Here is a slide show that I made for the presentation I did for the older Awana children this past Wednesday. Enjoy, and I will post more video clips soon.
In HIS Steps,
Kim Wright
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Kim's Pictures
Here are a lot of my pictures I took during our mission trip to the villiage of Old Naledi, in Gaborone, Botswana; Africa. I will be posting some video clips a little later.
In His Steps,
Kim Wright
In His Steps,
Kim Wright
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Our Next Step for Jesus?
*The picture above is a picture of the church we are partnering with in Botswana. It is called Old Naledi Fellowship Church.
Dumela! (Botswana greeting like our hello)
I have been thinking, wondering and praying the past two days, "What Lord is MY next step?" What do YOU Lord want ME to do with what I experienced in Botswana? I want to be more effective for Him, and I want to take that next step, but I am still seeking the Lord's guidance on what that might be. I have been thinking of a few things, but I don't want to rush right into it.
I am still adjusting to being back in America, where I feel like I took so much for granted. I thought about that on the drive back this morning from taking my youngest daughter to a Pediatric eye doctor. I wondered if the people of Old Naledi have ever seen a doctor and if so, how often do they go?
The Lord has allowed me to look at people and life in general in such simpler, easier way. In Botswana they have very little, but they are so filled with such joy and happiness to just have people around and the kids to have someone to play with and show them attention. We have so much here and they have so little, but they are still happy people!
A lot of people here in America are so consumed with getting that "next thing!" Do you know what I mean? Like a bigger TV, a cooler phone, a newer car, etc., etc., etc. I was bad about it with the car thing for awhile BEFORE my trip.
I pray each and everyday that the Lord doesn't allow me to forget what I experienced and what HE taught me in Botswana. Right now, I am on top of the mountain top and I DO NOT want to come down! I know that one day I will, but I want to stay up here as long as possible. I also do NOT want to forget what I saw, experienced and what I allowed the Lord to show me and teach me.
What an incredible adventure I was allowed to go on! We not only formed bonds with the people and children of Old Naledi, but we formed bonds with each other that I pray will never be broken.
Much more of my thoughts to come. Stay tuned!
P.S. THANK YOU to ALL of you who helped me financially and prayerfully to have had this incredible opportunity to go on this trip. You have all blessed me beyond measure!
In HIS Steps,
Kim Wright
*In the picture below, some of the children were playing with my SHORT hair. This happened many times. If anyone had hair, the kids would play in it and blow in it to watch it move! It was very cute.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Missing Africa
As I sit here at my computer, in the comfort of my air conditioned home I am thinking about Old Naledi and all our new friends and the beautiful children we all got to know and formed bonds with. I miss them all so very, very much. I feel like part of my heart was left in Africa. Friday evening when we were saying goodbye, I thought my heart was breaking. It was so very, very hard not to cry.
I miss mine and Toni's Nelly so very, very much. As well as little Bubba, Precious and Mmalebando (pronounced Maliiebando). These children only wanted attention from us and someone to play with. From the first day we arrived in Old Naledi, I fell in love with Africa. I cannot wait to go back one day soon, with my husband.
MUCH more of my thoughts to come.
In HIS Steps,
Kim Wright
Mathata's Email
Here's an email I got from Mathata last night:
*********************************************************************************
Hi Mareko, thanks for this mail man, and good to hear that you have arrived safely back home. we are still well here and buizy with the building project. Thanks so much for all that you have done for us here, you dont know how much you have blessed us, and this means a lot to us.
We have started praying for your next visit. Greet everyone for me more especially your ntsa and katse! Ha! Will keep in touch. Thanks so much!
Because of Jesus.
Mathata and Dk.
Mobile: (+267) 71396163
*********************************************************************************
Hi Mareko, thanks for this mail man, and good to hear that you have arrived safely back home. we are still well here and buizy with the building project. Thanks so much for all that you have done for us here, you dont know how much you have blessed us, and this means a lot to us.
We have started praying for your next visit. Greet everyone for me more especially your ntsa and katse! Ha! Will keep in touch. Thanks so much!
Because of Jesus.
Mathata and Dk.
Mobile: (+267) 71396163
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
On Top of Kgale
Beginning of Something Beautiful
Here is the team and the church leaders standing and sitting what will be the door way to the church. We wrote favorite bible verses on the steel beams. This is where Old Neladi will be taking their "Next Step" with Christ.
Monday, September 8, 2008
2 Weeks in Africa (Caedmon's Call)
Johannesburg to Capetown,
the plane had barely touched down.
She was taking photos for the friends back home.
This was always where she felt her heart belonged.
She was finally here,
the sky was bright and clear.
(Two weeks....)
And we all can feel the calling,
(Two weeks....)
to make the world a little smaller.
