Speaking in Michigan Sunday & Tuesday; God doing amazing things--Beauty from the Ashes!!

Greetings from Michigan!

Well, time has flown by! I wanted to send out a quick, albeit very last-minute, reminder that I will be speaking tomorrow (or today depending when you read this), Sunday July 29 at the 9:30 and 11:00am services at Grace Ministry Center in Port Huron (Kimball) MI, in the outlet mall off of Range Road. I’ll be sharing some amazing testimonies of God-at-work in Botswana.

Also, a new update is that I will be giving a presentation with pictures, movies, and testimonies/stories from Botswana this coming Tuesday, July 31 at 6:30pm at Trinity in Lexington (5646 Main Street). When you come in the side doors off the parking lot, go up the stairs, and go through the first doors to the left.

My time in the U.S. (and Canada today and yesterday!) has been great! It’s been a blessing to see so many friends and family.

Chillin' with Mom at home in Michigan, enjoying the beautiful garden she designed and tends.

As I said, time has flown by, so unfortunately I couldn’t see everyone in Minnesota I’d hoped, but I’m thankful to have seen the ones I did! I hope to see some more in Michigan this week. I have just 8 full days left in the U.S. I leave on August 6 to fly back to Botswana for my second term!

The Rock Testimony

I had no doubt I am supposed to return to Botswana, but I’ll share a story that continued to confirm that I’m on the right track:

In May when I was going for a run along the Lake Huron beach, I stopped to sit and pray at the spot where, at age 19 back in 2002, I’d first felt God calling me to be a missionary (“You should be a missionary” had popped into my mind randomly). After much prayer and God confirming it in many ways, I was back on the beach a couple months later praying and asking God where I was supposed to be a missionary. Right after I prayed, “I’ll go wherever You want me to go; wherever You want to send me…”, then “Botswana” popped in my mind! I wasn’t even sure what/where that was! Again, through much prayer and many things, God confirmed that, indeed, Botswana is where I’m supposed to be.

So now, ten years after that, in late May this year, I was on that stretch of beach and continued north to the beach for Cozma’s Cottages, just about half a mile further up the beach from where I felt called to missions/Botswana. I remembered that we used to vacation at Cozma’s back when we still lived in Dexter, Michigan (near Ann Arbor). So I had been on that very beach as a 7 and 8 year old. As I was there this May, reminiscing about that, I had the thought that God saw me there on that very beach 22 years ago, and I believe in His foreknowledge, knowing the end from the beginning, He knew even when I was 7 that 12 years later He would call me to missions and Botswana just a half mile down that shoreline. So I thought, 'Why don’t I find a cool-looking rock from Cozma’s beach to keep as a reminder that even then, when I was first here (or truthfully, before I was even born), God knew that He would call me to missions in Botswana?' Within 10 seconds of starting to look for a rock, I found one that I and many others feel has a striking resemblance to the continent of Africa, even including the Horn of Africa!

Yup…that one will do!! So now I have an Africa-shaped rock to remind me that, way back when, God knew He would call me to missions in Africa!!! I was just blown away yet again by our amazing God!! Also, others have even seen a whitish angel inside “Africa” on the rock—a profile view with her head bowed and wings to the right, dress at the bottom.

Another background story that makes it even cooler is that when I was at Cozma’s beach at age 7, I had collected a cup full of little rocks and shells that I wanted to keep and take back to my home in Dexter. I left the cup down on the dock, and when I came back later, someone had stolen it. For a 7-year-old, I was sad and upset. Now I can run up and down that shoreline and have any of millions of rocks...and at that same spot 22 years later, God gave me a pretty sweet rock!

So, all that to say, I’m excited to head back to Botswana, for I know Africa is where I’m supposed to be. Even one of the YFC volunteers in Botswana, upon hearing this rock story, wrote to me that it’s a sign that my work is not done there in Africa. True that.

