FREEDOM in AFRICA 2009

Update

2009-09-15T11:15:00.002-04:00

Moruti James reported today that the electrician was onsite working on the power at the church and they expect the mechanic to pick up the van today to work on transmission.

He states their prayer service will focus on Nehemiah 1:5-11. Be sure to continue praying for Old Naledi and Botswana every Tuesday around 11am EDT. God is Good!

Kealeboga (Thank you!)

Mareko

Back Home

2009-09-06T16:10:00.001-04:00

Here's some pictures from Mareko and Nancy. We should have some video up soon and will also add Clay's pictures as a link soon. Glad to be back home and looking forward to the next trip back to Botswana. Thank you God!

Old Naledi Photos 2009

2009-09-06T09:33:00.001-04:00

On the plane and heading to GSP. Clay and Scott fly on to Columbia later. Thank you all for your prayers and support. Videos and pictures later!

2009-09-06T06:43:00.001-04:00

We are on the ground in ATL. Thank you God!!!

Last day in Old Naledi

2009-09-04T12:42:00.000-04:00

We leave Gabs tomorrow at lunch. We have so much to share about this
week and look forward to sharing the vision! Please pray for safe and
comfortable travel! See you soon.

Clay, Scott, Joel, Nancy, Jason and Mareko

New book shelves

2009-09-04T12:26:00.000-04:00

They now have two and we placed an order for 3000 Pulas worth of
children's books thanks to our vacation bible school kids!

Gakuto

2009-09-03T17:26:00.000-04:00

We traveled to the remote village of Gakuto today. There is a church
building there; but, no current pastor. The last young pastor failed
morally and the church planters now face major obstacles on finding a
replacement suitable for the situation he created. Please pray for
Gakuto (pronounced "Ha Koo Toe"). We also visited the chief of the
village and his family for prayer and consultation. The chief's
mother is a christian and shared her testimony with us. We then went
to the primary school to visit the head master and to pray over the
school. The church must have a presence there in Gakuto because many
folks from Gaborone are moving out there and they expect the village
to grow 10x in the next ten years. We can't get behind there because
the vaccum will be filed by another force if not the church. Prayer is
critical!

We also went out to some other remote rural churches, including one
started by David Livingstone and the London Missionary Society in
1907. That was a true inspiration and a major piece of Christian
hertitage. We prayed for a terminally ill man and his family- 11
people packed into the hut to pray for him.

We joined back up with the group in Old Naledi for the youth service
(young adults). Joel and Jason gave their testimonies and Pastor Clay
even preached from the floor for illustrative purposes, they got a
kick out of that!

We ended the night at a Brazillain steakhouse, it was an embarrassment
of riches compared to the feeding station.

Tomorrow is our last full day. We are procuring shelves and desks for
the library and going to a bookstore to place book orders for the
children's library. We hope to have the wiring complete for the church
tomorrow if all goes as promised.

Clay and Mark got authentic cowbells in the village of Molepolelei
today. It reminds us of hearing the cow herds in the Khalahari on
Monday.

I will have incredible photos from today online once we get home. Know
you are missed! We send our Love. Goodnight from Gaborone.

via iPhone

Wednesday

2009-09-02T15:38:00.001-04:00

Today was a full work day. I think we made about 5 or 6 runs into town
for hardware and supplies. We restored the water lines and gas lines
for the feeding station- it took most of the day. The kids had a meal
but it was mostly corned beef from a can ( well, Nancy said that
wasn't like the corned beef we know and I agree) and a piece of bread.
We also got an electrical contractor to come out to the church- well,
we had to go get him with the van. We hope to have full power to the
church before we leave.

We also helped with Awanas tonight with Joel stepping up and leading
the bible story. We made almost 100 cross necklaces for the kids
before they went out into the setting sun. We have some much to be
thankful for with our kids' programs back home. Supplies seem optional
here!

Tomorrow the team is going to work on the electricity and assist the
feeding station. Clay, Scott and Mark are going back out towards the
Khalahari to visit a remote village and look at the outreach programs
we are being lead to start there. Please pray that we have safe travel
and comfort. Pray for electricity at the church and for the library
work we are doing.
We send our thanks and hellos to all back home. We hope you like the
pictures, many more to follow.

In His Steps, Mareko

via iPhone

Plumbing done Freedom style!!!

