“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” John 8:31
Jim & Jayanthi Wilson – Botswana
Jim & Jayanthi Wilson – Botswana
One of our responsibilities as tutors at Kgolagano Theological College by Extension is to visit students in their home settings and to provide a forum for both the teaching and mentoring those whom we serve – to listen, provide study notes, and to answer questions related to course work.
Recently, two of us from the College traveled to Khang, a small village in the midst of the Kalahari desert. After having prepared lectures and study materials, we took one day to travel by car. The next day, we met with 5 students during the morning hours, and then returned the same day to Gaborone. There were moments in that journey when I thought that the whole effort was a tremendous waste of time, particularly when it involved so few of students. And yet, the words from one of our students in Khang rang true to my ears. She said, “Between working, taking care of the family and trying to prepare for the upcoming exams at Kgolagano has really stressed me out. Your being here….has been a tremendous encouragement to us all. You have made us aware that we are not alone. Thanks for coming.” Her words helped to remind me that doing God’s work is not about taking care of our agenda. It is about taking care of His agenda. Yes, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.”
At the college we are in the process of setting up an office network with internet capabilities as well as a web page. It is hoped that in doing so, we will provide a means of enabling both students and staff to gain greater access to information. There is always a shortage of books, journals, and a means of getting information to our students who are spread out over the entire country- many in very isolated areas. We give praise to God that this project was made possible through a grantby Global Ministries.
At Sedibeng, where Jayanthi and other staff members are involved in the business of empowering unemployed youth and women- there is always a struggle to obtain the necessary funds to do the work, to discover what skills are currently being sought in the marketplace, toobtain qualified individuals to teach those skills, to find jobs for studentswho have completed the programs, as well as to help them develop morally, spiritually and mentally. Sedibeng has begun a new program of teaching floral arrangement skills. Floral arrangements made by the students are sold to the public and businesses. Work at the center seems daunting at times, butwe are again reminded that as Christians we are called to concern ourselveswith God’s agenda and not ours.
Our children, Shanthi and Priya are both doing well. We have been fortunate to have our younger daughter Priya with us for the last 3 months. She returns to the USA at the end of July and will be transferring to another college in hopes of finishing a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Our older daughter Shanthi continues to work for Pepsi and lives in Fargo, North Dakota.
We would like to thank you all for your words of encouragement and prayers for us and our work. God bless.
Jim & Jayanthi Wilson
James & Jayanthi Wilson are missionaries with the Kgolagano Theological College in Gaborone, Botswana. Jim serves as a teacher of theology at Kgolagana Theological College. Jayanthi serves as seconded staff to the Mabogo Dinku Advice Centre in Gaborone, Botswana. She works in community development at the Mabogo Dinku Advice Centre.