Update from Botswana!

Dumelang gape (hello again!)

It’s been FAR too long since I updated this! I forget sometimes that people are not all on Facebook to see those updates which are much more frequent.

Well, I’m back in Botswana after the remaining couple months of my furlough/home-assignment in the US. I enjoyed reconnecting with friends, family, supporters and church families in Michigan and Minnesota, and attending some conferences as well that encouraged and further equipped me. I also made the rounds at all the doctors (i.e. dentist, jaw doctor, chiropractor, typhoid booster shot, etc).

One thing that came up a lot before and during my home assignment was a theme God first brought up to me in 2011, about the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain and how that historical example can inspire us today that our prayers do make a difference.

I just typed up a blog that shares the testimony from the past years and how it really has encouraged us and inspired us in Botswana to pray for our nation. It has come up a lot over the past months; even on my flight back here to Botswana from Britain it came up 3 times! I really hope you’ll take a few minutes to read the page and be inspired. You can find it by clicking on the tab at the top entitled: The Prayer Force - Encouragement from the RAF. Or you can click here: http://hope4botswana.blogspot.com/p/raf.html

There is even more “awesomeness” related to the RAF that came up since September and even in the last week that I will share in another page soon, so check back for more updates.

Back in Botswana!
Meanwhile, back in Botswana, some highlights have been the opportunity to share my testimony for 15-20 minutes (about surrendering my life to Jesus and surviving/recovering from 3 car wrecks, etc) with 2230+ students at 3 schools in partnership with Thousand Souls Mission and His People Church. Mimie, Bobo, and I shared our testimonies and how Jesus can change lives. Fairhope also ministered the gospel through rap, and Tefo helped explain the gospel. Several hundred students decided to follow Jesus! Please pray that we can continue to help them grow in faith and get connected into churches. We are hoping to meet with them again soon to help them stand strong in their faith.





Youth Mission Explosion!
Another highlight was helping to organize the Youth Missions Explosion event, where we invited various Christian artists (i.e. Ignite, X-Caliber, Fairhope, Cygnas, DJ Riley, BodyArt, Face the Nation Rally Team, YFC, etc.) to share talents such as leading worship, dance, drama, poetry, etc and a guest speaker Jaco Pitzer from South Africa challenged the youth to share their faith and be involved in missions. It was an amazing time where about 320 young people worshipped passionately and were motivated to fulfill the Great Commission. It was the final night of the 3-day Joining Hands Missionary Conference, where I really enjoyed leading worship with E.J.




Yarona FM Radio
Also, we were able to encourage youth to get involved in missions the previous Sunday on Yarona FM national radio. I brought along Bobo and Tshego, two YFC volunteers who also feel called to full-time missions. Tshego actually went to serve at YFC Netherlands for 2.5 months last year. They were able to encourage the youth that God is calling Batswana to be missionaries, not just foreigners who come to Botswana. We thank God for the opportunities to speak on Yarona FM.

The previous 2 weeks we also shared on Yarona FM for the 5th straight year to encourage abstinence and faithfulness during the Month of Youth Against AIDS. The first week I was joined by James and Dudu. The second week, Patrick, BK, and Thato joined in to encourage young people to abstain and live pure lives.

The next weekend, ten of us from YFC drove up to Ghanzi to host a Youth Explosion Weekend…but I’ll save those stories and pics for the next post. If you read the RAF page above, you’ll have plenty of reading for now!

Thanks for your interest, and your prayers are always appreciated!

Blessings,
Ember

Happy Thanksgiving from the U.S.!

Remember that old TV show with the song, “Where in the world is Carmen SanDiego?”… Maybe I’m dating myself there, but sometimes since my last post, perhaps you’ve been wondering where in the world I am. I’ve been to many places…In fact, I’ve lived in 6 countries on 3 continents! Obviously Botswana, but also Zambia, Malawi, Thailand, England, and now the US!

I'm now on my "home assignment," or furlough. I was due for mine a bit earlier this year but decided to stay longer so that I could go on the mission trip to Malawi/Zambia and then also head to Thailand for the Youth for Christ International General Assembly (weeklong conference every 3 years). After Thailand, I returned to Botswana for 72 hours to help lead another prayer walk in Gaborone...and then flew out the next day to England for my cousin's wedding and the start of my furlough. I'll explain more about all that in a future post...

I just wanted to post a couple times that are already set of when I'll be sharing in Michigan (a couple other churches are still getting back to me):

Sunday December 7th: I will be sharing at Croswell Wesleyan Church in Croswell, MI for 10 minutes in each service (starting at 9:30 and 11:00am) and then for about 45 minutes during the Adult Education hour during the second service (just after I share for the 10 minutes in the service).

