Christmas Tea in Gaborone

Group Picture!

Lots of goodies

Beautifully decorated

Christmas Tea Cups....

Keely and her girls!

All the ladies got together for a beautiful Christmas Tea at Keely's apartment in Gabs. We enjoyed lots of goodies, exchanged presents and talked, smiled and laughed! We had the air-conditioners turned down really cold so we could drink our hot drinks...it was so very nice!

Kb celebrates her 17th Birthday

Thanksgiving 2009

Lots of good fellowship at the Buckleys

Some cool MK's waiting for our second Thanksgiving dinner on the Monday after Thanksgiving

Kayla and Kb! Kayla is finally home from boarding school and Kb is so glad!

The traditional 'little kids' table!

Our first dinner...the Saturday after Thanksgiving at the Carruthers'

We celebrated with friends for a weekend of Thanksgiving meals....lots of Turkey, dressing, fellowship and friends!

How to Stay Cool During the Holiday Season in Botswana!

hanging out with our friends...the Peacockes

Summertime in November!

We were excited to find a pool in our area!

Camel Spider and Giant Millipede Invasion

These are not pleasant things to have in your house! I don't even like them in the yard!

Worship in Phase 6

Waiting for people to arrive for worship time.

Bread of Life

Randy presenting the Christmas story.

Kb's new friend.

Some of the many children who were there.

Mom and daughter!

Fellowship afterwards....

This morning was our first worship service in the Phase 6 area where we have been ministering the last two months. We met in a lady's yard under two trees. We sang many African worship songs. It was a wonderful gathering.

The worship started off with our family, John and Yvonne and two ladies who lived there. As we sang, more people came. Eventually, we had 17 plus all the children who were playing nearby.

I led the Bible study using the Christmas story from the gospels of Luke and Matthew. John and Yvonne were a great help as they translated for us. This was the first time that these people had heard the Christmas story presented in the order of how the events occurred. They had some very good and hard questions, such as: "Were the Shepherds Christians when the angels appeared to them?" "How is God everywhere at the same time?" "Why is Christmas on December 25th?" "How wise were the wisemen?"

When the worship service was over, Mma Chippo, "Will we meet in my yard next Sunday?" As we planned this worship, it was to be just once a month, but those ladies are hungry for God's Word! We now plan to be there two times a month. We will evaluate the progress as we lead worship in the next few months. We want the people who come to participate as much as possible, so hopefully when we leave, they will take the initiative to

continue the worship gathering. (Randy)

Please pray for these people, that they will see the vision of leading the worship themselves, and they will see the need to reach out to others in the neighborhood to bring them to Christ.

Things are getting bigger!

Back in April a friend of mine & I started a prayer group at school. It was just us 2 for a week, then we started inviting other friends to join us! The usual number for a while was 6 or 7.
The end of the 2nd Term we had about 10ish.
Then this Term its grown gradually from 12 to 15. This past Wednesday there was an amazing 26 girls in the prayer circle!!! My friend & I who had started the prayer circle just looked at each other & smiled!!
I couldn't believe so many girls had come to join us!! God truely is good & I can't wait to see what happens in the future!
After we were done praying, my principle, who is muslim, asked my friend if that was a prayer meeting we just had, & she smiled & said yes. His reply back was "very nice."
My goodness the responses we get from people can be cool!
One class was staring out the window watching us onetime; this girl asked me what it was we were doing & I got to tell her; some of the boys who are near by have come to pray with us a couple times, but they're still not confident enough to come everytime.
I have a feeling things are gonna get better & I can't wait to see what all DOES happen!! :)
-Kb

Salvation Has No Age Limits!

