More Updates

Welcome to my blog...my story...

God is at work in Bokaa and I am so happy to be a part of what is happening.   The people are precious.  They are so kind to me.  In addition to teaching I have a lot of  company and I love that too.  I have young friends and that makes me feel young too.  I try to keep homemade cookies on hands...that seems a to always be a winner.   This week some of the adults have asked me for some cookies too.  I told my own children I am going to go broke just buying ingredients for my cookies...lol

The service this morning was wonderful. ..more new people...special music, testimonies, children's  choir and a message of compassion by the pastor.  Eight I think it was went forward at the close.  One in particular went forward whom I have been working with and counseling.  I have high hopes for him.  A lady I have worked with also was there.  She had quit using snuff which was a huge deal for her.

My women's Bible class is quite a challenge.  Having never been in  a small group like that before they are progressing well.   The questions I pass out for them are very simple and even then I have to do a lot of explaining...and just when I don't know their questions God literally drops thoughts in my head to help them.  It is a amazing.  I'm so glad to be serving an awesome God.

My English student who is 43 yrs old is actually doing very well.  When I came hello and good by was about all he knew..but now he can actually carry on a  conversation with me or anyone in English.  He says God brought me to Botswana for him.  I give all the praise to God for that because I had no idea how to start and again God was there and helped me.

I have started working with a small adult choir...that is a  challenge too.  They love to sing but often the harmony is slightly under where it should be in pitch.  We won't be  making a trip to the US anytime soon...lol

Also a boy who shows great talent for playing the keyboard is is in Jr high.  He leaves the house at 5:30 am and his first class is at 6:30...he gets home in the eve to eat dinner then he has lots of homework so he has no time for practicing and of course he has to practice to learn and progress.  We are working on how to solve this problem.

The picture is  of me and my little friend Jennifer.  During the preaching this morning she came to me wanted on my lap and it wasn't long till she fell asleep...she had one of my cookies in her hand.  She has a 5 yr old sister I dearly love too.  She told her mother she wants to go to America with mama Brown when I  go!

4 weeks ago now I guess it is...I went to an all night prayer mtg for several churches in the area...it started at 9:00 on Friday evening and went to 5:00 Saturday morning.   I had no idea what to expect. It was held at one of the churches in the city.   There were at least 300 there... families came with their children and babies and stayed the entire time.  Of course the children, went to sleep after a while.   There was singing, dancing, whistling,  someone had a fog horn and other strange noises but to them they were praising the Lord.  There was several times of prayer  and I heard 5 sermons from different ones in that 8 hours.  I keep getting taken out of my Comfort  zone.  At the close of the meeting they wanted mama Brown to pray.  And again God was there to help me.I never felt sleepy...but when I got back to my house at 6:00 in the morning I crashed.

Electricity goes off often... if there is thunder and lightning it will go off and other times we have no idea why.  I can't always bake or cook when I  need to.

I have told you I think that I finally had running water....it has been wonderful. ..
Not a  lot of pressure but nevertheless it was there.  Well the last 3 days we are back to  carrying water in buckets to have what we need...I have asked but no one seems to know why.

Wednesday Thursday and Friday this past week, I was sick...I kept going when I really didn't feel like it.   Cold, flu, achy, headache, etc  The pastor's vehicle had a major problem last week so I didn't get to do my usual shopping last Monday. The part has been ordered.  He wanted to find a way for me to go to the Dr but I didn't want to cause a problem so I said it will get better and I will be OK.   Friday afternoon my friend, Mercy, called me and I didn't have much   voice to talk.   She asked her boss at work if she could leave early to take me to the Dr and he let her.  So about 4:20 she comes to my house wanting to get me there  before they closed. 

And then she also took me to the city on Saturday so I could buy the groceries I needed.   She is a special friend. ..I enjoy joy being with her.  I have grandchildren her age but she says she enjoys being with me.   She is good for my ego...lol

The Dr was very nice and didn't mind my coming like that.  Get this....a dr visit and 3 medications cost me the total of $19....I could not believe it.  Would you like me to spell it...it is not a misprint....nineteen dollars in American money.  The 3 meds were antibiotic,  allergy pill, and the most HORRIBLE tasting cough syrup I have ever put  in  my mouth...but after 2 doses of antibiotics and cough syrup I was remarkedly better!!!

I am so thankful for all of you. ...thank you for your prayers and concern  and just knowing you are there thinking of me and praying is so comforting.

I do have two prayer requests:  next Sunday I am to give the morning message.
And I am trying to learn Setswana the language of Botswana. ...I will just be more effective if I can communicate with more of them.

May God bless each one of you!
In His steps
Elizabeth Brown