Sunday December 14th: I will be sharing at Grace Ministry Center in Kimball (at the far end of the outlet mall on Range Road) for a short interview in both the 9:30 and 11:00am services. After both services, I will share more with Powerpoint pictures in the JOY room (it will be a bit longer after the 11:00am service).

Minnesota friends, I haven't forgotten you! I am actually typing this from Minnesota...I drove up with my mom to be with my brother Ryan for Thanksgiving. We will drive back Saturday to Michigan. "What? So soon??" you may ask. Do not dismay...I will return to Minnesota for at least a couple weeks in January to see Minnesotan friends then. I'll post details later of when I will speak in Minnesota. I will be flying back to Botswana on January 29th to start my third term...February 14 will mark 5 years since I moved to Botswana!

For those who might be wondering about what happened with the Youth Centre in Gaborone, here is a quick update:

As noted before, we had to move out on June 30 because we hadn't raised enough ($344,000) to buy the property that we had been renting, once the owners decided to sell. The owners gave another interested party time to possibly buy it before it would go on the open market. That second party has declined, also due to lack of sufficient funds. Therefore, the last I heard from the landlord, they were making plans to place the property on the open market. We are therefore, as far as I know, still able to purchase the property if we are able to raise the money. We are praying that God would help us either raise the money for that or somewhere else. It was certainly beneficial to have a place to hold youth events, meetings, trainings, etc. One time a few months back, I was walking in Gaborone and a teenage boy came running up to me and asked me why we don't have the Youth Hang-Outs anymore at YFC...I had to explain that we needed to move out and told him to pray with us that God provides for us to stay there or guides us to a different location.

Meanwhile, we are in the process of applying for YFC to become a chartered club at the University of Botswana. This will enable us to have a classroom where we can schedule meetings (i.e. volunteer trainings/meetings and prayer meetings). We won't be able to keep anything in the classroom or have events that can really draw teenagers (i.e. with basketball, games, food, etc), but it will at least give us a place to hold meetings. At the last YFC volunteer meeting in Gaborone, we had over 45 volunteers! Please pray with us that we are granted club status. No matter what happens with regard to getting our own centre again, we believe that having a club presence on the university campus will be beneficial, especially to hold regular prayer and worship meetings and to recruit, train, and mobilize volunteers to reach other students and teens for Christ.

Well, I hope you've had a great Thanksgiving holiday. It was my first Thanksgiving with family or in the US since 2009. I am thankful for every prayer that is offered for the ministry and me, as well as every financial gift that sustains the ministry. I am thankful just that you are reading this! It helps to know there are people who care and who are together in this cause to reach youth for Christ in Botswana!

Many blessings,
Ember

Fundraising Continues for the YFC Gaborone Centre!

Hi again!

Update on the YFC Centre

We at Youth for Christ are so thankful for all the prayers and pledges made to help YFC purchase the property we have been renting in Gaborone. Unfortunately, we did not raise enough by the June 30th deadline to keep the property. Thus, we had to move out, as per our agreement with the landlord. We had been under the impression that a buyer was already lined up and the property would be immediately sold…

A Glimmer of Hope…
However, I have since learned from the landlord that the other interested party has yet to buy the property; they also are still raising funds. The owners are allowing them one month to raise the funds to purchase it. If they do not raise the funds, then it will be possible again for YFC to buy it.

The Fundraising Campaign Continues!!
For this reason, we are continuing our fundraising efforts just in case. If you are interested in donating, the procedure will be the same—please indicate the amount you are pledging in an email to me: emliddiard@yfcbotswana.com. If the option comes back to us to buy it and the pledges are sufficient, we will contact you to instruct you how to make the tax-deductible donation. Also, if you know of any others who might be able to assist us financially, please let me know. I can email them the more detailed proposal (or can email it to you if you haven’t seen it). If you do not hear back from me, it is likely because I will be gone from 14-29 July on a mission trip to Malawi and Zambia. If you need an urgent response or would like the detailed proposal emailed to you while I’m away, please request from yfcbotswana@yfcbotswana.com.

Here are some comments from the youth, spreading the news on Facebook about the YFC center:

Kweku: This place was a refuge to me, a place where I could experience God's love through His people during the week, and a place where I could join with many other young people to worship God and intercede for the nation. In order to keep this place, Youth For Christ Botswana has to raise 3 Million Pula ($340 499 USD)…If you can give please do...If you can't, please join us in prayer. NOTHING is impossible for God!

