The Turner Adventures

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Awana Graduation

A year ago, we trained about 30 people on the children's ministry program of Awana. After completing a year of running a successful Awana program, we hosted a graduation for 13 of the attendees. Well done for all the churches in getting the gospel out to the children here in Botswana. 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Seminary books and bookshelves

Many thanks to the Harmening family and many other wonderful donors who donated bookshelves and books for the seminary library. These were all donated in honor of the Harmening's 17 year old daughter Sarah who lost her life in 2017 in a bus accident on her way to Botswana on a mission trip.

University reaching University

University students reaching university students...this is exactly what happened here on the campus of the University of Botswana with a team of college students from Mt Zion Baptist Church in Huntsville, AL. In preparation for the teams arrival, we met with the head of Student Welfare and they warmly welcomed us to do ministry on campus for the week. But also we are so thrilled that they asked us to have continued ministry on the campus after the teams departure. We are really looking forward to what the Lord is going to do on campus. The week held many meetings with different departments and meeting different students and religious organizations that are represented on campus already. We held a drop in sessions in a dorm where students could come and talk about suffering and loss and we were able to encourage the students with hope in Jesus Christ. Pray as we continue to do ministry on campus with University students.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Some plant, some water, God makes it grow...

Written by Sherra Still:

Isaiah 55:11 states, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” However, sometimes, as missionaries, we wonder, is what I am doing making an impact for the kingdom of God? We recently had the privilege of seeing the answer to that question for a missionary to Botswana over twenty years ago!

This past week, we traveled several hours outside the city to a village 17 km off the paved road. As we bounced along the dirt road to this village, we anticipated meeting the chief who had invited us. In the car were three IMB missionaries and two national pastors. We prayed for the kgotla we would attend, in which the chief would lead his community in deciding about Bible teaching in their village.

We arrived at the village and greeted those present at the government building. We waited in offered chairs for the chief to arrive. Once the chief arrived, we greeted him appropriately, met with him and discussed the opportunity to teach Bible in the village. The chief shared his burdens for his people and the bad things that were happening in the community. We discovered that he believed that Bible teaching could make a difference there. He, however, did not express personal faith in Christ and we wondered why he thought the Bible would help his people?

The chief then walked us to the kgotla and we were given seats at a table in front of the gathered community. After about three hours of presentations and discussion, the community was in agreement that the Baptist Convention Seminary of Botswana could provide Bible classes in the village. Pula! Pula!

As we began to meet the people, afterwards, it was one gentleman who captured our attention and answered our questions about the Bible influence in the community. He smiled with genuine joy and showed us what he had in his hand. It was the Bible Way notebook that he had been given by David Carlton, some twenty years ago. He explained that he had been taught and discipled by David and that he wanted that for his village again. He introduced us to his son and explained, he wanted him to be taught the Bible, just as he had been discipled so many years ago. He was so happy that we had come! What a celebration we had as we drove home from the village and thanked God for the work of a faithful servant so many years ago.

L to R: Pastor Jack, Coye, Brent, Pastor Kabika

In Kokong, the chief is the very tall man. The older gentleman on the left
is the one who studied with former missionary David Carlton

2nd wedding-"White Wedding"

Our pastor's daughter recently got married (see post on Lobola or Traditional Wedding) and this is her 2nd wedding called the White Wedding. This is the Christian Wedding that we are most used to in the States with a bit of an African twist.
The wedding was slated to start at 8am, but everyone actually arrived to the church around 9:30am and things finally got started. Both the brides father and mother walked her down the aisle where the groom and his father met them and the bride was then handed over to the groom.
The ceremony went on until around 12:30pm when they went for pictures. We all then went to the bride's home where a big tent was set up and much rehearsed dancing took place by the bride and groom and their bridal party. The bride did 4 outfit changes during the reception...yes I said 4!! We partied til dark and then the bride and groom went to the grooms place the next day to do the whole thing again (this is the 3rd wedding).
We have been so blessed to be a part of these events and we are so happy for our pastor's daughter Karabo.