Speaking of going back, my Botswana residence permit expires today, but I applied before I left for a renewal. Prayers for its quick approval are appreciated and that they let me in Botswana without a hassle (I have the receipt for the renewal to show them).

Beauty from Ashes

One other interesting story I'll share happened this week. I was back on that stretch of Lake Huron shoreline again on Thursday, and since it looked rainy I left my mp3 music player in the car. So as I walked along the beach about an 1/8 mile from the spot where I felt called to missions/Botswana, I was singing the song I wrote last year called "Beauty from Ashes" (and for the record, this was the first time I can ever remember singing my own songs a cappella on a run/walk...I normally listen to music or just think/pray without music). Then right as I was singing the chorus--"You [God] bring beauty from ashes, You trade joy for mourning, You bring beauty from ashes..." I saw RIGHT in front of me, washed up on shore, a flower (like a rose or carnation with a stem)! Never in all my years of running and walking along the beach have I ever seen a flower wash up on the shore! And what beautiful timing--RIGHT as I'm singing how God brings beauty from the ashes.

Interestingly, I realized later that the spot where that rose washed up is literally within feet of where I was sitting about 3 months after my accident when I found a piece of glass washed up on the shore and shared the following email I'd written on this Caring Bridge journal:

Maybe we can learn a lesson from a piece of glass I found on the beach today. It had been washed in the water so long that it was dull and opaque (no longer clear), but also no longer sharp. I remember thinking what's it good for now? You can't look through it anymore. But then I saw another flat brown rock and I picked it up. Then without really thinking I rubbed the glass on it and drew clearly a white heart on the rock. The glass "wrote" extremely well and clearly (more so than other rocks would).

As I was walking back home, I was kinda like, "Lord, are you trying to teach me something from that??" and then I thought how sometimes things happen that change us that we have no control over. Sometimes we can't do the things we used to. Sometimes the future will look much different than the past. The glass didn't choose to be thrown in the lake and become dull, soft-edged, and opaque. It's no longer able to do what it used to do--be a clear substance through which one can look. But is it useless now? No, it can be used in different ways now.

Similarly, things will never be the same for the families of Isaac, Jessica, and Karin. There is no hope of going back to the way things used to be, now that they are Home. But there is hope, that though things are different, God still has purposes and plans for the grieving families and can use them just as they are now, though they may feel broken, worn, empty. And it may be that very brokenness that allows them in the future to 'write' Christ's heart out for others to see during their times of heartache. Their ability to empathize with and comfort others after this does not necessarily make the tragedy 'worthwhile' or 'justified'...it doesn't outweigh the pain, but it does show that when things change us forever, God is still at work to bring good out of it so it is not a total loss.

So, in this life, yes things will always be different. We are like the broken glass that's been tossed by the waves, forever changed. But God is working to somehow bring good out of even that. And then once this time on earth is done, we have the hope that we will be reunited with those we love who have died before us in faith. So yes, death stings unimaginably hard now...but ultimately we will be able to say, "Where O Death is your sting?” for “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor 15:54-55).
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So that's what I wrote in nearly the same spot where this week I found a flower washed up on the shore for the first time ever, while singing that God brings beauty from the ashes (good out of hard things)!

Reading now what I wrote back then and how I'd taken it mainly from the angle of the other families, reminds me that I have yet to share with you all the wonderful news that little Isaac's parents (the other two survivors), Scott & Andrea Sward, were extremely blessed by Andrea's giving birth to a healthy, beautiful baby boy, Zachary Alan, in late May!! They are in Cambodia with their precious little guy.

Beautiful!

Blessings!
~Em

Back in the U.S. -- Speaking this Sunday in Minnesota!

Hello!!

It’s been a LONG time! I have lots of exciting things to share from the last few months in Botswana, but I will do that in later posts. Right now I’m now in Minnesota, USA on my furlough (home assignment). Every 2-3 years, Youth for Christ missionaries spend a few months on home assignment as part of their job description. We are to visit churches and supporters, visit with family & friends, and make sure I have enough prayer and financial support for the next 2-3 year term. So I arrived home to Michigan in late May and just drove to Minnesota to be here for a month.

