Hey all!
Just a quick update to let you know I’ll be heading on vacation for a week with my YFC housemates up to the north of Botswana—the Okavango Delta and up to Victoria Falls. Please pray for safe travels. After the 10 hour bus ride, we will travel by mokoro (canoe) through the Okavango Delta and camp along the way.
I had hoped to update you more on recent happenings here, but we have to catch our bus soon for the LONG journey.
One thing I will share is something I typed up the other day but didn’t have room to fit into my YFC newsletter. So here it is:
Update on Tumelo
Many of you have followed the story of Tumelo since I first met her last year September when she was suicidal and hated God and her mother. I took her to counseling week after week and built a mentoring relationship with her. Her resistance and hatred toward God lessened bit by bit, until in May she decisively gave her life to Christ! What I didn’t share was that the month before she gave her life to Christ, it was sort of the “rock bottom” time. She ran away from home for about a week—no one knew where she was (her mother, her counselor, her friends). The first time she responded to any of us was when she answered my phone call to invite her to a Christian camp. Surprisingly, she agreed to go to the camp, and I picked her up at a street corner in Gaborone to take her there.
Months ago, Tumelo shared with me that during that time when she’d run away, she had gotten pregnant with her boyfriend. About a month and a half after that, she gave her life to Christ. She received the Lord’s forgiveness for what she had done willingly, and is now committed and excited to raise her daughter to be grounded in Christ’s love. Thankfully, because Tumelo and her mother had experienced such a beautiful reconciliation when she came to Christ, her mother is being very supportive. They are both very excited to help raise the little girl to be a passionate follower of Christ. I asked Tumelo for permission to share this with all of you (she is fine with it!) so that you can be praying for a good delivery and a healthy baby. The little baby girl is due the first week of January. Tumelo herself just finished high school and is still growing in her faith. Motherhood is of course a challenge for an 18-year-old, so please keep praying for her!
Tumelo wrote to me yesterday to tell me the pregnancy is getting more difficult—it’s hard for her to get comfortable sitting, standing, or sleeping. So I felt it was a good time to share this with you all, so you can be praying with us for Tumelo and the baby. Thanks so much!
Blessings,
Em
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Launching new programs, safari adventures, live national radio...
Hey all,
Well, it’s been quite an exciting, adventurous few weeks! I’ve been blessed in so many ways by all the awesomeness…definitely a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
Launch of the Drop-in Centre in Gaborone!
In Gaborone, we launched the Youth Hang-out Drop-in Centre earlier this month! It’s a safe place at our Gaborone centre where youth can come to hang out and play basketball, table tennis, pool, chess, cards, and other games. It’s modeled after Yarona F.C., the drop-in centre in Mochudi. It was exciting to see the pool table being used, as Jesse (the 15-year-old Canadian volunteer for a month) and I re-furbished/reupholstered it ourselves. I’ve learned that missionary life involves doing things you never thought you’d ever do or be able to do, such as refurbishing a pool table…but we found a fabric shop, bought green fabric, a staple gun, figured out how to disassemble the table and re-cover it. We bought camouflage canvas fabric and found a tailor in Mochudi to make the 6 bags for the pool table balls. Then we put it all back together and now youth in Gaborone are enjoying the pretty sweet-looking pool table! The next Drop-in Centre there for youth is this Saturday.
Other ministry in Gaborone has included leading volunteer training on a couple Saturdays at the centre, and leading worship with guitar at the Scripture Union club at Maoka Jr. Secondary School. This was in preparation for their Scripture Union revival last Saturday. It was a lot of fun to lead worship with them for that event—students visiting from other schools’ Scripture Union clubs really enjoyed it too and were singing along passionately.
Rehearsing at the school for the revival
With some of the Maoka Scripture Union students after the revival
Youth Week and Building Connections with Churches
I’ve also been coordinating the advertising and registration for the Botswana contingent of youth who will attend the annual YFC Youth Week camp in Magaliesburg, South Africa. It’s been held since 1963, drawing about 800 youth from across southern Africa. Powerful speakers, amazing live worship band, swimming, sports, small group fellowship, etc.=an unforgettable time from what I’ve heard. Since I wanted to send letters and info to invite youth groups from local churches to Youth Week and I’ve also wanted to establish good relationships with youth pastors and to let them know about YFC, I decided to design and print brochures about YFC, specifically in Gaborone, and take them along to different churches. So I’ve been driving around to different churches to meet with their youth pastors/pastors. The first day, I took a volunteer with me, Tumi, who will be going for the 6th time to Youth Week! She was able to share from experience how amazing and life-changing the camp has been in her life (it’s where she gave her life to Christ).
Invited on to live national radio again!
One of the board members of YFC Botswana, Trevor Jones, runs the Sunday morning program on Yarona FM, a national radio station targeting youth. So last week, I called him to ask if he could make an announcement/advertisement about Youth Week on the show. He asked if I’d be coming in to the studio to do it? He said it’s always better to have another voice share. Then he asked about the theme of the camp and asked if I could come in and help lead a half-hour or so segment of the show related to that theme? Ok!?!! Totally wasn’t expecting that, but I was grateful for the opportunity. I asked if Tumi could also come and share from her experience of Youth Week, and Trevor thought it’d be a great idea. So this past Sunday morning I left the house at 6:30am to pick up Tumi and head in to the studio. It’s the same station/studio where I helped lead the program on the Sundays in March during the Month of Youth Against AIDS. So it was nice to be back, and it felt like it went well—my housemates and other friends listening in said it sounded good. Cool!
World-Class Hip Hop!
Another exciting event in Gaborone, actually organized by the same YFC board member Trevor, was the hip-hop concert by grammy-nominated Lecrae, Trip Lee, Tadashii, KB, & Andy Mineo on their Unashamed Tour from the U.S. It took place at The Learning Centre School where I help with camps, clubs, and spoke during chapel. I was asked to be a counselor for the event to talk with those who might want to learn more about a relationship with Christ. It was an awesome time—I was amazed how many Batswana were singing/rapping along to all the lyrics. Also exciting is that one of the youth from my church, nicknamed Stretch, was one of the opening hip-hop acts. The hometown crowd loved him!
Mochudi Ministry
In Mochudi, we led a three-week holiday program for the Standard 7 (7th grade) students who end a month earlier than everyone else for some reason. We took turns leading the games and the teaching time. I taught on the gospel message and what it means to be a Christian, and the following week I taught on having a vision for one’s life. We had about 20 students who came daily, so it was nice to get to know them and pour into them valuable teachings before they start secondary school. Speaking of secondary school, we performed skits for the morning assembly at the Senior school a couple times since I’ve been back before they finished the term last week.
This week we started holiday programs for all students. Today is World AIDS Day so I’m sharing a message about AIDS and prevention at the drop-in centre (Yarona FC) after we have a volleyball tournament. Last week I spoke to the student body at a junior secondary school during their World AIDS Day Commemoration all day. One of the local (Motswana) YFC staff, Fifi, and I taught about the importance of abstinence to achieve the World AIDS Day theme of “Getting to Zero: Zero New Infections…” The Head Master of the school complimented YFC, saying that we are like soldiers, always ready for the trumpet call (perhaps alluding to how we didn’t learn we’d be sharing until 2 days earlier).
Other Mochudi happenings include 1.) hanging out with Tumelo; 2.) our Daycare graduation for the orphans and vulnerable children; and 3.) the supremely ironic fact that I am now teaching Setswana to the new volunteers/housemates! Monday was the second lesson. It’s ironic because I am FAR from proficient/fluent in my own Setswana…but I am teaching them the basics. Since Corine left in June, I’ve been the veteran in the house…so I’ve taken over Corine’s role of teaching Setswana.
Refreshing Blessings!!!!! Beautiful nature, safaris, and feasts!
So this month I’ve also experienced some really amazing blessings. First, I finally found the Bokaa Dam! And it was a breathtaking sunset over the water when I finally reached that rare body of water in Botswana. Being a Michigan native who lived on Lake Huron, I miss lakes, and a dam is the closest thing they have to that here. So that was a sweet discovery. It’s located between Mochudi and Gabs off the beaten path in Bokaa village.
Sunset at the Bokaa Dam
Next, my cousin Tess from England, a travel agent, let me know that she won a free trip to Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa. It happens that it’s just 50km from my house—just over the border. When some of the South African friends I know here heard she was going to be there, they got really excited and said I should see if there’s any way I could go there, since it’s such a nice, but exclusive place (where Michelle Obama and family went on their trip). Apparently no one is allowed in the park unless they have reservations at one of the extremely expensive lodges. The lodge where my cousin was staying was about $600 per night (that is U.S. dollars). However, my cousin worked it out so they made an exception so I could just come for the day to go on a game drive (safari) and leave the same day. My cousin kindly offered the safari as her treat.
So…I drove to South Africa and the security guard at the game reserve let me in at the gate after calling the lodge to confirm it was ok for me to enter without a reservation. All good ‘cause of Tess. It was so great to see Tess again!
She and I went swimming in this outdoor “rock pool” and then went on the afternoon game drive. Right away, we saw 3 lions! I’ve never seen a lion in Africa that wasn’t in a cage, so it was cool. We saw elephants, a tortoise, wildebeest, zebras, rhinos, kudu, etc. We arrived back 3 hours later and I was planning on staying for dinner, but the lodge staff informed me that, due to a rhino poaching the night before, the game reserve was tightening security and would be closing all gates early at 9pm (only 10 minutes from then).
The original plan was that I’d stay for dinner and then be escorted by game reserve staff through the park for 45 minutes to the gate near the border post to Botswana that is open later (the one I came through was already closed). But with only 10 minutes until 9pm, there wasn’t enough time to escort me to that gate. They could escort me right then to the gate I entered, but I’d have to drive a rough road to the other border post, which would be quite dangerous at night because of all the animals. So they asked if I wouldn’t mind to just spend the night at the lodge? They could make a room up for me. Remembering the expensive cost of staying there, I asked how much it would cost. They closed the door of the reception office to discuss it and came out a few seconds later to tell me not to worry about it; I wouldn’t have to pay anything! They asked if that was ok if I stayed?? Hmmm…well…I guess I could manage to stay in the 5-star lodge ;).
