Seronga

I have been to Botswana a few times now, the first time being about fourteen years ago, at a fairly early stage when I was starting to understanding missions and the God of missions. I thought I knew Botswana or fairly knew it until I heard Mama Sue talk about a place called Seronga in the Delta region. The place never seemed to leave her lips, even when they came to visit us at Beth-El en route from Malawi back to Botswana, her heart was still very much in Seronga although she had mixed emotions about it as the place had great odds about it. The place she was explaining seemed very far fetched especially that it is in a country like Botswana, a very strong economy and very stable politically. This place sounded like one of those places found in the middle of nowhere in Africa only movie makers seem to be able to trace. It was so until the Lord said to me "go to Seronga".

When Mama Sue was in Pretoria with Pastor Lesang and sister Idah last year, it seemed apparent that I need to start preparing myself for a journey to Seronga, that was still at the time Mama Sue was still battling with "saying yes" to the still voice that kept troubling her within. As per custom I shared the idea with a few people and interestingly many people were interested, our preparations begun as we kept in contact with Mama Sue, in the meantime she also responded to the deep urge to go there.

19 - 14 October, were dates set for us to be in Seronga. It turned out to be one of the most beautiful places we have seen. Untouched by the woes that oft come with development and civilization. Perched in the middle of a gigantic Okavango river and Caprivi strip lies this seemingly peaceful area where there is no tar road, lacking many basic things one takes for granted in the city and still very much untouched by the Gospel. Searching for information about this place in the internet is like searching for a needle in the sand in the dark of the night. Very little information is there, no clear map, some describe these people as the "forgotten people of Botswana". Taking a ride in the well kept gravel, one is often greeted by elephants as they routinely move to the river to get their water to quench the thirst. For these elephants this is their natural habitat, they live freely with the people there. It is not a surprise that people travel from far and wide to come and spend time here, paying exorbitant amounts of money to catch a glimpse of this place and to take a ride in mokoro "locally made boat" and to sleep in one of the islands in the Okavango delta. Despite the wealth foreigners make out of the virginity of this land, the local people remain desperately poor.

After a great revival we had there for two days, as we started in Maun, where we were hosted so well and fed like kings and queens. We left Seronga with peaceful heart and a great burden in our souls. Seronga left with us as we drove back, we have a burden to be there for Mama Sue as she spreads the Gospel that side of the world which everyone chooses to forget except for a visit and to take holiday pictures. For us it was not just about a holiday, it was about God who knows each and everyone of us by name, knowing the number of the hairs on our heads, the same way He does with each and every person in Seronga. It is such a joyful and peaceful mission, to journey with the Lord, wherever His heart is.

Pontoon in Okavango river

Okavango river

Revival at chief's place in Maun

Me and Joel in a pontoon in Okavango river

Enjoying a boat ride in Seronga - Okavango Delta

Myself and Mary, dipping our shoes to
disinfect them from foot and mouth disease,
a regular procedure along the way

All smiles afloat Okavango river, heading back home,
a journey of  about 19 hours, we took the Ghanzi route on way back

Pastor Lesang - Host Pastor in Maun

Church in Maun

Beautiful Seronga

Myself and Mama Sue (Host Pastor in Seronga)
On the right, one of the villagers who received the Lord
shortly after this, holding meat he had
just bought from the nearby butchery

Pastor Shabangu praying for
a new convert in Maun

Sister Idah and Brother Olebogeng at Mohenbo border.
This was just for pics, we did not cross into Namibia

With our Hosts in Maun. In the middle in
black and white is sister Taboka, who did
most of the logistics. Behind her is striped t-shirt
is her husband who came to collect us in town when we
arrived, ntate GaaMangwe

With our hosts from left to right: Pastor Shabangu,
Pastor Lesang (host pastor), ntate Gaamangwe, ous Taboka Gaamangwe, brother Olebogeng Bogosi, sister Idah (we
first met her last her while doing her missions training with
Capro Missions in Molepolole. She, together with Pastor Lesang came with Mama Sue last to visit us on way from Malawi)

Finally, at the entrance of Seronga. Quite a hot place

Very sandy

The old lady walking away is the one
is staying with Mama Sue in her home. A beautiful
and homely house. She gave us ground nuts and beans.
Typical Setswana food, high in proteins.

Enjoying our ground nuts with freshly baked buns
by Mama Sue. You can only dream of fast  foods in the
Delta region, a good place for weight watchers

Pastor Shabangu and Olebogeng
at our last service in Seronga.
The first service was at kgotleng,
where the community meets for community
meetings, the same way we did in Maun.
The next day service was in a classroom where they
often meet. Second day in the morning was a day of teachings
of the basics of faith for new converts

Olebogeng leading the man from the butchery
to the Lord. He decided to take the Lord as his
personal Lord and Saviour after the lady
sitting down invited us to her
house for prayer.
Her daughter is part of the church,
she requested prayers so that she can
be delivered from alcoholism

Taking a break with fresh buns and ground nuts:
Idah, Kgaotsang and Joel