2009-09-02T15:22:00.001-04:00

Story time before feeding station

2009-09-02T15:21:00.001-04:00

Kids at Awanas

2009-09-02T15:20:00.002-04:00

Joel teaching story of Jonah

2009-09-02T15:20:00.001-04:00

Awanas bible story with Joel and Moruti James translating.

Making cross necklaces for kids

2009-09-02T15:19:00.001-04:00

AWANAs Old Naledi

2009-09-02T15:18:00.000-04:00

Plumbing TIA style

2009-09-02T15:17:00.000-04:00

This took some tinkering!!!

The new church

2009-09-01T14:40:00.002-04:00

Amazing sight!!!!

Church grounds

2009-09-01T14:40:00.001-04:00

Dumela from the kids

2009-09-01T14:39:00.001-04:00

TIA

2009-09-01T05:22:00.000-04:00

This is Africa. We learned yesterday that we can never plan life and
that God is always in control. We set out for Khatsu game park very
early yesterday and TIA kicked in...
Random thoughts about the trip....

1. You never take a combi church van (Toyota van with very low
clearance) off the beaten path. Please know right now this was not our
idea and we went with Moruti James and Matada, we were not cowboying
it! We didn't find out until later that they had not seen this part
of Botswana before- they have family where the pavement ends, but have
little experience past that...

2. The beaten path can also include more dirt roads than most of can
imagine here. We drove for 2 hours after the pavement ended.

3. The Khalahari desert is a rough,rough place. But, people do call it
home and so do more donkeys than I have ever seen! That also appears
to be the preferred mode of transportation.

4. God wanted us to see and meet the bushmen. We did and they helped
us without hesitation. You would have to pick up a Natl Geographic to
see these images- most refuse to allow pictures. I never would imagine
a hut made out of old beer (cardboard milk cartons) cartons- African
recycling!

5. The bushmen make a great bow and arrow set- not too sure what they
kill with it, but it's not a toy! Their bead necklace skills using
porcupine quills are also very exceptional. No "made in china"
stickers here.

6. China is here too, they are financing the road construction that we
went through.

7. When you rent a land rover from the game park, check the petro
level first!!! We made it to the first watering hole in the park about
the time we made the executive group decision that we didn't want to
spend the night in the bush with over 300 lions in the area. So, no
lions yesterday. We are all very thankful for that even if we wanted
to see them when we left!

8. That long dirt road gets even longer and more difficult when
pulling a broken-down church van. We towed it on dirt road for 2 1/2
hrs. Jason is now known as Mater (see Cars movie) for his driving and
towing skills. It took almost 6 hrs to get back to Old Naledi.

9. Gaborone never looked as good as it did at 0100 am last night when
we rolled (literally) into town.

10. Despite the circumstances of our adventure yesterday, it was an
advenutre and our team is much closer because of it.

We are starting late today (see above); but, should be working on
electricity for the church building and getting the water lines fixed
at the feeding station. Vandals broke in last Saturday and stole all
of the copper tubing for the gas and water, that is heartbreaking, but
we can fix it. God can make it right! Pray for the team to find extra
strength and endurance today.

I could write volumes about yesterday; but, not on a phone keyboard.
Know we are all good, tired, thankful beyond measure, excited,
challenged and ready for more TIA!!!!

Mareko

via iPhone

Day of celebration

2009-08-30T14:47:00.000-04:00

We had such an amazing day today with the church celebration and
feast. It was the most people I have ever seen on the Old Naledi
property. God was shining his love today and we all were loved. It was
a proud day and we all worked hard feeding the community the feast
after the service. We just got back to the hotel and the shower never
felt better. Clay gave a great message and we had a member of
parliament as our guest of honor. There were staff and members from
Open Baptist and other churches.

We also got to see Moruti James' new grandson born last week to
Matadha and DJ. Beautiful baby boy named Loape. I can't hardly
describe the feelings of community we felt today. We should have some
video and great pictures when we return. The most incredible moment
was watching all the children and church members dance in celebration,
it was pure and amazing joy!!!

Tomorrow we are taking a 2 hour trip to a game park. It will be a day
of recreation and download. We start the construction work on Tuesday.
Time for sleep and rest now.

We are all tired and exhausted; but, we are all smiling! God is good.
Know you are loved and missed!

