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January-March Update
I've been living in Botswana for 7 months now. It's flown by so quickly, but I've enjoyed every minute of it. I've built relationships, acclimated to the culture and have become a part of the community. It feels like I've been here for 7 years. There is a deep and indescribable feeling of satisfaction one feels when they are at the right place at the right time. That is exactly how I feel about my time in Botswana. Sometimes I think about how strange and random it is for a single 31-year old Filipino-American to be doing missions work in Africa. It seems like I should feel completely out of place, but I've felt nothing but an overwhelming sense of peace and assurance that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be. I feel so "at home" in Africa, and until God tells me otherwise, I know that this is where I belong. So much so, that I'm very happy and excited to announce that I'll be extending my time in Botswana for another 3 years! This is a big step for me, so I ask for your continued prayers and support as I follow God's call on my life.
As some of you may already know, I flew back to the States the beginning of March and will be here for some months. Currently, I'm in San Diego with my family. My sister was married this past weekend, so I've been busy helping with wedding preparations. I'll also be spending time connecting with churches in the area as I work on raising the necessary funds for my next 3 years in Botswana. I also hope to make it out to Denver at some point while I'm in the US. Please feel free to contact me. I'd love to connect in person with any of my friends, family or supporters while I'm in the US!
Prayer Requests:
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Before I returned to the States, I submitted an application to renew my residence permit for another 3 years. Please pray for favor to be approved for a 3-year permit and for no delays/problems as it's being processed.
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While I'm in the States I'll be connecting with other churches/pastors about supporting me. Please pray for favor and divine connections.
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LOTW Church
2013 is an exciting year for our church! We continue to believe in growing our church attendance to 1,000 people before the end of the year. We've been buying more and more chairs to accommodate our growing numbers! Our church plot has been cleared and we hope to start construction on our church building soon! We continue to believe for the finances and favor with the government to receive the necessary approvals to move forward with our building plans. In May, our church celebrates it's 20th anniversary! It's very unheard of out here to have the same pastor who pastors the same church for that long. Our church is growing in so many ways and it's exciting to be a part of!
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Reaching Out
There hasn't been a shortage of ministry opportunities since I've been in Botswana, and I've very proud to be a part of a ministry that reaches out to the local community in many different ways. My favorite outreaches the past few months were delivering gift bags and hanging out with students at a local deaf school, and getting to speak to high school students about the importance/significance of practicing abstinence. The biggest thing I love about these types of outreaches is how it connects me with the community. It makes me feel like its not just a community I reach out to - it's now my community and these people are my neighbors, and it's a joy to give back and share the love of God with them.
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My First Mopani Worm
This past Valentines Day, I finally got to partake in a local Southern African delicacy…mopani worms! I read all about mopani worms before I came to Botswana and I’d been waiting for an opportunity to try them out. Mopani worms are actually caterpillars that are the larvae of a rather large species of moth (the first time I saw one of these moths I thought it was a small bird!). They’re prepared by basically squeezing out their guts and then they’re dried and can be eaten as a snack, or they’re re-hydrated and cooked with vegetables. They weren’t bad. I’m not sure it’s something I’ll ever crave, but I’m glad I gave them a try. Click here to watch a video of my first mopani worm experience!
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