Gungwe!

Ok, so finally here are some picture to go along with the name. I know i talk about the village and people of Gungwe a lot, but i totally do just love coming out here and sharing with these people. This has been one of the most rewarding, enjoyable, humbling, experiences that i've had while i've been in Botswana. The first picture is of the little grandmother and where it all got started. It was her granddaughter, Mishodzi, that was my first Home Based Care patient. Through taking Mishodzi home from the hospital i was able to make contact with the village of Gungwe, and by going out there and checking on her, praying with her, taking her to doctor apt. we (Thandie and I) where able to get to know her, her grandmother, and neighbors. When Mishodzi died of AIDS we where still able to go visit her grandmother and share with her. Now Mishodzi's grandmother counts us as her friends and invites us to come have a Bible study at her house! Praise God for being so awesome!!! Also through our Home Based Care ministry, word got out to others in the village and then we where invited to go pray with other sick patients. Now because of that we have another Bible study going on in the other side of the village!!!

This is me and Thandie (in the middle) with what we call "our little old grandmother." Our first Bible study in Gungwe was held at her randavel (hut),and it's still going on!!!!!!!

This is our second Bible study group out in Gungwe, the picture was taken a while back. We''ve had as many as 20 people before all packed into one little hut to study the Word of God!!! I just love coming out here!

New Friends!!!

I am so excited to have these new little fuzzy friends. My home church, in LaFollette TN, sent these awesome puppets to help start our new puppet ministry. Brandy and I are so happy, because this will provide a great way for our youth to learn how to witness. The idea is that we'll start out by having 3-4 days of a Children day event (sort of like a VBS Africa style), where the youth group will tell Bible stories to the kids, and the children will in turn make sock puppets (socks where given by preshoolers in my college town of Knoxville, TN) to take home and share the story with their families!!! What a great way to reach the entire family! The goal is take this into the other schools in the village and that will draw even more people to the truth and to church! I want to thank all my family and friends so much for all of their support and for the wonderful puppets, socks, and other things you've sent. You are the best!!!!

Our new friends and house guests!

Campin'

It is now official, i have been camping more in my first year in Africa then i have been in my entire life!!!! I'm so serious, but the scary thing is that i'm really beginning to like it a lot!!!!! This time i went with the youth of Francistown Baptist Church. We had a great time, there was of course tons of food, swimming or at lest lots of splashing, night volleyball, and of course 2 square helpin' of the Word a day! We had a great time, and i even got to ride on a train for the trip back home!

Will it get put up or not, and the real question is will it stay up?! hahaha...

Ta-da, it's up! I'm happy to report that all 4 of the tents stayed up!

KB, just chillin'

Swimming lessons!!

Our faithful lifeguard, Robbie!!

Camping in Style!

I know you all are probably getting tried of me putting up picture of bathrooms, but i really do think there worth sharing! So enjoy!!

Grace showing off one of many outside bathrooms.

I know it's only a sink but i thought it was pretty interesting, so i put it up here.

Train ride!

This was my very first experience on a train before and everyone thought that was the strangest thing ever! Since everyone rides trains here. I mean i've been on the one at Dollywood (theme park in TN) before but for some strange reason i don't think that counts. I will have to say that it's pretty fun, and it totally beats driving! So jump on board!!!!

Walking to the train.

All aboard!

KB, Stacie, and Grace (from L-R) taking time out of the ride to pose for a picture.

Christmas Party!!

So what kind of youth group leader would i make without having a Christmas party? Exactly. Not that Brandy and I are the per say youth leaders, but we do help out when needed. So holding with that stance we had a had a PARTY! It was both a Christmas party and a going away party for some of the youth that are moving for work, school, and some are going back to their home countries. A great time was had by all!!!!!!!!!!!

Masunga Baptist youth group!

Sights to behold!

It's always a treat to drive down the road here in Botswana. There isn't to many "wild" animals in my neck of the woods so that makes horses something of a rarity, and some what shocking! You see, i'm so used to donkeys, cows, and goats taking over the roads that when i saw these horses i just had to stop and take a picture. I know it's strange, but not so strange where i am. Then again stopping to take a picture of a cool sunset is something all together natural. It really is just that beautiful.

Horses beside the road!

This is one of many different sighting on my way home almost every day. The sun going to sleep after a long days work.