On Friday, October 10 we travelled to Francistown and had the privilege of meeting with the Prophet of the Spiritual Healing Church along with his wife and joining the Francistown branch for worship on Sunday morning. This past year has been a time of rediscovering the importance of time and commitment in any form of ministry. After five years of being in Botswana ministering with Independent Churches we feel we have finally established relationships that allow us to offer more of ourselves and for our gifts to be accepted and useful. We have always been warmly received. Mention the word Mennonite to many leaders of independent churches and they will immediately associate someone who ministered here in the past 30 years. It is because of our Anabaptist theology and our long term commitment to walking along side independent church leaders that we can minister to and with our African Independent Church Brothers and Sisters. We also share many beliefs and ways that we live out our faith.

The Prophet explained the way that people are identified to be pastors in their church. It is very much a combination of the blessing of the congregation together with the approval of the leadership. This is very similar to the Mennonite way of discerning leadership gifts and the process towards ordination as a pastor.

On Sunday we participated in a worship service int the Francistown branch of the Spiritual Healing Church that emphasized mental health. A committee had been started with the help of Suzanne Lovett, an MCCer here at the turn of the millennium as a parish nurse, that devotes itself to keeping the congregation aware of health issues and looking after those in need in the congregation. During the service the congregation recognized a man who was emotionally challenged and very poor. They gave him new clothing and took him out to be “dressed”. This man who had been wearing a pair of pants that were too big and held up by a string came back dressed very smartly in his new clothes with a huge smile on his face. His sister who cares for him was also given a shawl and some supplies to wash clothes. I felt so at home in this church that was defining spirituality as much more than ones personal relationship with Jesus Christ. But a relationship that puts faith into action and looks after the people that God has put into their midst.

Our ministry is one of leadership development and training of others. Our task is not to do but to facilitate and encourage. There are times when we long for the hands on ministry of a congregational pastor. Yet, God has called us from that ministry to a ministry that has less definition for each work day and that calls on incredible amounts of patience as we wait for the Batswana leaders to decide their own priorities, vision and actions. We have three potential Bible Studies in the city of Gaborone, possibilities in the town of Selebi Phikwe, as well as possibilities in a several villages. During these past few months every setting that we have been in has resulted in people asking us for help in the area of studying the Bible. I went to a memorial service a few weeks ago and two young gentlemen approached me about helping their church. In Francistown a leader from another spiritual church was visiting the church we were at. After the service he asked Glyn about getting his church connected with the Bible Studies. I also attended a church in Old Naledi and was overwhelmed at the encouragement that the leaders were giving their

people to join the Bible Study that we hope will begin in February 2009. We are also being asked for more Bibles by the leaders of the Bible Study in Kanye. William says that “people are hungering for the word of God”! With our Budget funds we buy Bibles and sell them at a subsidized rate. It feels like there is a resurgence of interest in the church, in faith and in studying the Bible. Many groups have been praying for a spiritual revival in this country. We know some of our Pentecostal friends are experiencing it. But we believe that the interest in studying the Bible by the spiritual churches is also part of this revival. We also know that even in the midst of revival there are many excuses that can prevent people from participating. So we wait to see what God will do with this hungering for the Word and how many Bible Studies will come to be.

Susan

Thanks to the Children of Rainham Mennonite Church!

For three years the children of Rainham Mennonite Church have been sending their Sunday school offerings to help support Agreement, a student at the Old Naledi Education Centre. He just finished writing his Standard 7 exams. Next year he will be able to attend a government Junior Secondary School. We thank the children of Rainham for taking on this project and investing in the life of this young man.

Botswana is a country with many resources and assistance from other countries and NGO’s. However, that does not mean that everyone is well cared for. One of our criteria for involvement has been the lack of government or other NGO support. The Old Naledi Education Centre fulfills this criteria. It receives no government funding and has very limited support from outside agencies. The teachers are underpaid but incredibly dedicated. No child is refused entry based on their inability to pay the tuition fees. This year in addition to sponsoring Agreement we have also been supporting two other children and have bought much needed textbooks with a special project donation through Mennonite Church Canada.

