A sweet surprise for Christmas!

Merry Christmas

It's been a long time since I have posted anything on our blog (since we returned to The States on furlough) but I thought Christmas is a great time for reflection.  We've been home for over 2 months and a lot has happened.  Starting off with a great week at STF for their annual mission's conference and at the same time a conference with "Close Connections", the group of churches that support the ongoing mission effort through Open Baptist Church in Botswana.  Pastor Norman and his wife Gabi, along with Pastor Modise attended this conference from Botswana. I visited our son Greg and was then priviledged to spend a week at my best friend's mountain home in North Carolina.  Jeff and I then travelled to South Haven, MI to visit with my "2nd parents", Tom & Dorann Fleming, & then over to Northern Ill. to visit Jeff's family, including his Mom, 2 sisters and their families.  After that, back to Tampa for a week to visit with friends there and then up to Jacksonville to spend 2 very relaxing weeks with my parents, Larry & Laura Hills, at Penney Farms Retirement Community.  While there, our daughter Nicole with her husband Kurt & our other daughter Linda with our grandbaby Raya flew in to visit. Then back to Tampa to spend Christmas with daughter Diana and son Jon.  Each time we returned to Tampa we were put up in luxuious accomodations at Bob & Zan Walter's guest house. As I type this now, Diana and Jeff are busy cooking dinner consisting of French onion soup, prime rib, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and a few more tempting items.  I have already gained 8 pounds from all our eating out so am looking forward to getting back home just to loose that extra weight!  We are listening to Christmas music and enjoying family time.  Although all our travelling has been somewhat hectic and even tiring at times we realize how lucky we are to have friends that care for us and family that loves us.  However, in all the busyness we try not to forget that there are many people that are not eating much if anything today and there are babies crying that have no family to hold them.  And even worse, there are many people that do not have the comfort of knowing our Lord, Jesus Christ and the security that brings.  Knowing this, we are very anxious to return to Botswana, not only to reconnect with our church family there but also to continue to reach out in faith and follow the path that God is leading us down.  We reflect on the message that Pastor Craig gave in last night's Christmas Eve Service.  And remember that along with all the peace & tranquility surrounding the birth of Jesus there was also much suffering.  But the salvation message that comes with His birth is meant for all and at this time of year as we celebrate His coming we should be reminded especially that we need to work harder than ever to spead the Good News to all the Earth!  Merry Christmas from The Sukup's in Botswana temporarily in Tampa, Florida!

T.I.M.E. Ministries visits Botswana

A group of 5 people from T.I.M.E. Ministries recently visited Botswana.  Lead by Pastor Larry Wright, their mission is to evangelize thru the use of drama (short skits) and puppets.  Jeff took them to Molepolole, a large village about 50km from Gaborone, where they used impact evangelism in local marketplaces, prisons and hospitals to reach the local people.  They were joined by 3 people from Old Naledi who helped them with the puppets and skits.  Pastor David Thokwane from Calvary Baptist Church in Molepolole and his wife joined them.  T.I.M.E. Ministries trains the local Pastors and leaders on impact evangelism and the many that were lead to Christ filled out cards so Pastor David will be able to follow up with them.  Hopefully they will connect with his church (or another local church), and continue on with their walk with The Lord thru discipleship and fellowship with other Christians.

PET recipient visits OBC!

Just an update on our latest PET recipient, Ditshupo Mandafu. To our surprise and joy, last Sunday he showed up at Open Baptist Church for the 8am service. He got there in his new PET and was very thankful to have it. The only problem he has been having was that his backside was getting a little sore from continually sitting in the PET. The Lord does provide: he connected with one of the ushers, Bryson, who works in the "prosthetics and orthodics" department at Princess Marina Hospital. He has promised to fit him with a specially made orthopedic cushion to help alleviate this problem. We are very thankful that he is making use of his new transportation and especially that he visited the Church! We are also thankful to Bryson for his demonstration of Christian love. Quite often when Jeff is driving to work, he sees Ditshupo sitting outside Choppies (similar to 7-Eleven) selling phone cards. We continually pray that the PET will allow him to have a changed life and it will help draw him nearer to our Lord, Jesus Christ!

Coincidence, I think not.