So off to an outdoor dinner feast we went, complete with a fire and live traditional singing/dancing. It was amazing food and so great to have the time with Tess that evening. Tess urged me to get up for the 5:30am game drive with her since I was there (again, she offered to pay…she said the game drives themselves aren’t that pricy). So I rose bright and early for what turned out to be an unforgettable experience.
We came upon 3 lions on the prowl. They came upon a Mama Rhino with her little baby rhino (perhaps 1-2 weeks old). The lions charged and tried to kill the baby rhino, but Mama Rhino fended them off and ran behind the little one as the lions chased them down the road. We were driving down the road behind the lions. Eventually the lions gave up and Mama Rhino and her baby trotted off into the distance. As the guide said, “Mama’s happy: I saved my child…don’t take my young one!” I got it on video…epic!
The guide told us that it is extremely rare to have witnessed something like that. Later, we came upon a pack of endangered African wild dogs. The guide said they sometimes go 3 months in the reserve without spotting the dogs, so it was a real blessing for us to see them.
One of the other travel agents riding with us told us he’s been waiting for 8 years to see one, though he’s been on many safaris all over Africa for 8 years. Then we didn’t see one, but a whole pack of 20+! He said it was the best game drive he’d ever been on! All the more a blessing for me, since I wasn’t even supposed to be there for that morning game drive (and there’s no way you could ever go on the morning game drive if you didn’t spend the night at the lodge, which is normally crazy expensive). So…I was just so grateful for how it worked out so wonderfully.
Other good times include the End-of-Year YFC celebration where all the YFC Botswana staff were treated by donors to an all-you-can-eat buffet dinner at a 5-star hotel in Gaborone.
I am also grateful for an amazing Thanksgiving feast with an American missionary family who also lives in Mochudi and attends the same church and weekly bible study with us. We had turkey (rare in Botswana!), stuffing, mashed potatoes…the whole deal…plus pumpkin pie and whipped cream!!! It was the first time I’ve had pumpkin pie in Botswana, so a real treat! Then Sunday after the radio and church, I had great fellowship with some new friends from Botswana and Germany—we shared testimonies over a bbq lunch. So while it’s hard to see YFC housemates come and go (Katie, the other American here since March 2010 left on Saturday and two others, Jen and Sara, will leave in 2 weeks), it’s a blessing to have more friendships developing with Batswana who will be here indefinitely.
Blessings,
Em
Well, it’s been quite an exciting, adventurous few weeks! I’ve been blessed in so many ways by all the awesomeness…definitely a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
Launch of the Drop-in Centre in Gaborone!
In Gaborone, we launched the Youth Hang-out Drop-in Centre earlier this month! It’s a safe place at our Gaborone centre where youth can come to hang out and play basketball, table tennis, pool, chess, cards, and other games. It’s modeled after Yarona F.C., the drop-in centre in Mochudi. It was exciting to see the pool table being used, as Jesse (the 15-year-old Canadian volunteer for a month) and I re-furbished/reupholstered it ourselves. I’ve learned that missionary life involves doing things you never thought you’d ever do or be able to do, such as refurbishing a pool table…but we found a fabric shop, bought green fabric, a staple gun, figured out how to disassemble the table and re-cover it. We bought camouflage canvas fabric and found a tailor in Mochudi to make the 6 bags for the pool table balls. Then we put it all back together and now youth in Gaborone are enjoying the pretty sweet-looking pool table! The next Drop-in Centre there for youth is this Saturday.
Other ministry in Gaborone has included leading volunteer training on a couple Saturdays at the centre, and leading worship with guitar at the Scripture Union club at Maoka Jr. Secondary School. This was in preparation for their Scripture Union revival last Saturday. It was a lot of fun to lead worship with them for that event—students visiting from other schools’ Scripture Union clubs really enjoyed it too and were singing along passionately.
Youth Week and Building Connections with Churches
I’ve also been coordinating the advertising and registration for the Botswana contingent of youth who will attend the annual YFC Youth Week camp in Magaliesburg, South Africa. It’s been held since 1963, drawing about 800 youth from across southern Africa. Powerful speakers, amazing live worship band, swimming, sports, small group fellowship, etc.=an unforgettable time from what I’ve heard. Since I wanted to send letters and info to invite youth groups from local churches to Youth Week and I’ve also wanted to establish good relationships with youth pastors and to let them know about YFC, I decided to design and print brochures about YFC, specifically in Gaborone, and take them along to different churches. So I’ve been driving around to different churches to meet with their youth pastors/pastors. The first day, I took a volunteer with me, Tumi, who will be going for the 6th time to Youth Week! She was able to share from experience how amazing and life-changing the camp has been in her life (it’s where she gave her life to Christ).
Invited on to live national radio again!
One of the board members of YFC Botswana, Trevor Jones, runs the Sunday morning program on Yarona FM, a national radio station targeting youth. So last week, I called him to ask if he could make an announcement/advertisement about Youth Week on the show. He asked if I’d be coming in to the studio to do it? He said it’s always better to have another voice share. Then he asked about the theme of the camp and asked if I could come in and help lead a half-hour or so segment of the show related to that theme? Ok!?!! Totally wasn’t expecting that, but I was grateful for the opportunity. I asked if Tumi could also come and share from her experience of Youth Week, and Trevor thought it’d be a great idea. So this past Sunday morning I left the house at 6:30am to pick up Tumi and head in to the studio. It’s the same station/studio where I helped lead the program on the Sundays in March during the Month of Youth Against AIDS. So it was nice to be back, and it felt like it went well—my housemates and other friends listening in said it sounded good. Cool!
World-Class Hip Hop!
Another exciting event in Gaborone, actually organized by the same YFC board member Trevor, was the hip-hop concert by grammy-nominated Lecrae, Trip Lee, Tadashii, KB, & Andy Mineo on their Unashamed Tour from the U.S. It took place at The Learning Centre School where I help with camps, clubs, and spoke during chapel. I was asked to be a counselor for the event to talk with those who might want to learn more about a relationship with Christ. It was an awesome time—I was amazed how many Batswana were singing/rapping along to all the lyrics. Also exciting is that one of the youth from my church, nicknamed Stretch, was one of the opening hip-hop acts. The hometown crowd loved him!
Mochudi Ministry
In Mochudi, we led a three-week holiday program for the Standard 7 (7th grade) students who end a month earlier than everyone else for some reason. We took turns leading the games and the teaching time. I taught on the gospel message and what it means to be a Christian, and the following week I taught on having a vision for one’s life. We had about 20 students who came daily, so it was nice to get to know them and pour into them valuable teachings before they start secondary school. Speaking of secondary school, we performed skits for the morning assembly at the Senior school a couple times since I’ve been back before they finished the term last week.
This week we started holiday programs for all students. Today is World AIDS Day so I’m sharing a message about AIDS and prevention at the drop-in centre (Yarona FC) after we have a volleyball tournament. Last week I spoke to the student body at a junior secondary school during their World AIDS Day Commemoration all day. One of the local (Motswana) YFC staff, Fifi, and I taught about the importance of abstinence to achieve the World AIDS Day theme of “Getting to Zero: Zero New Infections…” The Head Master of the school complimented YFC, saying that we are like soldiers, always ready for the trumpet call (perhaps alluding to how we didn’t learn we’d be sharing until 2 days earlier).
Other Mochudi happenings include 1.) hanging out with Tumelo; 2.) our Daycare graduation for the orphans and vulnerable children; and 3.) the supremely ironic fact that I am now teaching Setswana to the new volunteers/housemates! Monday was the second lesson. It’s ironic because I am FAR from proficient/fluent in my own Setswana…but I am teaching them the basics. Since Corine left in June, I’ve been the veteran in the house…so I’ve taken over Corine’s role of teaching Setswana.
Refreshing Blessings!!!!! Beautiful nature, safaris, and feasts!
So this month I’ve also experienced some really amazing blessings. First, I finally found the Bokaa Dam! And it was a breathtaking sunset over the water when I finally reached that rare body of water in Botswana. Being a Michigan native who lived on Lake Huron, I miss lakes, and a dam is the closest thing they have to that here. So that was a sweet discovery. It’s located between Mochudi and Gabs off the beaten path in Bokaa village.
Next, my cousin Tess from England, a travel agent, let me know that she won a free trip to Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa. It happens that it’s just 50km from my house—just over the border. When some of the South African friends I know here heard she was going to be there, they got really excited and said I should see if there’s any way I could go there, since it’s such a nice, but exclusive place (where Michelle Obama and family went on their trip). Apparently no one is allowed in the park unless they have reservations at one of the extremely expensive lodges. The lodge where my cousin was staying was about $600 per night (that is U.S. dollars). However, my cousin worked it out so they made an exception so I could just come for the day to go on a game drive (safari) and leave the same day. My cousin kindly offered the safari as her treat.
So…I drove to South Africa and the security guard at the game reserve let me in at the gate after calling the lodge to confirm it was ok for me to enter without a reservation. All good ‘cause of Tess. It was so great to see Tess again!
She and I went swimming in this outdoor “rock pool” and then went on the afternoon game drive. Right away, we saw 3 lions! I’ve never seen a lion in Africa that wasn’t in a cage, so it was cool. We saw elephants, a tortoise, wildebeest, zebras, rhinos, kudu, etc. We arrived back 3 hours later and I was planning on staying for dinner, but the lodge staff informed me that, due to a rhino poaching the night before, the game reserve was tightening security and would be closing all gates early at 9pm (only 10 minutes from then).
The original plan was that I’d stay for dinner and then be escorted by game reserve staff through the park for 45 minutes to the gate near the border post to Botswana that is open later (the one I came through was already closed). But with only 10 minutes until 9pm, there wasn’t enough time to escort me to that gate. They could escort me right then to the gate I entered, but I’d have to drive a rough road to the other border post, which would be quite dangerous at night because of all the animals. So they asked if I wouldn’t mind to just spend the night at the lodge? They could make a room up for me. Remembering the expensive cost of staying there, I asked how much it would cost. They closed the door of the reception office to discuss it and came out a few seconds later to tell me not to worry about it; I wouldn’t have to pay anything! They asked if that was ok if I stayed?? Hmmm…well…I guess I could manage to stay in the 5-star lodge ;).
So off to an outdoor dinner feast we went, complete with a fire and live traditional singing/dancing. It was amazing food and so great to have the time with Tess that evening. Tess urged me to get up for the 5:30am game drive with her since I was there (again, she offered to pay…she said the game drives themselves aren’t that pricy). So I rose bright and early for what turned out to be an unforgettable experience.
