Questions on Prayer

I am looking for some help on this. At our weekly Bible study, the teens and I are studying about prayer. Each week I give them the opportunity to write down questions they have. I got quite a few at last week's study and would love to have additional feedback to offer the kids when we meet this week. Please if you are able to add offer any wisdom or insight on any of these questions, either comment below or you can email me at botswanagirl at gmail.com. Thank you!

1. How come sometimes when you pray you feel like God is not listening and there is just a brick wall between the two of you? How do you change that?
2. Is it a sin if we don't pray for our enemies?
3. If you are praying to God and you start to lose focus, does He still listen to you and answer your prayer? How can I stop this problem?
4. If we're praying for something and He hasn't give it to us, how do we know when to keep praying and when to stop?
5. Do you always have to ask God before you talk to someone about Him and His teachings?
6. When I pray for someone who is not a Christian, does God bless them?
7. How do we pray so that God answers you fast?
8. Is it ok to laugh and joke with God or should we talk to Him like we would our grandparents?
9. Is praying in tongues real? And if so, when should we pray that way and why?

I have my own thoughts on most of these questions, but again, I'd really like to present more than just my thoughts and ideas. I'd love any feedback you could give on any of these. Thanks so much!

Prayer Needs

Here are a few current prayer requests:
1. The water situation at the dorm has been very touch and go the past few weeks. We'll have water for a couple of hours and then not have it for several more, or we'll even go a couple of days without it. It's become quite a burden and I'm praying that it is solved soon.

2. Because of it being winter, many of the kids are getting sick. Because of there being no water and them not being able to wash hands regularly, combined with living in such close quarters, the illnesses are spreading like crazy. I am one of the latest victims. I feel totally "blah" with cold/minor flu-like symptoms. Please pray for healing in boarding.

3. There have many issues with immigration and processing of documents around here lately, affecting many different people. I'm especially praying for Keturah and Brenda, who are both still waiting for work permits. Keturah has already had to leave the country and the same thing could happen to Brenda next month. Also, Jana has been working so hard for so long to get the needed approval for the baby house at the mission, a house that will take in abandoned or orphaned babies. We just need a lot of favor with the government right now in many ways.

4. Praying about the future and trying to not be anxious.

5. *Update* I just heard the horrible news about my former pastors in Austin losing their son last night in a car accident. Please pray for the Koke family in this horrible tragic time.

Thanks so much for any of these needs you are able to offer up in prayer!

What's Next?

With less than five months remaining out of my two-year committment to Love Botswana Outreach Mission, many people have begun asking me what is next. Well, that is definitely the million dollar question!

Honestly, I have very little clue what is next for me. And that scares me more than you can imagine! Since I came to Botswana the first time in 2006, I've known in my heart where I would be, at least until December 2009. Now that December is just around the corner, I am having to walk by faith again, trusting God to lead me into the next season of my life, and to reveal those plans to me in His perfect timing. I've been recalling His amazing faithfulness to me up until this point, which helps to encourage me in this waiting and trusting time.

What do I know for sure? I love Jesus and I love children. I hope to continue combining the two. I also have a passion for kids of other cultures and love traveling, but whether that will be a part of my next season or not, I'm not sure. I'd of course love your prayers concerning all of this over the next few months and I promise to keep you updated. I may not know what the future holds, but praise God I know Who does!

"Date" Night

Last term we had a boarding spelling bee, which turned out to be a really fun activity. I promised the top four spellers a dinner out one night. Unfortunately, right after that my car started having trouble and we never got around to the dinner.

Well, now that my car is all fixed, I was sure to put this "date" at the top of the priority list. Last week the four spellers and I had a nice dinner out at a local restaurant while we enjoyed some really yummy food and fun fellowship.

Here are a few pictures from the night. (I apologize about the quality...my camera was doing some really funky things in the restaurant's lighting.)

Praying for a friend

Since January, Keturah has been a missionary here in Botswana, and up until a few weeks ago was my co-boarding mistress. She is also the other sign language interpreter (and much more skilled than I am!) Her primary role here, though, is working with outreach teams, most of which come from June-August.

Keturah has had immigration issues since she got here, similar to what I went through last year. Unfortunately things are not going well right now and she actually had to fly to South Africa today to wait at least two more weeks in hopes that her documents will be ready by then and she can come back. With all the uncertainty, though, there is a chance that she might go all the way back to America and return at a later time.

The timing is horrible with this because we are right in the middle of outreach season, and actually have two teams here right now. Please join me in praying for God to work a miracle in this situation so that Keturah can return to Botswana very soon and continue in her ministry here. And please pray for me as I carry more of the load with sign language interpreting, especially on Sunday mornings...about 2 1/2 hours, non-stop!

Five Months

I just realized that five months from today I'll be leaving Botswana, moving back to America. What a crazy mixture of emotions that brings! I can't believe so much time has passed already. I'm excited to see what God has in store these next few months, and I pray they are my best yet!

Driver's License Update

I have a small update on my ongoing driver's license adventure.

I called the US Embassy in Botswana today to see about getting the needed letter from them so that I can obtain my Botswana driver's license. As was rumored, the Embassy informed me that they do not issue letters like that, since each state's licenses are unique to that state and are not a federal issue. Apparently they haven't issued these letter for years.

So, my next step is going to be to try to find a morning to go back up to the transport office, to be at least in the first 25 people in line, try again to get my eye test, hope to find the man in the office who can help me, and HOPEFULLY leave with an official license.

Once again, to be continued...