P.S. Clay and Jason drove today on all the table and chair runs. Glad
I left my license at home. It's hard enough to drive on the left;but,
shifting with the left is just too much change at one time- especially
with others in the truck too:-)

Mareko

via iPhone

Dumela from Gaborone

2009-08-29T10:45:00.002-04:00

We made it to Botswana safe and sound last night around 9pm local time. We all had a great sleep last night after a long day of travel. The trip was long; but, tolerable for everyone and no major problems after Clay and Scott from Alice Drive beat the door closed (long story and not a good one with Delta) on the flight to South Africa.

Today, Clay attended and spoke at a funeral for one of the elderly volunteers at the church while the rest of us slept in. Then after the funeral, we all climbed to the top of Kgale Hills. I can't decide if viewing the new church building was more spectular than the view from the top of Kgale-it's a close call! Both are true testaments to the power of God! We are heading back to the village soon for dinner with the church family and to walk the village. Tomorrow is going to be a great day as we celebrate the new church building and also the 10th anniversary of Naledi Baptist Fellowship. Hey, we saw two troops of baboons on Kgale Hill. That was cool!

Please know that we are so excited about what God is going to do through us this week here in Botswana. Please continue to pray for our endurance, strength, compassion and understanding. Pray for everyone in Old Naledi and all of Botswana!

In His Steps,
Mareko and the Freedom Fellowship and Alice Drive Teams!

2009-08-28T11:31:00.001-04:00

We are on the ground in South Africa!!!! Thank you God! More later and we all made it!!!

2009-08-27T19:55:00.001-04:00

We are on the plane and ready for on-time takeoff. Still waiting on Alice Drive team, they are here but still walking/ running to the gate...

Atlanta

2009-08-27T18:14:00.001-04:00

We made it to Atlanta after a delay on the runway in Greenville. Our
friends from Alice Drive are having some issues with tickets in
Columbia; but, they are enroute. Please keep praying for travel. We
depart at 2010 if all goes as planned. I'll post again when we are
onboard.

Mareko

via iPhone

2009-08-27T14:43:00.002-04:00

THINKING AND PRAYING FOR ALL OF YOU ON YOUR TRIP! SURE WISH I COULD BE WITH YOU!!!! I'M A PRAYER PARTNER FOR EACH OF YOU EVERYDAY WHILE YOU ARE GONE !!! LEARN, LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH, TEACH, LISTEN, SPEAK, WORK, WITNESS, PRAISE, SING, HUG, SMILE, TOUCH, CRY, CELEBRATE, BLESS AND BE BLESSED!!!!! LOVE YOU ALL AND CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR ALL ABOUT IT! YOU EACH INSPIRE ME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING THE JOURNEY ALONG SIDE YOU, GOD WILLING, NEXT YEAR!
JULIE

Flights

2009-08-26T07:30:00.003-04:00

The team

2009-08-23T13:03:00.002-04:00

The Team 2009!

We depart from GSP on Thursday, August 27th at 3pm. We will fly to Johannesburg, South Africa direct from Atlanta. The flight is about 15.5 hours. Please pray for comfort and safety on this journey. Pray for Old Naledi village, Naledi Baptist Fellowship and for Botswana. God is doing amazing things in Africa and it's the honor of a lifetime for us to be a small part of the BIG picture. Stay tuned to this blog for travel updates and hopefully periodic updates on the mission.

In His Steps,

Joel, Nancy, Mark and Jason

10 Days until we are part of The Solution!

2009-08-17T08:42:00.000-04:00

Solution

HillSong United

To stare not fight while broken nations dream
Open up our eyes, so blind
That we might find the mercy for the need

Hey now
Fill our hearts with your compassion
Hey now
As we hold to our confession

It is not too far a cry
Too much to try to help the least of these
Politics will not decide if we should rise
And be your hands and feet

Singing...
Hey now
Fill our hearts with your compassion
Hey now
As we hold to our confession

Whoa-oo-ooh
God, be the solution
Whoa-oo-ooh
We will be your hands and be your feet
Yeah Yeah

Higher than our circumstance
You promised and you loved for all to see
Higher than our protest lines and dollar signs
Your love is all we need

Hey now
Fill our hearts with your compassion
Hey now
As we hold to our confession

Whoa-oo-ooh
God, be the solution
Whoa-oo-ooh
We will be your hands and be your feet

