To start off the blog up date this month, we thought it would be good to add a map of Africa to give some of you a better idea where we are. This probably should have been done when we first came here in July of 2008 because most often we are asked the question from people back in the states, "Where is Botswana?" Hopefully when you click on the map above, it will enlarge and you can see Botswana just above South Africa on the southern point of the continent. Recently Colin emailed a favorite aunt of his to explain a little about our life here. We decided that some of what he wrote to her would be nice to share with all of you who read this blog.Colin says: "Most people have no clue where Botswana is. I think it is because they have never had a war here and don't make the news. We are surrounded by countries with mountains, but we are living in a country that is as flat as land can be. In Alaska, I was accustomed to queuing off mountains for navigation, but had to quickly learn to electronically navigate here. Most pilots feel that there is nothing to navigate by when looking at the ground but now that I have been here a while, and using my years of Alaska experience, I see many and varied assortment of landmarks. I must say that no hills makes for great hiking for this old guy!
Most of the infrastructures in Botswana (roads, buildings, government agencies, etc.) are brand new because of the sudden wealth created by the diamond, tourism, and cattle industries. The people are still learning how to use the money effectively though. Patience is the name of the game here. Taxes are also high, but much of the money that goes to the government does seem to return to the people through services and infrastructure. This government works hard for the people as opposed to some others around the world. A recent move to cars from donkey carts means that most drivers here did not grow up watching their parents drive around. First generation drivers are a problem.
There are challenges here like landing a plane and having herds of animals or elephants in the way. You don't trim brush or tree limps around the yard without checking for snakes first. It can also get very cold during the winter months of May through August in this desert county. On the other hand, September through November can be hot and dry much like Phoenix, AZ. After living in Alaska for over 30 years, the climate is really very pleasant and manageable.
The people are kind and gracious. You must wear a suit jacket and tie to weddings and funerals, even if they are a bit ragged. Little kids are not afraid of strangers, and can wander around with out risk of being molested. People are very polite, and in the two years we have been here I have never heard a curse word in public."
Perhaps Colin's comments above will help some of you understand our life in Botswana a little better. If you can tolerate reading another lengthy narrative, the article below about the town we live in really paints a picture of what we see everyday. Again, if you click on the scanned page it should enlarge for easier reading.
In a previous blogs, we have tried to portray some of the same points written in the article, only in our own words and by using pictures. Think back to some of the images we have shared through the months and years of thatched roof huts, donkey carts, and local people including the distinctive Herero women. We have posted other photos of everyday life in Maun including the "small shacks of street vendors" mentioned in the article above. In the photos to follow, we have attempted to capture some of the more modern pictures of daily life here.The first snap shot is of the "bus rank" in the center of town. Bus travel is the most used public transportation for people in Botswana. Multiple buses are loading and unloading in a small area, with people everywhere. There are local shade shack vendors on the sidewalk mixed in with local businesses and shops.
The bus rank is really just a parking lot area and the photos do not even touch how busy and congested it gets there. Note the man on the roof of a smaller bus loading bags on top and the shade shack vendor selling bunches of oranges in the background of the next photo.
Across the main road from the bus rank area are small chain grocery and department stores seen all over Botswana. They have names like "Shoprite", "PEP", and "CB Stores".
Standing in the same spot by the bus rank, looking across the side road is a chain restaurant called "Nando's". See the large chicken on top of the building? That is what they specialize in.
Just past Nando's looking up the side street is a small shopping complex. There are no large malls like you find in the states. There are just a number of small complexes and shops spread out around town. It took us weeks of exploring, when we first got to Maun in August of 2008, to figure out where we could buy the things we needed.
As the article states that: "Maun's shops and street stores are a mixture ranging from modern, almost high tech," (that is a questionable statement by American standards), "to the more traditional". Below is a picture of about as "modern" as you will see around Maun when out shopping. The "Spar" store in the background is a grocery chain and the "Akerman's" is another small department store chain that is a bit more expensive than "PEP".
The author of Maun- A Strange Town closes by saying," If you are arriving in Maun for the first time, especially if it's your first visit to the country, then you might be taken aback to start with; Maun definitely isn't Paris or London..." That sums it up, but there is no other place we would rather be right now.While driving around Maun or anywhere in Botswana for that matter, you will see people carrying large items or buckets of water on their heads. It is pretty amazing to see young children to old women packing and balancing heavy loads on their heads. This woman was walking along the road in town when Julie was leaving the Post Office.
So among all the hubbub that surrounds this small community, we continue to stay busy with our responsibilities to FMS and the operations of the Maun base, relationship building in a variety of areas, and direct ministry outreach. The information to follow reflects just a small sample of the activities we were involved with over the last month.The 11th of July, we drove down to Gaborone so Julie could see a specialist about a thyroid condition that was discovered while in the states last April. Somewhere in the next few months, we will need to go to South Africa so that problem taken care of. While driving the 10 hours to Botswana's capital, we saw an average number of people driving donkey carts, but it was the first time we saw a sign warning drivers to be cautious of such transportation.