John and I went to the village of Shashe. We visited with Mma Bosele. She is growing in her faith. She has finished copying the Gospel of John and is now copying the Gospel of Mark. She asked if we would share the Gospel with her grandmother, Mma Kelife. We went to the house next door to visit her. As we waited outside, Mma Bosele went inside to tell her grandmother that she had Baruti (pastors) friends to visit her. She sat up on her bed mattress, which is on the floor. John shared the Gospel with her in her heart language. He used his very loud preaching voice. Why? Because Mma Kelife is 107 years old! She is blind, cannot walk and is hard of hearing. Mma Bosele was concerned about her grandmother and wanted her to hear the gospel. I prayed as John shared.
He did not ask her to pray a prayer of salvation. Later when we left in the car, I asked him why he did not ask her to pray. He said that he could tell from her responsed that she believed the Gospel. I always tell people when I lead them to Christ, "It is not the words of the prayer that saves you. It is the faith in your heart that saves you."

What an awesome opportunity to share with a woman who was 107! I believe someday when we get to heaven, Mma Kelife will come up to John and say something like, "Moruti John, thank you for telling me about Jesus!"
I am so proud of Mma Bosele. She continues to bring people to us so that they can hear the Gospel. She is doing like Andrew did in the Bible. (John 1:40-41)
-Randy

Christian, Catholic & Hindu background

For awhile now I've been praying & asking God to bring up conversations about religion & all that at school with my friends....

...Yesterday at school, my friend K brought up something about religions & I told him we would talk about it more at break.
Break time came around & I got K & we started to walk over to where there weren't many people.. our Hindu friend followed us.
As we sat there eating our snack, we talked about what being a christian was all about, then not to leave my Hindu friend out, we asked her about her religion. It was interesting to hear what she believed & it was also sad.
She believes:: *There is a god in everything e.g. books, cows, ect. *There is a total of 7 lives you live before you officailly die *She's had a previous life, just doesn't remember it *You must do more good than bad to become something higher in her next life:: & many more things.
After a little while another one of our christian (lutheran) friend came over & joined in on the conversation.
In the end it was good & I'm just praying the Lord will be working in their lives!

My friend K is so close to accepting the Son into his heart & we've had this conversation many times before. I had told him previously when he does pray to accept Jesus into his heart he's gotta be serious about it & do it when he's ready. It's been several months since that first conversation came up & I know God is working in him!

I have several other friends I am praying for conversations about God to come up between us & I know it's all in His timing.

Love Kb

Shashe/Bible study

This is at a Bible study we did in Shashe. We all got to go to the village this day since it was Botswana Day (Independence Day) and the schools were out. Kb and Luke are sitting on a piece of plastic that was a bag for corn. Most Africans will reuse everything or find a new use for things. When you go into someone's yard, they usually rush around finding all the stools and chairs they have so that you can sit down. Sometimes they put a blanket, reed or plastic mat out to sit on too. This is the place that Janet stays. This is her mother and her children.

We are the Most Dangerous Creatures on Earth!

Today John and I went into my neighborhood to visit people, to follow up on visits from last week. One couple kinda blew us off with the excuse of "We're too busy." This surprised us because when we talked to them last week they seemed to be receptive. We expected to start a Bible study in their yard. So we went to another couple we visited last week. We shared the gospel (Creation To Christ) with them and they said that they wanted to ask Jesus into their hearts. Just as we were ready to pray the lady's young sister came and sat down. John said, "She needs to hear the gospel too." I did not say it, but in my mind I thought, "I just finished a 20 minute presentation of C2C, and now I have to start over?!" But John shared the gospel with her in Setswana. She said she wanted to ask Jesus into her heart too. Inside I'm saying, "OK Lord, I'm sorry. If I have to start over after 20 minutes, I will do it. This is a person's soul at stake." All three prayed to ask Jesus into their hearts. As we said good-bye to these three people, John noticed three ladies in the back. He said, "Let's greet these ladies before we leave." We went back to greet them and John told them who we were, and he asked if we could share God's word with them. The older woman said, "Yes." She said that she thought that we did not want to talk to or visit them. They were very sad until we came to them. I shared the gospel with the older woman (at least in her 60's), another woman (looked to be at least 40's), and a girl about 16 years old. They all said that they wanted to pray to ask Jesus into their hearts. I led them in prayer. As we finished another young lady came up to where we were. I thought, "I'll gladly share the gospel again for her." John talked to her and she said that she knew Jesus as her Savior. I am so grateful that John was sensitive to the Holy Spirit to go greet these ladies. So to all seven of these precious people I gave them notebooks and the gospel of John to copy. We will be meeting with them every Monday morning to disciple them. From today's experience I learned two reasons why Jesus sent out the disciples in pairs (Luke 10:1); so that they can encourage each other, and one can see how God is working when the other does not. John and I make a good ministry team. After we left John said, "We are the most dangerous creatures on earth! We have the Spirit of God in us and we chase the devil away with the gospel!" It was amazing to see the Lord at work today in my own neighborhood!