Whoa-oo-ooh
God, be the solution
Whoa-oo-ooh
We will be your hands and be your feet
Whoa Yeah

Only you can mend the broken heart
And cause the blind to see
You erase complete, the sinner's past
And set the captives free

Only you can take the widow's cry
And cause the heart to see
Be the Father to the fatherless
Our Saviour and our King

We will be your hands
We will be your feet
We run this race for the least of these
In the darkest place we will be your light,
We will you light

We will be your hands
We will be your feet
We run this race for the least of these
In the darkest place we will be your light,
We will you light

Whoa-oo-ooh
God, be the solution
Whoa-oo-ooh
We will be your hands and be your feet

Whoa-oo-ooh
God, be the solution
Whoa-oo-ooh
We will be your hands and be your feet

We will run
We will run

We will run with the solution

We will be your hands
We will be your feet
We run this race for the least of these
In the darkest place we will be your light,
We will you light we´ll sing

10th Anniversary Celebration

2009-08-13T10:25:00.002-04:00

This is what is planned for the Sunday after we arrive! I will add this to their webpage today.

New Church Pictures (17 Days to Go!)

2009-08-10T17:38:00.002-04:00

Alice Drive Youth Depart and Arrive in Botswana!

2009-06-20T16:41:00.003-04:00

Stay tuned to what is going on with their trip to Old Naledi on this blog:

http://adbcinafrica2009.blogspot.com/

Reminder of Meeting, Good News

2009-05-24T17:24:00.002-04:00

I received this email from Moruti James at Old Naledi this weekend:

I am blessed to hear from you brother.We will dig the foundation for phase two of the building .We hope to put up classes ,bathrooms and dining and kitchen .So if you are able pack building tools.By the way I am baptising twelve new members this sunday.We received ten new members last sunday.
Moruti James

*****************************************
Don't forget we have a meeting and HIV/AIDS education session next Sunday at 4pm at the church office.

Africa Team

2009-05-17T16:07:00.003-04:00

Jason Collins, Julie McCombs, Nancy Hammett, Mark Johnson

Tickets

2009-05-08T21:42:00.002-04:00

Thank you all for your support and prayers as we get closer to our journey. This week marked a huge MILESTONE. We now have our airline tickets for the trip. Fundraising is wrapping up and we are now starting to plan and prepare for the trip.

We still have an HIV/AIDS education class and we have to get our customs forms ready for what we are bringing with us on the trip. But, these are all minor details. We are on our way!

Thank you again for all of your support and prayers!

Mareko!

2009-04-23T19:08:00.002-04:00

PLANE TICKET TIME! ALREADY! PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR NANCY, MARK, JASON AND MYSELF AS WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE PURCHASE OF THE PLANE TICKETS FOR OUR TRIP TO AFRICA.

SEVERAL THINGS HAPPENING STILL IN THE FUNDRAISING DEPT.

JASON IS SELLING SOME REALLY AWESOME TSHIRTS FOR $12. GREAT LOOKIN T SHIRTS TOO! GREAT IDEA, GO MICHELLE AND JASON! THEY HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS IN THE WORKS AS WELL AND WE WILL POST THAT INFO ASAP WHEN IT'S DEFINATE.

ALSO, KEITH AND I AND POSSIBLY MARK J. ARE HAVING A YARD SALE AT OUR HOME MAY 9TH. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO REACHING MY GOAL AND MOVING ON TO THE NEXT STEP OF THIS TRIP. ANY DONATIONS TO THE YARD SALE WOULD BE AWESOME!

PRAY FOR US AS WE CONTINUE TO RAISE THIS MONEY. EVERY DIME MEANS SO MUCH TO US. WE ARE ALL HONORED THAT YOU ARE SUPPORTING AND PRAYING ALONG WITH US.
WE DO HAVE SOME FUTURE THINGS COMING UP AS WELL! HIV EDUCATION, VBS EDUCATION AND COLLECTION OF MATERIALS TO TAKE, AND MORE!

WE ARE ALL REALLY GETTING EXCITED AND WE ARE ALREADY WITNESSING GOD'S WORK, WHAT A BLESSING!

JULIE M.

