First week in Botswana

Front of house

We followed the previous CES coordinator from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Gaborone, Botswana. It took six hours including lunch and border crossing. We didn't see any animals on the way but we passed several game reserves. The missionary couple in Botswana had spent a lot of time getting our house ready. We had a bed, couch, chair, love seat, and fan. They also had some breakfast food for us but we did not have any plates or utensils to eat it with so we had a Trio bar, bananas, and juice using measuring cups we had brought with us.

Side yard for entertaining young adults

It was quite warm the day we arrived and the house was hot so we turned on the fan. We were getting ready to shower about 11:00 pm when the power went off and the fan stopped. Luckily, Jant had just put out the small flashlight we were instructed to bring so we could at least see. It was a hot night without any air circulation. The power was off for five hours and we were very glad to have the fan back on.

Livingroom

As you can see from the photo of the livingroom since the first night we have been getting the house outfitted. We now have pretty much everything we need to be pretty comfortable including air conditioning. The house came with a whole fist full of keys; every door, closet, and padlock has a key. Many of the keys we cannot find a use for.

Kitchen

The kitchen is very small but will do what we need it to. When we entertain a larger group it will be a challenge but that is part of the adventure to figure out how to get done what we need. Besides what the church provides Sister Rands has purchased kitchen gadets and pans. Elder Rands has spent a lot of time scraping paint off windows, door knobs, the floor, and switch plates and socket plates. While scraping Elder Rands came across a two-inch spider in the house which freaked out Sister Rands.



Bathroom

We spent most of one day turning in our application for residency at the emigation department. We stood in line for five and a half hours to turn in our paper work, pay our 1500 pula ($250), and now have to wait until the next step. If that does not happen within ninety days we will have to leave Botswana.

We attended a zone conference where Elder Cook, the area president, came as part of a mission tour. As part of the conference the senior couple already in Gaborone put on a Thanksgiving dinner for everyone. We helped by getting up at 5:00 am to cook and make mashed potatoes. The couples from Francistown brought the desserts. The evening before the conference he also conducted a fireside for the young single adults. He had a question and answer session which was very good. After the fireside Elder Cook, President Omer (the mission president) and four senior couples went out to dinner at a Chinese restaurant. Groceries are not inexpensive here but that dinner only cost 500 pula ($85) for twelve people. We'll have to go to that restaurant again.

We are having a wonderful adventure!