We came upon 3 lions on the prowl. They came upon a Mama Rhino with her little baby rhino (perhaps 1-2 weeks old). The lions charged and tried to kill the baby rhino, but Mama Rhino fended them off and ran behind the little one as the lions chased them down the road. We were driving down the road behind the lions. Eventually the lions gave up and Mama Rhino and her baby trotted off into the distance. As the guide said, “Mama’s happy: I saved my child…don’t take my young one!” I got it on video…epic!
The guide told us that it is extremely rare to have witnessed something like that. Later, we came upon a pack of endangered African wild dogs. The guide said they sometimes go 3 months in the reserve without spotting the dogs, so it was a real blessing for us to see them.
One of the other travel agents riding with us told us he’s been waiting for 8 years to see one, though he’s been on many safaris all over Africa for 8 years. Then we didn’t see one, but a whole pack of 20+! He said it was the best game drive he’d ever been on! All the more a blessing for me, since I wasn’t even supposed to be there for that morning game drive (and there’s no way you could ever go on the morning game drive if you didn’t spend the night at the lodge, which is normally crazy expensive). So…I was just so grateful for how it worked out so wonderfully.
Other good times include the End-of-Year YFC celebration where all the YFC Botswana staff were treated by donors to an all-you-can-eat buffet dinner at a 5-star hotel in Gaborone.
I am also grateful for an amazing Thanksgiving feast with an American missionary family who also lives in Mochudi and attends the same church and weekly bible study with us. We had turkey (rare in Botswana!), stuffing, mashed potatoes…the whole deal…plus pumpkin pie and whipped cream!!! It was the first time I’ve had pumpkin pie in Botswana, so a real treat! Then Sunday after the radio and church, I had great fellowship with some new friends from Botswana and Germany—we shared testimonies over a bbq lunch. So while it’s hard to see YFC housemates come and go (Katie, the other American here since March 2010 left on Saturday and two others, Jen and Sara, will leave in 2 weeks), it’s a blessing to have more friendships developing with Batswana who will be here indefinitely.
Blessings,
Em
Monday, October 31, 2011
U.S. Trip Highlights!
Greetings from Botswana!
Well, this is long overdue, but I will share the highlights of my trip to the U.S. As I got ready to leave for the airport in Gaborone, I told my housemate Jen that I would be hiking a mountain in those same clothes. After a long journey, that was indeed the case. But first, I’ll share the interesting parts of the long journey:
The long journey started with the drive to the airport on Thursday 22nd. I was driving a YFC car because my car wouldn’t start, and then the YFC car started having major issues and smelling like burning enough that Jen and I knew that it was best to pull over. Always awesome when you’re on the way to the airport! So I flagged down a man in a pickup truck who kindly drove me to the airport. Now lest you think I’m incredibly unwise and naïve to hitchhike with a stranger…it is very common and safe here in Botswana. People hitchhike all the time…and well, in my circumstance it was the only option to make my flight. So once at the airport, Air Botswana’s computer system was still down (I had called to confirm my flight and it had been down then). But then they couldn’t find my name on the printed out list from the day before. They called the Johannesburg airport and airlines, but my ticket reservation was nowhere to be found! They sent me to go upstairs to Air Botswana’s office where it was determined that the Gaborone to Johannesburg leg of my journey had never been paid for!?!! I booked it all through a travel agent in the U.S. who still has no idea why that happened. So…just 35 minutes before my flight, I had to buy a ticket on the fly (literally!) with a credit card, rush back downstairs to check in, check my luggage, and go through security. You could say my heart rate was increased slightly for those few minutes until I reached the gate and made it on the plane!
Colorado!! Reuniting with old friends and making new ones!
After that, everything was smooth…Johannesburg to Atlanta, then arriving in Denver, Colorado around 9:45 am Friday 23 September. Fresh off the plane, I rented a car, drove down to Mission Training International (MTI) where I’d been training before our tragic accident in 2008. I visited with the staff, but one was currently teaching the participants for a couple more hours. So…in the meantime, I drove out to a small mountain outside of town and hiked it (so I did hike a mountain in the clothes I left Botswana in, as I had hoped!).
Then I returned to see that MTI staff member after classes had ended. I stayed for dinner and asked if any of the participants had planned to hike a mountain the following day—indeed there was a group hiking Mt. Herman on Saturday. Back in 2008, I had attempted to hike Mt. Herman with Jon (who also hiked Pike’s Peak with me), but the access road had been iced over and we ended up getting on the wrong trail and never reaching the top. So I was excited at the prospect of summiting it. I knew that if I didn’t hike some mountains before the conference in Denver, I would not enjoy myself as much being drawn to the mountains in the distance but stuck in a city hotel.
That first night I stayed in Littleton with the George family who were some of the first on the scene of our accident. I’ve stayed with them 4 times now! It was great to see them and see how the kids have grown, and have an excited welcome from their dogs Hunter and Kirby. The next morning I drove back to MTI to meet up with the other hikers, and we hiked to the top of Mt. Herman. With jetlag and altitude adjustment, it was a good workout. There was a great view of Pike’s Peak and the surrounding countryside from the top, 9000 feet above sea level.
After that I spent a couple hours reflecting and journaling near the memorial at MTI for our friends Karin, Jessica, and Isaac. This is the view of Mt. Herman from near there (it's the tallest one):
That night I enjoyed a home bible study at the George’s place. The next morning on the drive out of Littleton to church, I saw all these people biking in the beautiful scenery. I love riding a bike, but I haven’t since 2009. I really wanted to ride one again! I recalled that the Georges have bikes, and I could go back and ask to take one out for a ride instead of going to church. But I had planned to revisit the church where I’d gone the day after I got out of the hospital, so I decided to just keep driving to that church. Now in retrospect, I’m very glad I did. (I’ll share more about the church service in the next post).
After that it was on to the hotel in Denver for the YFC International General Assembly, which ran from Sunday to Saturday. Once there, I learned a beautiful fact—my roommate told me the hotel had bikes we could check out for free! But then I thought, Oh, but I need to wear a helmet…. But then she told me they provide helmets too! But then I wondered aloud, Oh but I don’t know where to go; what if I get lost? Then she replied that there is a bike trail just down the road from the hotel that leads past a lake! So I checked out a bike four times that week and within a few minutes was at a beautiful lake framed by the Rockies. So I got to ride a bike after all! God is good!
At the conference, it was great to reunite with YFC friends from the U.S. but also ones from Africa that I’d met in Namibia or in Botswana last year when many National Directors were trained here. There was great worship, speakers, and training with leaders in YFC from 80+ countries. I was in the “Effective Leadership” track and learned a lot to enhance my leadership here.
On Wednesday that week they took us on an excursion down to Colorado Springs to visit Glen Eyrie, a gorgeous retreat center owned the The Navigators (a worldwide Christian collegiate ministry with whom we work here in Gaborone). We toured the castle there and were able to explore the beautiful trails through a canyon. Then we headed to the nearby Garden of the Gods, which is where I had spent most of the Sunday before the accident with Jessica and a couple other MTI friends. So it was a bit different this time around…but still beautiful.
Thursday night was a celebration open to the public where each area of YFC’s worldwide family had time to share what God is doing in their region. Overall, God is really moving—YFC pioneered into 23 new countries since the last General Assembly 3 years ago! The Buyela Dance & Drama team from South Africa performed several times throughout the week, including that night. Their first performances were in Botswana in March 2010, so it was great to see them again:
Before the program began that evening, I was looking for a place to sit but all the chairs were filled. As I stood and waited while more chairs were brought, who should I see walk right in front of me but author Philip Yancey and his wife! They were really excited to see me. [The reason I know them is that we had been on our way to hear him speak when we’d gotten in our accident in 2008; he had called me in the hospital, sent me his books, and had the survivors (Scott, Andrea and me) over to their house; and now we keep in touch via email and newsletters. He has been helping me with some advice & connections in the writing/publishing process]. They brought up my second rollover this July in Botswana and how it’s crazy that it happened, but also amazing how I’m fine. I ended up sitting with them for the program. What an unexpected blessing to run into them!
On to Minnesota!!
After YFC’s General Assembly and one last bike ride to the lake just before checkout, I flew to Minnesota. There I stayed at my brother’s house. It was great to see him again. We really enjoyed seeing the movie Courageous in the theater, so I highly recommend it! It speaks of the value of fathers and mentors in our lives.
The mighty Mississippi River in St. Paul
You can see my first college, St. Kate's, in the middle with the metal watertower, and the Minneapolis skyline behind
I needed to get my jaw checked out at the specialist there in St. Paul, and have a week between visits. So I got a new appliance (the old one was breaking) and time will tell if it really will correct the issues. I think my jaw is more in line than when I first reached Minnesota, but not the best it’s been post-accident. So I’m praying that this time it really works to keep it in line. I also visited the chiropractor to get massage therapy on my neck to loosen up the tightness and to make sure my spine is aligned. He couldn’t tell I’d been in another rollover accident—my back wasn’t way out of line by any means! So that’s good! He also taught me how to use my spring-loaded Activator so I can make small adjustments to my neck and jaw here in Botswana (where there are, count them, NO chiropractors!). So now I “shoot myself” once a day in four places to try to maintain a proper alignment. This should help with my jaw because if the neck is out of line, soon follows the jaw.
Though 9 days was not enough time to see everyone I would have liked, I was thankful to reconnect with several friends. I was invited to share to the youth group at my church. I also shared a longer Powerpoint presentation after church to update people on the ministry here. One of the current leaders of the Cru bible study fellowship at my first college, St. Kate's, came to hear me share and it was great to catch up with her. I'll try to share more on that another time.
On to Michigan!
After this, I flew to Michigan to see my mom and friends/supporters there. One of our good friends from my childhood in Dexter, MI came up to visit, and I also saw many friends when we hosted an open house where I shared a Powerpoint about the ministry here in Botswana. During church, I was also called up to the front with no advance notice to share a bit about the ministry here and receive prayer from the pastor/church.