PIZZA SUCCESS

2009-04-14T16:09:00.004-04:00

THANKS SO MUCH TO EVERYONE THAT CAME OUT AND ATE PIZZA INN PIZZA WITH US MONDAY NIGHT! WE HAD THEM LINED UP THE DOOR. NOT SURE HOW MUCH $$ WE MADE ..YET..BUT THE TURN OUT WAS JUST AWESOME!
WE MET SOME WONDERFUL "GREER FOLK" AND WE WERE GIVEN WONDERFUL WELL WISHES AND PRAYERS. WE HAD A FEW PEOPLE ASKING ABOUT FREEDOM FELLOWSHIP WHICH WAS PERSONALLY MY FAVORITE PART OF THE NIGHT!
JASON, MARK, NANCY AND MYSELF ARE REALLY STARTING TO GET EXCITED ABOUT OUR PURPOSE. WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING SOME TIME TOGETHER AND THE FELLOWSHIP IS JUST GREAT. WE ALL HAVE A FUN TIME TOGETHER AND I REALLY THINK WE WILL MAKE A GREAT TEAM!
JASON AND I HAVE RECEIVED OUR PASSPORTS WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING TO ME. I HAVE BEEN ON A CRUISE TO MEXICO AND THE CAYMAN ISLANDS, BUT WHEN I WENT IN 94 WE DIDN'T NEED A PASSPORT. I'M NOT TOO THRILLED ABOUT THE PHOTO, LOL. I NEED TO STAY BEHIND THE CAMERA FOR SURE!
I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT GET TOGETHER / MEETING AND WILL BLOG SOON!

ARE YOU HUNGRY FOR SOME PIZZA?

2009-04-01T21:07:00.003-04:00

COME OUT APRIL 13TH FROM 5 TO 9PM AND ORDER SOME GREAT PIZZA INN OF GREER PIZZA!!!!! A PORTION OF YOUR ORDER WILL GO TOWARDS OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS! YOU MUST PRESENT A FLYER WITH YOUR ORDER. EMAIL US FOR ONE IF YOU PLAN TO CALL IN YOUR ORDER. WE WILL BE THERE HANDING OUT FLYERS AT THE DOOR! THANKS SO MUCH FOR EVERYONE'S LOVE, PRAYERS, AND SUPPORT!

Gold Party

2009-03-29T17:36:00.003-04:00

Thanks to everyone for their help with the Gold Party. I think we did VERY well considering the turnout. I also enjoyed the conversation and just hanging out with the group. Remember to keep praying every Tuesday morning at 10am for Old Naledi as that is the same time they are having their Tuesday night prayer meeting. I look forward to meeting with you again soon. I am working on getting the HIV/AIDS education videoes together and hope to have some info on Travel Insurance as promised. Thank you again to everyone for the help at the Gold Party.

Mareko

GOLD PARTY FUNDRAISER!

2009-03-24T09:54:00.003-04:00

Just something to think about

2009-03-17T23:32:00.001-04:00

Pope visits Africa, reaffirms condom ban.

First Meeting

2009-03-16T10:34:00.002-04:00

Starbucks is always a great place to meet! At least those of us coffee drinkers think so! Mark J. answered lots of questions for Nancy, Michelle/Jason and myself.
Gold party is tenatively going to be set for March 29th. Confirmation and a flyer coming on that. I really think it is a great fundraiser because everyone leaves with $$$ and they each have an opportunity to match the % we get! How awesome! It also gives everyone the opportunity to get their friends, family, and coworkers involved in the mission trip and to outreach/witness some.
We are planning on some construction while we are in Botswana and also VBS activities. It will be awesome to be involved in VBS at our church and a few weeks later VBS at Old Naledi. Because several of the orphans are HIV positive, we are scheduling an HIV awareness/screening class to educate ourselves before we leave.
Also, the feedback that we are already getting from so many people about the blog is just awesome! I have already had people tell me how inspired they are by what we are doing! Never thought I could inspire anyone by my actions. God does have a purpose for each one of us as Donnie has mentioned the past 3 weeks. EACH ONE OF US!
As soon as Mr. Dorsey confirms a time/date for our first fundraiser I will post info and email out the pdf flyer to everyone. I encourage everyone to email it out to your friends and family!
I'm looking forward to our next meeting! See you then!
Julie

