Field News
A Note From the Founders
Department: Love Botswana
At last we are able to send you an update of all things that are happening here at Love Botswana! As you can see from all the headings, it has been a busy few months! We hope you enjoy reading about your area of interest. There are so many ways to help the work here at LBOM. Through your giving, coming to help, prayers and encouragement, we can all have a part in this great Nation of Botswana. What a privilege it is to serve in a nation where we can proclaim God’s love even in the government schools! Botswana is a role model for all of Africa and it is a very special time to be a part of the impact that is taking place. Vision 2016 states Botswana’s goals as a nation by the year 2016. We are so glad to have each of these areas included in our work here at Love Botswana Outreach Mission Trust. We hope you will feel a part of the work while reading this issue of E-Update.
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LBBI/OIS dorm nearly complete
Department: LBBI/OIS
The New Boarding Facility is in the finishing stages of construction. The interior has been painted and the cabinets are in place. The dome is ready to be thatched and the furnishings need to be placed inside. We are putting finishing touches on all of the different elements as well as tying in the building to the rest of the school via a walkway. We anticipate that the project will be complete very soon and that we will be available to begin housing students in this dorm by the beginning of 2008!
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Okavango International School Update
Department: OIS
The slab has been laid for the new sports arena and is currently being used everyday for sports by the students. Hockey and Basketball are gaining a competitive edge at OIS!
We welcome the arrival of another school bus for which we are truly grateful! The enrollment of the school continues to grow as we have opportunity to daily impact the lives of the future leaders of this great Nation. With growth comes challenges and we face the challenge of seeing 2 more school buildings become a reality. The buildings will cost $300K each.
At long last, the half Olympic competition quality swimming pool has been funded by a generous donor who was here on Safari and wanted to leave something behind! The school is buzzing about it and grounds are preparing for this wonderful addition to our school and community!
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OIS Scholarship Fund Launched
Department: OIS
Help empower future leaders in Botswana by donating to the OIS scholarship fund and help a student through this school whose aim is to raise up strong leaders with godly character to lead the next generation. Students await funding to attend. OIS is a licensed Cambridge Examination Centre and is from K3 to Form 5 (12 th grade)
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LBBI second term report from Director Michael Walker
Department: LBBI
Students went through the Life and Teachings of Christ, homiletics, praise and worship and ministry ethnics/insights during Term 2. At LBBI, we are very intentional about teaching classes that will give a solid Biblical foundation that can practically be applied to ministry that challenge students in personal growth. We have heard great reports from students this last month as the term was wrapping up, as evidence that students are being challenged. Among the students are some of the pastors to the rural areas who make the long journey during the week to make classes while traveling faithfully back to their churches for the weekend. Partners in the USA have assisted with the tuition of these individuals to assist in equipping them to work in these difficult areas.
Students spend time in the remote areas doing their practical experience. Results from those trips are outstanding, both in the lives they touch and their own lives that are even more challenged by the needs they impact.
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A testimony from a current LBBI student
Department: LBBI
The following is a personal testimony from one of the LBBI students, Ntemogang Mmeke. He is a second year Bible school student. He is a strong leader and is committed to the call of God on his life. He helps with translation of Bible School exams and materials for our rural pastors who speak the Humbukushu Language.
I am a second year Bible student at Love Botswana Bible Institute and I'm very glad to be able to share the great things the Lord has done for me.
I am the first born in my family with both parents and 2 brothers living in Xakao village, in the North-western part of Botswana. My parents have been leading an African traditional church in this area since I was at Primary School. But me and my brother couldn’t go with them. In 2001, I completed my Form 5 (12th gradel) and fell under the influence of some ungodly friends. I got involved in drugs, alcohol, idolatry, and fornication in which resulted in one lady becoming pregnant. Both my parents and the parents of this lady allowed us to stay together, saying it was acceptable according to our culture. But thank God, in 2003 He showed me the way to the cross and I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. I left drugs, alcohol, idolatry, theft, but couldn’t recognize that I wasn’t married to this lady. In February 2006 I enrolled at Love Botswana Bible Institute and met the Director of the Bible School, Pastor Michael Walker. I thank God that he wasn’t harsh with me, but gently corrected me until I came to understand that I was co-habiting in a relationship that did not include the Lord. It hindered my relationship with God. I thank God that He supplied me with strength to overcome the ignorance which is keeping others from the truth and an intimate fellowship with God.