I am also grateful to have had the opportunity to visit some of the more meaningful places to me. Thankfully we know the people who bought the cottages where we used to live on the lake in Lexington, and they’ve said I can go and sit on the boathouse or use their ramp/stairs down to the beach. So I was able to walk along and pray on the stretch of beach where I often prayed (where God called me to missions and to Botswana, and where I walked during my recovery months).
Then I spent a night at our friends’ prayer cabin in the woods up near there to have some more quiet reflection time with God. It was refreshing. After that I visited my dad’s grave in that town. It was stereotypically rainy and blustery as I stood there in the cemetary, so I didn’t stay long. I just felt a strong sense of the truth I know—that dad’s not there; but he’s with God in heaven. His body is 6 feet under, but his spirit is high above.
One exciting addition to the family is a cat that we adopted who came with the name Tiger Lily. We’ve never had a cat because my dad was allergic. After Chester (our beagle) died, my mom thought it best to adopt a cat instead of a dog. So Tiger Lily came home while I was visiting. She would often curl up on my bed with me. She’s a keeper!
Back to Botswana!
My journey back had no major issues (i.e. not having a ticket!), so that was nice. It was a WARM welcome back—I arrived at the beginning of a heat-wave that lasted all week, with temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. One day it was 105 degrees! Thankfully we had a big rain and the temps have come down a bit, though it’s still quite warm (89 is the high today).
I’ll share more in a later post about things here. But here are a few prayer requests, if you’re interested:
1.) Tomorrow we are starting a three-week holiday program for the students who just graduated Standard 7 (essentially 7th grade). Tomorrow, a newer German volunteer and I will be explaining the gospel message to the youth. Please pray for many youth to come and for their hearts to be open and ready to receive the message.
2.) Please pray for students, especially Tumelo and Slim, as they are taking their final exams that matter a LOT here in Africa. Slim’s are intermittent through this month, but Tumelo will have exams every day!
3.) Please pray for one of the YFC volunteers from Gabs who stopped by and shared deeply with me yesterday. Pray for God to give him direction, wisdom, and the courage to do what is best.
Alright, well, I also have more meaningful reflections to share from my U.S. trip so I’ll likely do that next post. This one was long enough!
Thanks for reading! And thanks for your prayers & notes of encouragement.
Blessings,
Em
Well, this is long overdue, but I will share the highlights of my trip to the U.S. As I got ready to leave for the airport in Gaborone, I told my housemate Jen that I would be hiking a mountain in those same clothes. After a long journey, that was indeed the case. But first, I’ll share the interesting parts of the long journey:
The long journey started with the drive to the airport on Thursday 22nd. I was driving a YFC car because my car wouldn’t start, and then the YFC car started having major issues and smelling like burning enough that Jen and I knew that it was best to pull over. Always awesome when you’re on the way to the airport! So I flagged down a man in a pickup truck who kindly drove me to the airport. Now lest you think I’m incredibly unwise and naïve to hitchhike with a stranger…it is very common and safe here in Botswana. People hitchhike all the time…and well, in my circumstance it was the only option to make my flight. So once at the airport, Air Botswana’s computer system was still down (I had called to confirm my flight and it had been down then). But then they couldn’t find my name on the printed out list from the day before. They called the Johannesburg airport and airlines, but my ticket reservation was nowhere to be found! They sent me to go upstairs to Air Botswana’s office where it was determined that the Gaborone to Johannesburg leg of my journey had never been paid for!?!! I booked it all through a travel agent in the U.S. who still has no idea why that happened. So…just 35 minutes before my flight, I had to buy a ticket on the fly (literally!) with a credit card, rush back downstairs to check in, check my luggage, and go through security. You could say my heart rate was increased slightly for those few minutes until I reached the gate and made it on the plane!
Colorado!! Reuniting with old friends and making new ones!
After that, everything was smooth…Johannesburg to Atlanta, then arriving in Denver, Colorado around 9:45 am Friday 23 September. Fresh off the plane, I rented a car, drove down to Mission Training International (MTI) where I’d been training before our tragic accident in 2008. I visited with the staff, but one was currently teaching the participants for a couple more hours. So…in the meantime, I drove out to a small mountain outside of town and hiked it (so I did hike a mountain in the clothes I left Botswana in, as I had hoped!).
Then I returned to see that MTI staff member after classes had ended. I stayed for dinner and asked if any of the participants had planned to hike a mountain the following day—indeed there was a group hiking Mt. Herman on Saturday. Back in 2008, I had attempted to hike Mt. Herman with Jon (who also hiked Pike’s Peak with me), but the access road had been iced over and we ended up getting on the wrong trail and never reaching the top. So I was excited at the prospect of summiting it. I knew that if I didn’t hike some mountains before the conference in Denver, I would not enjoy myself as much being drawn to the mountains in the distance but stuck in a city hotel.
That first night I stayed in Littleton with the George family who were some of the first on the scene of our accident. I’ve stayed with them 4 times now! It was great to see them and see how the kids have grown, and have an excited welcome from their dogs Hunter and Kirby. The next morning I drove back to MTI to meet up with the other hikers, and we hiked to the top of Mt. Herman. With jetlag and altitude adjustment, it was a good workout. There was a great view of Pike’s Peak and the surrounding countryside from the top, 9000 feet above sea level.
After that I spent a couple hours reflecting and journaling near the memorial at MTI for our friends Karin, Jessica, and Isaac. This is the view of Mt. Herman from near there (it's the tallest one):
That night I enjoyed a home bible study at the George’s place. The next morning on the drive out of Littleton to church, I saw all these people biking in the beautiful scenery. I love riding a bike, but I haven’t since 2009. I really wanted to ride one again! I recalled that the Georges have bikes, and I could go back and ask to take one out for a ride instead of going to church. But I had planned to revisit the church where I’d gone the day after I got out of the hospital, so I decided to just keep driving to that church. Now in retrospect, I’m very glad I did. (I’ll share more about the church service in the next post).
After that it was on to the hotel in Denver for the YFC International General Assembly, which ran from Sunday to Saturday. Once there, I learned a beautiful fact—my roommate told me the hotel had bikes we could check out for free! But then I thought, Oh, but I need to wear a helmet…. But then she told me they provide helmets too! But then I wondered aloud, Oh but I don’t know where to go; what if I get lost? Then she replied that there is a bike trail just down the road from the hotel that leads past a lake! So I checked out a bike four times that week and within a few minutes was at a beautiful lake framed by the Rockies. So I got to ride a bike after all! God is good!
At the conference, it was great to reunite with YFC friends from the U.S. but also ones from Africa that I’d met in Namibia or in Botswana last year when many National Directors were trained here. There was great worship, speakers, and training with leaders in YFC from 80+ countries. I was in the “Effective Leadership” track and learned a lot to enhance my leadership here.
On Wednesday that week they took us on an excursion down to Colorado Springs to visit Glen Eyrie, a gorgeous retreat center owned the The Navigators (a worldwide Christian collegiate ministry with whom we work here in Gaborone). We toured the castle there and were able to explore the beautiful trails through a canyon. Then we headed to the nearby Garden of the Gods, which is where I had spent most of the Sunday before the accident with Jessica and a couple other MTI friends. So it was a bit different this time around…but still beautiful.
Thursday night was a celebration open to the public where each area of YFC’s worldwide family had time to share what God is doing in their region. Overall, God is really moving—YFC pioneered into 23 new countries since the last General Assembly 3 years ago! The Buyela Dance & Drama team from South Africa performed several times throughout the week, including that night. Their first performances were in Botswana in March 2010, so it was great to see them again:
Before the program began that evening, I was looking for a place to sit but all the chairs were filled. As I stood and waited while more chairs were brought, who should I see walk right in front of me but author Philip Yancey and his wife! They were really excited to see me. [The reason I know them is that we had been on our way to hear him speak when we’d gotten in our accident in 2008; he had called me in the hospital, sent me his books, and had the survivors (Scott, Andrea and me) over to their house; and now we keep in touch via email and newsletters. He has been helping me with some advice & connections in the writing/publishing process]. They brought up my second rollover this July in Botswana and how it’s crazy that it happened, but also amazing how I’m fine. I ended up sitting with them for the program. What an unexpected blessing to run into them!
On to Minnesota!!
After YFC’s General Assembly and one last bike ride to the lake just before checkout, I flew to Minnesota. There I stayed at my brother’s house. It was great to see him again. We really enjoyed seeing the movie Courageous in the theater, so I highly recommend it! It speaks of the value of fathers and mentors in our lives.
I needed to get my jaw checked out at the specialist there in St. Paul, and have a week between visits. So I got a new appliance (the old one was breaking) and time will tell if it really will correct the issues. I think my jaw is more in line than when I first reached Minnesota, but not the best it’s been post-accident. So I’m praying that this time it really works to keep it in line. I also visited the chiropractor to get massage therapy on my neck to loosen up the tightness and to make sure my spine is aligned. He couldn’t tell I’d been in another rollover accident—my back wasn’t way out of line by any means! So that’s good! He also taught me how to use my spring-loaded Activator so I can make small adjustments to my neck and jaw here in Botswana (where there are, count them, NO chiropractors!). So now I “shoot myself” once a day in four places to try to maintain a proper alignment. This should help with my jaw because if the neck is out of line, soon follows the jaw.
Though 9 days was not enough time to see everyone I would have liked, I was thankful to reconnect with several friends. I was invited to share to the youth group at my church. I also shared a longer Powerpoint presentation after church to update people on the ministry here. One of the current leaders of the Cru bible study fellowship at my first college, St. Kate's, came to hear me share and it was great to catch up with her. I'll try to share more on that another time.
On to Michigan!
After this, I flew to Michigan to see my mom and friends/supporters there. One of our good friends from my childhood in Dexter, MI came up to visit, and I also saw many friends when we hosted an open house where I shared a Powerpoint about the ministry here in Botswana. During church, I was also called up to the front with no advance notice to share a bit about the ministry here and receive prayer from the pastor/church.
I am also grateful to have had the opportunity to visit some of the more meaningful places to me. Thankfully we know the people who bought the cottages where we used to live on the lake in Lexington, and they’ve said I can go and sit on the boathouse or use their ramp/stairs down to the beach. So I was able to walk along and pray on the stretch of beach where I often prayed (where God called me to missions and to Botswana, and where I walked during my recovery months).