Happy 9 months in Africa! -it's a good day-

The past 3 Saturdays i've been helping out with a Feeding Scheme in my neighborhood. My friend Tess & i go a little early so we can play games with the kids, then we hand out the food that some other students from my school had been getting together. There are about 200 bana (children) that show up, and 5-10 students/teachers to help serve.
Once the bana are done eating, we wash ALL the dishes; (cups, spoons, bowls.. it all adds up!). Tess & i then go play some futball (soccer) with the boys. We enjoy it a lot & i know they think it's funny watching us lekgowa (white person) play.

Well today me & Luke were gonna go, but we woke up to rainy weather. i decided that if it didn't clear up by 9:30 we wouldn't go. Part of me didn't want to go anyways.
9:30 came & it was just sprinkling, so i thought we wouldn't go. Dad & i got into the car to go get some food & on our way i saw some of the kids, who i see each weekend, head to the building. i knew then that if they can get out in this rainy weather so could i. So i had dad turn back around & take me home.
Luke & i started walking the 15 minute walk to the building. We had our umbrella so we were fine & it stopped raining anyways.
We got there & started to get food together with 4 other students & 2 teachers. There were only 90 kids today, but it was still good & fun!! It started to rain once we got the food back inside. We washed dishes & because it was rainy we didn't get to play futball today.

The Lord is so good! Part of me really didn't want to go out & do this Feeding Scheme today, but the Lord had other plans & got my attention when i saw those precious kids walking along the road! And even Luke didn't feel like going, but on our walk over there i told him, "Luke thanks for going. Just remember the Lord is gonna bless you for doing this!" :)

Oh! hehe. on our way home i decided we would ride a combie (minibus) back to the house, because Luke has only been in one once - and it's less than 50 cents to ride. We waited less than 10 minutes on the side of the road. One was coming so i flagged it down & we got in asking if they could take us to 'Ntshe River Lodge'. Luke & i were the only people in it (surprisingly) & the driver & his helper were talking to us, asking what school we went to, how old we were, what our favourite weather is, ect. Hahaha! it was soo fun! They thought i was 21, then asked if Luke was my son. i told them i was only 16, almost 17, & that Luke was my brother. i guess they were shocked two kids were riding in the combie err something. They dropped us off at the end of the road & while crossing the street, the driver yells to us, 'Tell mommy i said hi!!' . it was very fun & i enjoy so much!

Love Kb

A Disciple who Disciples

Last week at one of our Bible studies in the village of Sashe MmaBosele asked about the Lord's Supper. We discussed it and I told her that we would do that this week (today). John and I went to pick up the two young ladies who have been coming the last few weeks. When we got there one of the lady's mother wanted to come too. She said she wanted to hear more about Jesus. When we got back to the house there was another young lady. This was her first time to attend. I shared the gospel with them very thoroughly and these two ladies prayed to trust Christ. I told them that a person who does not know Christ should not observe the Lord's Supper. We then studied what God's word said about the ordinance. I wanted them to know when Jesus had His disciples observe this worshipful experience and how to prepare one's heart to do it. We studied in 1 Corinthians 11 and Luke 22. They understood these truths very well. It was a great experience having the Lord's Supper with Africans for the first time. From here we went to MmaDitsela's home. Janet and her mother were there. Janet has been studying in the gospel of John. She is taking her time as she copies this gospel. She is studying God's word very carefully. She asks very specific questions, such as, "Explain this verse to me so I can understand it", "What does this verse mean?", If someone asks me about this verse, how do I explain it to them?" Janet is every mission@ry's dream. Not only is she growing in her faith and knowledge in Christ, but she is taking what she is learning and sharing it with others! She is being discipled and she is discipling others. Wow! This is God's word in action.