Here in Minnesota, I’ll visit with friends and supporters, speak in churches, and get medical check-ups. I already got my jaw appliance adjusted yesterday. Please pray that it works this time and I can taper off of wearing it.

For those in Minnesota, I know it’s late notice, but I will be giving a presentation this Sunday June 10 at Messiah Church, 1631 Ford Parkway, in Highland, St. Paul. It will be in the Adult Education hour starting around 10am. This is between the 8:30 and 11:00am services. You are most welcome to just come to the presentation at 10, or to join in one of the services as well.

I’ll head back to Michigan in early July and back to Botswana on August 6th. I hope to visit as many supporters and other friends as possible while I’m in the U.S.

As I mentioned above, a LOT of awesome things are happening in Botswana right now! My lack of communication lately hasn’t been because of a lack of things to share, but rather the opposite—so much going on that it was hard to find the time to sit down and write about it or figure out where to start. So…over the next couple months, while I’m Stateside, I hope to update you with the stories bit by bit to get you caught up! Hope you are doing well!

Blessings!

~Em

P.S. A heads-up for those in Michigan: I will be speaking in the Adult Sunday School at Croswell Wesleyan Church at 9:30ish on Sunday July 8th. Then July 9-20, I will be attending a “Growth and Renewal Retreat” at a retreat center in western Michigan, designed specifically for missionaries and pastors. Then on July 29, I will be speaking during the sermon time in the 9:30 and 11am services at Grace Ministry Center (in the Outlet Mall off of Range Road). I will also possibly speak at a couple more churches. I will keep you posted.

Reflections

Hey all!

It’s been a long time since I’ve written! I have great ministry and life stories to share, but this post I just want to pause and reflect a bit. This entry will be long, but I think you will find it worth the read...especially if you've followed the story since my accident...since I will share more meaningful stories/things related to that. Feel free to take breaks, but I figured I'd keep it all in one post instead of breaking it up myself.

February has become a month of memories—being that the 4-year anniversary of my accident in Colorado was February 3; I left home for Botswana (and said goodbye to my dad this side of heaven) on February 14; and my dad’s birthday is February 23. I’ve been meaning to share some more meaningful things related both to the accident and my dad, so I think I’ll do that now and then share about the awesome things happening here in Botswana in later posts.

When I was home in Michigan in October, I came across these notes that my dad had written in a journal when he was at my bedside in the hospital a few days after the accident, apparently to post online though he never did. For those who aren’t familiar with the accident story, it’s a good re-cap:

Emily planned on being in Colorado to complete her preparations to go to Botswana. She attended Mission Training International which has programs especially designed for people going to and coming back from the mission field. The school is situated south of Denver. It is an area of AWESOME natural beauty.

On Saturday February 2nd she and a classmate attempted to climb Pikes Peak. When she called her “concerned” parents after returning to the campus she was elated that although they hadn’t reached the top, it had been a truly wonderful experience.

On Sunday she was riding to church with five other MTI students when the minivan they were riding in was sideswiped, pushed off the expressway, and rolled several times before coming to rest. Passersby and Off-duty EMT were quickly on the scene to help. Two students were killed and a young child was fatally injured and air-lifted to a special hospital. The child’s mother and father were injured, and Em was rushed to the Littleton Adventist Hospital where she underwent surgery to repair a fractured vertebra in her neck. Family was notified just as the Superbowl started and a network of prayer and support erupted.

Hugh flew out on Monday afternoon and has been at her bedside in the Critical Care Unit. The medical attention she is getting is professional, loving and superlative. The support Hugh has received from Youth for Christ and the MTI school is truly humbling. The Family of God is immense.

Thank you Thank you Thank you

Since I arrived here in Denver on Monday evening I have been overwhelmed by the love and caring of God’s people who have surrounded Em and me, both physically and spiritually. I know that there are prayers bombarding heaven on her behalf because we are seeing amazings works coming down on her.