And so a girl got on a plane,
for two weeks in Africa.
Johannesburg to Houston,
she came home on a mountain.
But school was starting, things kept moving on.
Before you knew it, seven years had gone.
She found a picture of her,
standing, smiling,
arms around the starving kids.
She swore not to forget,
she swore not to forget...
(Two weeks....)
And we all can feel the calling,
(Two weeks....)
to make the world a little smaller.
And so a girl got on a plane,
for two weeks in Africa.
And if we follow our dear sun
to where the stars are not familiar.
Faces turn to numbers,
numbers fall like manna from the sky.
Why, oh why?
Oh Father, why?
One village in Malawi now has water running pure and clean.
One church alive in Kenya's full of truth and love and medicine.
We put the walls up, but Jesus keeps them standing.
He doesn't need us, but He lets us put our hands in.
So we can see, His love is bigger than you and me.
(Two weeks....)
And we all can feel the calling,
(Two weeks....)
to make the world a little smaller.
And so a girl got on a plane,
for two weeks in Africa.
the plane had barely touched down.
She was taking photos for the friends back home.
This was always where she felt her heart belonged.
She was finally here,
the sky was bright and clear.
(Two weeks....)
And we all can feel the calling,
(Two weeks....)
to make the world a little smaller.
And so a girl got on a plane,
for two weeks in Africa.
Johannesburg to Houston,
she came home on a mountain.
But school was starting, things kept moving on.
Before you knew it, seven years had gone.
She found a picture of her,
standing, smiling,
arms around the starving kids.
She swore not to forget,
she swore not to forget...
(Two weeks....)
And we all can feel the calling,
(Two weeks....)
to make the world a little smaller.
And so a girl got on a plane,
for two weeks in Africa.
And if we follow our dear sun
to where the stars are not familiar.
Faces turn to numbers,
numbers fall like manna from the sky.
Why, oh why?
Oh Father, why?
One village in Malawi now has water running pure and clean.
One church alive in Kenya's full of truth and love and medicine.
We put the walls up, but Jesus keeps them standing.
He doesn't need us, but He lets us put our hands in.
So we can see, His love is bigger than you and me.
(Two weeks....)
And we all can feel the calling,
(Two weeks....)
to make the world a little smaller.
And so a girl got on a plane,
for two weeks in Africa.
An INCREDIBLE Adventure
All I can say at this moment is what an adventure God took us on! He sure rocked my world, in more than one way! Africa is a beautiful continent! The people I met in Botswana and South Africa had some of the nicest, most caring people I have ever met! These people were beautiful, loving and caring people to our group! I have never felt more accepted than in Old Naledi.
It is Monday afternoon here, and 6:57 PM Monday evening in Gaborone, Botswana (The G sounds like an H in Gaborone). I am having so many mixed feelings right now. I am very happy to be home, but I am missing the people and relationships we made in Africa. I miss the beautiful children, our brothers and sisters in Christ we got to know, and just in general I am really missing Botswana right now.
Part of my heart was left in Old Naledi, the village we worked at each day. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do by leaving our friends on Friday evening. A lot of us were having a very hard time keeping our tears back when it was time to load up and head back to the hotel.
I made a very special bond with a couple of children from the very beginning. One being a little girl about 4 years old. Her name is Nelly and she lives a few houses down from the church. What a beautiful little girl, with skin as soft as butter. On Friday, for some reason, I was so tired I fell asleep inside the church with my head on the table. I guess I slept an hour or so, and Mama Maurita (the Pastor's wife) woke me up and told me that everyone was outside getting ready to leave.
I went outside where our group was, along with all the children and the church family of Old Naledi. As I listened to the Pastor, Maurita James tell us all how much they appreciated our help, he then called each of us up to the front to present us with a small token of appreciation from the ladies of their church. They had made each one of us a card and had used the craft items we brought over to decorate the cards. What a beautiful gift! One I will treasure forever.
When this was over, our team went back into the church to gather our things and a team member and good friend now, Toni, told me to look out the window. I saw little Nelly walking down the street. Toni pointed out to me that she had put new shoes on Nelly. Toni also had made a special bond with Nelly. I told Toni then that those were the shoes I had brought over for the children. I went outside with my camera to take a picture of Nelly. I found her, and she gave me a hug and I told told her that I would see her soon. I took a picture of my precious Nelly in those shoes.
I can't write down right now all of what we experienced, as I would be here for days. I am still trying to process it. I had so much fun. God really moved me and broke down some walls in my life that I had been building for years and years. Thank you Kristi and Toni for that night of talking and encouragement. It was all a God thing!
