Welcome to the United States!

We're back!! We are in DC until tomorrow afternoon. While we're here we are debfriefing on our summer we spent in Africa. It is hard to believe that I actually lived there, even though it was only a month. There are so many stories I want to type about and so many amazing memories. All I can really say is I had an amazing time. It was hard, but it was such a growing process. The people and families we met there have definitely changed me for the better, and I am so blessed to have been able to get to know all of them. Spending time with the children in Old Naledi was incredible. The little girl, Ellie, I wrote about earlier will always be with me. She was such a joy. When I can I will post some pictures. The last 10 days we were there we were at the University of Botswana doing minstry there. That was awesome too! The students there were inviting and eager to know why were there. I think the most amazing story happened on our last Tuesday there. Which was 2 days before we flew home.
Me and Emily partnered up for the day and went onto campus to talk to students. First, we talked to three girls. After we were done talking to them I just felt defeated. I felt like I didn't do or say the right things. Pretty much I just felt like I screwed up. But, Emily was amazing and she just spoke truth and love into my heart. So we kept on walking and praying. We had one last survey, so we went up to a girl sitting outside the library. Her name was Florence. We started talking throughout the survey, and she was born and raised Catholic, so that was great because we were able to connect on that level. I started going through the Knowing God Personally booklet, which was in English and Setswana. I got to the second point and her 2 friends came up. Initially, I was thinking "darn! Now shes' gotta go and I'm half way though". I asked her if she wanted to take the booklet and head out, but she said that she wanted to stay and finish. Her friend, Nelly, came up and was really curious about it and asked if she could stay as well. So we went through the booklet together and at the end she decided she wanted to accept Jesus Christ and Florence decided she wanted to give her life fully to the Lord and stop trying to 'control' her life. It was such an amazing afternoon! After we prayed I got into another conversation with Nelly. She asked me how you interpret scripture because she really didn't know what to do. We talked about that for a little while, and then I asked her if she had a Bible.
She told me that she didn't, and I asked her if she would like mine. Her eyes lit up and she was totally blown away that I would willginly give her something without her asking. I wrote her a note in the back and gave her my email. It was an incredible experience to be able to give such a great gift on my birthday. Usually, it's custom to get gifts, but being able to bless her life that way was memory that will always be in my heart.

That's just one story from a plethora of stories this summer. Thank you all so much for your prayers over our team. We really had an amazing summer. The Lord is so so good.


ps- I also was given an Africa name! It is, Boitumelo, which means Happiness. You pronounce it - Bwetumela.

Again, thanks to everyone who has been a part of this trip. It most definitely changed my life and I am so thankful!

1 Cor. 10:31

xoxo
Nicolette