More from the land of Africa!

My dear friends,

I don't know where the time goes...it seems I turn around twice and it is time that I should communicate with you again.   I do keep very busy and even I am amazed at the strength and energy I have at my age.   God keeps helping me and answering prayer and I am just thrilled to be a part of Kingdom work in Botswana.  I wish I could give you specifics here but I dare not right now.

About 3 weeks ago someone broke into my house and stole my laptop and my tablet.   I was just sick about it. ..the idea that someone was in my house while I was sleeping is not a comforting feeling!!!! a church in the states provided money right away for me to get a tablet.   I was so grateful because I felt kind of shut out from the world so to speak. If it were not for this tablet I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing now for you.   Keeping in touch with my children and grandchildren is very important to me too????

The weather is always a big subject to discuss around here. ..right now it is cold. It is not zero and it would not be terribly cold in the states but when it is in the 40's and no heat in the houses it is very cold.  Some people in a fellowship in the states provided money for me to purchase 2 small heaters and it is such a help.  I am so appreciative!!!

I still teach cooking and sewing as needed. I teach math and English and music.  I lead a women's Bible study.  I am teaching a group of ministers a course on living ethical lives and how to Shepherd and lead their congregations.  I spend a lot of time studying!!!!  People come to me for prayer when something special comes up in their lives.  Just yesterday some one came and asked me to pray with her...she was applying today for a job.  Also a special friend of mine (he's 22 yrs old) is seeing a specialist Dr today in the city and has constantly been keeping me informed as to what is going on and wanting me to constantly  pray for him.

The month of September is a special month here in Botswana.  It marks 50 yrs that Botswana has had its independence. ..huge celebrations all over the country will be taking place.  I will miss it all since I'm going to the states in Sept and some here are unhappy that I won't be here for it.  I did not know this when I scheduled to go to the states.  Today even there is preliminary activities and celebration starting.   They are running and carrying the torch across the country and they are coming through our village of Bokaa today.  My pastors wife will be carrying it part of the way through here.  I have my Botswana  50 shirt and jacket on to go watch the parade etc. The people here want me to wear this shirt and jacket when I go to the states.   They said we want everyone to know you are from Botswana! :-)

I have 2 special prayer requests...if you do not know....we worship in a tent and a dirt floor....it is very cold this time of year and attendance goes down a little because of it.   They need a building. ...I have been encouraging the people to pray and ask God for a building.  We don't know how it would be possible ...no one here has the money but we believe God when He says all things are possible if we believe.  So I ask you to help us pray about that.

The other request is personal...pray that I can learn the setswana language.
I can communicate with the older people if I know their language.  Most all younger people can speak English.  I know lots of vocabulary but putting these words into sentences is a whole other issue.  The other day we were looking at a negative sentence. ..I asked my coach what makes it negative...my coach said ...never mind there is none ma Brown, that's just the way we say it.....??  way back when I was in school I studied 3 other languages and they were easy subjects for me and I loved those classes...maybe it's my age ...I don't know.:-)

May God bless everyone of you!

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.
I am blessed because of you.

Elizabeth

P. S.  just as I signed off they were getting close to my house so I stopped and went out to watch everything ...such pomp and circumstance and ceremony...then they took pictures.  Since I had on the Botswana 50 shirt and jacket they came and got me and put  me right in the front middle of the pictures. And I was told again today when I go to America this is what I'm to wear home.