For some, Dave's no stranger. For me, he was. I met him at the Central Hall, Westminster, London, last year on a period of home leave. We'd shared identifying features over the phone........I think he said he'd be wearing brown. I was equally helpful 'I'll be carrying a shoulder bag...blue!' The meeting was destined to happen as it was a quiet day for the Central Hall. We talked: Botswana, retirement, grandchildren...and then to the grown up stuff! How could we make his job of collecting funds, for FM, in UK more meaningful, and how could he help us to communicate well with UK supporters? So, Dave Young's part of the FM Team: secretary of FM UK. He's not afraid to call a spade a spade. It's good to know he's there, that he's prepared to read document drafts, that he banks the money, that he informs me of donations, that he prays for the work.... and that he paid for my lunch that day!
Dust and noise; children shouting to each other as they leave their classrooms. School is out for the day!! Remember the freedom you felt in those days back when?!
Mighty is a young lady from the village of Otse. I first met Mighty when I started working with Roberta at the Home Based Care unit out in Otse. I went to work with Roberta on developing skills among the HIV/AIDS positive volunteers at the Home Based Care. The skills I brought were in knitting and card making. Mighty always seemed to want to be there and took up whatever craft was going on, but never seemed to commit to anything or follow through on a given project. This became increasingly frustrating even if she was sweet. One week Mighty started knitting a purse. She had never knit before so I go her started and then all of sudden she left.
Many have expressed admiration at my coming to Botswana to work as a short-term volunteer with Flying Mission this year. They tell me I’m brave for having come alone. But then I remind them that for me, coming to Botswana has in many ways been like coming home again. I grew up as a “missionary kid” in Botswana. This country was my home, and the people of Flying Mission were, in so many ways, my extended family. Even now, after 5 years away, I return to find that although Flying Mission has changed in so many ways, it is still an ever-growing family. It is a good place to come as a “short-termer”. I have been accepted here with open arms and have been given meaningful tasks according to my interests and abilities, tasks which have challenged me and tasks from which I have learned a great deal. As a short-termer you have a chance to use your skills for God, and at the same time you have plenty of opportunity to try something new, in a safe environment where there are always others to support you. It is a time of growth, and there will be challenges. But through these challenges, I am learning. I have been given the opportunity to give of myself, and I have received much in return. 
Today we met a family who were camped out beside the floating pontoon which brings patients across the river Zambezi at Chitokoloki, N W Province. They did not drive here and they certainly did not fly! They came in a tiny mokoro (dugout canoe) from the town of Lukulu, 2 days paddling time along the river. They had brought their child to see a doctor. The little guy had a problem with his eye. Lukulu has Government clinics but the family wanted their child to be seen by one of the Chitokoloki doctors, of whom they had heard such good reports.