Then I spent a night at our friends’ prayer cabin in the woods up near there to have some more quiet reflection time with God. It was refreshing. After that I visited my dad’s grave in that town. It was stereotypically rainy and blustery as I stood there in the cemetary, so I didn’t stay long. I just felt a strong sense of the truth I know—that dad’s not there; but he’s with God in heaven. His body is 6 feet under, but his spirit is high above.
One exciting addition to the family is a cat that we adopted who came with the name Tiger Lily. We’ve never had a cat because my dad was allergic. After Chester (our beagle) died, my mom thought it best to adopt a cat instead of a dog. So Tiger Lily came home while I was visiting. She would often curl up on my bed with me. She’s a keeper!
Back to Botswana!
My journey back had no major issues (i.e. not having a ticket!), so that was nice. It was a WARM welcome back—I arrived at the beginning of a heat-wave that lasted all week, with temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. One day it was 105 degrees! Thankfully we had a big rain and the temps have come down a bit, though it’s still quite warm (89 is the high today).
I’ll share more in a later post about things here. But here are a few prayer requests, if you’re interested:
1.) Tomorrow we are starting a three-week holiday program for the students who just graduated Standard 7 (essentially 7th grade). Tomorrow, a newer German volunteer and I will be explaining the gospel message to the youth. Please pray for many youth to come and for their hearts to be open and ready to receive the message.
2.) Please pray for students, especially Tumelo and Slim, as they are taking their final exams that matter a LOT here in Africa. Slim’s are intermittent through this month, but Tumelo will have exams every day!
3.) Please pray for one of the YFC volunteers from Gabs who stopped by and shared deeply with me yesterday. Pray for God to give him direction, wisdom, and the courage to do what is best.
Alright, well, I also have more meaningful reflections to share from my U.S. trip so I’ll likely do that next post. This one was long enough!
Thanks for reading! And thanks for your prayers & notes of encouragement.
Blessings,
Em
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Speaking this Sunday and Tuesday--MN and MI
Greetings from Minnesota!
Just wanted to send a quick update and reminder about where/when I'll be sharing in Minnesota and Michigan. (I've already had a wonderful time at the YFC international conference in Denver and will share more details in a future post). So if you're in Minnesota or Michigan, here are the updated details:
Minnesota: I will be here until Monday October 10. On this Sunday, October 9 I will be sharing a Powerpoint presentation after the 11 am service at 12:30 pm in the upstairs Loft at Messiah Church in Highland Park, St. Paul (1631 Ford Parkway...just one block west of Snelling Ave). It will be about 30 minutes and include some snacks. If you go to a different church or none at all, you are welcome to just come for the presentation at 12:30 (though of course you are welcome to attend Messiah if you'd like as well).
Michigan:
My mom and I will host an open house get-together at our home in Port Huron on Tuesday October 11th from 6:00-9:00 pm. Since I'll only be in Michigan briefly, we thought this is a way I could see friends and supporters. Feel free to come anytime in that span, even if just for a few minutes. I will share a short powerpoint presentation about the ministry in Botswana at 7:00 pm.
If you're interested in coming, please RSVP to my mom, Hannah, by this Sunday October 9 at 810-359-5772 just so we know how many chairs and refreshments to prepare. She will also give directions to find our house (near Mercy Hospital). This is also to determine if we will need to change locations to our church if the numbers outgrow the house. So please call her so we can know on Monday whether it will remain at our house or will need to be relocated to the church. If you've already RSVPed to us, plan on it being at our house--we will contact you otherwise if it changes to the church.
It's always hard to see everyone I'd like on short trips like these, but it's been nice to reconnect with many friends so far and I look forward to seeing more of you on Sunday and Tuesday!
Blessings,
Em
Just wanted to send a quick update and reminder about where/when I'll be sharing in Minnesota and Michigan. (I've already had a wonderful time at the YFC international conference in Denver and will share more details in a future post). So if you're in Minnesota or Michigan, here are the updated details:
Minnesota: I will be here until Monday October 10. On this Sunday, October 9 I will be sharing a Powerpoint presentation after the 11 am service at 12:30 pm in the upstairs Loft at Messiah Church in Highland Park, St. Paul (1631 Ford Parkway...just one block west of Snelling Ave). It will be about 30 minutes and include some snacks. If you go to a different church or none at all, you are welcome to just come for the presentation at 12:30 (though of course you are welcome to attend Messiah if you'd like as well).
Michigan:
My mom and I will host an open house get-together at our home in Port Huron on Tuesday October 11th from 6:00-9:00 pm. Since I'll only be in Michigan briefly, we thought this is a way I could see friends and supporters. Feel free to come anytime in that span, even if just for a few minutes. I will share a short powerpoint presentation about the ministry in Botswana at 7:00 pm.
If you're interested in coming, please RSVP to my mom, Hannah, by this Sunday October 9 at 810-359-5772 just so we know how many chairs and refreshments to prepare. She will also give directions to find our house (near Mercy Hospital). This is also to determine if we will need to change locations to our church if the numbers outgrow the house. So please call her so we can know on Monday whether it will remain at our house or will need to be relocated to the church. If you've already RSVPed to us, plan on it being at our house--we will contact you otherwise if it changes to the church.
It's always hard to see everyone I'd like on short trips like these, but it's been nice to reconnect with many friends so far and I look forward to seeing more of you on Sunday and Tuesday!
Blessings,
Em
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Namibia re-cap...Concert tomorrow...headed to U.S.!
Hey everyone!
Back from Namibia…Headed to the U.S.!
I’m back in Botswana after nearly a month in Namibia…but not for long! I will be heading to the U.S. for three weeks leaving next Thursday the 22nd! I was invited by E.J., YFC Botswana’s National Director, to attend YFC International’s General Assembly conference in Denver the last week of September. It will be a meeting of all the National Directors and key staff from each country of YFC around the world. I’m really looking forward to learning a lot, being challenged, and deepening my own walk with Christ at this multicultural gathering that happens every 3 years.
While in the States, I am going to stop by Minnesota for about 10 days (Saturday October 1- Monday October 10) in order to get my jaw checked out at the specialist again and to get my jaw appliance repaired, staying long enough for a follow-up a week after the appointment on the 3rd. [My jaw appliance started breaking earlier this year, and my jaw is still a bit out of line as a residual from the first accident]. So…I’m excited to see friends, family, and familiar places in Minnesota. I’ll be attending Messiah Church in Highland Park those Sundays so I look forward to seeing some of you there! For now, I don’t have anything else planned besides the doctor appointments. If you’d like to meet up, let me know and we’ll try to schedule something.
On October 10, I’ll fly to Michigan on the way back through to Botswana. It worked out that it was actually cheaper to add that extra leg to Michigan than to fly straight back to Botswana from Minnesota! So I’ll be in Michigan essentially just October 11 and 12, flying to Botswana on the 13th. We are working on plans now for either an open house at my home or I may speak at a church. I’ll let you know the details once we’ve got it sorted out.
Now I’ll backtrack and share some of the stories from my time in Namibia:
Leadership Camp for 52 Teens!
As part of the YFC staff training in Namibia, we were split into two staff teams who facilitated two simultaneous 3-day camps of teens at the YFC camp there. The 52 Namibian students in our leadership camp were organized through the government, whereas the other group of campers was a church youth group. It was an intercultural experience, with our diverse team of staff hailing from Namibia, Botswana, Angola, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the U.S.
The second night, the YFC Namibia leaders were away so we had full responsibility to run the camp. They requested that one of us lead a Powerpoint presentation on Leadership as a Calling. The others in my staff team nominated me to do it, and it ended up being a natural opportunity to share my own calling story with the teens. I shared how God called people in the Bible, such as Abraham, Moses, and Paul. I asked if they thought God still calls people today? Then I shared my own story of how I sensed God calling me to leadership in Botswana. While many of the students were not Christians, they seemed open and interested to hear my story. I also shared how those called to leadership will likely face challenges and obstacles, but that leaders overcome and don’t give up. I shared about my two rollover accidents and my dad’s unexpected death, but how, by God’s grace, I’m still leading where I know I’m called to be—Botswana.
A few students gave me handwritten notes in response. Here’s an excerpt from a young man in another team than mine:
Dear Emily, I just want to thank you for what you have taught us…You have taught me that no matter what happens, God is always there for us and that He loves us very much. Thank you!!
Here’s an excerpt from a young lady from another team:
Dear Emily,
Emily I want to tell you how much you impacted me and I think God for that…I am very happy that you have came and taught me and tells us of being a leader and I know I can be a leader one day. I have realized that I can be a better person. And I know that I can perform better in my school work and behave well where ever I go.
Here’s an excerpt from a young lady in my team:
Dear Em, I just have some very confirming words to say to you. You are just like a mother to me. Whenever I want to be sad I just think about your words that you told me.…Wherever I go and whenever I am sad, I will just think about your words.
It's amazing to me how just sharing your story of how God has worked in your life can have such a positive impact on someone else.
In small group and one-on-one discussions with these teens, it was evident how much they were thirsting for love and affirmation, as many of them do not receive it from their parents (if they still have parents). The last morning, the YFC Namibia National Director felt we should scrap the scheduled plan for a bit and just offer to hug and speak affirming words over any of them who feel they need that. It was a beautiful time as teen boys and girls came forward and embraced us, many of them breaking into tears as we spoke affirming, encouraging things into their ears (i.e. “You are so valuable”; “God has good plans for you”).
Fire at the YFC retreat center—snuffed out!
A night or two after the campers left, the camp manager at the YFC retreat center where we were training was walking the long walk (perhaps half mile) back from locking the gate at the exterior of the camp. For some reason, he turned and looked back down the driveway, only to see flames illuminating the dark sky back near the gate. Namibia is a desert country with a lot of dry brush and grasses. To illustrate, the “river” down the road from the camp is completely dry. I ran there often and walked across the river on dry ground (almost like Joshua and the Israelites in the Bible crossing the Jordan, except for the detail that God didn’t need to part the water!). All that to say, it’s a dry area. Fire in the bush grasses spreads quickly and dangerously. Thus when the camp manager saw the fire, he was rightly alarmed and alerted others back at camp.
