So last week I was given a Lovely Lady Lovely Blog award by a fellow missionary mommy in Bolivia, Angie!  Due to my internet, I am just now getting around to "accepting" this award and passing it on.  Angie thank you so much for this award.....you're pretty lovely too! 


 

So without further ado, I would like to award the Lovely Lady, Lovely Blog to the following....... let me just say it was HARD to only choose 5!  I could have gone on and on!

Andrea who serve right along side me in Botswana.  She's actually my neighbor!  Andrea's been serving with LBOM as an educational missionary for the past two years.  You'll be inspired as you read her stories of how God is touching the Youth in Botswana!  Andrea was even a boarding master for the girls for almost two years!  Andrea will be heading home at the end of the year and I will miss my coffee buddy! 

Amy who is also a fellow mommy missionary serving in our neighbor country of South Africa.  Amy has two adorable kiddos, Silas and Alece!  She's standing in for a ministry called Thrive Africa who is lead by my good friend Alece.  Amy talks about her kiddos and just being a missionary in a different land! 

Layne who is a good friend of mine who is just starting her journey into full time missions with her husband (also a good friend of mine who served with LBOM) Jon.  Layne is just too cute, but also just really "real".  I love that she blogs from her heart! 

Rose is a friend of mine that I haven't met in person yet, but hope to soon!  I connected with Rose in a fellowship group and she's really blessed my heart.  She has two TOO CUTE boys Colin and Henry.  She's a hip momma and always has great ideas! 

Nancy is a friend of mine who was a TL with me our first trip to Botswana in 2000.  She has four children, two of which are twins!  Her kids are beautiful and always saying the funniest things!  Nancy is also a hip momma who does things very simple.  I've learned so much from her! 

Go check out these lovely ladies.....you'll be blessed! 

Most people have a statement here in Africa called, "T.I.A".......meaning this is Africa!  Well.....it's TIA for me today as my internet has been down for almost 4 weeks now and I am at a cafe where I can't seem to download any pictures into my blog!  I am also posting this a whole day early because of our internet situation so, I am trying not to panic and know that ya'll will understand......after all, it's just a day in my life! :) 

Without further ado.......

 

My husband Kevin and I have been serving as missionaries in Maun Botswana with an organization called Love Botswana Outreach Mission (LBOM) for almost 6 years.  We have two children Andrew (almost 3) and Piper (7 months)…..both born in Botswana!  We love Botswana….it’s our home and it’s an honor and a privilege to serve in this amazing country!

(Photos are what i have uploaded in my blog already from a day at our African Momma's House in September.)

 

Botswana is a part of Southern Africa and is landlocked by Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Botswana gained it’s independence in 1966 and has enjoyed more than a century of peace and tranquility since then.  The population of the country is roughly 1.8 million in a country about the size of Texas! Kevin and I have set up our home in a small (but hoppin!) village called Maun. (Population roughly 10,000)  Maun is located in the North West portion of Botswana, just before the famous Okavango Delta.  Maun is known as a major safari hub so really we are able to get many supplies and have a nice selection of grocery stores to buy from.  As a result of the safari industry, tourism makes up the majority of the country’s economy however diamonds and cattle are also a major factor as well.

We’ve been privileged to serve with a ministry called Love Botswana Outreach Mission, under the leadership of Jerry and Jana Lackey (who are from Houston Texas but have served in Botswana for over 20 years!!!). Love Botswana’s vision is to “Launching Leader’s Build Nations”.  Training nationals to reach their own is the most effective way of ministry and thus much of what we do as missionaries is specifically that. 

 

Love Botswana has many aspects of ministry…….Church (both local and rural), School, Outreach, Youth and Children’s ministries, HIV/AIDS programs, Orphan and Vulnerable Children Programs and much more!  In a country where the HIV/AIDS rate is 1 in 4, this means every second counts. Not a day goes by where we’re not affected by this staggering figure!

 

All aspects of Love Botswana center around one thing……PEOPLE! I could write all day about all that this amazing ministry does!  For now though, I will refer you to the website if you want to know more….www.lovebotswana.org 

Kevin and I have worn many different hats over our time at Love Botswana, but we’re currently serving as directors for Missions Immersion, Love Botswana’s 3 month internship program.  The program is designed to give those who are are interested in full time missions a full time experience on a short term level!  We literally immerse our interns into every aspect of what Love Botswana does.  Our hope is that on completion of the program that they have a good idea of what missions is and whether they continue to serve at LBOM, or go elsewhere, that they will be equipped.  The program is still very new, but we’ve really enjoyed it and so far it’s been successful!

