This week Botswana celebrated 43 years of Independence! Many of them went home to their village to the “Kgotla.” Kerileng, our FM Office Administrative Assistant, describes the Kgotla as a thatched roof building with open air access capable of covering hundreds of people from the outside rain or sun. Each ward has their own Kgotla unique to their geographic location. The celebration is started with a Christian prayer followed by the “head man” who makes introductions and opening remarks. He then delivers a prepared message from the President Lt. General Ian Khama Seretse Khama to all the people in attendance. After the speeches are concluded there is a time for traditional choirs, singing, dancing, and poetry. Next comes the food which was previously prepared and paid for by the Botswana Government for use in their Independence celebration. Kerileng smiled and said, “there is so much good food” with traditional samp, porridge, meat, and traditional drink. The joyous celebration generally runs from approximately 10am to 3pm.
Flying Mission is happy to encourage and support Botswana’s National Independence Day and are thankful that we can live and serve at the invitation of a country so blessed by God. Please join me in personally thanking each of our Batswana staff for their tremendous service and significant contribution to the Great Commandment and Great Commission as we all serve for the glory of God through the mission and business activities of Flying Mission. ~ Mike Webb, CEO
Mike with 1 of 2 aircraft from Maun, Botswana that fly in and out of the Okavango Delta.
Due to Botswana Independence we had a day off and went to a small Chinese take-out in a small hut near the bus rank in downtown Gaborone.
Amaryllis flower 
Mother-in-laws tongue! Seriously, that is what JoAnne said? They use the green and white "tongue" to shred into a fiber and make a strong rope.
This is our backyard and they call it a garden. Not like a vegetable garden, but a garden because there is something green and growing in the desert.
Lightening storm over the city.
JoAnne and Mma Collette at the African Mall downtown Gaborone. She bonded with Kali when she visited and we have bought some baskets and household items from her over the past weeks. We printed and framed 2 pictures for her in memory of our visits with Kali. She lives out of town in a small village, and travels in by Combi (Commuter Bus) with her bag of arts and crafts and sells them on the sidewalk in the downtown core.
JoAnne and I at the small reservoir overlooking the city of Gaborone. Yes there are crocodiles, but we did not see any.
