Listen...His people are worshipping.......

Sunday morning i walked to a local church called The Rock. On my way there, I was thinking about the sounds you hear in the African morning. Slowly, peacefully, I heard the sound of singing. As I looked behind me, two teen girls and a littler girl were walking in my direction, holding Bibles. As they got closer, i realized they were singing in that beautiful African way of one starting, the other following with the song. All three beamed brilliant smiles at me, and I smiled back. They apologized for singing so loudly and I asked them to please continue. As I walked to the Rock, they walked with me, singing sweetly to Our Lord. When i got to the Rock, they turned to go to their church.
On my way home from a marvelous service, I could hear singing from many different places. Some songs I recognized, some I did not. I have always loved church bells, but the sound of such glorious singing overwhelms me here. In many services, there are no instruments, just voices singing, pleading, worshipping, thanking........

Dating and the mission field

I have noticed for a long time that my "romantic" life seems to be a source of great curiousity. Sometimes I get subtle questions, somethimes the questions are so direct! I am surprised by this in many ways.
When I became a Christian, I realized how important time spent with the Lord is-whether it is prayer or Scripture reading. I have found that my judgment in picking dates has been, well, not so hot. And, the longer I live without a partner, the more settled in my own ways I seem to be.
As I started to answer the call to the mission field, I beleived that I must put my decisions into God's Hands as I cannot any longer rely on myself. Nor should I. God has been so good to me, so merciful, and I am grateful.
I knew when I was in the States that if someone came into my life-he would need to have a big neon sign form God that said"Pick me!"But he would also have to have an interest in missions. We are to seek Him first in all things, whether you are a mission worker or not. I am certain I am supposed to be here, now.
Many locals ask me about my life and I am honest about it. Yes, perhaps someday I would like to get married again. However it is up to the Lord, in whose capable loving hands I place my life, to decide when that will be.
Happily, I have not met anyone who could or would stand in my way of doing this ministry. I am a romantic at heart, but have not met anyone in the last two years I felt was even a possibility.
If it happens, it must be by God's Will not mine.

gratitude

I have indeed spent lots of time-too much time talking about what I endured to get here. It has been sometimes a heartbreaking experience but I have to add-I discovered that there are so many great things I should have added.
Over the last couple of years and even now, people have walked into my life to help me out. I have had people like the Testas and the Griffins and my brother open their homes to me and yet not expect anything in return except that I do my best. I have had folks in my church become so generous with time and money. And I have had friends, true friends, look out for me and help me to stand up and be strong at times when I thought that I would fall.
I also learned who my real friends were and who were not-and this is a great thing as well. God finds good in all times, and it is good to separate yourself from bad or just toxic individuals.
Here. I have found such great folks as well. When I went to the village to stay for a bit, my host family gave me their main living quarters and moved into a hut. They brought a bed for me from town and fed me everyday.
My colleagues guided me while also trying to do their own daily work.
I encourage you to look for these special angels in your own life. I am now staying with a couple who hardly knew me while my house is being fixed. since the word angel means messenger, and all these people live the Message of God everyday-then I am surrounded by angels.

facts of life

Well, some interesting facts about this part of Africa.......
This is beginners Africa so things are more modern than most of the rest of Africa.
We have cell phones, because the landlines often do not work.
We have TV, very very bad TV if you do not have satellite. I do not.
We have no chocolate chips(oh, the inhumanity) but have different flavored potato chips. Okay,this requires examination. In the States we have some sort of strange chips like ketchup flavored and dill pickle flavored. Here we have, are you ready?
Chutney flavored
BEEF flavored
peri peri chicken
black olive and garlic--yup that I bought
Today I saw LAMB and mixed herb flavored.
The best was the day I saw Peking Duck flavored crisps. Listed as one of the ingredients--duck powder. You figure it out, I will not.

Now, i will tell you that the beef and chicken down here are the best I have ever had. The vegetables are wonderful and everything is usually so fresh. There are lemon and grapefruit trees in our yards, along with mangoes and papayas.
Life here is so different, and amazing. I am blessed.

addendum to people missed

yIKES!
More......
Kathy and Paul and their seven children
and Rosemary
and my fav tattooed Phoenixville fan.....
and the Sirons and miskos............
and my favorite cell group-Kirsten, Keri, and Amber
sigh...........
But I am making new friends here as well so no worries. I am very blessed by great people in my life. The one or two people I may have lost as friends these past few months were never really friends but I wish them blessings as well....

okay, so I am over that minute of homesickness

I really do miss people a lot but I am really pretty content here. Francistown is an interesting town and just about everything is in walking distance. Now, that does not mean given the trouble with our neighbors right now you should walk everywhere. But the weather is excellent and things are really close.
I am staying with Carl and Melody and they have taken me around quite a bit.
i have met alot of nice folks. Philemon has taken me out to a village church and i am expecting to return there soon.
Currently my house is still being restored so I am waiting on that. I am looking forward to moving in there but I have to admit, I might get used to this slow paced life.
I have discovered that people here move in their own time zone. When it is hot here, no one moves. Even though some things seem to take forever, everything seems to have a decent conclusion. I have always hated waiting in line, but here it is a way of life. The fun part of this is that it becomes a social event. Since i am normally the only white person in line, people are curious and they are a bit shy. So I smile and say dumela to all around me and then we all start talking.
When God sends us out, and remember He sends US all out, He expects us to take nothing. At least nothing tangible or materialist. We are handed a backpack full of gifts, and we can just reach in when we need to use one or two. I have been gone only a short time, but I feel like nothing will ever be the same for me again. Funny thing is, I feel so strongly that everything I have done in my lifetime has led me to this very spot. My mom tells me when I was a little girl, I used to run across the road to the woods and fields and pretend I was in deepest Africa. I barely remember that, but I can still remember the thrill I received when mny plane landed in Gaborone. Working in Him, resting in Him, what more do I really need?

