Monday, April 19

be our guest, be our guest


Be our guest, be our guest put our service to the test! :)

We have been enjoying so many evenings of fun around the table in our dining room. After about 12 stores of searching and pricing we found a 7 piece, metal framed table with solid wood table top and seats. A quality table for a very good price! The evening of the day we bought it we hosted three of our friends.

Since then we have been able to have a few friends over. A long awaited desire for both of us. There are not enough nights in our schedule to have everyone over as soon as we'd like. But we've really been enjoying the conversations, games and food around the table.

This past weekend our guests were some Boogaard family friends from the days when they were missionaries in Columbia, South America (1980's and 90's). Nate Richmond and Dan and Rachel Gabler are in town working with Flying Mission in the maintenance shop for a week. It was a real treat to meet up with them in a very different part of the world.

This next week we look forward to a few meals with our friends Gilbert and Sara Collins with 2 yr old Timmy (big mo) and 4 month Nicholus (nicky tricky). The Collins work with the US Peace Corp, previously posted in Botswana, but have relocated to Namibia to direct the program there. They will be staying with us for several nights during their visit in Gaborone.

Please note: all guests must check their passes at the gate. Our security guard, Loula, requires approval of all visitors. :)




Tuesday, March 2

pictures of our new home

Greetings dear friends,
Here is a link to pictures of God's answer to all of our prayers for housing. The link is a photo album taken from Stephanie's Facebook account. Enjoy!

We'll post pictures as have set things up.

 Our New House Photo Album

love,
David and Stephanie

Sunday, February 14

Tuesday's are for paying the deposit and first month's rent!!!

Dear Friends,

After months of many prayers, and a melt down the day of, we have found a house!!!!

As we reported before we were supposed to be able to find out about the Block 5 house once the landlord came back into town on the 2nd of Feb. On the 31st we drove past the house to see if there was any sign of moving. When we found no sign we decided to not wait any longer and pick up an Advertiser on Tuesday to search again.

Tuesday morning ended up being a difficult one for me (stephanie) because I had reached my point of emotional exhaustion of house hunting. Although we picked up an Advertiser at 9 am as we should we didn't start calling on ads until 10:30am. We found about 10 interesting ads. But when I called 5 of them were already taken and the other 5 weren't answering their phones. It was tremendously discouraging. But I decided and David encouraged me to go to the office instead of spending the day in bed. At the office my friend Sheila talked and prayed with me, which was very encouraging. After we prayed we took a walk to a nearby grocery store to pick up some lunch. On our way I received a phone call from a number I didn't recognized. The voice on the other end announced she'd missed a call from my number.

She was calling me back in response to my response to her ad!!!

I quickly recovered from the shock and made arrangements with her to see the house that day. David and I met up and together we were able to tour the house. (David was on-call that day, which means he needed to be available to go fly when an emergency arises, but otherwise hang out close enough to the airport to respond within 20 minutes tops.) To our delight the current tenants gave us a relaxed tour around their home. Giving us plenty of time to look in each room. Also to our delight the house was clean and roomy.

After the tour David got called to go on a flight. He dropped me at home and went to work. I also went to work and called the land lord back saying I'd like to meet with her to discuss the lease. Her husband met me within the hour and the next day dropped the lease off at the FM office for us to review.
On Sunday, 7 Feb, David and I met with the landlord to ask some questions about the lease agreement. And on Tuesday the 9th I gave the land lord the first month's rent and security deposit. FMS will be signing the lease to give us a tax break.

On March 1st, or there about, we'll be moving into a three bedroom ranch with kitchen, dining room, and living room. It includes a master en-suite, guest bathing room and toilet room, and fireplace. This house is located in Block 8 which is 100 times closer to the airport than the block 5 house. Not only is it closer but David will easily be able to get to the airport in 5-7 minutes. This block 8 house is also situated close the FM office for easy access for me. It's an incredible blessing! Since we have 3 bedrooms, we'll have plenty of room for visitors. If you plan to be in the neighborhood please give us a buzz. :)

Praise God for his good timing and good plan. May he continue to be patient with me especially as I continue to learn to trust him and not be anxious. Thank you for your continued prayers.

