Br Thinus Herman
Oh God and almighty Father, Creator of heaven and earth, for the past two weeks we have once again stood in awe of Your creation. What a privilege it was to move around in the north of Botswana and see how herds of wild animals still roam freely in nature. Yes, to see in the mornings, with an
open Bible, how the sun paints the world orange and bears witness to Your miracles. To be able to look at the starry sky in the evenings and learn how to distinguish the sounds of hippos, jackals, hyenas and lions.
Lord, at that time You sent 72 ahead, two by two, to places You still planned to visit.
Thank you, Lord, that in the last two weeks we have been able to experience something similar in Botswana. We could see first hand what is written in Luke 10: The harvest is great, but the laborers are few. Lord, I want to praise and thank You for the privilege of meeting Auntie Dorette.
What a wonderful testimony about the path you walked with her and uncle Thys. Yes Lord, at an age when most people retire, You placed them in Motopi. Lord, her story about how they basically had to
live at first echoes Your words from Luke 10 – no purse or travel bag or sandals. They were not ministers, but through Your Spirit they began to serve under a tree. Now there is already a church and community hall.
Lord, she is already 79 and still lives out Your command: Let the little children come to me. We can only pray in great dependence that You will send workers to her for the harvest. Yes, Lord, she remains a woman alone in a harsh world. Lord, send someone who wants to work with children and knows or wants to learn Tswana. If it is Your will, also send someone who can work among the men, because since Uncle Thys passed away, the culture of the people is such that they will not recognize Aunt Dorette as a spiritual leader. And Lord, carry Aunt Dorette, wrap her with Your eagle wings so that she will be able to continue to walk Your path every day, in the same great dependence. Thank you Lord, that Hendrik du Plessis also supports her from Dekar and can get out there as a minister a few times a year.
Thank you that we could go to Mababe from there with Hendrik. As in Luke 10, we could go from house to house to do Bible study and pray with the people. Yes, Lord, give peace to the little houses and their people in the forest. Lord, it was so special to see how You gave the gift of tongues to Hendrik.
Throughout his lifetime, you have equipped him to make an impact here as well. We could simply see in the reaction of the people how they respond to Your message: “For you the kingdom is at hand.” Lord, this part of Botswana is a fallow field: Many of the people cannot read, few have work and drink intoxicates the despondent. Lord, the people here live so basically. No electricity. Just a few water
points.
So carrying wood and water to cook porridge and wash takes up a large part of the day.
Thank you Lord, that in this culture, where stories are told around the campfire and little is read, techn ology can also play a role. Audio Bibles echo for hours on end. Hendrik’s Bible studies on small radios greet homes early in the morning.
Lord, hear Hendrik’s prayer that those with radios will now start Bible study groups around it. Give him stren gth to do enough Bible studies so that they can grow in the truth of Your Word. And Lord, send means for more radios and audio Bibles. Lord, where there is so easily
conflict and anger in the sinful world, we thank You for the wisdom, knowledge of the culture and
life experience that You gave Hendrik to handle situations. You stand by Him and work against the attacks of evil so that the ministry can grow there. Yes, Lord You sent Him, and those who reject Him reject You.
Thank you that we were also able to spend some time with Miriam, Hendrik’s wife, in Dekar.
Lord, it is not easy to be a missionary, but it is even more difficult to be a missionary’s wife. Sacrifices in lifestyle, away from family and friends. Sacrifices to send children away for high school at a young age. Thank You that You also made her strong to play an anchor role in their ministry in prayerful dependence. If it is Your will, Lord, give us the opportunity to go again to support, but also to learn more about the established ministry that has been going on for 22 years in Dekar.
Lord, we returned home full of joy. The two weeks’ experience shouts out: The laborers are few! O Lord, send laborers for the harvest. Send people who are willing to come to Mababe to help build a church. The only other church is a prosperity religion church that exploits the dire situation even more. Send laborers willing to learn the language and work in the harsh conditions. Oh Lord, Mababe is only a small town and the work there is more than a full-time laborer can handle and Hendrik can only get there once in three months. And what about the other villages around it. Lord, send funds for fuel so he can get out there more. But more than that, send laborers for the harvest who can serve there full time. We praise You Lord, from heaven and earth that You have hidden these things from clever learned people and revealed them to little children and simple people.
Yes, that You touch the people in Botswana so much through the handful of laborers there. Lord no one knows You, the Son, and You the Father, except those to whom You make Yourself known. Thank You for making us part of Your plan. Let our gratitude overflow and make us laborers for the harvest. Let this feedback also come out to those whom You have already prepared to become laborers for the harvest and touch them. Call them Lord, for the harvest is great and the laborers are few. Let us fully live out Your commandment of love.
Make us Good Samaritans to all those you bring across our path. But grant that we will also sit at Your feet like a Mary to be filled with Your Word and Spirit so that we will be able to do the work. Let us, like the parable of the sower, keep sowing and trust in You for the fruit. Amen.