Now I am free from sin and blessed in heart and spirit. I am looking forward to being blessed with a proper marriage and establishment of a pure family with the woman who is now my fiancé.
At the Bible School I feel blessed with an understanding of God’s Word. I’m revived in spirit and looking forward to live a fruitful life in the body of Christ. The lives of the teachers here are serving as a great example to me.
I am being equipped for the Lord’s ministry and my prayer is for effectiveness in the rural churches ministry and for trained leaders to have a heart to serve the rural population.
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Maun Village Church is touching lives
Pastor Michael tells the story:
Department: Village Church
A year and half ago Brother Graham attempted suicide several times. Several of these attempts should have succeeded but God’s mercy and grace kept him from being successful. Graham was a man with a lot of hurt and anger. He was a drug addict and alcoholic. Loosing everything, including his family, he saw no hope or purpose to his life. Then one morning while he was attempting suicide once again he heard a knock on the door. It was from one of our pastor from Sehitwa who had come to pay him a visit. Once Pastor Sonny realized what was going on, he immediately felt that he was over his head and wanted to retreat but he felt strongly he was to stay. The two ended up having a very lengthy conversation which resulted in Graham committing his life to Christ. Graham wanted to attend our bible school but had no money to attend. He prayed about this and a person from the community gave him a check for his full tuition. Graham is now in his third term of Bible school. He is active in the prison ministry of LBOM; He works for the mission and serves others in the ministry every chance he gets.
We recently brought 180 members in from our rural churches for a conference. We were in desperate need to have someone head up all the cooking (all cooking is done over an open fire in large black pots) He was the also the chief cook for Teen Mania this winter. Graham stepped up to the challenge.
Graham loves bible school. He has a hunger for the word of God and a passion for the lost, especially the down and out. A year and half ago Graham was fortunate just to make it through the day but now he is training to be a pastor. God is good!
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Teen Mania and Outreach Season
Department: Love Botswana
Under the new leadership of Maureen Milham, and her team of 5 wonderful summer staff/interns and Graham as the chief cook, Outreach Season was a great success! With various teams coming to spread God’s Word all over Northern Botswana, we were able to serve in many different villages including some of the remote villages of the Okavango Delta-- Xakao, Kauwi, Tsao, Etsha 6 and Etsha 1. Every year we are joyously blessed with the opportunity to deliver Samaritan’s Purse boxes to children across Botswana. These boxes are prepared as “Christmas gifts” for children all around the world by Christians in the USA. This season, we gave out over 3000 Samaritan Purse Boxes. One of the teachers at a school in the village of Tsao, where we passed out the boxes this year said, “You have no idea what you’ve done here. You think you do, but you don’t. You have blessed every member of this village by making our children smile.”
For the 15th year, Teen Mania brought teams in June and July. It was a blessing to watch the young people passionately reach out to the people of this beautiful land and in turn experience the joy of giving of themselves in practical ways. The first team was able to spend most of their trip in the bush ministering in 2 remote villages. Village Discovery Week touches children through music, drama, games, HIV/Aids health talks all directing them to the truth in the gospel. Teams showed the Jesus film and enjoyed hut-to-hut ministry. The second team was able to stay in Maun, hosting the Vacation Bible School at the Village Church which touched many children. They also spent time in the bush doing Village Discovery Week, the Jesus film and hut-to-hut ministry. Some Teen Mania missionaries chose to stay in-country for the whole 2 months. This year those young people were able to spend some time working in the Refugee Camp in Dukwi. This is a camp filled with the lost and desperate people of many of the surrounding nations who have been exiled as a result of the danger in their own country. The average African refugee spends 15 years as a refugee and we were humbled and grateful for the opportunity to minister the love of Christ to this gathering of foreign refugees.
This year, LBOM was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of the World Race. The World Race is a mission trip experience for adults; that is sponsored by Adventures in Missions. This small group of fourteen was able to do market place ministry, ministry here with LBOM staff, prison ministry in both Maun and Boro prison and hut-to-hut ministry in the town as well as serve in many other areas.