It has been a busy week at OBC with our missions conference and great things were happening. Fellowship and networking amongst the various ministries along with building ministry awareness and understanding within the congregation are evident. Then a battery of attacks seem to come. First the Church's only photo copier breaks down with more copying still to be done. Then the vehicle we're using to transport the Johnson Ferry Baptist Church team around in is having several mechanical problems and this is just after we had the van serviced last week. Then I accidentally left my side bag with my passport, credit cards, licenses and cash in the van while the team went to the mall and it was stolen as someone broke into the vehicle. Then as we are setting up for our Saturday evening fellowship and service, the lock to the kitchen is defected, looks like a key was broken off in it and none of the electrical outlets in the room will work so coffee can't be made. Now that it is 10pm and I desire to get a good night's sleep, the neighbor is having a party with music blairing across the yard. I'm pretty certain we have come under attack. All I can think of doing is praying and preserving in Him and His word, to stay the coarse and forget all that is behind as there is a greater hope in Him alone. Please pray with us.

Tea 4 Three

For several weeks now Thato, a young man who attends Open Baptist Church with us, and I (Jeff) have been meeting in the mornings once a week. We are reading through John Piper's book "Don't Waste Your Life" We had taken a short term mission trip out to the dessert village of Mantshwabisi back in July and found a joy in one another's company. Thato came to know Christ when he was a teenager, completed university studies and now has been working for the Ministry of Finance for several years. He is surrounded by unbelievers at work and does notice that others see a difference in him. He feels God has something more planned for his life. On this occasion of meeting, Pastor Andrew of Mosojane Baptist Church was in Gaborone for the OBC Missions Conference and joined us in the park for tea and biscuits. The park is a beautiful setting with lovely foliage and song birds right outside the president's residence. Please pray for Thato to discern God's will in his life and that Thato will stay the course. Thato is in the center of photo.

Missions Conference

Matthew 28:19-20  "Go therefore and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Today was the start of the first annual Open Baptist Church Missions Conference here in Gaborone. It was great to see all these ministry leaders coming together to hear the vision of the church. A missionary from Uganda said he has been in ministry for 20 years and has never attended a conference such as this. He couldn't believe the church was hosting it and got very excited when we expressed that our pray was for the church body to grow in it's awareness and understanding of our ministry partners and to invite them to participate in their ministries. After two days of meetings with our partners the church body will be invited to attend

 two days of fellowship, food and services.

Pastor Bryant Wright and others from

 Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Atlanta,

Georgia are here to encourage us as we

 pursue God's call in our lives.

                                                                            

World Missions

Last Sunday Pastor Norman preached on Acts 13:1-4. When he read verse 3, his comments were "this was the beginning of world missions". He then went on to say that the Church needs to deliberately send out missionaries and we have fallen short of the mark! He said that in the life of OBC, we had sent out many short term missions, & supported many mission groups, but had never sent out a full time missionary. This was de ja vu to me. It was about 1 year ago that I heard the same thing from our Pastor in Tampa. At that time, Pastor Craig went on to ask us if we would consider going to Botswana, Africa, as the first fully supported, full time missionaries from South Tampa Fellowship. He wanted to take our Church to a new level, the next step up from sending short term mission groups. As Missions Director at STF, Jeff had been on many mission trips but Pastor Craig saw his passion for missions and wanted STF to quit "falling short of the mark"! Because of Pastor Norman's & Craig's insight, we were able to follow our passion and obey God's calling. And as a Church at OBC, we are joining our fellow congregation in praying about sending out our own full time missionary to the field. What an exciting time! Help us pray for "Kez" that she would see God's will for her life and follow obediently in whatever direction He has for her.

A recipient for a PET is found!

My car has been in the shop for over a week so last Saturday I dropped Jeff off at work so I could use the car to go grocery shopping. When I picked him up he had a PET which someone had borrowed to show their Rotary group and loaded it in the SUV to take home. As we were leaving the Church we drove past a man in a wheelchair pushing himself down the long road from the Church to the main road. We could see that he obviously had no legs which was the reason for the wheelchair. We looked at each other, and then immediately turned around to talk with the man. His name was Ditshupo Mandefu and 2 years ago had become very ill. He developed gangrene in both legs. Because of this they both had to be amputated. After speaking with him for quite some time we decided to visit his home to further evaluate his need for a PET. He lives in Mura Pula and his only means of transportation is the wheelchair he was using. We have previously seen him most Sunday's pushing himself up a very steep dirt road to go to a church near ours. He sells phone cards for a living and most days tries to get himself over to the nearest shopping center to do this. After much evaluation, Jeff decided he would be an excellent candidate for a PET and asked him if he would like this. His face lit up with a big smile and it was quite obvious that he was very pleased to accept. By this time, many people from the area had assembled to see what was going on. Jeff told everyone that we were donating the PET to Ditshupo as a gift from Jesus Christ. He also explained about the volunteers in Tampa, Florida who gave their time and money to build this PET and send it specifically for someone in need like Ditshupo to help make his life a little easier. We left Ditshupo with a huge smile on his face and also with a huge smile in our hearts.