Tudu: Please…help us pray for the YFC Gaborone Center...it has been a source of hope for so many!

Gugu: please help us keep our home of prayer.

Here is a video you can watch and share please:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZBum-94Wg0&feature=youtu.be

Please see the previous post for more details and pictures of the center: http://hope4botswana.blogspot.com/2014/06/urgent-prayer-request-to-keep-yfc.html

Thanks for your prayers and consideration!

Blessings,
Em

P.S. Please pray for the team going to Malawi and Zambia from July 14-29 with a mission organization called Christ Ambassadors. There are 2 vans (combis) full of people going from Gaborone, Botswana (a 3-day drive to reach our destination in Malawi!). It is not an official YFC trip, but one van will be filled with young people, the majority of whom are YFC volunteers. Please pray for our ministry to be effective and for safe travels, safety once there, and our health (it is a malaria area). We are going to a region of Malawi where the vast majority of people are not Christian. Please pray that the Lord prepares hearts and loves/speaks through us!

Urgent Prayer Request to keep the YFC Gaborone Center!

Hi again!!

It has certainly been too long since I updated this!! Many of you keep up with me on Facebook or through my YFC newsletters, but for those who don't, I just wanted to update you that the building Youth for Christ has been renting for its center in Gaborone is up for sale by the owners and we have first right of refusal...meaning we have until this Monday June 30 to raise 3 million Pula (about $344,000) to purchase the place, or else we must vacate and it will be sold to a buyer that is waiting. The center is ideally located, just across from the University and near the heart of the city along a public transportation route. It is greatly suited to host events for youth -- with a basketball court and an outdoor covered patio area that is ideal for meetings/conferences/events.

We have been fundraising, praying & fasting for this place. However, we cannot raise the money alone. The youth in Gaborone have really been praying, even some have been fasting, praying for the Lord to provide. Last night, upwards of 150 youth gathered at the YFC center to worship and pray for 12 hours -- from 6pm to 6am! It was an amazing time together in God's presence. That was the ending of a weeklong prayer conference at YFC called "City on Its Knees" organized by the God Chasers Crew, with whom YFC partners. I helped lead worship all week and then shared a message last night encouraging the youth that our prayers and worship really do make a difference. After we interceded for the city and nation and for the provision for the YFC center, we had a joyful time of praise and dancing! No one wanted to go home, but to stay and sing and dance!!

Truly, the YFC center has become a house of prayer, and a refuge for the youth of Gaborone. Indeed, when youth were asked to describe what it means to them, "It's home"; "It's a refuge" came up more than once. Please pray with us that God does a miracle to provide all the funds we need to keep it. And please prayerfully consider if the Lord could be leading you to take part in helping YFC keep that center.

Here's a video we posted on YouTube that shares more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnS813PjOhw&feature=share

As I played guitar earlier this month at the weekly INFERNO prayer meeting at YFC, I looked out at nearly 40 young people praying together passionately, and I just whispered to God, “It’s beautiful.” I was seeing a “Contending Refuge”–that phrase had come to mind over three years ago when I’d sat alone in the YFC center in Gaborone, praying and asking God what His vision is for the center. At that point, YFC had just started renting it, and I was just beginning to recruit volunteers and develop programs. I wrote down that day what I felt “Contending Refuge” meant:

A place where people find refuge in praising, worshipping, and exalting the Lord Jesus Christ alone, Connecting with His heart and the burning jealous passion therein so we are compelled to contend in corporate intercession for others to find refuge in Him alone; so we are compelled to reach out in Gaborone and small villages. Ignited, Equipped, and Sent Out; Returning to the refuge to refuel, contend, and be sent out again; To bring redemption, restoration, and reformation—To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children & the hearts of the children to the fathers; to turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; and to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS.

-------

How beautiful indeed to see that vision starting to be fulfilled! On Monday June 16, many of us did “return to the refuge to refuel, contend, and be sent out again” to other villages. We’d been on an 11-day outreach to Molepolole Village until Sunday night, and several were going out again the next day to an outreach in Thamaga Village. The YFC center has been a place where youth can feel safe and loved, have fun, learn about Christ, discover and develop their gifts, and receive training. In the past month, YFC has hosted Youth Alpha training for leaders, creative arts ministry rehearsals, a Youth Hangout with basketball contest, mission/outreach trip planning meetings, INFERNO weekly prayer meetings, an all-night worship & prayer meeting, and the "City on Its Knees" prayer conference and Worship Night.

Let’s Join Together to Keep the YFC Center!