Angels surrounded her and still do—It is truly AWESOME to watch her push through…I have seen her progress to the point of walking from chair to bed; from laying perfectly still through wiggling to deliberate actions. It will be a slow process, but the journey has started…

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Indeed, it’s been a journey. On that trip back to the States, I realized the only thing that has been in, and survived both rollover accidents (the one in Colorado in 2008 and the one in Botswana last July) is my bible (and me). Interesting…It reminds me of what really matters…our faith in God.

After hiking Mt. Herman in Colorado in late September, I spent some time journaling, reflecting, and praying near the stone memorial built up at Mission Training International (MTI) for Jessica, Karin, and Isaac who didn’t survive the accident. I never did share some of the things God taught me/spoke to me on that Colorado trip, so I felt like I would do that now. I sometimes feel a bit weird sharing a prayer on the internet, but I feel it best captures how I felt and what God was teaching me:

**Prayer in journal by MTI memorial:

Father, as I sit here in this sanctuary, I’m reminded of what really matters. When reminded of life & death, I know that life is to know You. If I know You, no matter what happens it will be ok in the end. You are in control, and You are good. Your grace is sufficient. Your love in unchanging. Your hope is everlasting. Your kingdom is eternal. Your power is stronger than the mountains—it moves the mountains. You are the great I AM, the Creator of all of this. The creation testifies to Your beauty and majesty. You are sovereign, and You will work all things together for good & for Your glory. You are the Redeemer, bringing beauty from the ashes. Father You are so faithful. How blessed am I to feel Your hand upon this life? Your healing hand, Your redemptive hand, Your hand of guidance & protection, Your hand of love. Love. You love me. I remember those early days after the accident how You made Your love & presence so tangible. I knew it was ok because You were near and You love me. I was metaphorically stripped to nakedness—just me. I was “useless,” unable to do anything but rest & recover. I had questions, but I was certain of Your love & goodness in the midst of it all. It was a beautifully simple time of just knowing Your nearness & Your love…that just “me” was ok. I didn’t have to strive or perform to earn Your love & presence. I didn’t have to work to gain worth & value. You already loved me. You already gave me worth—and nothing I could do would change that; nothing I couldn’t do would change that. I sit here recalling that time with fondness, almost envy—just such a simple, yet beautiful time where I just felt so loved, so cared for, so certain of Your love & approval, even when all striving had ceased—all work for You halted.

And here I sit, realizing You desire me to experience that same certainty of being loved, being cared for, being ok and affirmed by Your unchanging, unfailing love even now when I can be “useful” for Your kingdom. If I lose sight of this simple truth—that You love me in my “naked useless state,” the core of who I am apart from any efforts or work or ministry—if I lose sight of that, my efforts, work, & ministry will unknowingly become a striving for worth, for affirmation (from You & from people), for fulfillment and feeling “ok,” for “success.” My feelings of success and fulfillment then become enmeshed and dependent upon ministry success. Yes we want the ministry to flourish and “succeed,” but the message You have been speaking so much lately is that the results are Your responsibility, not mine. The success is Your arena, not mine. I just need to be responsive and faithful to Your lead and leave the results up to You.

Sitting here again realizing that I survived, but Jess, Karin, and Isaac did not affirms my resolve to use my life fully for You & Your kingdom…and so I know You have kept me alive for Your purposes, and therefore I want to fulfill every facet of the calling You have on my life. But what I’m realizing afresh is that I cannot fulfill those purposes in my own strength—“The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me” (Psalm 138:8). I cannot, but Christ-in-me can. And this remembrance of that “naked simplicity” when I was “useless” now speaks to me—that no matter the outward usefulness or “success” in ministry, or lack thereof, it does not change the true meaning of life—to know You & be loved by You; to love You in return. If my ministry is flourishing & successful or if it is discouraging & seemingly failing, You still call me a success. You still love me. You care for me as much now as You did when You nursed me back to health. You have given me unalterable worth in Christ. Yes it is good to work with all my heart, but I do it from the deep understanding that the burden is lifted from the results needing to influence my sense of worth, success, or value. If I appear a failure but I am following Your lead, then let the world or other Christians call me a failure; I will cling to the truth that I am a success in You, and I will trust that You are in control and will work it all out in Your timing. Looking at this memorial, I am reminded of how in the face of this tragedy, You have worked, and You continue to work, to bring beauty from the ashes, triumph out of tragedy. Even now You are still teaching me through that “broken road” we travelled.