The fire alarm sounded quickly afterward and those in the camp drove up there with all the fire extinguishers from the camp we could find. In just a matter of minutes, the fire was put out! An area about 30 feet by 20 feet was blackened and burnt, but that was all. Literally just inches away were trees. The potential was very real for a raging wildfire that could’ve consumed acres of the camp. BUT, the camp director had looked back just in time. Based on the footprints in the sand, we can see that it was not just a random fire, but in fact, someone had deliberately set fire to the property. We are thankful to God that his/her destructive plan was foiled…“snuffed out” in infancy.
At the training graduation ceremony
Back in Botswana – reuniting with youth!
My first day back at the Junior Secondary School where I help with the Scripture Union club, I was welcomed back by one of the young girls screaming “EMILY!!!!” and running from 20 feet away to hug me! It’s nice to be back! On my first run back in Mochudi, I had my posse of 8 kids emerge from their yard shouting “EMILY!” and high-fiving me as we started running together down the dirt paths. Two of the older boys wanted to race and gave me quite a workout, but eventually the one was like, “Emily, you are running too fast!” as he stopped and turned back for home.
And Tuesday I experienced one of those moments where the verse about how God orders our steps makes more sense. I drove to the Main Mall in Gaborone to pick up packages from the post office. I parked, and who should be sitting in the car next to me, but the student I mentioned a few posts ago whose father passed away recently! Remember I’d shared the encouraging text message that she had sent soon after his death? She moved from Gaborone several months ago to attend school in a village maybe 30 minutes away, and I haven’t seen her since. We had just been keeping in touch via phone. I’d messaged her right before Namibia, but hadn’t heard from her since.
When we reunited yesterday, she told me that she’d lost her phone and therefore didn’t have my number anymore. So we were especially grateful to have crossed paths, since I was able to give her my number so we can keep in contact. How cool is that?!! I was just there for a 5 minute errand, and yet of all places to park there (out of TONS of spaces), I parked next to where she happened to be sitting and waiting in a car…far from where she now lives and attends school! God is good!
It’s been a blessing also to have one-on-one meetings again with each of the three young women I’m mentoring– Tumelo, Slim, and a University of Botswana (UB) student who I started mentoring in May. She was actually promoted a couple months ago to the chairperson of the Face the Nation Club at UB (Face the Nation is the AIDS prevention program of my church with whom YFC works closely together).
Concert at University of Botswana this Friday night!
Tomorrow night, the Face the Nation Club is holding a Christian concert event at UB with many artists, dancers, drama teams, poets, etc. I am also on the program to sing two of my songs. It was just thought to be a small event with a few artists in a small amphitheatre, but it has grown into a large event, with many artists, in the large amphitheatre, advertised on the national radio and I heard that the national TV station might also be there or advertise it! We are praying that this has a big impact on the campus, and even those who attend from off-campus. Prayers are especially appreciated for all of us who are performing, and for all those in attendance to experience the presence of God. Just a couple weeks ago, that same amphitheatre was the site of a massive party that turned violently out of control; we are praying that this concert called “Radically Different” will set a new trend and direction for UB. Last night and this morning I’ve developed a bit of a sore throat, so prayers are welcome that I can still sing well tomorrow night!
Thanks for your continued interest and prayers.
Blessings,
Em
P.S. I'll also add pictures from Namibia into my last post (I wasn't able to upload them while in Namibia)
Back from Namibia…Headed to the U.S.!
I’m back in Botswana after nearly a month in Namibia…but not for long! I will be heading to the U.S. for three weeks leaving next Thursday the 22nd! I was invited by E.J., YFC Botswana’s National Director, to attend YFC International’s General Assembly conference in Denver the last week of September. It will be a meeting of all the National Directors and key staff from each country of YFC around the world. I’m really looking forward to learning a lot, being challenged, and deepening my own walk with Christ at this multicultural gathering that happens every 3 years.
While in the States, I am going to stop by Minnesota for about 10 days (Saturday October 1- Monday October 10) in order to get my jaw checked out at the specialist again and to get my jaw appliance repaired, staying long enough for a follow-up a week after the appointment on the 3rd. [My jaw appliance started breaking earlier this year, and my jaw is still a bit out of line as a residual from the first accident]. So…I’m excited to see friends, family, and familiar places in Minnesota. I’ll be attending Messiah Church in Highland Park those Sundays so I look forward to seeing some of you there! For now, I don’t have anything else planned besides the doctor appointments. If you’d like to meet up, let me know and we’ll try to schedule something.
On October 10, I’ll fly to Michigan on the way back through to Botswana. It worked out that it was actually cheaper to add that extra leg to Michigan than to fly straight back to Botswana from Minnesota! So I’ll be in Michigan essentially just October 11 and 12, flying to Botswana on the 13th. We are working on plans now for either an open house at my home or I may speak at a church. I’ll let you know the details once we’ve got it sorted out.
Now I’ll backtrack and share some of the stories from my time in Namibia:
Leadership Camp for 52 Teens!
As part of the YFC staff training in Namibia, we were split into two staff teams who facilitated two simultaneous 3-day camps of teens at the YFC camp there. The 52 Namibian students in our leadership camp were organized through the government, whereas the other group of campers was a church youth group. It was an intercultural experience, with our diverse team of staff hailing from Namibia, Botswana, Angola, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the U.S.
The second night, the YFC Namibia leaders were away so we had full responsibility to run the camp. They requested that one of us lead a Powerpoint presentation on Leadership as a Calling. The others in my staff team nominated me to do it, and it ended up being a natural opportunity to share my own calling story with the teens. I shared how God called people in the Bible, such as Abraham, Moses, and Paul. I asked if they thought God still calls people today? Then I shared my own story of how I sensed God calling me to leadership in Botswana. While many of the students were not Christians, they seemed open and interested to hear my story. I also shared how those called to leadership will likely face challenges and obstacles, but that leaders overcome and don’t give up. I shared about my two rollover accidents and my dad’s unexpected death, but how, by God’s grace, I’m still leading where I know I’m called to be—Botswana.
A few students gave me handwritten notes in response. Here’s an excerpt from a young man in another team than mine:
Dear Emily, I just want to thank you for what you have taught us…You have taught me that no matter what happens, God is always there for us and that He loves us very much. Thank you!!
Here’s an excerpt from a young lady from another team:
Dear Emily,
Emily I want to tell you how much you impacted me and I think God for that…I am very happy that you have came and taught me and tells us of being a leader and I know I can be a leader one day. I have realized that I can be a better person. And I know that I can perform better in my school work and behave well where ever I go.
Here’s an excerpt from a young lady in my team:
Dear Em, I just have some very confirming words to say to you. You are just like a mother to me. Whenever I want to be sad I just think about your words that you told me.…Wherever I go and whenever I am sad, I will just think about your words.
It's amazing to me how just sharing your story of how God has worked in your life can have such a positive impact on someone else.
In small group and one-on-one discussions with these teens, it was evident how much they were thirsting for love and affirmation, as many of them do not receive it from their parents (if they still have parents). The last morning, the YFC Namibia National Director felt we should scrap the scheduled plan for a bit and just offer to hug and speak affirming words over any of them who feel they need that. It was a beautiful time as teen boys and girls came forward and embraced us, many of them breaking into tears as we spoke affirming, encouraging things into their ears (i.e. “You are so valuable”; “God has good plans for you”).
Fire at the YFC retreat center—snuffed out!
A night or two after the campers left, the camp manager at the YFC retreat center where we were training was walking the long walk (perhaps half mile) back from locking the gate at the exterior of the camp. For some reason, he turned and looked back down the driveway, only to see flames illuminating the dark sky back near the gate. Namibia is a desert country with a lot of dry brush and grasses. To illustrate, the “river” down the road from the camp is completely dry. I ran there often and walked across the river on dry ground (almost like Joshua and the Israelites in the Bible crossing the Jordan, except for the detail that God didn’t need to part the water!). All that to say, it’s a dry area. Fire in the bush grasses spreads quickly and dangerously. Thus when the camp manager saw the fire, he was rightly alarmed and alerted others back at camp.
The fire alarm sounded quickly afterward and those in the camp drove up there with all the fire extinguishers from the camp we could find. In just a matter of minutes, the fire was put out! An area about 30 feet by 20 feet was blackened and burnt, but that was all. Literally just inches away were trees. The potential was very real for a raging wildfire that could’ve consumed acres of the camp. BUT, the camp director had looked back just in time. Based on the footprints in the sand, we can see that it was not just a random fire, but in fact, someone had deliberately set fire to the property. We are thankful to God that his/her destructive plan was foiled…“snuffed out” in infancy.
Back in Botswana – reuniting with youth!
My first day back at the Junior Secondary School where I help with the Scripture Union club, I was welcomed back by one of the young girls screaming “EMILY!!!!” and running from 20 feet away to hug me! It’s nice to be back! On my first run back in Mochudi, I had my posse of 8 kids emerge from their yard shouting “EMILY!” and high-fiving me as we started running together down the dirt paths. Two of the older boys wanted to race and gave me quite a workout, but eventually the one was like, “Emily, you are running too fast!” as he stopped and turned back for home.
And Tuesday I experienced one of those moments where the verse about how God orders our steps makes more sense. I drove to the Main Mall in Gaborone to pick up packages from the post office. I parked, and who should be sitting in the car next to me, but the student I mentioned a few posts ago whose father passed away recently! Remember I’d shared the encouraging text message that she had sent soon after his death? She moved from Gaborone several months ago to attend school in a village maybe 30 minutes away, and I haven’t seen her since. We had just been keeping in touch via phone. I’d messaged her right before Namibia, but hadn’t heard from her since.
When we reunited yesterday, she told me that she’d lost her phone and therefore didn’t have my number anymore. So we were especially grateful to have crossed paths, since I was able to give her my number so we can keep in contact. How cool is that?!! I was just there for a 5 minute errand, and yet of all places to park there (out of TONS of spaces), I parked next to where she happened to be sitting and waiting in a car…far from where she now lives and attends school! God is good!
It’s been a blessing also to have one-on-one meetings again with each of the three young women I’m mentoring– Tumelo, Slim, and a University of Botswana (UB) student who I started mentoring in May. She was actually promoted a couple months ago to the chairperson of the Face the Nation Club at UB (Face the Nation is the AIDS prevention program of my church with whom YFC works closely together).
Concert at University of Botswana this Friday night!