Thank you God for allowing me to go to Africa for this trip! I can't wait to go back to Old Naledi one day soon! I would do it tomorrow if I could. Please be praying for our whole team as we get back to the hustle and bustle of our lives. If everyone is going through the culture shock being back in the United States as I am, then I am not the only one trying to process this whole trip!
Thank you to all of you who helped me financialy and by your prayers to go to Africa. It was a life changing trip for me and I will never be the same again! I just pray that God will help me to remember all that I saw and all that HE taught me on this trip!
MUCH more of my toughts to come soon so stay tuned!
In His Steps,
Kim Wright
P.S. This is a picture of me and my beautiful Nelly. What a beautiful smile she has! I miss her so much already!
It is Monday afternoon here, and 6:57 PM Monday evening in Gaborone, Botswana (The G sounds like an H in Gaborone). I am having so many mixed feelings right now. I am very happy to be home, but I am missing the people and relationships we made in Africa. I miss the beautiful children, our brothers and sisters in Christ we got to know, and just in general I am really missing Botswana right now.
Part of my heart was left in Old Naledi, the village we worked at each day. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do by leaving our friends on Friday evening. A lot of us were having a very hard time keeping our tears back when it was time to load up and head back to the hotel.
I made a very special bond with a couple of children from the very beginning. One being a little girl about 4 years old. Her name is Nelly and she lives a few houses down from the church. What a beautiful little girl, with skin as soft as butter. On Friday, for some reason, I was so tired I fell asleep inside the church with my head on the table. I guess I slept an hour or so, and Mama Maurita (the Pastor's wife) woke me up and told me that everyone was outside getting ready to leave.
I went outside where our group was, along with all the children and the church family of Old Naledi. As I listened to the Pastor, Maurita James tell us all how much they appreciated our help, he then called each of us up to the front to present us with a small token of appreciation from the ladies of their church. They had made each one of us a card and had used the craft items we brought over to decorate the cards. What a beautiful gift! One I will treasure forever.
When this was over, our team went back into the church to gather our things and a team member and good friend now, Toni, told me to look out the window. I saw little Nelly walking down the street. Toni pointed out to me that she had put new shoes on Nelly. Toni also had made a special bond with Nelly. I told Toni then that those were the shoes I had brought over for the children. I went outside with my camera to take a picture of Nelly. I found her, and she gave me a hug and I told told her that I would see her soon. I took a picture of my precious Nelly in those shoes.
I can't write down right now all of what we experienced, as I would be here for days. I am still trying to process it. I had so much fun. God really moved me and broke down some walls in my life that I had been building for years and years. Thank you Kristi and Toni for that night of talking and encouragement. It was all a God thing!
Thank you God for allowing me to go to Africa for this trip! I can't wait to go back to Old Naledi one day soon! I would do it tomorrow if I could. Please be praying for our whole team as we get back to the hustle and bustle of our lives. If everyone is going through the culture shock being back in the United States as I am, then I am not the only one trying to process this whole trip!
Thank you to all of you who helped me financialy and by your prayers to go to Africa. It was a life changing trip for me and I will never be the same again! I just pray that God will help me to remember all that I saw and all that HE taught me on this trip!
MUCH more of my toughts to come soon so stay tuned!
In His Steps,
Kim Wright
P.S. This is a picture of me and my beautiful Nelly. What a beautiful smile she has! I miss her so much already!
Welcome Home
Photos are GREAT! Thanks for the investment that you've made into the lives of our friends and brothers and sisters in Naledi. You have blessed them beyond measure! Welcome home. DChisam
Mark's Pictures
I know Scott is going to upload everyone's pictures to one album but in the duration, here's a link to mine. Thank you to everyone who went on the trip and to everyone back home supporting us in so many ways. It remains the highest honor of my life to serve alongside Africa and you.
Also, if those who have the emails from the Old Naledi group could send those to me via email when possible, I would be most appreciative!
In His Steps,
Mareko
Also, if those who have the emails from the Old Naledi group could send those to me via email when possible, I would be most appreciative!
In His Steps,
Mareko
Home Again
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Home Soon
We are now in Atlanta, everyone has cleared customs and several of us have Starbucks in hand. Our flight was relatively painless and early thanks to a quick in Dakar. We have tons of pictures and stories and challenges to share. We should be at ADBC around 1230. Thank you all for your prayers and support.
Don't forget to add Old Naledi to the top of your prayer list!!!!
In His Steps,
Mareko (Mark)
Home Soon
We are now in Atlanta, everyone has cleared customs and several of us have Starbucks in hand. Our flight was relatively painless and early thanks to a quick in Dakar. We have tons of pictures and stories and challenges to share. We should be at ADBC around 1230. Thank you all for your prayers and support.
Don't forget to add Old Naledi to the top of your prayer list!!!!
In His Steps,
Mareko (Mark)
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