So I will rise, out of these ashes rise. I will go forth to be Your instrument in Your hand, allowing you to guide & lead me and working with all the energy that You provide which works so powerfully in me. Furious rest—working hard, but not striving in my own strength; no, working hard as You lead, dependent on Your strength and resting in You, trusting in Your power & strength, relying on Your sufficient grace, leaning on my Beloved knowing the results are in Your hands. Resting in the understanding of Your love & affirmation over me, resting in Your unfailing love…knowing that I am ok…a success in Your eyes through Christ, regardless of the external ministry “success.” You are the Great I AM—I am not. But Christ is in me, and I trust that You can do in and through me what I could never do on my own. Wow, I just bought this song today, and the second part fits perfectly (and I didn’t understand it earlier):

I will rise, out of these ashes rise. ‘Cause He who is in me is greater than I will ever be, and I will rise. –“Rise” by Shawn McDonald

[This song came on the radio right after passing the accident site last night…the first time I’d ever heard it. The song playing as I passed the accident site was “Walk by Faith”—“I will walk by faith, even when I cannot see because this broken road prepares Your will for me.” Then “Rise” came on… “I will rise, out of these ashes rise. From the trouble I’ve found and this rubble on the ground, I will rise…”]

Father You are beautiful. You are my King. You are in control. You are all-powerful. You have everything under control. I trust that You will guide & lead me in Your timing and give all I need to fulfill the purposes for which I am still alive on earth. I trust that You will work through me to fulfill all the purposes. You will do it. It’s gonna be God—it’s gonna be good. I love You.

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Later that same day, I found this when looking at old sent facebook messages for first time. It was something I wrote in the hospital to a friend (I hope you can understand it…I couldn’t see well and was typing one-handed):

Feb 12 2008—
thanks for your prayerers and love, i;ll have to kkep it shortcuz i only can use 1 hand to type,. and i can't see wiyhout my glasses...the're in the rubble somewhere or on a colorado median. this has been the hardest thinh ever but i am so blessed that i'm alive at all and i thnj tmorrow they are transferring me to rehab! Giod is so faithful...i'll just have a song lyric or verse pop in my head that reaally encurages me (eg your grace is sufficient for me). do you knoe the song Beccause He lives? that popped ino my head today and made me cry,,,,beause he lives, i can face tomorrow...i don't understand it all, but i know He is good…love,em

The fact that I said “Rubble” reminded me of the song “Rise” that I’d journaled about earlier that day and first heard the night before just after passing the accident site: “I will rise, out of these ashes rise…from this trouble I’ve found, from this rubble on the ground, I will rise.”

The next day, Sunday September 25, the family that I was staying with, the George family who were on the scene of our accident praying for us, were enjoying their daughter’s championship soccer tournament so they were unable to make it to church that morning (her team won the championship by the way!!). So I pondered where I should go to church. Then I remembered that a pastor from a local Anglican church had visited me in the hospital and invited my parents to church that first Sunday after the accident. The following Sunday I attended the service with them and my brother just before we headed to the airport. The church had kindly invited me to the front in my stunning titanium halo to pray for me. So I decided to revisit that church, Resurrection Anglican.

