girl gently away and put the other two girls hands back on my arms – it was so cute! When the third girl came back she kept eye contact with me as she took hold of a part of my arm that was free. They helped me with Setswana and had fun laughing when I said it wrong. It was great fun and I can’t wait for next time!
I have already had a tour of Botswana, visited a nearby village, worked with children after school, made 3 house visits with Roberta and had a meeting with Baylor Clinique staff. Yesterday, I had an awesome meeting with Roberta my supervisor, the psychologist Linsday and the social worker Bachani at Baylor Clinique. They are all phenomenal people who share my passion for people and I am so excited to be able to work with them. Lindsay and Bachani had so many ideas of how to use me and I was excited by every possibility. Evidently they are in dire need of extra hands. So it looks as though I will be spending the majority of my hours working with the Clinique. Bachani has had social work interns many times before so she has a good plan for me. They are interested in getting me trained quickly so I can begin to take my own cases as soon as possible! I will first have to be trained in HIV/AIDS care as nearly every client at Baylor is HIV positive. Some other possibilities mentioned at the meeting were:
- Working with the teens program/support group
- Job shadowing other social workers in the area (Backani’s contacts)
- Assisting Lindsay with extra house visits to inform her on what is happening at the home of clients
- Assisting in training for caregivers of HIV positive patients
- Organizing a survey to put numbers to the cause of virus
Yesterday, after the meeting Roberta and I went back to the FM office. There I met up with the rest of the short termers (Ruth and the 3 guys from Germany) and headed out to the school in Pakgalani. At Pakgalani we put on a program of singing, told a Bible story, played some games and then just talked with them. Many are starved for attention so as soon as we arrived we were ambushed by a mob of smiling children each telling me about their day in Setswana all at one time. It was hilarious all I could do was laugh when they pulled me to the ground so that some could sit on my lap! It was cool to watch how the older children watched out for the younger. At one point two girls were each holding onto one of my arms and sharing quite nicely until a third girl came in and pushed one out of the way so that she could take my hand. Before I could say anything an older girl came in, took the third girl gently away and put the other two girls hands back on my arms – it was so cute! When the third girl came back she kept eye contact with me as she took hold of a part of my arm that was free. They helped me with Setswana and had fun laughing when I said it wrong. It was great fun and I can’t wait for next time!
Dumela Africa
January 19, 2009
Dumela! Well…I’m in Africa! And loving it so far! God was definitely with me on my way here. I could really sense His presence with on my flights it was really a sweet time. And my creative God found a way to let me meet some other missionaries with Flying Mission on my way! It was perfect timing too. Right when it started to hit me that I would probably need to stay awake for the next 8 hours (10pm – 6am) so that no one would steal my luggage, I found the sweetest old couple to hang out with, who spoke English and ended up being with the same organization! We had a lot of fun talking about where they had been and what I was about to do, and when I needed to sleep I felt totally safe! God is so good!
It was kind of crazy not having a clue as to who would be picking me up from the airport, but my people found me right away I didn’t even have to look. (It helped that they were the only white people thereJ) Side note: There are sirens going off right now which means that someone’s house in our neighborhood got broke into.
Anyways a lady named Tina and my new roommate Ruth brought me to my new house which is very quaint. I quite love it. I will show pictures once I am able to. Sidenote: I am now the only American short termer so that may be why I am speaking British like J
Something different besides being the minority and not understanding the language spoken around me is having to unlock a series of 5 doors before entering my room! I have never been good at using keys so this process could take up to 15 minutes. We have an outside gate, inside gate, alarm key, front door, and my bedroom door! But I guess it is quite necessary, I talked to a man at the office today named Emanuel who had a swollen face because he had gotten robbed last week and his bedroom door was unlocked so they got ahold of him too.
Gaborone, Botswana is actually a very westernized part of Africa. Because of the income that the diamonds bring in, it is extremely wealthy compared to other parts in Africa and other parts in Botswana as well. Tomorrow however I will visit a not so wealthy part of Botswana, a village called Otsile.
I have been fairly busy since I have arrived. Getting tours of the city and local restaurants. One day we ate a place called Lady M. I was so excited to go because I had heard a few different people mention it and how good it was. I was surprised to find Lady M was a small red trailer parked along side the road. But they were right, it was delicious. We had chicken, pop (it’s a type of corn), beats, and coleslaw! I guess it must be unusual for white people to eat there because nearly everyone stopped to stare!