Cultural training!

(April & Samantha visit the farmer's market)

This week we had a special visitor to our home for 3 days for "cultural training" weekend. Actually, we weren't the ones getting the training, we were helping Samantha Sylvia Myambo with her homework from a missions course she is taking. Samantha is an intern with Open Baptist Church, working with the children and also taking Seminary classes. Her assignment was to visit with a family from a culture different than her own. Samantha is from Zimbabwe and her culture is vastly different than ours. However, I think we ended up learning as much from her as she did from us. Isn't that what usually happens on mission trips?! She arrived on Friday with a very open mind, willing to try anything; from food to pets, she really got an education. Since we attend the same church, we were already friends with Samantha, but soon learned that there was so much more to her than we knew. What a sweet, beautiful, kind hearted, Christian woman! She had let us know ahead that she was very afraid of dogs, which presented a problem since we own 2 high energy, spoiled 4 legged creatures. However, they soon won her over and I think she left realizing what great companians they make and why we allow them to have the run of the house, inside and out! She even gave them both a bath, and commented "my Mother will never believe this"! Well Mom, believe it! Because we have the pictures to prove it (check out our photo link). We spent the weekend cooking, shopping, & relaxing just as we normally would and Sam pitched right in. Samantha went home today and we miss her infectious smile already! Come visit soon Sam. Lucky and Sophie miss you!

"Petunia" for Elizabeth

On Thursday we had 3 visitors from Namibia spend the night. They were on their way home from a Conference in South Africa and stopped off to see us midway. Mike Dunne has been in Namibia for 2 years with Missionary Ventures and Nan Parker (along with her daughter, Elizabeth) also with Missionary Ventures has been there for over 4 years. She had adopted her daughter a few years back from an orphanage in Namibia. Jeff had gotten to know them when he had taken a mission team from our church (South Tampa Fellowship) in 2006 and then returned to visit in 2009. Elizabeth has lost the use of both her legs (not that it has slowed her down) and we had just received a shipment of 6 PET's when an American family recently moved to Gaborone and sent a container with their household goods. The PET workshop in Tampa went the extra mile to make sure the PET's got on the container since there was a little extra space. Jeff decided that there could be no better recipient for a PET than Elizabeth because her mother often has to carry her from the nearest town to their home when a car is not available. This way, she'll be able to peddle herself and even have room to help her mom with some of the groceries! We can not describe how excited Elizabeth was to receive her PET which she promptly named "Petunia". What an inspiring example of how The Lord plans everything to the last detail, long before we even know what is needed!

Construction at Old Naledi

Last week a mission team of three men from Alice Drive Baptist Church of Sumter, South Carolina, came to Gaborone to partner with Old Naledi Fellowship to begin construction on a new kitchen at the church. Open Baptist Church (OBC) in Gaborone came along side to offer logistical support. Ajay Gotru, the church builder from OBC helped Jeff to coordinate efforts in planning and ordering materials, and with some local help, the construction began. This past week they were able to lay footers and pour a slab where the kitchen will be located. Over the past few years, a feeding station in Old Naledi has been operating with financial support from Manna Worldwide through a partnership with "Close Connections" out of Atlanta. This feeding station was located a short distance from Old Naledi Fellowship, but with the new kitchen it will be moved to the church grounds allowing for a closer connection with the church. This next week, a group from Freedom Fellowship of Greer, South Carolina, also partnering thru Close Connections has arrived to continue the construction.

Just another day in Africa....

Interesting things can be seen by the roadside as we travel thru a South African game reserve to take members of a recent mission team to the lodge for a few days r & r. We try to keep our camera handy all the time although the more common site in the villages are herds of goats or cattle rather than the above photos. However, since there are no fences, you never know what you might "run into"! It really is a beautiful place and we are continually reminded of how awesome God is and how intricate a design He has woven in our world.