Tomorrow night, the Face the Nation Club is holding a Christian concert event at UB with many artists, dancers, drama teams, poets, etc. I am also on the program to sing two of my songs. It was just thought to be a small event with a few artists in a small amphitheatre, but it has grown into a large event, with many artists, in the large amphitheatre, advertised on the national radio and I heard that the national TV station might also be there or advertise it! We are praying that this has a big impact on the campus, and even those who attend from off-campus. Prayers are especially appreciated for all of us who are performing, and for all those in attendance to experience the presence of God. Just a couple weeks ago, that same amphitheatre was the site of a massive party that turned violently out of control; we are praying that this concert called “Radically Different” will set a new trend and direction for UB. Last night and this morning I’ve developed a bit of a sore throat, so prayers are welcome that I can still sing well tomorrow night!
Thanks for your continued interest and prayers.
Blessings,
Em
P.S. I'll also add pictures from Namibia into my last post (I wasn't able to upload them while in Namibia)
Friday, August 26, 2011
YFC training in Namibia
Hi everyone!
It’s been a long time since I wrote! I’ve been quite busy. I write this from a YFC camp in Namibia. I’m here for close to a month of YFC staff training for those in the Southern African region. I came with E.J. (YFC Botswana national director), and fellow staff members Fifi and Modise. It was a 13 hour drive in which we saw wild ostriches, kudu, springbok, warthogs, gemsbok, etc. There are about 20 of us YFC staff here from Namibia, South Africa, Angola, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. It’s been a great time of learning and fellowship…lots of lectures, assignments, discussions, etc.
Driving through the Kalahari Desert
The lecturer the first week heard parts of the testimony of my accident/recovery and wanted everyone to hear it as well, so he worked it into the program for me to share with all the YFC staff. The lecturer really encouraged me to keep writing and finish my book.
Last weekend, those of us from Botswana and one more rode with E.J. through the desert on a sand road (picture nothing but sand, tall grasses, and some rock formations as far as the eye can see) until we reached the coastal town of Henties Bay.
Some of E.J.’s friends graciously gave us the keys to their vacation home there so we were blessed to stay there for the weekend…within earshot of the Atlantic’s waves. The next day we drove down the coast to Walvis Bay and hiked to the top of Dune 7, one of the tallest sand dunes in the world! That was an amazing experience!
Dikwididi Outreach
I realize I never shared that the outreach to the small village of Dikwididi in Botswana went well. We really reached people who lived out in the surrounding bush, as well as those more in the village. We also had the opportunity to share the gospel message with the school headmaster and all the staff. Several people prayed to receive Christ as Lord and Savior, and the Christian family that hosted us will help to follow-them up and disciple them. We were able to distribute some blankets to a family we felt most needed them—a single mother and her 3 small children living with her elderly mother in a small tin shack.
Leadership Camp for Namibian Teens!
In a few hours, we will be leading two camps here at YFC Namibia’s campground. My group of 8 YFC staff (from Namibia, Angola, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, and the U.S.) will be leading a camp of 50 Namibian teenagers for the weekend. So it should be a cross-cultural adventure. Prayers are welcome!
Also, I need to make some decisions in the next few days that will determine what the next few months will look like, so I would appreciate prayers for God’s wisdom and clear guidance in that. Thanks so much. I'll have more details soon. Hope you are doing well!
Blessings,
Em
It’s been a long time since I wrote! I’ve been quite busy. I write this from a YFC camp in Namibia. I’m here for close to a month of YFC staff training for those in the Southern African region. I came with E.J. (YFC Botswana national director), and fellow staff members Fifi and Modise. It was a 13 hour drive in which we saw wild ostriches, kudu, springbok, warthogs, gemsbok, etc. There are about 20 of us YFC staff here from Namibia, South Africa, Angola, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. It’s been a great time of learning and fellowship…lots of lectures, assignments, discussions, etc.
The lecturer the first week heard parts of the testimony of my accident/recovery and wanted everyone to hear it as well, so he worked it into the program for me to share with all the YFC staff. The lecturer really encouraged me to keep writing and finish my book.
Last weekend, those of us from Botswana and one more rode with E.J. through the desert on a sand road (picture nothing but sand, tall grasses, and some rock formations as far as the eye can see) until we reached the coastal town of Henties Bay.
Some of E.J.’s friends graciously gave us the keys to their vacation home there so we were blessed to stay there for the weekend…within earshot of the Atlantic’s waves. The next day we drove down the coast to Walvis Bay and hiked to the top of Dune 7, one of the tallest sand dunes in the world! That was an amazing experience!
Dikwididi Outreach
I realize I never shared that the outreach to the small village of Dikwididi in Botswana went well. We really reached people who lived out in the surrounding bush, as well as those more in the village. We also had the opportunity to share the gospel message with the school headmaster and all the staff. Several people prayed to receive Christ as Lord and Savior, and the Christian family that hosted us will help to follow-them up and disciple them. We were able to distribute some blankets to a family we felt most needed them—a single mother and her 3 small children living with her elderly mother in a small tin shack.
Leadership Camp for Namibian Teens!
In a few hours, we will be leading two camps here at YFC Namibia’s campground. My group of 8 YFC staff (from Namibia, Angola, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, and the U.S.) will be leading a camp of 50 Namibian teenagers for the weekend. So it should be a cross-cultural adventure. Prayers are welcome!
Also, I need to make some decisions in the next few days that will determine what the next few months will look like, so I would appreciate prayers for God’s wisdom and clear guidance in that. Thanks so much. I'll have more details soon. Hope you are doing well!
Blessings,
Em
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Hospital visits, rhinos, outreaches!
Hey everyone!
Accident Update
First off, I’ll give an update on our recovery from the recent rollover accident. (If you missed last post, read that one first). All of us are doing well. I am pretty much back to normal. I just have a couple bruises that are still healing. My neck and jaw feel just like they did before this recent accident. My jaw is still not fully better from the first accident, but this didn’t aggravate it any worse. I played football (soccer) two days after the rollover and basketball for an hour this past Saturday. I’ve gone running a few times too—so I feel just fine. Praise God.
Upon closer inspection of the Venture, it appears my body slammed into the passenger door when we landed upright again, because the door is noticeably bowed outward. But thankfully, I only have a bruise to show for that.
About half an hour before the rollover, I’d felt randomly like I should lock that door, so I’d locked it. Perhaps that was a nudge of the Holy Spirit that kept the door from flying open when I hit it evidently very hard minutes later. I guess we won’t ever know for sure, but I’m thankful I locked it!
Visiting Hospital Patients
Charlotte, the Canadian who fractured a vertebra in her back, is doing well too. On Tuesday last week, I drove Charlotte’s sons Jesse and Jake (along with the two other YFC long-termers Katie and Jenn) to visit Charlotte in the hospital in Gaborone. By that point, she was already unplugged from any machines or IV’s and was able to walk to the bathroom and even be upright long enough to shower. She was in good spirits. Her husband Kevin stayed with her at the hospital most of the time.
We’d been planning on visiting the hospitals with the Canadians, but not thinking we’d be visiting one of our own (Charlotte)! Charlotte was the one who’d actually asked me the day before the accident to take her to the hospital to hand out dolls that Kevin’s 90-year old grandma and her friends in Canada had knitted and sent along for children at the hospitals. When we visited Charlotte at the private hospital, we left some with Kevin to hand out in the children’s ward there. Then Jesse, Jake, Katie, Jenn and I drove to the government hospital and met up with one of the YFC volunteers who visited the hospital with me recently. Then we handed out the dolls in the children’s ward there and prayed for the kids.
Adventures with Canadians—close encounter with Mama Rhino!
Three days after the rollover, we escorted the Canadian team to a church in Mochudi, which included walking through the bush on trails and crossing over the raging Notwane river (please note my sarcasm…it’s probably only 10-15 feet wide and 2-3 feet deep) on a fallen tree. So that’s always an adventure!
On Thursday last week, the whole team stopped by to visit Charlotte again just before she was taken on a medical flight back to Canada (she arrived safely and is continuing her recovery there—latest news is that she might go home from the hospital tomorrow!). We then drove the team to a nature preserve for a surprise game drive (aka safari). The most exciting part was seeing 3 rhinos, including a month old baby rhino with a little stump for his horn. So cute!
Mama Rhino was not so keen to see us, however, and started to charge at us. She stopped a split second later, but it was enough to stun us and send everyone on the side closest to her sliding over in an attempt to prevent possibly being impaled by her massive rhino horn! It’s not one of my dreams to become an Em-kabob.
On a more peaceful note, we also saw a few giraffes at sunset.
The following day, I took some of the Canadian girls to visit and pray for patients in the Mochudi hospital. It was super cute when one little girl sat up, bowed her head, and clasped her hands in the “praying hands” position as we prayed over her. Saturday morning we held the second interdenominational Youth leader forum at YFC. We are trying to facilitate the youth leaders working together to plan events and discuss ways to help the youth on various issues. We are planning another fundraiser concert and fashion show (modest of course!) to support the poor in Mochudi.
Right after that meeting, we drove the Canadians to the airport to fly back home. All except Charlotte’s 15-year old son Jesse. He is sticking around for another month to help out. Katie, Jenn, and I are excited to have a little brother around for a month. We are currently educating him on how to feed himself. He cooked his dinner last night successfully, for the most part :).
It’s a change only having four of us in the staff house instead of 20 for the two weeks the team visited. The team was primarily teenagers, so it was understandably a crazy time in our house! But we enjoyed it. I led worship with them a few times and had opportunity to share my testimony with them one night. For those who are familiar with it, I shared the July 10th story—perhaps I’ll share it on here again sometime soon. But in a nutshell, that was the date when I first had an overwhelming sense I’m supposed to be a missionary…and then things kept coming up on that date in various years that confirmed that I’m supposed to be a missionary in Botswana.
Sharing the July 10 Testimony in a village church…on July 10!
This year, I was invited on July 10 to go to a small village called Mantswabisi, where my church partnered with a missions organization called Reaching the Unreached to plant a church there a few months ago. It worked out that I was able to speak in the church service on July 10 about my July 10 testimony! It was a cool moment when the translator finally realized that the date that day was July 10! So July 10 is now also the first time I’ve spoken during a church service in Botswana. We were supposed to meet the chief of the village that day, so we visited his home, but unfortunately he wasn’t feeling well so we didn’t get to meet him yet. The village was composed of a lot of traditional huts called rondavels, which are less prevalent in Mochudi and definitely rare (if not, nonexistent) in Gaborone.
