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! 

• Water situation seems to be much better now!  Turns out that the pumps were broken (had been off and on) and so Water Affairs was waiting on parts from South Africa.  Pumps were fixed on Monday and all seems to be in working order for now.  Our area is now getting water and our resevior has been full and clean water coming out.  Thanks SO much to all of you who prayed for us.......it helped!
  
• Once we got water squared away, our internet went out!  For almost 3 days.  The culprit?  A large crows nest on the tower blocking the signal! (I mean really.....! :))  Kev scurried the 100 ft tower only to find it was leaning a bit too much for his comfort so the maintenance department secured one of the stay wires.  Then Matt Clayton harnessed up and climbed up and disassembled the nest!  The crows looked on from a nearby tree.....I am sure quite unsettled that all their hard work was down the tubes!  
• As I said in the previous post our power has been quite intermittent as well.  Once our water came on regularly then the power went out.......really! 
  
• On Wednesday evening both Witt children got quite sick in the night.  Now I've never had both of them sick at the same time so I've been lucky.  Andrew has had quite the sick year this year and has had a consistent runny nose and cough since about June.  While I love that he is in school, this is the down side of school.....all the germs.  Both woke up with gooey pink eyes and high fevers.  Poor Piper just laid there and moaned......that was a bit scary.  A trip to the new doctor (which Andrew loved and was SO good.....no screaming fests which normally is what happens!  He got a big ice cream cone for doing so well!) the following day just revealed that they had a virus and to let it run it's course.  Since we're almost ready  to go home my med stash is really low.  I had just enough Tylenol for Piper, but I had to run out and by the African version of Children's Tylenol for Andrew.  I went to four locations to find the strawberry flavored one but no luck.  I was stuck with the mint flavor.  This made Andrew horribly upset (he's a great med taker when it tastes good! :)) and as a result he threw up all of it over the bed.  Now when he sees me coming with the green medicine he runs the other way!  Today while I was in town I checked one other place that was closed and sure enough, they had the strawberry flavor!  Score!  Needless to say, I already have a nice list of medicines that I want to bring back!  I like the familiar and of course the ones that taste good are a bonus! So, lots of sickies in our house, but I think both are on the mend.  Piper's eyes are still pretty pink and watery so if no change in a few days I might have to take her back in.  The fevers are gone so that's a good sign. 
  
• Shoprite's gaudy Christmas decorations are up!  Ah, the Holiday's are here! :) I'll be honest.....I am glad we're going home this Christmas! :) 
  
• Botswana had it's elections (please forgive me as I do not know exactly what it was for.....I'll have to find out.  It was not presidential and I know it's every 5 years.) on Friday so as a result we had Friday off of work so that our staff could go and vote.  While I was running all over town trying to find strawberry flavored Panando medicine I got caught up in the last bit of campaigning hoopla.  It was insane, and quite honestly a bit scary as I think everyone who lived in Maun was on the back of a truck that day. Trucks were doing U-turns, and children were chasing and jumping on the backs of vehicles!  Holy Smokes!  They were all happy though!  I couldn't help but be grateful that I am called to a peaceful country like Botswana.  Many other countries elections mean rioting and destruction.  
• I got Andrew a new book bag, as his other one had broken and was ripping.  As luck would have it, I happened to find a Lightening McQueen one!  (I mean Maun is really coming up when you can find stuff like this here!) He has not let it out of his site since I brought it home!  He kept saying, "Let's go to school mommy!"  I guess he's ready to show off his new bag!  Funny that the bag is actually quite big......too cute on his little back! 
  
• And a bit of news on Piper.....she's scooting backwards!  She can also get up on all fours for a few moments so we're not far from crawling!  She can also sit pretty well unsupported for a few moments. She loves to sit up on my lap and can now even sit up supported in the tub.....hallelujah!  This makes bathtime so much easier now!  She also eats banana and sweet potato along with her cereal. 
  
• Internship is going well and we're gearing up for next January.  Seems like there is much to do yet before we go home and feel really good about leaving things behind for four months.  Our interns have been a blessing and are fun to be around.  On Tuesday one of their classes was canceled so the girls and I headed for some water aerobics in the Lackey's pool!  Gotta love that!