David and Stephanie

Monday, February 1

Tuesday's are for searching

Although it's Monday it will be nearing Tuesday by the time many of you read this entry.

Maybe it was a mistake, but since we were in the neighborhood I thought it was a good idea to sneak a peak at the progress of our moving into the house at Block 5. The current tenants in the house are supposed to be out 31 January.

On Sunday afternoon, 31 January David and I drove by to see if there was any moving progress. We found no sign of moving. My guess is they haven't found a place to stay yet.

The landlord returns tomorrow, Tuesday. I'm not sure what to expect with his return. I wish I could wait and just see, but alas I'll pick up an Advertiser for another Tuesday of searching.

My prayer, our prayer, is if this is the house for us then God will provide the current tenants with a place to stay, and noone will be homeless, or kicked out or any of that. Or that God would reveal his better plan for us.


Other news...
One of the cell phone companies have sponsored a new skate park in town. David has been skating (skateboarding) for 12 years. Over the past 4 years he's taken time away from the sport to concentrate on flying. However we heard about the start of a "skaters for Christ" outreach ministry in town. So we ordered a skateboard for him. It arrived two weeks ago. Saturday afternoon he and I went to the new park. He skated and I watched. We were able to meet a few of the kids...jr high/ high school age...they seemed really cool and all thought David was a good skater. :) We hope to make this a regular routine and hope to build relationships with the kids.

Thursday, January 28

grant us patience, O Lord

Last week I was able to see the inside of a house in a neighborhood called Block 5. I went to see this house two weeks prior with my friend Tracy. But the tenants would only allow us to do an outside walk around the property. I was told then it had three bedrooms, living room, kitchen and dining room and bathroom. It also has a guest quarters. The house seemed very nice from the outside. Its on a corner lot, with chain link fence covered in an evenly tall hedge all the way around the property. It had recently been remodled and painted. After much seeking after the landlord/lady, who's been out of country since Christmas, I was finally able to see the inside. The tenant quickly walked me through each room. Allowing only so much as a glance in each room. The bedrooms are big and are fitted with wardrobes. It is well lit and the yellow walls give the house an array of sunshine. The kitchen is a work area and there is a larger area just on the other side of the wall for a dining room. The bathroom has a tub and sink and there is a separate toilet room with sink. The yard is laid with bricks and everything is clean. Although my viewing was brief...I promptly told my realator we'd take it! :)

So what's the problem? When can we move in?

Problem number 1:
The tenants are supposed to be out end of month, but they haven't found a different place to live.
These tenants are only moving because the neighborhood is too boring for them. I guess they like to party.

Problem number 2:
Landlord won't be home until 2 February. Nothing can be negotiated or finalized until then.

Do you remember a couple posts ago that I had been praying God would show me that day the house he was going to give us? This was one of the houses I looked at that day. I am praying God will grant this desire. In the mean time our realator is having us look at other houses within our price range. Just in case the tenants decide not to move or something happens.

Friday 19 January commemorated 1 year living in Botswana. Time has flown.

On Tuesday 26 January we handed over the keys to the house we'd been staying in since April. It was a sad moment for me to say goodbye to the home we've known for the majority of our time in Botswana. We moved into the two room guest quarters of friends who live close by. We have a bedroom and kitchen. The kitchen room was fitted with sink and under counter storage space. Thanks to the generousity of some friends, we were able to move our stove and refrigerator into this space as well. We also have our own bathroom. They are lovely accomodations. We thank God for once again giving us a roof over our heads and a comfortable bed to sleep on.