Just for Fun...

Sites around Bulawayo...we hung out with Uncle Duncan and Aunt Tanya...visited an Orphanage for abandoned animals...played football in the yard...dreamed about driving a vintage VW...walked the streets of Bulawayo and bargained for goodies!

Ministry Trip to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

The home for street children.

The children are being tutored so that they will be able to enter back into the school system.

Kb sharing her testimony.

Francis and Tatjana in the kitchen.

More lessons..

Bulawayo Baptist Church will celebrate 80 year anniversary in October.

People who came for the free meal that our family helped prepare.

Luke chopping his cabbage.

Kb ready to work.

I got to pray with this woman.

Several of the kids were hiding behind this building...which is part of their home.

One of the ladies we prayed for...she told us she did not want to live like she does.

The adults met inside to have a Bible study.

Kb and Luke playing games outside...

We prayed for this lady to find a job.

Luke and Kb played Ring Around the Rosies with the little ones.

This little girl lives here in this place.

Walking out into the bush...visiting people who live in the Shanty Town and praying for them.

Zimbabwe Ministry Trip Highlights...and Prayer Requests...

The two little girls screamed and cried when Florence had to take them back to their mother. They had run away with their older brother and ended up on the streets of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Bulawayo Baptist Church owns a house that will allow the street kids to live. Florence takes care of them....but these two little ones were too young (preschoolers) to qualify. Their mother is blind and she uses them to beg in the streets. Their brother will get at least one good meal a day, shelter and some tutoring so that he can get back into school. Please pray for Florence as she checks out other resources for these sisters.

We learned about this situation on our recent ministry trip to Zimbabwe. The Boys Home has about 15 youth living there....when we visited, they were divided up into groups which met with volunteers who were teaching arithmetic and reading. Kb was able to share with the children during their break....many of them listen to violent music. She talked to them about the consequences of the type of music we listen to and how it affects us spiritually. We gave the children a new CD of Christian music to trade for an old CD. It was good for them to hear from someone close to their age. Please pray that the children will listen to the new music that honors God and not violence.

Our family also visited a Shanty town and prayed with several families. We walked from shelter to shelter and found someone to talk to and ask questions. Then we took turns praying with them. Most of these people at one time had their own home and a good job. But the political situation has left them homeless. They have found scraps of metal and other materials to put together and are squatters on someone else's land. The biggest request was for a job. Please pray for these people in the Squatters' Village. Pray for jobs so that they can feed their families.

We also did a Bible study in Squatters' Village with the adults inside a building while Kb and Luke played different games outside with the children. One of the favorites games was Goose, Goose, Lion (Duck, Duck, Goose). Please pray that these children will understand how much the Lord loves them. Pray that they will have enough to eat and that they will have the fees to go to school. Pray for the adults that they will be a bold witness for the Lord to their friends and family.

Got cabbage? Kb, Luke and I (Kim) chopped cabbage for 2 hours! We went to Bulawayo Baptist Church on Tuesday morning and helped prepare a noon meal for the homeless. Randy was able to visit with the folks who started showing up about 9:30 am. We got to help serve a great meal to about 150 people. It really was a joy to hear them sing and dance during the worship time before the meal. One of the deacons gave a short message. Pray that these people will not only be fed physically....but spiritually as well. Pray they will hunger and thirst after the Most High God. Pray for Bulawayo Baptist Church and volunteers that make this ministry possible.

We do want to thank you for your prayers, packages and emails....it is so wonderful that we are in a place that has the internet (usually!) and can keep in contact with our friends and family.

Thank you for the prayers for our trip to Zim...God kept us safe and we were able to have some family time while doing ministry together.

Thank you for the prayers for Kb and Luke's schooling...Kb did great on her exams and Luke is doing well with his assignments for homeschool.

The Lord is keeping us healthy and safe. We know we are in His hands and can really tell that in this darkness...there is a Light...and that God's people are keeping us before the throne in prayer.

We love to hear from you all. God bless!