Mt Zion Baptist Church visit

Mt Zion Baptist Church in Huntsville, AL has been partnering with us over the last 2 years in coming to share the love of Christ with the Botswana. They were coming on their first trip in June 2017 when a tragic accident on the way to the airport to catch their plane to Botswana, ended with the loss of life of a 17 year old precious girl named Sarah Harmening (see blog post http://theturneradventures.blogspot.com/2017/07/mt-zion-baptist-church.html). Sarah's sweet family has become so dear to us and we have enjoyed having them in Botswana several times and wanted to visit them while we were in the States. They have become some of our dearest friends and we are so thankful for the many souls who have been saved as a result of the testimony of their daughter Sarah but also the testimony of this family as they have relied on the Lord throughout their loss.
We had such a wonderful visit with the Harmenings and the church family at Mt Zion and enjoyed sharing what the Lord is doing in Botswana.

The Harmening family-Karen, Scott, Katelyn, Sophie, and Kristen

Kristen opened a salon and named it "Bontle" which means 

"Beautiful" in Setswana.

Downtown Huntsville with the Harmenings

All of these precious young women have come to serve in Botswana.

I am trying to talk all of them into coming and serving for 2 months

during their summer break. 

Dinner with dear friends

After church, people who have come on a mission trip to 

Botswana came to have lunch with us.

Friends

We have been trying to see as many of our sweet friends as we can in the short time that we are here. We are thankful for friends that we can just pick back up with even after not seeing each other for years.

Tiffany is one of my girlfriends from Liberty University. We

were able to meet her and her husband Dwayne for breakfast

in Danville, VA. 

My friend Allison and her family lived in Botswana 

for 2 years. We valued their friendship so much and

love catching up with them when we can

Abe and Bradyn were best friends in Botswana

All the kids had fun hanging out at a climbing gym

We met up with a missionary kid-Micah Davis-that

we knew from his parents service in Botswana. It 

was so wonderful to get to visit with his precious wife

Caley and their newborn son Finley. 

Nick and Dana have been our friends since we first

moved to Raleigh in 2004. We were members of a young marrieds

class together and have enjoyed their friendship over the years.

Reuben and Taryn served on a Nehemiah Team 

in Botswana the summer of 2017. We went to Southeastern

Seminary so we could hug their necks. 

Martin family

Amanda's family-the Martin's- came to visit us in NC. The beach was pretty cold but we still had to go bundled up. Love seeing all of our nieces and nephews and it's so hard to believe how quickly they grow/change in 2 years.

Thanks-mas

We were able to spend "Thanks-mas" (Thanksgiving and Christmas) with Brent's family in early December when everyone was available to get together. We had such a fun time with family and reconnecting with folks we hadn't seen in 2 years. So thankful for family!

Aunt Tirzah and Ian

Uncle Brandon and Ainsley putting chapstick on Ellie

Cousins-Taylor and Noa

Light show

Ellie reading with Aunt Sara

Cookie decorating and eating time

Beautiful cookies

Taylor playing for Nana with a little help from Ellie

Brent's extended family from Virginia joined us

Girls doing face masks

Visit to Santa

If you are in the States around Christmas, make sure to visit Bass Pro Shop. You can get a free picture from Santa and they have loads of fun crafts and things set up for the kids to play with. Ellie walked up to Santa and said "Ho Ho Ho" and just loved hanging out with him.

Brookgreen Gardens Christmas Lights

We recently went with Brent's parents and grandmother to Brookgreen Gardens to see their "Night of a Thousand Candles". It really was just beautiful and would recommend if you are in the area of Murrells Inlet, SC around Christmas to check it out https://www.brookgreen.org/events/nights-thousand-candles-2019.

Coming to America

In mid November, we traveled to the States for a training and extended our stay by taking our vacation time to be able to stay through the holidays. We will be heading back to Botswana in early January, but we are enjoying getting to spend this season with our family and friends in America.

Getting ready to board the plane in Botswana

I was super worried about traveling with a 2 year

old but she did amazing!!

We received a very warm welcome from our family in the States

6th grade class trip

Taylor recently went on her 6th grade class trip for 5 days to northern Botswana. She had loads of fun with her classmates, but we sure did miss her.