Hi everyone!
What an adventurous week! It rained here non-stop for several days, including Monday when we had to drive to the retreat center for the Joining Hands missionary conference. While driving there, Katie and I (the two American YFC staff) got stuck in my car in the mud on a twin-track dirt/mud road saturated with water. We had been following a guy from the conference who told us he’s pull us out if we got stuck. He was true to his word and pulled my little blue Toyota Corolla safely in to the camp. We were soon to find out that most cars had gotten stuck—our YFC comrade George had been stuck for 45 minutes before someone came who could pull him and the next car out!
The man who went before us and pulled us out is a missionary from South African who shared an analogy later – that sometimes in life the way the Lord leads us is not easy; it looks very muddy and difficult or even impossible to get through—but the Lord knows the way. He goes before us to lead and guide us, and He is able to pull us through.
This 3 day conference was for mission organizations and church leaders across Botswana (about 50 or so). Koekoes from YFC was on the steering committee who organized it, though she was unable to attend (in Holland on a ministry trip). So George, Katie, and I from YFC were the facilitators of the Youth Ministry track, one of three break-out session tracks that everyone rotated through. We only learned this a couple days beforehand, but it basically meant we handed out a questionnaire and facilitated discussions and networking between missionaries about reaching and discipling youth. It was encouraging to hear what everyone was doing in regard to reaching the youth of Botswana with the gospel and with the message of abstinence and life skills to work for AIDS prevention. The main sessions and devotions were also very encouraging, inspiring, and insightful. It was a beautiful thing to worship and network together with people across organizations and denominations, “joining hands to reach Botswana for Christ.” We talked a lot about working together to build the kingdom of God, not caring who gets the credit. We recognized the missionaries who had labored before us as we encouraged the Batswana among us to rise up and lead the church.
The informal fellowship and meal times were also a blessing. It was my first time having the opportunity to play piano (almost full-size keyboard) since I’ve been in Africa. I think the last time I played was in Colorado in late January, so that was the longest break since I started playing piano. Thus playing again was a blessing. I ended up reconnecting with a few missionaries I had met and served with in 2004 in northern Botswana at Love Botswana Outreach Mission. I had actually helped varnish one family’s house at the mission! Now they live much closer to us and they invited us over when we feel the craving for some home-cooked American food (Amen!). The missionary they worked under in 2004, the Love Botswana founder Jerry Lackey, was also there and we had lunch together one day. He too invited me to come stay up there at their recently acquired lodge with game animals on the property. Perfect since I had just been looking into places to stay in that town during a vacation.
We found out that about the same time I was in my accident, Jerry was battling stage 4 cancer. Doctors told him to get his affairs in order and update his will. After just one treatment of powerful chemotherapy [and lots of prayer], the doctors could not find any more cancerous cells! He has been fine ever since! So it was kind of cool to share our survivor testimonies since we saw each other last. After I shared my story, he asked, “Have you thought about writing a book?” Katie and I just laughed and I explained that yes, that is in the works. He continued, “A book will widen your pulpit. You can only speak to so many people, but books can widen your audience to share the story with so many more people.”
I also had opportunity to share my story with a Scottish missionary named Roberta who works with AIDS victims. She also encouraged me to write a book—“This story needs to be told.” She had brought a guitar and wanted to hear a song I wrote, so I had opportunity to play that. In one of the youth breakout sessions, Roberta had mentioned how she helps out at a monthly 4-hour fun time for HIV+ youth through the Baylor hospital (a pediatric AIDS hospital in Gaborone started by Baylor University in the U.S.). That had grabbed my attention so I asked her about that, and she provided me with the info of the guy who I can contact to see if I can help out. I just have had an increasing desire to get to know and “love on” some people with HIV/AIDS, and this seems like a perfect opportunity. Of course, according to the stats here, many of the people I see around Mochudi and Gabs have HIV but may not know it, or they keep it concealed.
On the last day of the conference, I unexpectedly found myself in the position of addressing the whole assembly to report on the Youth ministry track that I helped facilitate with two other YFC staff (George had car problems and was unable to come in to share, and Katie urged me to do it). I had about 5 minutes notice before I spoke in front of everyone, but I was able to share, in addition to a summary of the youth track workshop discussions, the encouraging breakthrough that YFC has to start working in a prestigious non-religious private school with students from 40+ countries. We got that opening to start a praise and worship band there less than a month ago, and these missionaries were also surprised and encouraged about the opening (as were the youth leaders and youth at the Refresh youth retreat a week earlier, who interrupted my announcement of it with cheers and clapping). One of the YFC board members told me last weekend that it was a true breakthrough because it’s like the opposite of America—public, government schools here more readily allow Christian groups to present to students, but private schools rarely, if ever, allow Christian groups in.
Altogether it was very encouraging and I got several contacts with whom I hope to network to learn more or work together. And of course, who can forget the amazing drive home? The muddy twin track “road” had gotten worse apparently, and they did not think my little blue Corolla would get through. So again we followed a 4 x 4 in case they’d have to pull us out. With the video recorder rolling and prayers uttered, we entered the “road” for attempt number 2. We lost all forward movement at one point, wheels spinning in the mud (I looked back and saw the guy motioning to stop), but oh…the little blue charger suddenly surged forward just as “Eye of the Tiger” started blaring through the speakers! We continued on the long muddy track, almost getting stuck a couple more times, but by the grace of God, we made it through! The biggest dip/ditch thing at the end was no match! The guys standing just after that ditch applauded as we amazingly made it through. The video is quality footage. I will do my best to somehow, someday get that thing uploaded online for your viewing pleasure.
God is good!
Em
P.S. I’m speaking at the Coffee Bar outreach tonight, so if you happen to read this in time, prayers for that are appreciated too! I’ll be speaking around 8:30 pm (2:30 pm Eastern, 1:30 pm Central). Thanks!
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