Fun(d) Raisers

2009-03-09T20:46:00.002-04:00

Several opportunities were discussed this weekend and I only got a chance to talk with Nanci about the Krispy Kreme donuts (I'm always for that!) opportunity. Robin from Freedom also mentioned a Gold fund raiser. Basically, you have a party and everyone brings old gold to sell and their gold is bought and they get cash. We get a certain percentage of every ounce sold and have an opportunity to get more from the buyer, etc. Lance Owens also mentioned the Pizza Inn gang wants to have a missions night for us and the Owens family (they are going to Costa Rica for a church building mission). I love me some pizza, so that would be great too. I will call the Krispy Kreme folks this week and discuss and hopefully bring a pre-order sheet to church next week so we can start working on that and I plan to follow up with Lance and Robin. If you hear of any more opportunities, let the group know.

I hope you have already started your passport work. If not, don't wait much longer. We need your passport numbers as soon as possible. Thanks!

See you soon!

Mareko

MORE SHOTS!

2009-03-05T12:43:00.002-05:00

Well, up to Passport Health again this morning. I got the 2nd round of shots for the Hep A/Hep B combo. It didn't hurt going in, but having a shot in the same arm as the DTP and first HepA/Hep B dose last week...wasn't smart. My arm is killing me! Nancy had a rough time with sickness/fever after her first dose. She had the yellow fever immunization and her entire arm is swollen and blotchy. I get that one in a few weeks. After looking at her arm, I am not looking forward to it but I am ready to get these over with and move onto our next item on the list...FUNDRAISERS!.........Julie

Personal Calling for Botswana

2009-03-04T09:50:00.001-05:00

As part of the application for the South Carolina Baptist missions scholarship, we had to write out our personal testimony and calling for this mission. Here's mine, I invite the others to do the same!

************************************************************************************Personal Testimony

Mark H. Johnson

I was raised in a church-going family and made a public profession of faith and was baptized as a believer at the age of 9. This was 1979 and at Alice Drive Baptist Church in Sumter, South Carolina. I strongly believe this was a sincere and honest declaration of faith in Christ; but, it was also what was expected of me in my family. I would remain involved with Youth ministry in church throughout high school and would even go on summer mission trips (domestic) and made some statements to friends and family about feeling a call to ministry. However, I did not choose this path and in fact ran as far as I possibly could from ministry and religion while attending college at Clemson University. I basically turned off my faith and sought a purpose and calling in all things worldly. However, because he is faithful, God was still working in my life and seeking reconciliation with me as his child.

After Clemson, I joined the Army. This was another attempt to find a purpose for my life other than ministry. It was while in the Army and stationed on the west coast that I meet my wife, Tricia. Tricia was also in the Army and grew up a non-practicing Catholic in Ohio. It seemed I could continue my path without church and God in my life. Little did I know, but God brought Tricia into my life to begin the restoration and reconciliation with him and his salvation. Not long after Tricia and I married, she was sent to Honduras for a 6 month unaccompanied tour. Tricia found a group of missionaries from Michigan while in Honduras and formed a relationship with Jesus while in Honduras. Didn’t I just say God is faithful? Although I had no plans of reestablishing my relationship with Jesus when my wife returned from Honduras, it was through conversations with her and seeing the change in her that God began to speak to me and reach out to me, his lost son.

When we moved back to South Carolina in 2000, Tricia and I sought a church home for our growing family, now including our first son, Miles. I started working night shift at the hospital and we visited a few local churches when I was not working or sleeping. Then Tricia started going to services at Alice Drive, my childhood church home. Being the stubborn man I am, I initially refused to join her at Alice Drive. I took pride in quoting all the things wrong with that church that I could remember. Of course every church is not perfect because we are all human and we have all sinned. But, I was using this as a wall to prevent me from totally sacrificing my old self that I was hanging on to. Tricia was determined and really started to enjoy the fellowship she found at Alice Drive. She was later baptized as a believer at Alice Drive. Soon I found another excuse to not go to church: graduate school while working night shift full-time. But, I begrudgingly started going to Wednesday night services with Tricia and our two sons.

