Half-way to Heaven - March 2026

We have a pot roast crockpot recipe we like for dinner.  It’s simple and filling and doesn’t take that much effort.

We went to our favorite store to purchase bread (Spur), our favorite store to purchase vegetables (Woolworths), and finished at our favorite store to purchase meat (Pic N Pay).  We had forgotten to obtain onions back at Woolworths, so Mark searched for them at Pic N Pay. Nothing.  Checking with the clerk “Oh yeah.  We’ve been out of onions for a couple weeks”

How can a grocery store not have onions!!!  You can grow onions on the sidewalk.

That's the supply-chain in Botswana.  We used to purchase Ciabatta bread at Woolworth’s but they don’t have it anymore. 

His name reminds us of the Stake Motto our daughter-in-law shared with us years ago.

• • I can do hard things

  • I do hard things first

  • I’m the first to do hard things.

We love the African names.  Most people know the meaning of their name.  Given names are Beauty, Precious, Kelebogile (Thank you).

We’ve been here 9 months, and we are still confronted with issues and problems we have no idea how to solve.  We are also now the only Senior Couple in the Mission Office except for the Mission Leaders, who are rarely in the office.  They are always on the go. There are 6 zones, and we hold zone conferences in each zone every 6 weeks. Geographically, this is a big mission, two countries. We think they are happy we are there, in the office, holding down the fort.  They said when they are with us there is no drama!

One Sunday we took a trip up to Molepolole (still love saying that name!!!) It was raining, but there was a good turnout at church.  When it rains, the roads become almost impassable.  The missionaries there had a mother who had visited church for the last 6 weeks, but on that Sunday, couldn't make it.  She walks about 7 kilometers to church.

So after church, we drove out to her home for a lesson.  The paved roads were ok, but once we turned off the pavement onto the dirt roads, it was a disaster.  There was probably 6 inches of water puddled in many places, and when no puddles, sloshy mud.  A Combi (minivan utilized as a taxi) passed us and was fish-tailing all over the mud.  Mark was sure we were going to get stuck and Lynn was going to have to get out in the muddy puddles and push.  Well, maybe not that solution.

But we were blessed, probably because we had the two young missionaries with us and did not get stuck nor need to get out to push.  We met the mother on the front ‘porch’ of her house, which was a two-room cinderblock hut with a front porch the size of a phone booth.  We all sat there on 5-gallon buckets because it was still raining and the porch was the only covered space.  The meeting was tender and touching.  She asked about families being together after death.  Mark exclaimed “I LOVE that question” (since we are Family History fanatics!!!), and dear Elder Mutandwa appropriately stated that they would cover that topic next meeting.

We were able to get back to civilization through the mud.  When we finally made it home, our white car was now mud-brown.

Another weekend we drove to Palapye to search for a new flat for sisters and do existing flat inspections.  A couple months ago, the group (a congregation which is smaller than a Branch) that meets there had two members and 4 missionaries.  When we visited, there were 30+ members.

Of course, they asked us to speak.  A disciple of Christ should be ready at all times to defend the hope we have in salvation.  Mark was also invited to conduct the music.  Gladly.  The people of Botswana love to sing.  One of their favorites is How Great Thou Art.  A classic.

We are doing a great work.  A hard work, but the rewards are great.