I am so grateful to be here, to be meeting these new people, and have this opportunity to learn. However, I must admit I am disappointed. I was excited about being stretched out of my comfort zone, however I am extremely comfortable and have been ever since I’ve left Grand Rapids. Is being uncomfortable impossible when God is with you? I did not think it was. Maybe I am wrong.
This is my newest memory verse and I love it:
Colossians 1:16 “For all things were created by God, visible and invisible, whether in heaven or on earth, whether thrones, powers, rulers, authorities, all things were created by Him and for Him.”
I love it because it reminds me of my purpose. I was created by God, for God. That is why I am here. This is encouraging for me in this situation that is new and I am not sure of much of anything around me, I can always be sure of this. God made me, God loves me, and I am here to glorify Him.
Dumela! Well…I’m in Africa! And loving it so far! God was definitely with me on my way here. I could really sense His presence with on my flights it was really a sweet time. And my creative God found a way to let me meet some other missionaries with Flying Mission on my way! It was perfect timing too. Right when it started to hit me that I would probably need to stay awake for the next 8 hours (10pm – 6am) so that no one would steal my luggage, I found the sweetest old couple to hang out with, who spoke English and ended up being with the same organization! We had a lot of fun talking about where they had been and what I was about to do, and when I needed to sleep I felt totally safe! God is so good!
It was kind of crazy not having a clue as to who would be picking me up from the airport, but my people found me right away I didn’t even have to look. (It helped that they were the only white people thereJ) Side note: There are sirens going off right now which means that someone’s house in our neighborhood got broke into.
Anyways a lady named Tina and my new roommate Ruth brought me to my new house which is very quaint. I quite love it. I will show pictures once I am able to. Sidenote: I am now the only American short termer so that may be why I am speaking British like J
Something different besides being the minority and not understanding the language spoken around me is having to unlock a series of 5 doors before entering my room! I have never been good at using keys so this process could take up to 15 minutes. We have an outside gate, inside gate, alarm key, front door, and my bedroom door! But I guess it is quite necessary, I talked to a man at the office today named Emanuel who had a swollen face because he had gotten robbed last week and his bedroom door was unlocked so they got ahold of him too.
Gaborone, Botswana is actually a very westernized part of Africa. Because of the income that the diamonds bring in, it is extremely wealthy compared to other parts in Africa and other parts in Botswana as well. Tomorrow however I will visit a not so wealthy part of Botswana, a village called Otsile.
I have been fairly busy since I have arrived. Getting tours of the city and local restaurants. One day we ate a place called Lady M. I was so excited to go because I had heard a few different people mention it and how good it was. I was surprised to find Lady M was a small red trailer parked along side the road. But they were right, it was delicious. We had chicken, pop (it’s a type of corn), beats, and coleslaw! I guess it must be unusual for white people to eat there because nearly everyone stopped to stare!
I am so grateful to be here, to be meeting these new people, and have this opportunity to learn. However, I must admit I am disappointed. I was excited about being stretched out of my comfort zone, however I am extremely comfortable and have been ever since I’ve left Grand Rapids. Is being uncomfortable impossible when God is with you? I did not think it was. Maybe I am wrong.
This is my newest memory verse and I love it:
Colossians 1:16 “For all things were created by God, visible and invisible, whether in heaven or on earth, whether thrones, powers, rulers, authorities, all things were created by Him and for Him.”
I love it because it reminds me of my purpose. I was created by God, for God. That is why I am here. This is encouraging for me in this situation that is new and I am not sure of much of anything around me, I can always be sure of this. God made me, God loves me, and I am here to glorify Him.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
2 years down...2days to go!
I've been waiting to go to Africa for about 2 years now and in 2 days...I'M GOING!!! I will be taking off from the Grand Rapids airport at 5:20pm Wednesday! I've got one and a half suitcases packed and I am oozing excitement from my pores! I'm not really nervus or scared - which maybe I should be, but because I am confident that this is where God wants me to be, all I can be is excited!!!
I read this verse today and it was encouraging for me so I thought it may be for you also. 1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain"
I don't know about you, but that just puts my mind at ease - knowing that it doesn't matter if what I do for God totally fails. If I am doing it for Him - it is never in vain! Thank you Jesus!
I read this verse today and it was encouraging for me so I thought it may be for you also. 1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain"
I don't know about you, but that just puts my mind at ease - knowing that it doesn't matter if what I do for God totally fails. If I am doing it for Him - it is never in vain! Thank you Jesus!
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