It was during these Wednesday night services that I joined a men’s class studying John Eldredge’s Wild at Heart. By the end of that class, a great wall had fallen between me and God and between me and my family, including my Alice Drive church family. God used that class as the tool to finally break down the remaining obstacles. I reached out to God and found my heavenly father there faithful and forgiving. In addition, I found myself enjoying the fellowship of my church family and reconnecting with my mentors and fellow brothers and sisters, many who professed to having been praying for me for so many years. I was broken and overwhelmed by all of the emotions I was feeling. How could have been so stubborn and selfish? Reconciliation with God was so easy, yet so hard. My wife’s journey to Honduras was the seed that God planted in my life to bring me back to his fellowship. Amazingly, my relationship with Tricia began to improve and we became closer than ever before. The closer my walk with God, the closer I grow to Tricia. The forgiveness and mercy that God shows me began to flow from me towards my friends and family.

Not long afterwards, I finished graduate school and I found I could now work a normal weekday shift and had the weekends free. While I totally immersed myself back into the church and the service ministries, including choir. It no longer felt silly or fake to stand in front of hundreds of people and shout to the top of my voice how Jesus had saved me, again and again. I was even blessed with the honor and privilege to be called as a Deacon to serve the church body. My ordination with old Sunday school teachers and youth mentors laying hands on me and whispering prayers and affirmations of spirit was a powerful and emotional homecoming for me. After so many years of fighting and fleeing, I had returned to God and his family.

God made another connection to satisfy my search for purpose and a calling, you might even call it a ministry. I had studied about the HIV/AIDS crisis in sub-Sahara Africa in a health policy class at MUSC. Shortly afterwards, God put a musician in my path (if you know me, that’s an easy way for God to get my attention). This musician is a South African folk singer. He and I had a long conversation about the HIV/AIDS crisis and how devastating that was to his country and homeland. Well, God never stops until his work in us is complete. We were just beginning to see the plan. A pastor friend showed up at Alice Drive a few weeks later to speak to us about his new mission focus on sub-Sahara Africa. It was like sky writing saying “Hey Mark, do you get the message now?” At the end of the service, I found myself standing in front of the pastor saying “I don’t know when or where; but, I am going with you to Africa to be the hands and feet of Jesus.” I felt such an amazingly clear vision had been presented to me and I was no longer going to stubborn and try to ignore the message and calling.

My first trip to Africa was in 2007 to the township of Mamelodi, South Africa. We worked with the children and orphanage there. We made amazing friendships and lifelong connections. Nonetheless, this church already had a huge sponsorship from a church in Ohio that was sending hundreds of workers each year. We felt overwhelmed and somewhat diminished in spirit. But, God showed us as believers and seekers he was not going to let us turn from our focus, the children of Africa. We found God was just beginning to use us. Through our first trip, we made connections with a church in Botswana that had a more critical need for help. Old Naledi Baptist Fellowship in Gaborone, Botswana is working to show the love of God and spread the Good News of his salvation to a people beaten and battered by the cycle of HIV/AIDS and poverty. Our trip in 2008 to Gaborone was the affirmation that God really has a purpose and role for those willing to put their self aside for his kingdom.

Because I had moved from Sumter to Greer between the times of joining the trip planning for the 2008 trip, I went as the out of town member. Before going, I spoke to Freedom Fellowship, our new church home, about the mission work in Botswana. I noticed after that service that God was moving in the hearts of many at Freedom Fellowship and brothers and sisters told me that God was pushing them towards Africa and the ministry there. While in Botswana, I boldly proclaimed that Freedom Fellowship would be joining in the fight with Old Naledi and we would be joining in service with Alice Drive Baptist. Moruti James of Old Naledi was more than delighted to hear that good news and I was proud to bring the report back to Freedom Fellowship. Our church is now sponsoring Old Naledi through a monthly donation for the feeding station and ministries there.

While in Botswana, I also promised Moruti James that I would be returning in 2009 to bring a group from Freedom Fellowship to serve and witness the work they are doing with the vulnerable children and orphans of the community. You know it’s easy to say those words while on the spiritual mountaintop of mission work; but, actually carry out the plans? I feel God was commanding me to take that stand and be that conduit for his Love and work in Botswana. As I look back on how God lead me to that church yard in Old Naledi, I can see his work and calling and I am amazed at his work and determination of spirit. It’s with great honor and privilege that I stood in front of Freedom Fellowship again to tell them of plans to return to Botswana to continue serving the children as the hands and feet of Jesus. For as Jesus told us in John 13:34, we are to love one another and that is how others will know us, by our LOVE for one another. That is also the verse I wrote on the church foundation and wall supports for the new church building we erected last year for Old Naledi. That is my purpose and calling that I have sought for so long. Just like the reconciliation with God that took me so long to find, it’s so easy and yet so hard. I continue to pray for God’s guidance and wisdom as we plan our return trip for 2009. I also thank you for reading this testimony of how God has brought me back to his family and given me clarity of purpose and mission for his kingdom.

