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.