Our trip to Gaborone was brief, and after a full day driving on a Sunday we saw the doctor on a Monday, and drove the long drive back to Maun on a Tuesday. It was also the Kowalski's last week with us here before heading back to Canada on furlough. The flight schedule was rather slow, but there is always work to do. There was an important meeting that Keith and Colin attended at the airport concerning air space changes.
Thursday the 15th of July, we had a send off dinner for the Kowalski family and all the FMS Maun personnel and their families came. Our chief pilot from Gaborone, and two medics were also able to attend while based here temporarily.
After the large and filling meal, the Cressman's , Colin, and a few others lingered around the "braii" pit in our yard.
Saturday morning on the 17th of July, the FMs team was at the airport to see the Kowalski's off. Also, Pastor Alex from our church was there and we were able to send them off with lots of hugs and prayers.
Julie got her share of hugs from the kids also.
The snap shot below is a great photo of all the FMS Maun team, except Matt who was preparing for a flight. He said his good-byes out on the ramp.
July 24th was Misheck's 39th birthday. He invited us over for a small celebration with some of the Zimbabwean members from our church. Julie baked him a large chocolate cake.
After we all sang happy birthday, the cake was cut by his wife Debra with help from baby Briane on her back.
Once the cake was distributed there was congratulation speeches, singing, and a good time of fellowship.
Misheck and Colin
These two sisters come to church regularly with their Zimbabwean parents, and are part of the Sunday school group Julie has been working with.
Some of the other regular Sunday school students are pictured in the photos below. Ontiretse (left) and her little sister, never miss a Sunday.
Below is the early bird gang warming up in the sun on a cold winter morning.
It is winter now, and cold in the mornings so the children bundle up to be at church by 9am.
Colin continues to fly regularly and it has been very busy since to end of the World Cup games in South Africa.
Above is the Kasane Airport in Northern Botswana with the Zambezi River in the background and the Chobe River in the fore ground. 
The third week of July, Colin was in Gaborone while the C210 was having the 100 hour inspection. Another charter came up and he was asked to fly a person to the Orapa diamond mine for a meeting.
Above is the Orapa runway. It services the Orapa diamond mine. Orapa is a closed community due to the mine activity. People need special clearance to go there.
Devango and Nicoline continue to grow consistently in their relationship with Christ and are now formally engaged. Hopefully they can save enough money by the middle of November, to have a small gathering with a few close relatives and the church family. Julie and her friend Angela have been helping them with the planning.
While teachers and students in the states are preparing to start a new school year, the children here are now 2/3rds through completing their school year. Term 2 ends this week and the students will get one month off before starting Term 3. They will be finishing their school year in early December. Last Monday was the last Bible Club for this term. With the thoughtful care boxes sent to us from friends in the states, Julie was able to give out special treat bags to all the kids that have faithfully been attending. The group has not only grown in the number coming each week, but they have also shown great growth spiritually.
All the kids wanted a picture taken to say thank you to all that have helped to support this portion of our ministry.
Pusetso was in Maun for a short visit last week. She came by the office to visit with her daughter and sister. After her husband (Robert our porter) passed away in April, she moved back to the village of Sepopa north of Maun to live with her mother. It was really good to see her. Despite all the hardship in her life over the last few months she has continued to find comfort in the Lord. In her village, she has been participating in regular Bible studies but shared that Bibles are in short supply there. We were able to give her some Setswana Bibles to take back with her. It has been such a blessing to have received Bibles through the Flying Mission Care ministry in Gaborone. As we see needs arise, they have been being distributed through out our region.
Other blessings from the Flying Mission offices in Gaborone were visitors. Pictured below is Sheila from the HR department (right) with her friend Chelsea (center),who was visiting from Canada. Jessica (left) and Julie had a lovely lunch together with the visiting ladies by the river during one of the few days they were here.
Another visitor from Gaborone was Tina Kort, who coordinates initial ministry and cultural orientation for Flying Mission. She was traveling through Maun with two long time friends also from Canada. The three of them were able to take a scenic flight with Colin one evening, before departing early the next morning.
Flying Mission has also hired a new pilot that had been flying for another air service in Maun the last few years. Tuan Van Dyke has temporarily joined our team in Maun while Keith is on furlough. Eventually, Tuan will be moved to the Gaborone base to co-pilot in the King Air twin engine planes there. Tuan will be staying in one of the flats on our property for the next few months. He is pictured below.
Since there are no wild animal photos to share with you this month, we have included this picture of a friend's "leisure dog" just for fun. Jessie looks like so many of the other "Tswana" street dogs. As a stray puppy, friends of ours took her home as a pet and you can see that she is living the good life now. Notice the magazine on the sofa is a "House and Leisure" addition.
And if we are speaking about dogs, we must not leave out a photo of our overly friendly guard dog Red. She is pictured below enjoying the warmth of a sunny spot by flowers that continue to blossom even in mid winter.
Once again in closing we want to say thank you so much for your friendship, prayers, words of encouragement, gifts, and interest in what we are doing here.
"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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