This is our last couple days before we must vacate the premises, UNLESS the Lord provides the remaining funds necessary to purchase the property. Time is short. We only have until June 30 to finish raising just over 3 million Pula ($343,840). Would you prayerfully consider making a donation to help us keep the YFC center? You can be a part of keeping this refuge for the youth. Any gift would be tax-deductible and would be greatly appreciated. If you are interested in partnering with YFC to help purchase the center, please email (emliddiard@yfcbotswana.com) the amount of your intended pledge. If the combined pledges do not add up to the amount needed or we already have enough, we will inform you to simply keep your donation. Whether or not you are in a position to give, please pray with us. Nothing is impossible with God!




If you'd like to read more details about the property, YFC's use of it, the situation in Botswana, etc, there is a proposal that I could email to anyone. Just email me to request it.

Thanks so much for your prayers and consideration! Truly, we believe "Greater things have yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this city!"



Blessings,

Em

Hello again!

Hi all,

It has been a long while since I updated this...certainly not for lack of something happening. I hope to recap on the year in some future posts, but for now, I'd like you to read the two pages I just posted on this blog. The first is "Give Me This Mountain!"...and the second "Living Stones." So just go up to the top tabs and click on the "Give Me this Mountain" one first. The Living Stones one is a continuation of the first one. Those are the backdrop for the "amazingness" that has happened since May...it builds on that foundation, so before I post that next part, I wanted to give you a chance to read the background stories. They are worth the read! God is truly at work in crazy amazing ways...and I can't wait to share the recent stuff! But it will be much cooler if you know the first stuff!

I see that my last post was just before we were going to be on national radio in February. Can you believe that since then, God has opened up the door to be on national radio nine times, and I just found out today we're invited to do a half-hour show on September 28?! Amazing stuff.

By the way, fifteen of us will go on a YFC outreach to Mahalapye from 25-28 September, so prayers are appreciated.

I hope to update you more in the near future!

Blessings,
Ember
(a blog post soon will explain why I'd like you to call me Ember now!)

On National Radio tomorrow and Thursday!

I'll share more exciting details soon, but due in part to our time on Kgale Hill (that I mentioned last time), we in the Unashamed Botswana Movement committee have been given a great opportunity by the Botswana government to be on national radio for 2 hours tomorrow (10am-12pm Saturday 23 February...so 3am 'tonight' for EST) on Radio Botswana 2, sharing how we believe the moral problems in the nation can be addressed/solved, and then five 5-minute slots over the next 5 days (the first starting today) on Yarona FM.

My slot on Yarona FM will be next Thursday at 5:15pm discussing the issue of Multiple Sexual Partners and how that is contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS. We've been given the go-ahead to share from the Bible to support our positions! So prayers are appreciated for us as the Unashamed Botswana team to be able to express ourselves clearly, to handle the live call-in questions/comments well, and ultimately to bring glory to God! Thanks!

To listen live next Thursday (5:15pm local time -- 3:15-3:20 GMT; 10:15-10:20am EST) simply click here:
http://radioradio7.com/radio/Africa-Yarona-FM-1066.html

You can also listen live to Radio Botswana 2 if it's not in the middle of the night for you! Tomorrow 10am-12:00pm local time (8am GMT; 3am EST): http://tunein.com/radio/RB2-Radio-Botswana-2-1030-s95474/

Blessings,
Em

Hiking Kgale Hill with 800+ youth!!!

Hi again!

Just wanted to send a quick update and request for prayer. God is up to something awesome in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana!!!!

I mentioned last post about the Unashamed Botswana Movement and how we are planning to hike the biggest mountain in Gaborone, Kgale, tomorrow. Last year about 90 youth joined together for the hike and fellowship, teaching, worship, and prayer at the top.

This year, we on the Unashamed committee are BLOWN AWAY by the response on Facebook to the "Up Kgale Challenge"--as it stands right now, 800 people say they are coming and 327 say they "maybe" are coming!!!!!!! This may well be the largest group that has ever been on top of the mountain!!

The event will take place tomorrow morning, Saturday 26 January. I will be leading worship and giving a 15-minute testimony on top into a megaphone. We had no idea it would explode to such high numbers, so this is really an amazing opportunity to share with upwards of 800 people!!! Thus I covet your prayers, that God would guide my words and really speak through me. For those who are familiar with it, I'll be sharing the story of Caleb from Joshua 14 where he says, "Give Me This Mountain!!" in regard to reclaiming the mountain city of Hebron, and relating it to the situation in Gaborone. I will share more of the testimony in a later post, but for now, I just wanted to ask for prayer for anyone who might read this before we hike tomorrow morning. I'm excited!!!! God is moving in our city among the youth!!!

Blessings,
Em