for fun--top groups of peoples i miss

1. My family- crazy they may be
2. Sarah and Grey
3. Adriel and Scrabble
4. Ethan!!!! And NATE!!!!!
5. My guys-Hank, Mikey, earle, jim, kyle, jeff, joe, and their families!
6. that means Pat!
7. my babies at church--JRod, Zack, Bryan, Cole, Tyler, Josh, Lanie, Noah, the bonner-hewitt clan, etc.
8. THE MR AND MRS ROSE
9. Sarah Sally
10. Justine
11. My church family
12. Hope and Molly Proctor
13. John and Tess
14. all those people from KinderCare
15. Well, I am thinking!!!!!!!!!!

A view from here

Wow, so many things to think and write about....
I am in Francistown finally and I think it will take me a while to settle. Currently, i am staying with an American Lutheran couple while my house is being repaired. There was quite a bit of work to do and I still have to buy appliances. I will wait because we are putting in tile and ripping out carpet. There is little sense down here to having carpeting. The house is really nice and I look forward to being in it and also I do not want to wear out my welcome here.
I have already met several women from various countries in a Bible study here. There are a lot of activities here and I am enjoying getting to stretch out a bit.
There is a bit of tension in Botswana as we wait for the election in Zimbabwe. I am praying that what is done will be best for the people but it is hard to tell. The inflation is very high, violence is high and there is very little food. It is hard to see people go through this.
Yesterday Bible study was Mark 10:13-31. The rich man asks what can he do, after all, he has followed what he was taught to do by the Ten Commandments. Jesus tells him basically to give it all up.All his riches, which of course is the man's entire identity.
Today I have thought a lot about self esteem and our own identity. We really do not usually know I think how God looks at us unless we pursue our identity in Him. Regardless of our self titles, and what we think is important, it all becomes nothing if we do not follow Him on His path-as opposed to OUR path. When I became a believe, I remembered His eye is on the sparrow. It does not say His eye is on the big fancy multicolored bird, His eye is on that cute little plain brown sparrow. Our identity in Christ is what is important, not what we or the world thinks. I pray that I learn not to be so hard on my failings or anyone else's....I pray that I learn God uses us all in spite of these flaws. Most of all, He loves us--He created us to be who we are and who we can be in Him.

Pitseng

On Thursday June 5, we travelled to a village in the Kalahari called Pitseng. Mennonites have a legacy with this village; the church was supported and the village economy was helped. There is a compound where Mennointes lived and it is now abandoned. When we arrived, the kgosi or chief, assigned an elderly man to accompnay us to this compound. the village wants to use it for Bible study. We also toured the clinic and school, and also the maize fields. Truly beautiful in the midst of harsh conditions. Water is definitely an issue here but that does not seem to affect the attitudes of these good people.

Steve's Visit

Alright settle down. I know it has been 2 weeks since I posted but things are crazy busy.
My north Amerikan administrator, Steve arrived Wednesday June 4 to see how things are....
He is easy going and pretty relaxing to talk to so I was not totally worried. I had a lot of questions but knew most or at least many would be answered in conversation. Things like finances and what should I bring to the table when working on projects. I think the most important conclusion of a visit like this is to know you are supported and that you have go-to folks for anything.
Also, he looked over some of what I will be doing to make sure it is what we had planned. After a week of meetings, Steve left and another administrator came. Hippo(E-Po) has just left about three hours ago. I think they were great visits and it is a great way to begin my ministry.

Can you believe it?

Another glorious day--bright sun, big gigantic blue sky. Cold last night, cold this morning. Winter is really close. I hardly see any geckos these days and it is getting darker earlier. It has gotten to be almost impossible for me to think about the weather in the States. I have always loved this timeof year at home but I am really enjoying this time here. When you think of Africa and the Tropics, you just do not think of cold weather.
We have visitors this week. Two administrators from the States are coming so i will have to behave. Well, I will try. I have so many questions for them! I am looking forward to my move to Francistown-i need to feel more independent. God is so awesome! Wow, i say that quite a bit.....

well, yeah again.

ONE
Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same
Will it make it easier on youNow you got someone to blame
You sayOne loveOne lifeWhen its one needIn the nightIts one loveWe get to share it
It leaves you baby
If you dont care for it
Did I disappoint you?
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
You act like you never had loveAnd you want me to go without
Well its too lateTonight
To drag the past outInto the light
Were oneBut were not the sameWe get to carry each other
Carry each other
One
Have you come here for forgiveness
Have you come tor raise the dead
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head
Did I ask too much
More than a lot
You gave me nothing
Now its all I got
Were oneBut were not the same
We hurt each other
Then we do it again
You sayLove is a templeLove a higher lawLove is a templeLove the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I cant be holding onTo what you got
When all you got is hurt
One loveOne bloodOne lifeYou got to do what you shouldOne lifeWith each otherSistersBrothersOne life
But were not the same
We get to carry each otherCarry each other

i need.....

peppermint patties..........