I’ve chosen Botswana Baskets as my giveaway as this is one thing that is truly unique to Botswana.  Baskets are handmade and weaved using various materials, even things such as carbon paper to add color!  Natural dyes are also used from various plants as well.   All baskets are functional and have many usages in the home…..even carrying water!

 

I am featuring 5 Botswana baskets that can be used for virtually anything.  The two larger baskets at the top were made in a village called Etsha 6 where LBOM has a rural church.  The smaller 3 baskets were made by local women in Maun.  (Her baskets have even been featured in shows and shops in New York City! She is a very sweet lady and makes beautiful baskets!)

Due to the fact that I cannot post pictures.....you'll have to hop on over to Heidi's site and view the pictures there!  Sorry about this......TIA right? :)  View pictures HERE  Also you can go to my picasa account and view the Botswana Basket there as well.  Click Here

In addition I am adding a book called “Patterns in the sky” that gives a story about how certain basket patterns were created and named. 

We thank you for taking a look and supporting the Candle in the Corner Giveaway!  We value your support and prayers!!  Please feel free to snoop around on previous posts.....I just post about my life in Botswana as a mommy missionary!  Thanks also for your patience with this post! :)

 

**If you would like to know more about Love Botswana please feel free to contact me for more information…sarahwitt@lovebotswana.org  

 

 

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So a few weeks ago I mentioned that Kevin and I would be a part of the Candle in the Corner Giveaway hosted by Heidi over at Moms, Ministry and More.  With our up/down internet (down for almost a week and a half now, but I’m not complaining right? : ))  I’ve not been able to post about it till just now, but I pray that you pass the word along because it’s not only fun, but it help’s support 11 missionaries around the world……including, yours truly! 

 

The contest is showcasing 11 missionaries from around the world who are putting up items from their host country.  For example Kevin and I are putting up a trio of Botswana baskets!  Donations earn you entries, and entries earn you a chance to win one of 11 items from these lovely ladies!  (The more entries the higher chance of winning items, but I have a feeling you probably knew that!)  The contest runs for the next two weeks and my showcase day is November 9^th.

 

Here is how it works…….(and the rules!)

 

**Head on over to Heidi’s blog at http://momsministryandmore.blogspot.com/ and find the “Chip-in” button on the top right of her blog.  You are automatically entered for all the drawings.  She will track your entries via the email address provided at the time of your donation. 

~~Every $5 donation earns one entry. Every $20 earns 5 entries!

~~All winners will be randomly drawn on November 11 and announced on her blog.

~~Winners must contact Heidi within 7 days and provide a mailing address. This will get passed on to the missionary whose item was won. You can email Heidi at stonefox@pobox.com

~~All monies raised will be evenly split among the participating missionaries to support their work doing church planting, AIDS and orphan care, humanitarian work, Christian education, missionary aviation, and more.

~~Each day a missionary family will be spotlighted and their giveaway item shown along with links to their blog so you can meet them! (First one is up from Spain!)

~~If you blog, FaceBook, Twitter, email etc about this event, leave Heidi a comment at any time during the event and she will give you an extra entry.

~~Please leave a comment or email Heidi (or myself) if you have any questions or problems donating.

~~Heidi is not responsible for (the remote possibility of) lost shipments, damaged goods, etc. Also, Heidi is not the recipient of any monies raised.  Isn’t that amazing……she’s doing it out of the goodness of her own heart to help self supporting missionaries around the world like Kev and I!  I’ve never met Heidi personally but “met” her through another missionary mommy who serves in Indonesia.  As a result I’ve networked with other missionary moms serving all over the world and wow, what a connection!  Sometimes you just need other moms who are where you’re at, even if they aren’t serving right next to you!  I’ve been blessed by these connections!! 

I do often get asked about “self supporting” and yes, that means that Kev and I live off the donations from others who support what we are doing with Love Botswana and the people.  We are humbled every day when we look at see what the Lord has provided for us through the generous donations of people like you.  Without your help, we could not do what God has called us to do.  Sure it’s not easy and it’s a HUGE test of faith to know and trust that He will provide and you know…..in almost 6 years (and all the years before that going short term!) He ALWAYS has! 

So head on over to Heidi’s site http://momsministryandmore.blogspot.com/ and “Chip-In”.  Also if you use Goodle Reader or another Blog subscriber (or even the old fashioned “bookmark page” or “favorites”) you might want to track her blog over the next two weeks to “meet” all of us who are participating.  We value your prayers and I am certain you’ll learn something you never knew before!  Pass along to those who you think are would be interested and thanks in advance for your love and support!