Other news...
- David continues to be on a flight/maintenance schedule rotation. He continues to amaze me with his willingness and availability.
- Our friends, Dan and Melissa Parlane, have joined Flying Mission and arrived in Botswana just last week. We are happy to have them here and look forward to being apart of their settling in.
- Stephanie has received another Short Termer volunteer into the program. Andy Robinson from New Zealand arrived Wednesday 27 Jan and will be here until November. Prayer for both she and Andy as they work together to orient him to the program and country.
- Stephanie's mom continue's to wrestle with Lukemia and the need for blood transfusions. Recently mom needed a transfusion just one week after the previous one. This is a new development and test have been done to understand the occurance. We are waiting for the results.

Wednesday, January 20

perspectives

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act"  Psalms 37:5

over the past few weeks as time was hurrying along and still we had no place to stay we were growing more and more anxious. the questions and concerns were mounting: were we doing everything we should be? are we being picky? should I have negotiated harder for that place? why didn't we know about this before? can we afford a higher monthly rent? do we need to change our lifestyle? how quickly can we commute to town or the airport from this place? what if? when? how?

it's been difficult. but we praise God for his people who have encouraged us. one missionary friend, Sue, came to our door and encouraged us saying "sometimes we need people to stand in the gap for us and trust God for his timing and the outcome", she has been standing in the gap for us. my other encouraging friend from last week, Tracy, came over last night asking how we were doing and seeking an update for her prayers. we also received a card from a friend, Levi, who encouraged us with some perspective. "I'm pretty sure God wants you here in Botswana. He brought you to Africa so why shouldn't he provide a house for you? Its the most easy thing for him!" He further encouraged us to be thankful.

"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" Philippians 4:6

david and I have been doing a bit of praying together about these things and we are helping each other stay on track with that perspective.

thank you for your continued prayers.

Tuesday, January 12

no news is good news

so i will report how the day of house searching went.

It was a very difficult day filled with both encouraging moments and moments of desparation.

Looked at several houses...tried for one...deal fell through...someone else made a better offer.
Some were too small and in an awkward location. Another was an okay size but too far away.
This last one we're looking at is farther south than we wanted, but after all the emotional highs and lows of the day seems like the best house for the price. Don't know what the Lord is doing...trying to trust him and not to be anxious or discouraged. But I was really hoping that today God would show us - signed, sealed and delivered - the house he's prepared for us.

Some blessings of the day:
- had a wonderful friend drive with me around town with her baby to most of the appointments - whose role was to pray and encouarage - God used her to be both of those things for me
- david was at home and was available to look at some of the houses with me
- was given a delicious lunch by my encouraging friend
- a working vehicle to get to each house
- time was maximized and not a minute was wasted.
- many prayers were lifted up for us - Thank you for your prayers....

Please continue to pray. We are still waiting on God's timing and provision.

Saturday, January 9

a day in the country...a night at the club

no we do not go clubbing, but if you could hear what we're listening to right now you'd wonder if you were at a club. Our neighbors are having a party. Its a surprise party for a friend...they came and told us before the music began. They said it wouldn't go for long...but that was at 8...its 12:05 and it sounds like they're having a good time and the end is no where in ear shot.

This afternoon we went to the country for two reasons. The first was to rid our back yard of yard waste. we drove 71 kilometers round trip to take one of three loads to the Regional Dump in Metsimotlhabe. A village west of town. The other two loads will just have to wait until Friday when David will have more time and energy to take them.
The second reason for our journey into the country was to enjoy a visit with Malcolm and Gudren McArthur, patrons of Flying Mission. They are selling their house in the country and are giving us first dibbs on some furiture there. We are blessed to be the proud owners of a refrigerator, stove, microwave, couch and chairs, night stands, short book shelf and coffee table. PRAISE GOD!!!
After our visit, which included tea and german cookies on the veranda overlooking the valley and distant hills, we headed home with a brief stop at a scenic spot compliments of the Gaborone Dam.

Praise God for a beautiful day outdoors and for many blessings! We continue to trust him for a place to live. This week the Advertiser comes out again. On Tuesday please be praying the Lord will show us the place he has prepared for us here.