In the Future

1.         Ministry trip to Selebi Phikwe (Glyn)

2.         Camping Trip with our G-West congregation (November 14-15). We will be providing the spiritual input.

3.         Preaching (Glyn) and worship leading (Susan) at G-West our English speaking church

4.         Conversations about the future of marriage courses

Adriaena is pictured here with the Colour Party from the Girl Guides. At a recent awards celebration she was awarded three more badges and a medal for being one of two best seconders for the squads. She takes guides very seriously and her commitment is commendable. The Girl Guides partner with a group from Alberta so the Canadian flag is a part of all formal events. It is always fun to see our flag beside the Botswana flag. In addition to Girl Guides she’s been in the pool lots for swimming galas and has been playing on the under 11 softball team. This week she also had the annual Standard 5-7 music concert.

Maeyken was involved in putting together a fashion show which took place last Friday at Westwood. The committee was responsible for everything including getting clothes from stores, stage set up, getting models and figuring out the best outfits for each model. It went off very well. Maeyken also continues to enjoy her artwork. Although it is a course at school and is technically “homework” she never needs to be motivated to work on her pieces.

Glyn and I continue to do what parents of teen and preteens do best: chauffeur and try to be there for them when they want to talk or just hang out together. We enjoyed our trip together to Francistown. (We travelled on the night train which as many of you know is an absolute treat for Glyn! While not very classy it has relatively comfortable beds and it beats sweating our way up there on a bus!) Although the trip was mostly work it was good to be able to do it together.

As a family we have been saddened by the accidental death of the young son of some Canadian friends who are here serving with Flying Mission. Keith and Cheryl are finding their hope and strength in the promises and abounding love of God during this terribly difficult time. They have two other children who are older than their son who died. The funeral took place here in Botswana on Wednesday, November 12^th.

Contact us

Mail us at: 

Box 33, Gaborone, Botswana

Phone us at: Botswana: 267-390-5554

(Just remember that we are 7 hours earlier than Ontario!)

Skype at: susanglyn

Our web site: which includes pictures and previous newsletters: www.susanglyn.org

There have been some issues with our blog since the web site was relocated. We are still working on it and you should be able to check it out soon at: www.susanglyn.org/botswana/

 We welcome your financial contributions for our support and invite you to send these to:

 Mennonite Church Canada WITNESS

600 Shaftesbury Blvd

Winnipeg MB

Canada R3P 0M4

Please Pray for...

... people to be able to make time to study the Bible. Many people have expressed a desire to study but work, family and church commitments often make it difficult for them to make a firm commitment. Pray for the emerging Bible studies in Old Naledi, Gaborone, Pitseng, Sechele, and Selebi Phikwe.

... the National Inter Church Ministries Botswana committee. This is the official committee structure of the Bible Studies programme. Pray that the proposed meeting for December might take place and that a committee will be identified who can effectively give leadership to the local committees.

...Keith, Cheryl, Jacob and Abigail, their families and friends in Canada, the Flying Mission Community and others who are touched by the death of Jonathan. Pray that God will be glorified through this tragedy.

... us as we travel to various locations around Botswana in the next number of weeks especially for Glyn as he reconnects with people in Selebi Phikwe to talk about beginning Bible classes again.

Thank God for...

... the committed Bible leaders who faithfully lead classes every week. We are especially thankful for the enthusiasm of William, Philemon, Mma Khaisa, Botho and Mosweu.

... the coming of rain. We’ve had an amazing week of cooler temperatures and lots of rain. It is so nice to see things greening up!

...the Brethren in Christ Church here in Botswana. The Gaborone branch celebrated their 10^th anniversary here in Botswana on November 2^nd and have begun to build on their plot!