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Reach4Life: Impacting Ngamiland
Department: Mercy Ministries
LBOM is in partnership with the International Bible Society, South Africa who founded the R4L as a program of Abstinence by creating a New Testament which was specially designed by African youth for African youth. The first section covers “Suicide sex” this takes youths through a Sexual Revolution. The aim of the prevention department is to educate young people in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention though. The Reach4 Life team holds clubs each week at the various schools, where young people come and have a safe place for them to ask questions and get advice from mentors they can trust. Last month the team had the opportunity to speak at morning assemblies, reaching over 5000 students between the various schools.
In September 300 young people marched down the streets of Maun to make public their stand for abstinence till marriage. The evening followed with awards for outstanding students in the program, a time of reflection with candles held high to show individuals’ fresh commitment to purity. A mural was made with the hand prints of each young person representing the “Palm of Victory”. It is a pledge to abstinence: “I have committed myself to abstinence to marriage. “ And “I will commit my life to Christ to give me the power to abstain.”
Here is an example from a young lady of what the Prevention department and Reach4Life is doing in the lives of young people in Botswana:
"Reach4life really changed my life a lot and it also made my dream come true. I have always wanted this kind of club that I will get to meet different people to discuss issues that affect us as youth. This also helps us to have that chance to know Jesus and be committed to him at the same time. Reach4life made me keep my promise of abstaining and I am able to stand confidently for myself and knowing that God really loves me and care about my destiny. I always feel that I am important and I have to stand up and be a responsible somebody.
The bible says we are the salt of the earth and the light to the world. I will never give up because God is always with us and He will take control of everything. Reach4life has taught me to have a good relationship with others and prepared me to serve God love to humankind. (Make this bold) I have learnt about abstinence and I will wait because its worth the wait. I imagine of that day when I will tell my husband to be, “I loved you before I met you and made a decision to wait” Bibby Ntheetsang, Form 3, Moeti Junior School
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Help us imact more young people and turn the tide of HIV/Aids in Botswana
Department: Mercy Ministries
Despite the program’s lack of funding, the staff of R4L have made the little bit that is there stretch in many creative ways. This program is so far reaching and impacts the very future of Botswana. Budget costs for year 2008- $100,000. Breakdown available upon request.
It is estimated that without a major behavioral change in the next few years 80% of the population of Botswana will be youths (age 30 and under).
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Shelter For Abandoned Babies to open soon
Department: Mercy Ministries
Peolwane House |
As babies continue to be dumped and abandoned, we can make a difference. As we await final approval locally to open our doors, the baby house is ready and waiting to house young children who need shelter. Local businesswoman Tersia Stellenberg who owns several Funeral Homes around the country has provided a house and done all the renovations at her own cost so that we have a place to start our Shelter. Together we have buried babies who have been dumped and not survived. We want this to be a “safe place” where people can come for help. The house is Peolwane, which means Sparrow, named after Tersia’s daughter. Please pray with us as we go through this final stage.
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OVC Preschool gets funding for new building
Department: Mercy Ministries
One of our long-term dreams has been that of providing a support services program to families with orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC’s). This program would include an early childhood development program that would give those children getting ready to enter 1st grade a “jumpstart.” Last year this program supported 16 children and 120 total individuals in families with food, clothing, psychosocial and spiritual support as well as assistance in accessing government and health services available to them. The early childhood program operated informally under trees and in a tiny room. In order to continue and receive formal support, we needed operational funds as well as funds for equipment and expansion of facilities. Several generous donors have stepped forward to make this dream a reality. Watch for news as this program develops in 2008.
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Fire By Night: Visits from rappers and movie stars
Department: Village Church
Under the wonderful leadership of Pastor Gary Pelotshweu and his new bride Stacey, Fire by Night the Friday night community youth outreach, is forever moving and offering events to excite, energize and feed the youth of our Village. One night we were given the privilege of hearing the testimony of Frazer Buchan, the son of the man who wrote Faith Like Potatoes. We were also able to watch the video and see what God can do when we put our faith in Him. Shannon and Lindsey Shore visited from the US, bringing with them their exciting Hip Hop ministry. To see our youth dancing, shouting and getting excited about Christian HipHop was amazing. Everyone seemed to enjoy the blends and rhymes evident in the Shores music. Each lyric was saturated with moral truths and the Word of God. On Sunday mornings 75-100 teens receive solid teaching on how to live out their faith. They are experiencing new levels of maturity in their faith and in their values and as a result, are impacting the country as strong leaders and role models to their generation!