No one recognized me without my halo so I just sat down and enjoyed the service. During a part of the service where you greet the people around you, someone asked if it was my first time at the church. “Well…no…do you remember 3.5 years ago, a young woman with a titanium halo on her head who was invited to the front for prayer?” Their eyes portrayed their recollection. They were amazed that it was me. After hearing a brief description of how I’m doing now, they went right up to the preacher and asked if I could be invited forward to share. So I was called up front to testify to them of the Lord’s hand in my life. Something about the fact that the last time they saw me I was in such rough shape, wearing a halo brace, made me have to fight back tears as I shared that I never needed the second neck surgery and I’ve been a missionary in Botswana for almost two years…able not only to walk, but to run and hike mountains. People in the congregation remembered me and were also tearing up. As I stood up front, some of the leaders gathered around and prayed for me again. What a blessed visit.

The pastor who had visited me in the hospital was actually out-of-town, but God used the visiting African preacher to bless me richly as well. His name is Fr. Edward and during his sermon, he happened to mention that he was ordained as a minister in the 70s on July 10!!! (July 10 is the day God confirmed His call to missions in Botswana in my life and it has come up numerous times to confirm that call). Here are some notes I took on his sermon, which echoed my prayer from the day before:

You and I were made to thrive on God…To pursue Him as our greatest desire. This is the point of life—to pursue God. We should desire God above all, not our idea of a better life, our goals of what we think will make us fulfilled and happy—blessings and possessions. God grants or withholds blessings according to a plan we don’t understand. It’s not a formula that if we live right, we will get blessings and a good life. The old way=If we follow God, He will bless us with a good life and what we want. The new way=Instead, live right and follow God to know God and enjoy God. That takes the pressure off! It doesn’t mean we rule out hard work, but the pressure is off.

Seek God and enjoy Him. Spend time with Him. If you are pursuing your goal and bringing God on board, it is getting things backward—so busy and worn out, with less time to pray and spend time with God, in Bible. The Christian is not a success in anything on planet earth. The Christian life is success in knowing God, loving Him.

Get the pressure off yourself—go to your knees and seek Him.

God is saying, “ Love Me, not that thing you are longing for.” Whether you get what you are longing for or not, it does not matter if you are pursuing God first and loving Him. Revel in Him. Think about Him often. Spend time in His presence.

What are you pursuing to near madness? What do you think will give you the “good life” once you’ve achieved it? Your good life is pursuing a deep, loving relationship with Jesus. You don’t belong to this world. Don’t waste effort in trying to pursue what this world can offer you. Jesus is our great reward. May we pursue Him with every last drop of our blood.

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So it was such a confirmation of what God had taught me the day before at the MTI memorial, and like the movie I’d watched at the bible study the night before at the George’s! God had been teaching me not to pursue ministry “success” in Gaborone (where I am re-starting and heading up YFC) above pursuing Him and trusting Him with the results. And the sermon that confirmed that was given by a preacher from Africa who was ordained on July 10, no less!! (That message was also reiterated that night by the YFC International President in his opening talk, and throughout the General Assembly conference).

After the service, I met the visiting African pastor and he knows friends in Gaborone and has since contacted, encouraged, and prayed for me. Other people from the congregation thanked me for revisiting. One couple said, “You’ve encouraged us to see God still works!! You’ve blessed us so much in coming. Just seeing you now builds our faith. We hear about things like this but now we are actually seeing it in person.”

That reminds me that the chaplain from the hospital recently called me a “running work of God” and wrote an email in September to my mom (they are in touch because, since the accident, Mom crochets afghan blankets and ships them to the chaplain at the hospital to hand out to patients as a means of comforting them—another way God is bringing beauty from the ashes), in which he wrote:

“You should know that even just last week her case was discussed between staff members as an example of how miracles do descend upon us.”