In His Steps,

Mark H. Johnson

(aka Mareko morwa Johane)

Joining Alice Drive on the mission

2009-03-03T20:32:00.002-05:00

I spoke with Scott Shipes from Alice Drive tonight and he and I have been in close contact about this year's mission in August back to Old Naledi. Scott was the mission leader for last year's trip to Old Naledi. We have been communicating so that we can join our group with another small group from Alice Drive in Sumter. Alice Drive has been partnering with Old Naledi Fellowship and several groups (including the one I went with to Old Naledi) have travelled to serve in Botswana. A large youth group will be going to work and serve in Old Naledi in early June this year. Alice Drive raised over 30,000 to provide the funds used to build the church building for Old Naledi. I tell you all of this to let you know that we are working to have our 2 groups travel and serve together on this mission. Clay Smith, senior pastor from Alice Drive, will also be joining us on this trip, his first trip to Africa too!!! I think total we will have a group of 8 or 9 in country. A small, powerful group of believers willing to step out and be used, many miles from home.

I am really excited about what we are going to accomplish on this trip. I can feel the mission momentum starting to build. That also means I need to start growing more dedicated in my prayers to God about helping me to keep Jesus as the focus of this mission and letting me be used for his kingdom at all times. He is faithful and I need to make sure I am too. Prayer is the only way to keep the focus on Him. I also invite you to join me every Tuesday morning at 10am EST as we join in prayer with the church in Old Naledi for their weekly prayer service. Put it on your calendar and let's lift them in our prayers. It's a small thing; but, God does miraculous things with such things too!

In His Steps, Mareko

The Hands and Feet of Jesus

2009-03-03T20:26:00.002-05:00

Thank you Julie for getting this blog online. This is the best way for us to communicate en masse while we are in Botswana. This is also an amazing way for us to communicate and grow as a team. We can share our vision and mission and most importantly, encourage one another as we step out in faith to be used by God to help the vulnerable children and families in Old Naledi. Thank you to Nancy and Jason for joining us on this mission, the first group from Freedom. It's the honor of a lifetime to be enabled as the hands and feet of Jesus on the behalf of other believers. Thank you for joining us on this amazing journey!!!

Keep the words of Christ in mind in all we do in preparation for this mission:

John 13:34-35 (New International Version)

³⁴"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Julie exposed......shots and such

2009-03-02T20:25:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our ADVENTURE! Follow our trip from the infamous and painful DTP shots to our wonderful stories when we return. I hope to have some "team" photos soon. We all feel chosen for this trip for many reasons and I want to share those with you.

First, I'm Julie McCombs. My first experience with Freedom Fellowship was of outreach. We were invited to a picnic at a park and we have all been in love with what Freedom stands for ever since. My husband Keith and I loved it when our sons, Hunter and Logan, asked if they could please come back to visit! We also have another son Jonah. Keith and I have grown so much these past few years....learning, repenting, trusting God, and learning his word. My challenge has been to get out of my safety zone and trust God to lead me where he wants me to be. He has taken me from a crazy and stressful work environment and given me the strength to start my own business. DONE. God had enough faith in me to make this change..who am I to not have faith in his decision? I now have more time with our sons. It has been a blessing to all of them. I have had to learn to utilize this time to teach them about God, witness while I do work, and learn his word. God has been nudging me to not be content. Like Cliff has said before...we are not going to get comfortable as a church! I thought...hmmm? Am I done? New business, more time with kids, more time to learn your word. But for what reason? Then Mark J. mentioned this trip. There it was. Lying so heavy on my soul. The opportunity to outreach, love, teach, pray with, laugh with, and share. He has worked on me so hard this past year. Starting April of '08. God help and lead me. So, here begins my personal journey........to Botswana.

Well my first entry in my own personal experience......THE DTP SHOT HURTS! I went for my first set of shots on Tuesday. Hep A, Hep B combo (1st one) DTP, and Typhoid (orally) 1 every other day for 7 days. My shoulder is still sore :)

Off to post office next for my passport.