The bride being walked down the aisle by
Pastor Kabika and his wife Theresa

The bride and groom dancing out of the church

The reception

Outfit #2

The brides mother along with Mama T

Pastor Thokwane who represented the Uncle's for the bride and
the bride's father, Pastor Kabika

Outfit #3

The bridal party dancing

Outfit #4

Lobola (Traditional Wedding)

Our pastor's daughter recently was married. There is so much that goes into weddings here, there actually are 3 different weddings. The first wedding is the Lobola (Low-bow-lah) or traditional wedding which are then followed by the white wedding at the bride's place and then another wedding at the grooms place. Months before the traditional wedding takes place, the uncles from both the grooms side and brides side get together and discuss what the bride price will be or what exactly the grooms family will pay to the brides family for the bride. On the day of the traditional wedding, it happens right at dawn (around 6am) and if the grooms family is not on time waiting outside of the brides family's plot then they are generally fined another cow or two. Depending on where the bride is from is how many cows she is worth, the normal going rate is about 8 cows valued at $400 for each cow. Most Batswana have a hard time putting together enough money to actually get married due to this so many are married years after living together and families have already started. If the bride and groom have a child together, they are fined an additional cow for each child they have had out of wedlock.
On the day of the traditional wedding, the brides family comes to the event, all men wearing jackets and all women wearing a white shaw, traditional skirt and head covering. The grooms family comes to the event, all men wearing a jacket and kneeling before the brides family, and the women wearing a multicolored shaw, traditional skirt, and head covering.
There is much singing and dancing that happens after the exchange of cows and the families unite. Many here in Botswana see this as the bride and groom are married, but in Christian marriages, they often wait to live together until after the white wedding a the bride's place happens. What an amazing cultural experience to be a part of!

The grooms family kneeling before the brides family.

Wendi, myself, and Sherra

Washing of the hands before tea and bread

Enjoying time together

The uncles

This is the bride and groom after the ceremony

Ministry to the deaf

We were so blessed to have Janice Tankersley (lovingly known as Mama T here in Botswana) with us for 11 days in February. Mama T has made about 6 or 7 trips to Botswana so far and comes and works so faithfully with the deaf and sharing Christ with them. During her time here, she met with the deaf each night and on her last day, we did a big braai (grilling out) for all of them...I think 30 showed up this day. It was such a fun time together and we played games and just had an amazing time of fellowship.

Mama T is 74 years old, a widow, and has very limited money, but she has never allowed any of these things to stop her for coming to share Christ where the Lord has called her to go. May we all step out in faith as she has.

Mama T and the pastor to the deaf-Tshonolo

Red team winning the relay

The group for the braai

They all showed her so much love and thanks as they were leaving

Relay races

What an amazing group!

Valentines Day

The 5th-7th graders attended a Valentine Disco at school. This years theme was "The 80s" and Taylor had so much fun getting ready with her friends and going and dancing...did we mention she is our outgoing child :) Love this girl but she is just growing too quickly!

Kids could wear pink/red/white for Valentines
Day at school in lieu of their normal uniforms

1st day of school

We officially have a 6th and 3rd grader in our house. Our kids attend year round school so their school year begins in January and end in early December. We are so thankful for the amazing school they get to attend!

Our 6th and 3rd graders

Smiles and excitement for Day 1

Taylor was picked as one of the Librarians
for the year which is a huge honor

Bradyn in action, batting

Bradyn tried out for the cricket team this year and made the squad.
We are enjoying getting to know this sport we know absolutely
NOTHING about. So proud of Bradyn!

Welcome, Coye and Sherra!

On January 4, our new colleagues-Coye and Sherra Still- arrived here in Botswana. Over the last 1 1/2 months it has been such a joy to show them around Botswana and introduce them to some of our amazing friends and ministry partners and let them be introduced to the amazing culture that makes up the beautiful people here.
Coye was a pastor in the Charlotte area for the last 14 years and Sherra was working as a social worker and we are just so thankful that they listened to the call of God to serve Him here in Botswana. They have 5 beautiful children who are all grown. We have just so enjoyed getting to know them and we thank God for the blessing of teammates!