And here in Botswana, I’ve been asked to share about God’s miraculous hand in my life. The YFC Kids Club is in the midst of a three-week series on miracles—last week discussing miracles in the Old Testament, this week teaching on miracles in the New Testament, and next week about miracles today in our lives. The Kids Club leaders approached me and asked if I could be the example of a modern-day miracle! So next week, I will visit the Kids Clubs each afternoon and share a brief testimony of how God works miracles today. Another YFC volunteer told me that in response to a conversation-prompt question we have at our drop-in centre—“What do you think when you hear the word ‘miracle’?—she thinks of me. Wow. I’m so thankful for God’s healing hand.

This year on February 3, the 4-year anniversary of the accident, we at YFC were scheduled to lead the morning assembly for the whole school in Mochudi. We had a drama prepared but in the morning, less than an hour before we would be on stage, the guy playing the lead role couldn’t make it due to a funeral. So, our back-up plan had been that I would sing one of my guitar songs. Since it was February 3, I shared a bit about the accident with the students and sang “All My Hope,” a song I wrote that sounds like it was written before the accident, but actually I wrote in 2006. Here’s an excerpt:

“All My Hope”
Things in life can change so fast;
The future looks so unlike the past.
In just a moment things can change;
You’re left wondering how to rearrange.
Sometimes it’s hard to just find hope,
Especially when you’re just trying to cope.
When everything is crashing down,
How can you stand when there’s no ground?
Chorus:
But all I know is there is hope in the Rock I cling to
For I know that His love endures all things
Yesterday, and today, and tomorrow the same
All my hope is in the One who doesn’t change


A few Saturdays ago, I shared briefly about the accident and sang the song last year, “Beauty from Ashes,” to about 130 young people at a gathering in Gaborone. In future posts, I’ll share more about that and the other cool stuff God is doing in Gaborone.

Oh! A big prayer request is that for March I’ll be organizing a program each Sunday morning on Yarona FM again, a main national radio station. It’s part of the Month of Youth Against AIDS, and we will be encouraging a lifestyle of abstinence and faithfulness to help curb the spread of HIV. Please pray for all the planning and the actual live programs each Sunday morning. Thanks!

Thanks for reading. I know this was a long one. I thought about splitting it up, but figured I’d just keep it all in one spot. I’ll keep future posts shorter and try to write more often!

Blessings,
Em

Off to YouthWeek!!

Greetings everyone!

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s!

Just a short note today to say hi and to let you know that, though we camped near them, I didn’t get eaten by hippos or crocodiles up north in Botswana. That short trip was quite exciting and had some memorable times, but I’ll share the details later.

Now the focus is another trip—leaving tomorrow at 6am for Youth for Christ’s annual Youth Week camp in South Africa! I’ve been one of the two main organizers of the Botswana contingent of campers (it brings together close to 800 youth from across southern Africa). Right now I’m printing off the final list of campers who will board the chartered bus tomorrow at 7:00am and ride down to Magaliesburg, South Africa. Dealing with administration (advertising, registration, deposits, final payments, permission slips, etc) of 74 people is not exactly my highest joy in life, but I’m thankful it’s almost over and I can just enjoy the camp with the youth.

Today we had a meeting at the YFC centre in Gaborone for those attending the camp. We did some icebreaker games to get to know each other and then learned a “war cry” cheer/dance that we will use for team spirit in the sport competitions against the other contingents. It was TONS of fun! So I’m excited for a great week! Everyone is pumped to go! The theme this year is Superheroes and each contingent is supposed to pick a superhero as their mascot or team name…so we chose Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Epic! That was one of my favorite shows as a kid, and apparently most all the Batswana kids grew up watching it on TV as well…or they show reruns now or something. Cowabunga dude!

I’m also excited to serve as one of the cabin leaders to lead discussions/prayer in our cabin. Please pray that the Lord works mightily in the hearts of the youth, as well as the leaders, so that we all come away from this week refreshed and deeper in love with Christ.

Alright, time to go finish packing.

Blessings this New Year!!

~Em

HUGE P.S. – Tumelo gave birth to a healthy baby girl on Christmas day! She had been hoping for a Christmas baby, and she indeed was blessed with a little gift from above!

Heading up north; prayer request for Tumelo

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

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

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