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Camp Meeting 2007: The Outpouring
Department: Village Church
Our annual Camp Meeting dubbed “The Outpouring” was held in early September. More than 150 members of our rural churches were in attendance pushing our numbers each evening to more than 700 . It was an amazing weekend as Dr. Goodwil Shana, Pearl Kupe Love Botswana Board Member and favorite of our congregation, and Pastor Jerry ministered each evening. Dr. Shana from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, pastors a church of over 4000. The Holy Spirit was present as the Lord touched many lives. It was a great time of commitment and renewal as a church body. Many Pastors attended from the community and were encouraged to take the Outpouring back to their own churches! Over 50 people from the remote areas were baptized!
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Women's ministry and attendance explosion at the Village Church
Department: Village Church
Women’s ministry held a retreat where 100 women attended. The monthly meetings are growing steadily. We have had guest speakers from the mission and from visiting missionaries, practical outreach, craft classes, food, and wonderful fellowship as the women are growing closer together as sisters, mothers and daughters of the church.
Church growth is multiplying here at the Village Church. Every Sunday people are coming and finding hope in Christ Countless testimonies of how God is helping people in their every day lives is so encouraging. Our children, youth and adult services grow in size each week. Sometimes we wonder if we will all fit in the service the following Sunday! It is such a blessing to be a part of the ever expanding family of God!
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Open hearts and deep desire at the Boro Prison
Department: Village Church
The discipleship ministry at the Boro Prison has been extremely moving. The intense desire in the inmates to know more of God and the commitment to absolute holiness inspires everyone who sees them. Each week on Wednesday morning our small team enters the prison and is greeted by smiling men who are eager to hear what God would speak to them that morning. There were a few weeks when our team was unable to go and the discipleship was cut off for a short while. Upon returning the team arrived to find the men in the prison already gathered and praising God and ministering to each other. These men were not willing to wait for our team to arrive before they entered the presence of God, they decided to press in with or without our team and seek the face of God no matter what!
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Love Botswana Documentary Now Online
Department: Love Botswana
The Love Botswana Documentary that was filmed and produced by Gorilla Pictures last year has been uploaded to Google Video. You can view it online by clicking on this link Love Botswana Documentary. If you would like to order a DVD of this documentary please email dvd@lovebotswana.org.
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Missionary/Volunteer Posts Open for Love Botswana Outreach Mission
Department: Love Botswana
Full time Posts- Commitment of 2 or more years
- Business Director
- Human Resources Manager
- Information Technology
-Web Developer
-Multi-media
-Computer Tech
- Radio
-Producing
-Broadcasting
- Boarding House Masters/Parents
- Educational Missionaries (teachers)
- Office Managers
- Executive Level Administrative Assistants
- Auto Mechanic/Transportation Manager
- General Repair/Maintenance Manager
- Youth Ministry Director
- Children’s Ministry Director
- Outreach
- Finance Mangers
Posts Short Term- Available Now!! Commitment of 2 weeks- 3 months.
- Elementary Education Teachers for OIS. Some subsidy offered.
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Dates for these placements:
-January 15-April 15
-May 15-August 15
-September 15- December 15
- Administrative/Office Positions
- Radio/IT/Web Department
- Maintenance Positions
- Must have some construction experience
- Children’s Ministry with All Nations Village Church
- Must have previous experience with children’s ministry
Available Soon!!
- Assistance with Childcare for Baby House
-Social Work background preferred
-Previous care in children recommended
- Pre-school and Early Childhood Education Teachers for OVC Educational School
- Working with Orphans and Vulnerable Children in a “head start” type of program to get them ready for school.
- Dates for these placements are January 15-April 15/ May 15-August 15/ September 15- December 15.
Summer Staff Opportunities
Internship Opportunities - Available starting January 2009
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It's a small world - A team effort
Department: Love Botswana
As Missionary Wayne Meyers says, “Some must go, some must help go and some must let go.” For those of us who are serving on the field, we are compelled to go. For those who help by prayer and finances, we couldn’t do it without you! And for those who have released children and parents to serve on the field, you have also had a part in the great commission!
Thank you for all who have had a part in any way in this great nation of Botswana. As a team, it is a small world and we can make a difference!
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