Mochudi visit

We oftentimes talk about the village of Mochudi in our monthly newsletters and wanted give a brief update. We have been going out there for about 1 1/2 years now. We originally started visiting with the Moreki family (below). They were so welcoming and open to the gospel. Through those visitations, it has opened many doors throughout the village of Mochudi. Brent, fellow missionary Daren Davis, and Jones who is a national believer, go out to Mochudi once a week to tell people about Jesus and do bible storying. Many people have been responding to the gospel and are praying that a church will start meeting there in 2012. God is working here so please continue to pray for God’s guidance.

Above: The Moreki family last year holding Bradyn who was only 1 month old

Below: Mma Moreki holding Bradyn one year later. He is growing up so quickly!

Our friend Jessica from Johannesburg came to visit and went out to the village with us. The kids were pretty tired from about 4 hours of walking. Fun times!

Baby shower

My friend Marea will be delivering her baby girl in early December. They had a baby shower for her this past Saturday. We had been out of town all day and I thought I was going to be late for her baby shower that was supposed to start at 4:30pm. I was not able to arrive until 5:30pm and guess what…the mother to be had not even arrived yet. I waited until 6:15pm when she finally did arrive and visited for a few minutes and had to leave so the kids and I could walk home before dark. We have definitely had to learn that most things start on “African time”, not the set time and that sometimes you just have to go with it and be patient.  TIA-This is Africa :)

Marea and her mom Josephine

Thanksgiving 2011

Holidays are some of the hardest times to be away from our family in the States. This Thanksgiving we were able to celebrate Thanksgiving with our wonderful mission family and even were able to eat some yummy turkey.

Follow up about Christina

I have to admit that being away from our family in the States is always hard, but especially at the holidays it is even more difficult coping with that distance. But I have to tell you that our God is so amazing! Sometimes we see little fruit in our ministry, but this week has just been so amazing and He has over and over showed us that this is why He has called us here to Botswana.

Back in June, we shared a story with you about a girl named Christina. We had spent several days in her village sharing Christ and then Christina came to church that Sunday and found Amanda and with tears in her eyes she expressed how she wanted to accept Christ. For some reason, we never were able to exchange phone numbers and Christina somehow fell off the grid.We did not see her in church and we could not find her in the village. On Monday, a young girl who has been coming to our children’s ministry on Friday showed up at our gate with another girl. She asked me if I knew this girl who was with her and it took me a moment but I realized it was Christina who I had looked for for about 6 months. This honestly is a miracle as we are a 20 minute drive from the church and 30 minutes from the village we originally found Christina in. This young girl that the Lord had put into our life actually was Christina’s sister. Christina had been staying about 6 hours away with her cousin over the last 6 months and had just gotten back into town and started looking for me. Out of the million people who live here in Gaborone, it is so the hand of God that we found each other again.

When following up with her about her decision to accept Christ, she told me that she has been trying to read the book of John that we gave her but she didn’t understand it. I asked her if she wanted to start studying the bible with me and she immediately said yes. So 2 days later (today/Wednesday) she came to my house for her first bible study. I told her on Monday that if she would memorize John 3:16, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, and Romans 10:8 that I would give her a bible. In just 2 short days she came today knowing all of her scripture. She is so hungry for the Word and I am so thankful that God has put her back into our path in only the Sovereign way that He can.

Please pray for us every Wednesday as we study that bible that God would open her eyes to see and ears to hear His Word.

This picture was taken back in June when Christina asked the Lord into her heart.

Children’s Christmas Party at Gaborone Baptist Church

Amanda and her friend Torie have been working at Gaborone Baptist Church (GBC) on Friday’s alongside of Mma Kabika (the pastor’s wife) doing a children’s ministry. It has been so much fun. The schools here go on holiday in mid November and don’t go back in session until January. During this time most everyone travels to their villages, so this is why we had our Christmas party in mid-November.

Torie teaching about the birth of Jesus

We were very blessed to have gotten Kits for Kids from the BGR (Baptist Global Response). Kids in America put together these kits including notebooks and many other school supplies for the children around the world in need. The kids were screaming with delight when they saw their gift.

Also, Oakton Baptist Church in Chantilly, Virginia sent some Christmas gifts for the kids that included candy canes, Christmas note pads, pencils, crayons, stickers, and bracelets. It was so amazing to see the joy on the kids faces as they received their gifts. Thank you Oakton Baptist Church  for your generous giving!

Each of the children made a thank you card for Oakton Baptist Church

The kids have worked very hard since July to learn John 3:16, Romans 6:23, Romans 3:23, and Romans 5:8. If they memorized and said their verses they received a new testament in Setswana. About 15 of the 30 kids learned their verses…we were so proud of them!

WE are so thankful to be able to live here in Botswana and be able to tell others the good news of Christ!

10k run

My friend Torie and I drove to South Africa and successfully completed out first 10km (6.2 mile) race on Saturday.

Above: Before

Below: 1 hour and 20 minutes after our start we finally finished

We were so tired afterwards!