Second Week of FPO

On Sunday night, we participated in a Mapping Ceremony, in which each missionary or missionary family was able to place their picture on a huge world map. It is amazing to see all the many places God has called His children to go! I'm sorry I couldn't include a picture of the whole map - some regions have security concerns.

This has been an eventful week, so far. On Sunday we began house worship - where we will be worshipping together in small groups doing Bible study and having fellowship. We studied Isaiah Chapter 6 and discussed it using the SPECKA format. (Which means we ask the following questions: Is there a Sin to confess? Is there a Promise to claim? Is there an Example to follow? Is there a Command to obey? Is there a Knowledge to learn? Is there an Application for my life?) This method of Bible study helps you really get into God's word and study many aspects. We also sang together and prayed for each other as a small group (which consists of all the missionaries headed to Western Africa and Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa).

Then Sunday night we had the Mapping Ceremony. It's really cool to see our pictures on the countries where we will soon be serving God. Check out Romans 10:14 - it is the verse that was on my mind throughout the ceremony.

Since then, we've had shots - I got 3 as evidenced by the picture below. Now only 6 more to go!

We have also been privileged to spend the first half of the week with IMB President Jerry Rankin. He has been speaking to us about Spiritual Warfare. He talked about the how spiritual warfare from our own fleshly desires is the most difficult to overcome. The scripture that spoke to me most loudly throughout the series is Romans 12:1-2. This passage says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing, and perfect will." What a challenge! We must continually renew our minds and keep them away from wordly influences so that we can remain vigilant against our own fleshly desires! But, we must also remember that we are victorious over sin because of Jesus' life and sacrifice, so we should not become discouraged.

Please pray for the missionaries who are already in Botswana fighting spiritual warfare - pray that they would be everyday transformed through renewing of the mind by God's word. Pray for all of us here in training - that we would depend totally on God and find our contentment in Him and not in circumstances.

Thank you all for your continued prayer! Look out for more updates soon!