The "Big Five" in Botswana

Last week, Carol and I along with some good friends visiting from PA drove up to Botswana. It's a beautiful 5 hour drive for which we loaded the CD player figuring we'd have lots of time to listen to some worship music together. Well, we never turned on the radio -- we talked continually there and back. What wonderful fellowship!

The purpose of our trip was to visit our SIM colleagues and also to touch base with the Flying Mission, the agency to whom many of our SIMers are seconded. Thanks for your prayers -- all went well and we managed to see and spend time with all we'd hoped and planned for.

In many ways Botswana is a difficult place to minister, though just driving through the capital city of Gaborone wouldn't necessarily give one that impression. HIV/AIDS is rife; complacency is evident; interest in the Gospel in many arenas is waning, and the need for a meaningful relationship with God not so pressing. Perhaps this is due partly to the obvious wealth in the country -- rich in diamonds, a stable government, or? One is left guessing.

On the wall outside the small 5 room lodge where we stayed was an artist's rendition of the "Big Five" -- rhino, lion, elephant, leopard and cape buffalo. Tourists pay big money coming from all over the world just to see these magnificent creations of God. In every tourist shop in this part of the world one can buy T shirts, caps, carvings -- you name it -- with the Big Five imprinted in some way. It's as if people are almost consumed with it all.

Reading these days in 2 Timothy 2:21-22 we've observed a far more important "Big Five": 1) "KEEP yourself pure, 2) RUN from anything that stimulates youthful lust, 3) FOLLOW anything that makes you want to do right, 4) PURSUE faith and love and peace, 5) ENJOY the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts." (NLT) This is faith in action; Christianity where it meets the road; the challenge of the Gospel; joy fulfilled; and all something that should consume us! May it be so. This is our prayer.