A Full House

For the last 2 weeks we have had a family of 7 staying with us. Scott & Tonya Shipes have moved to Botswana with 5 of their 6 children and are living with us until September 1 when their house will be available. They are partnering with Open Baptist Church, coming from South Carolina, to work with the children's ministry. Their oldest daughter is in the States at University while their 5 boys are with them here. Hunter - 16, Chandler - 13, Parker - 11, and very active 5 year old twins - Joshua and Joseph. It has been lots of fun having them here but also quite exhausting trying to keep up with cooking, laundry, cleaning, driving them around, and did I mention laundry?, and trying to get them ready to move into their home. Fortunately their kids are very well mannered and Tonya is very good at washing dishes. And our 2 dogs have never been happier because they now have 5 boys to play with them! But can you imagine how much laundry there is with 9 people in the house! It really has been a pleasure helping them acclimate to African culture. Pastor Norman's wife, Gabi did such a great job for us when we came here that we can only learn from her and try and do as well!

Last 3 weeks

Spain has won the World Cup! Many other things have occurred in this time as well. We traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa several times. Once for April's doctor appointment and then again to get a prescription the following week. Then a third time to the Johannesburg airport to pick up a Campus Crusade for Christ team of 23 college students. We had a motor coach bus that another church loaned to us. On the way down we had a flat tire, then on the way from the airport to the Baptist convention we got lost in the city of 8 million people and had an hour detour; hey at least it wasn't nearly as long as Moses was lost:). The Baptist center sits on a huge hill in town which gives a great view. We have spent several days with the team visiting the feeding center in Old Naledi. Did you hear Spain won the World Cup? That is all the talk and actually I am sort of glad it is over. I just think if that huge group could focus their thoughts on Jesus and His teaching. What a difference that could make. The changed lives, the transformation, the healing, the blessings would go on and on. Leaving Saturday for the desert; this maybe a Moses experience. God Bless

Yesterday we took a trip out to the desert village of Mantshwabisi to meet with Ms. Angie May a missionary with Reaching the Unreached (RTU). She is leading a small church there and we went to join in the service and see her ministry. What a blessing to be among the several there worshipping in Tsetswana; fortunately we had a translator for most of the service. This photo is of church member, an elderly man who is partially blind. He is in the red hat standing in front of his home. It is a mud hut with thatched roof which needs to be replaced. There is a team of college students coming in July and prayerfully they will take on the project and the Lord will provide the $200 for the materials. We look forward to future visits there and that the Lord will continue to bless them and Ms. Angie.

My friend David in Tampa, Florida sent me this photo today, you can probably guess what mode of transportation I'm most impressed with. It is a joy to see one overcome their difficulties and know that we can all do something to assist others in the process. May Jesus Christ receive all the glory and that His name and word be known!

Help at home

Living in Botswana and loving it, although it is a different culture and that brings differences in many ways. Electricity is 220 volts, the currency is Pula and Thebe, length is measured in millimeters, centimeters and meters, weight in grams and kilo's and the list goes on. These are by all means small matters, just like driving on the left side of the road and right side of the car. Once you do it day in and out you get used to it, almost to the point of not thinking about it; still have times when I go to the left side of the car to get in the driver's seat. What really matters is relationships and that is why we are here, from Christ Himself having confirmed it, and show the way.

We have two new relationships at home in the house the Lord has blessed us with. Didn't think we would ever need the help but we do and it is a blessing. April has Phuthologo to help with the cleaning inside, vacuuming, dusting, bathrooms and even windows! Outside we have Kiello helping with the yard work, pruning, weeding, cutting the grass and sweeping the dirt and is it everywhere. Many people here have helping hands around the house and that is were they end it, never taking a sincere interest in them. We don't think that way, if it is lunch time and we prepare something then we would want them to eat as well, even join us at the table. Maybe it isn't what others do here but it is the way Jesus showed us to live with others. We pray for their relationship with Him and will try to maintain His example.

World Cup 2010

Today was the long awaited day in Africa when the World Cup would come to South Africa to rock this continent. Soccer is the world's football game with probably more fans than any other sport. Here in Gaborone Botswana at Open Baptist Church we hosted an outreach around the opening ceremony and game. There were many new faces in the crowd of over 200 that came and the noise from their Vuvuzela horns proved it. At half time there was sports trivia questions with prizes and the answer to the ulitmate prize, Jesus Christ. The interns and student ministry did a great job of hosting the event.