It’s amazing, but we are in the last few months of our service. December is closing in so quickly.
Mark checks the roster every morning hoping that a Senior Couple will pop up on the roster as our replacements. It was getting so desperate that the Mission Leaders directed the missionaries to hold a Mission-wide fast so we could pray a Senior Couple into our mission.
A couple days ago, the Lord looked down on this little patch of the kingdom and blessed us. A Senior Couple miraculously appeared!
And they have very similar church-life experiences to Lynn and Mark. Directors of a Family History Center, Seminary teacher, Scoutmaster, Stake Young Mens. She looks so much like one of our dear neighbors, He even served in the same mission (Nederlands) as Mark, a year after Mark. We hope with some calendar adjusting that they can overlap us a couple weeks in November, allowing us to train and knowledge transfer.
A funny story: When Mark uses the Online “Request a Return Flight Home” system, it’s configured for the Default Source city to be Johannesburg. He usually remembers to change it to Gaborone. When he submitted Sister XXX’s request, he neglected to make the switch.. Her home is in South Africa, but not Johannesburg.
A few days later, he got her flight from Africa South Area Travel. It had her flying home 7 October from Johannesburg to East London South Africa. Mark sent Area Travel an apology and asked them to fix his mistake. A few days later, he got a new segment, flying her from Gaborone to Johannesburg. On 7 September.
He sent a note to Area Travel saying she probably needs a few pula (cash) for snacks because that's a long layover between flights (1 month!). They replied that they would fix it right away. A few days ago, he got the fixed flight segment for Sister XXX flying her from Gaborone to Johannesburg 7 October.
That very evening, Sister XXX had a new medical event, the results of which requires her to return home this transfer. Area said they would fix the whole thing. Again.
Sometimes, you just have to laugh.
A Little Miracle (reported by Elders): In Pilane, we were biking from a lesson. This Lady who was previously taught by missionaries but unfortunately she went to South Africa and she came back to Pilane went to the state of missionary apostasy. She has been coming to church, had not been baptized and she stopped us and told us she wanna be baptized
A Little Miracle: Today was the first baptism for the Ongwediva Sisters! It was so great and the branch is really growing here. We can't even all fit in the chapel! Excited for what is to come.
A beautiful miracle (reported by Sister Missionaries): Yesterday we found this girl and during the lesson she was so quiet she would only say one word. We invited her to church and we got permission from her mom. When we arrived this morning to pick her up she had invited 2 of her siblings and her friend to join us which was so amazing. We are looking forward to the upcoming week and we are praying for our friends as we invite them to be baptized this week.
An Amazing Miracle: President Neuberger was conducting Assistant-to-the-President training at the Stake Center just before Zone Conference. A couple Police Officers showed up at the front door. Of course, whenever police show up, you wonder “What did I do wrong!!!???” They introduced themselves and shared that they have a group of 50 police officers in training and they want them to experience going to church. They were looking for a church that they could visit. Of course, President was happy to invite them to come visit!
Southern Africa is on Fire (Gospel-speaking): When we arrived in June 2025, there were 70 missionaries serving in the Botswana/Namibia mission. After one year, that complement had risen to 100 missionaries. By the end of 2026, there will be 150 missionaries serving, about 50-60 of them Sister Missionaries!
Lynn's Great Aunt was a Medical Missionary and served for 40 years in the Congo. We haven’t been here that long, but it is great to follow in her footsteps to continue doing our little part to grow the Kingdom.