A thebe for my thoughts!

A thebe is the coin currency here in Bots, Pula are the bills. As we went and visited what they call old mall and new mall today, or old town and new town I had many thoughts go through my head and decided I would share them.

On our way into town we passed little houses that family's live in that barely fit a bed. We left our house that has 2 bedrooms, kitchen, livng area, loft. We passed rich areas and we passed poor areas. As we came into town there were those wearing dress clothes and those wearing rags. The point is there were all walks of life.
I thought about Rwanda. While we were in Kigali there were plenty of huge nice houses and many areas of slums where family's lived in rooms the size of a closet.
I thought about Lubbock. There are tons of large houses and yet we had a youth group in areas where family's with 12 people would pack into a one room trailer.

I'm not saying that the poverty levels in these countries are equal, but I'm saying it's everywhere. Yet for some reason when Americans come to Africa we take pictures of the slums/the poor/hurting/the dirty of Africa. Why do we do that?

How come the discovery channel covers the tribal people and all we as Americans think of when we think of Africa is AIDS/poverty and the negative of this magnificent land.

Today in town there were parts that were for htose of lower income and those for highter income, much like lubbock. Those you find shopping in Market street are different than those you find shopping in the local united or wal-mart.
I'm not real sure what I mean, but I wish we could see this continent as what it really is. Beautiful. The people here are so nice, beautfiul, loving, considerate, hospitable, the landscape is amazing. The animals we'd never see in America. Giraffes and Zebras roaming freely.

Many of you reading this are probably thinking then why the heck did you take a mission trip there? Let me think about that. This country doesn't need Jesus any more than well, me. See I believe every human being is equal in their need for the Savior, for Jesus Christ. Rich or poor, sick or well, there is a reality of heaven and hell. Those who have faith in Jesus Christ will go to heaven and those who do not will go to hell. In America there is a church on every corner, that is not true in Africa. Children walk for miles to make it to the church here in maun Botswana! CHILDREN, BY THEMSELVES! They're hungry for God. They walk.

The Bible calls all of us to a life of missions, find the way God has called you to serve, financially, locally, globally, etc. We all were given the great commission.
I came to Bots, because I felt God's calling to come. As far as poverty Bots is by far not near as bad as other countries here in Africa. However, still as Americans we're so much richer.

At the grocery store today we spent around 400 pula. Our weekly budget is 40 pula a piece and we all put ours together to buy groceries. 40 pula is around $5 a week. As we spent our 40 pula we had a full cart, and there was no one around us buying that much food. To spend 400 pula for one week here is unheard of! Yet this country is doing well as majority financially.

However, we sat in a meeting today with the youth pastor. He was asking for our help over the next 3 months. Working for the youth is an optional ministry for us as interns. He runs around 200 youth.

68% of girls 15-19 in this area have AIDS.
1 in 3 people in Bots have AIDS.

It's rampant. Those numbers are staggering. Why? Well we could say lack of availability of condoms. The government spent 2 billion dollars on condoms. We could say lack of education, all the schools in the area are in abstinence programs.
The truth is these kids need Jesus.

I'll be honest and open. I am not a virgin because I was educated, I have not stayed pure to please my parents, I didn't not have sex because I was too embarrassed to buy condoms or couldn't find them, no, I have stayed pure because I fell madly in love with Jesus. I became concerned with the life that God had planned for me and part of that plan in His Word He says to save myself for marriage, for my husband.
So what do these youth need, what does this nation need? Jesus.
There's not enough money or enough programs to fix the problems in this nation or in my own.

Perhaps it is why I'm not only burdened to go and serve in other countries but I am also burdened for Americans. For those who sit in pews and don't know our Savior and those who don't ever darken the door of a church.

The point is I love to serve people. I love to be able to meet the needs of people. To bring food, to pray for healing, to give medicines, to counsel, to teach, to give water, to paint, to build, to do whatever it is people need. In America or overseas. But the greatest joy of my heart is to make disciples. To share the gospel and then continue to help people in their walk with the Lord.

I'm not sure all of this really goes together at all. Maybe a mixture of jumbled thoughts. Over the next 4 months I'm sure i'll have pictures of sad things, of children, of houses, of things that may bring tears. But I want to share the beauty of Africa too. The children of God, the animals, the landscape, the fun, the things that have made this continent such a loved part of my life.

Well, i'm now out of time to share all about today, so maybe if I get more of a chance later I'll blog again!
Tomorrow I learn to drive a standard on the right side of a car, pray for me and those in the back seat

Be Blessed,
J. Tate