Youth Outreach in Tlokweng
The following three days, July 11-13, I led an outreach day-camp with the Canadians in Tlokweng, the village right next to Gaborone. It went well. The first day we had around 30 kids, but by the last day there were 60+! Since it was a 3-day camp, we based it around 1 Cor. 13:13—“These three things last forever—faith, hope, and love…” The theme was “Treasure Forever: 3 Things Last Forever,” and each day was focused around one of the three as a means of explaining the gospel message. I really appreciated the help the Canadians offered with games, bible trivia, memory verses, leading worship, sharing testimonies, etc. That enabled me to focus on leading worship and the message each day (supplemented with video clips). Let’s pray that the message will take deep root in the hearts of the youth.
Other tidbits
The previous week, before the Canadians arrived, we’d led holiday programs in Mochudi. I helped out with the Kids Club by leading worship songs with the kids. Every evening, we had the YaRona FC drop-in centre, so I helped out with that a few evenings, sharing the message once. This past Saturday, I also spoke and shared the testimony from our recent rollover.
In more serious matters, a young person that I’ve not mentioned before recently attempted suicide, but thankfully failed. She is doing much better now, and I’m assisting in getting her professional counseling. Prayers for her are certainly welcome. Another girl I know from Scripture Union club in Gaborone let me know last week that her father died after his battle with cancer. The burial was Saturday. Since I lost my dad, I guess this is now a circumstance where I can offer empathy to a deeper degree, in accordance with 2 Cor. 1:3-4—
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
When I’ve talked to her on the phone and texted with her, she has seemed to be holding tightly onto her heavenly Father through this. I was amazed and inspired to just now receive this text message from her. May these words from the lips of a 15-year-old who just lost her father also inspire you:
“God is so great and loving. He is “I Am that I Am” and never changes. No matter the challenges you’re facing, He still loves you, and remember He can never give you a challenge that you can’t handle. You have the potential and don’t quit. There is a reward ahead of that mountain, and it’s so difficult as you go up, but keep pushing and you shall make it. Love you.”
Wow… God is indeed so great and loving.
Another Outreach!
Oh—another prayer request. We at YFC are going on another outreach this week to a tiny village called Dikwididi. The Batswana YFC staff left yesterday with John, the Mochudi policeman who went with us to Olifants Drift in April. Since I had ministry in Gaborone yesterday, Jesse and I will drive out this afternoon in my car and stay the night and return with the whole team on tomorrow evening. We welcome prayers for our safety and for effective ministry there. It is only about 30 km from here, and I’ve driven through there once. And yes, we will return to Olifants Drift sometime. We’d already been planning this outreach to Dikwididi though.
Thanks for your prayers, encouragement, and interest.
Love,
Em
Accident Update
First off, I’ll give an update on our recovery from the recent rollover accident. (If you missed last post, read that one first). All of us are doing well. I am pretty much back to normal. I just have a couple bruises that are still healing. My neck and jaw feel just like they did before this recent accident. My jaw is still not fully better from the first accident, but this didn’t aggravate it any worse. I played football (soccer) two days after the rollover and basketball for an hour this past Saturday. I’ve gone running a few times too—so I feel just fine. Praise God.
Upon closer inspection of the Venture, it appears my body slammed into the passenger door when we landed upright again, because the door is noticeably bowed outward. But thankfully, I only have a bruise to show for that.
About half an hour before the rollover, I’d felt randomly like I should lock that door, so I’d locked it. Perhaps that was a nudge of the Holy Spirit that kept the door from flying open when I hit it evidently very hard minutes later. I guess we won’t ever know for sure, but I’m thankful I locked it!
Visiting Hospital Patients
Charlotte, the Canadian who fractured a vertebra in her back, is doing well too. On Tuesday last week, I drove Charlotte’s sons Jesse and Jake (along with the two other YFC long-termers Katie and Jenn) to visit Charlotte in the hospital in Gaborone. By that point, she was already unplugged from any machines or IV’s and was able to walk to the bathroom and even be upright long enough to shower. She was in good spirits. Her husband Kevin stayed with her at the hospital most of the time.
We’d been planning on visiting the hospitals with the Canadians, but not thinking we’d be visiting one of our own (Charlotte)! Charlotte was the one who’d actually asked me the day before the accident to take her to the hospital to hand out dolls that Kevin’s 90-year old grandma and her friends in Canada had knitted and sent along for children at the hospitals. When we visited Charlotte at the private hospital, we left some with Kevin to hand out in the children’s ward there. Then Jesse, Jake, Katie, Jenn and I drove to the government hospital and met up with one of the YFC volunteers who visited the hospital with me recently. Then we handed out the dolls in the children’s ward there and prayed for the kids.
Adventures with Canadians—close encounter with Mama Rhino!
Three days after the rollover, we escorted the Canadian team to a church in Mochudi, which included walking through the bush on trails and crossing over the raging Notwane river (please note my sarcasm…it’s probably only 10-15 feet wide and 2-3 feet deep) on a fallen tree. So that’s always an adventure!
On Thursday last week, the whole team stopped by to visit Charlotte again just before she was taken on a medical flight back to Canada (she arrived safely and is continuing her recovery there—latest news is that she might go home from the hospital tomorrow!). We then drove the team to a nature preserve for a surprise game drive (aka safari). The most exciting part was seeing 3 rhinos, including a month old baby rhino with a little stump for his horn. So cute!
Mama Rhino was not so keen to see us, however, and started to charge at us. She stopped a split second later, but it was enough to stun us and send everyone on the side closest to her sliding over in an attempt to prevent possibly being impaled by her massive rhino horn! It’s not one of my dreams to become an Em-kabob.
On a more peaceful note, we also saw a few giraffes at sunset.
The following day, I took some of the Canadian girls to visit and pray for patients in the Mochudi hospital. It was super cute when one little girl sat up, bowed her head, and clasped her hands in the “praying hands” position as we prayed over her. Saturday morning we held the second interdenominational Youth leader forum at YFC. We are trying to facilitate the youth leaders working together to plan events and discuss ways to help the youth on various issues. We are planning another fundraiser concert and fashion show (modest of course!) to support the poor in Mochudi.
Right after that meeting, we drove the Canadians to the airport to fly back home. All except Charlotte’s 15-year old son Jesse. He is sticking around for another month to help out. Katie, Jenn, and I are excited to have a little brother around for a month. We are currently educating him on how to feed himself. He cooked his dinner last night successfully, for the most part :).
It’s a change only having four of us in the staff house instead of 20 for the two weeks the team visited. The team was primarily teenagers, so it was understandably a crazy time in our house! But we enjoyed it. I led worship with them a few times and had opportunity to share my testimony with them one night. For those who are familiar with it, I shared the July 10th story—perhaps I’ll share it on here again sometime soon. But in a nutshell, that was the date when I first had an overwhelming sense I’m supposed to be a missionary…and then things kept coming up on that date in various years that confirmed that I’m supposed to be a missionary in Botswana.
Sharing the July 10 Testimony in a village church…on July 10!
This year, I was invited on July 10 to go to a small village called Mantswabisi, where my church partnered with a missions organization called Reaching the Unreached to plant a church there a few months ago. It worked out that I was able to speak in the church service on July 10 about my July 10 testimony! It was a cool moment when the translator finally realized that the date that day was July 10! So July 10 is now also the first time I’ve spoken during a church service in Botswana. We were supposed to meet the chief of the village that day, so we visited his home, but unfortunately he wasn’t feeling well so we didn’t get to meet him yet. The village was composed of a lot of traditional huts called rondavels, which are less prevalent in Mochudi and definitely rare (if not, nonexistent) in Gaborone.
Youth Outreach in Tlokweng
The following three days, July 11-13, I led an outreach day-camp with the Canadians in Tlokweng, the village right next to Gaborone. It went well. The first day we had around 30 kids, but by the last day there were 60+! Since it was a 3-day camp, we based it around 1 Cor. 13:13—“These three things last forever—faith, hope, and love…” The theme was “Treasure Forever: 3 Things Last Forever,” and each day was focused around one of the three as a means of explaining the gospel message. I really appreciated the help the Canadians offered with games, bible trivia, memory verses, leading worship, sharing testimonies, etc. That enabled me to focus on leading worship and the message each day (supplemented with video clips). Let’s pray that the message will take deep root in the hearts of the youth.
Other tidbits
The previous week, before the Canadians arrived, we’d led holiday programs in Mochudi. I helped out with the Kids Club by leading worship songs with the kids. Every evening, we had the YaRona FC drop-in centre, so I helped out with that a few evenings, sharing the message once. This past Saturday, I also spoke and shared the testimony from our recent rollover.
In more serious matters, a young person that I’ve not mentioned before recently attempted suicide, but thankfully failed. She is doing much better now, and I’m assisting in getting her professional counseling. Prayers for her are certainly welcome. Another girl I know from Scripture Union club in Gaborone let me know last week that her father died after his battle with cancer. The burial was Saturday. Since I lost my dad, I guess this is now a circumstance where I can offer empathy to a deeper degree, in accordance with 2 Cor. 1:3-4—
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
When I’ve talked to her on the phone and texted with her, she has seemed to be holding tightly onto her heavenly Father through this. I was amazed and inspired to just now receive this text message from her. May these words from the lips of a 15-year-old who just lost her father also inspire you:
“God is so great and loving. He is “I Am that I Am” and never changes. No matter the challenges you’re facing, He still loves you, and remember He can never give you a challenge that you can’t handle. You have the potential and don’t quit. There is a reward ahead of that mountain, and it’s so difficult as you go up, but keep pushing and you shall make it. Love you.”
Wow… God is indeed so great and loving.
Another Outreach!
Oh—another prayer request. We at YFC are going on another outreach this week to a tiny village called Dikwididi. The Batswana YFC staff left yesterday with John, the Mochudi policeman who went with us to Olifants Drift in April. Since I had ministry in Gaborone yesterday, Jesse and I will drive out this afternoon in my car and stay the night and return with the whole team on tomorrow evening. We welcome prayers for our safety and for effective ministry there. It is only about 30 km from here, and I’ve driven through there once. And yes, we will return to Olifants Drift sometime. We’d already been planning this outreach to Dikwididi though.
Thanks for your prayers, encouragement, and interest.
Love,
Em
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