Today we traveled from Gaborone back to Cape Town, where we will be leaving from tomorrow night to head back to the United States. This trip has been such a blessing to the team. We have been able to get hands on with these missions that are working day in and day out to make an impact in South Africa and Botswana. We are very excited to share missions updates in the upcoming weeks, so be looking out for that!

Prayer Requests:
First off we ask that you continue to pray for The Khayamandi Foundation in South Africa and Healthy Family Foundation in Botswana. They are doing great work bringing the gospel to the unreached and bringing hope to the hopeless through the spreading of the Good News.
As for our team, we will be traveling back to the USA tomorrow night so we ask for prayers for travel and rest among our team.

Thank you so much to all who have prayed, encouraged, and contributed throughout this trip. We look forward to sharing pictures, videos, and stories with you all! God bless you!

First thing this morning we met at the Healthy Family Foundations office for a time of prayer and planning with the team. We then opened the office to many of the leaders in the HFF community to come in and pick a some new shoes and clothing that was donated as a way to say thank you for teaching in their communities.

We then all loaded up and drove out to the property where the future Healthy Families Foundation Retreat Center has just broken ground. This will be a multi purpose building owned by HFF to be able to hold teaching seminars up to 200 people and host mission groups coming to Botswana. More information will be coming out on this project soon.

To end the night, we attended another HFF study at Open Baptist Church to see a church within the city in operation. We were also able to attend a youth service that was awesome! These kids love Jesus and have fun showing that love for him. Amy was even given the opportunity to bring the message. This was a very special time.

Prayer Requests:
Tomorrow will be an early day of travel so we ask for you to keep us in your prayers as we travel back to Cape Town in preparation for our return back to the United States on Sunday.

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This morning we visited with the Mokolodi village for another group that teaches from the Healthy Family Foundations curriculum.

We the headed back to the Mmankgodi village for another similar group.  Both of these groups are led by Pastor Evidence.

We then visited the Ramaphatlhe village where we met with the village chief and then led a group in the town pavilion. This was the first the gospel has been shared in this village. It was well received and the chief of the village was touched by the testimonies shared by some of our team. Going forward there will be a weekly group in this village for the next year.

Prayer Requests:
Tomorrow we will be meeting with the Healthy Family Foundation team for prayer and planning.  We ask that you pray over our conversations for them to be fruitful.

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This morning we were able to visit the administration building for the Botswana Prison Service. We joined their weekly Wednesday morning devotional time and Jon brought the message for all of the prison guards in attendance.

We then met with the Commissioner of the Botswana Prison Service. In this meeting, we gained insight into the current state of the prisons in regard to rehabilitation programs and follows up after release. This is where the Thaba’s have really stepped in with Healthy Family Foundation.

After this meeting, we were able to have lunch with three of the women who go into the prisons on a weekly basis to speak and share the Word of God to the inmates. These women are of various backgrounds whose testimony could relate on a deeper level with those who they are sharing with.

Later in the afternoon, we visited the Mmankgodi Village.  Here we were able to attend a small service and hear the testimonies of several members of the community. 

Prayer Requests:
We will be visiting another village tomorrow, so we ask for prayers for traveling mercies and for the people who we come in contact with to open their ears and their hearts to the Word.
We also ask that you keep in your prayers the people who we spoke to in the village today. They are dealing with some very dark and tragic situations, so any and all prayers are definitely needed. Here are some names to keep in your prayers:
Joseph and Masedi Modutlwe and their kids Brdiea (28), Aurelia (13), Zephania (12), Leroy (7)
Gabautwane Oagile

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We have landed in Botswana!

The majority of today's schedule was traveling from Knysna, South Africa to Gaborone, Botswana.

After landing, we met up with Ashley and Percy Thaba from Healthy Families Foundation and were able to sit down and discuss their current roles and future aspirations.

Prayer Requests:
Tomorrow will be our first full day in Botswana. We are excited to see what the day will bring as we continue. We ask that you pray for safety and ease of travel for our team.

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This morning we attended the Khayamandi Foundation's yearly board meeting.  This is an opportunity for each branch of Khayamandi to present their current goals and future aspirations to the rest of the group. 

This afternoon we were able to visit with the soccer teams to bring the cleats that you graciously donated! Thank you again for making a difference in the lives of these kids. These cleats will drastically improve the way that they are able to develop as athletes. Many of them have been using torn shoes, only 1 shoe, or no shoes at all to practice.  
So yes, thank you.

To end the day, we said our goodbyes to the Khayamandi team over dinner.  They will be heading to Uganda tomorrow to continue their missions updates and board meetings.

Prayer Requests:
Tomorrow will be a long day of travel for our team. We will be heading out very early in the morning on our route to Botswana.  We ask that you pray for safety and ease of travel for our team.
We ask that you also join us in prayer for the Khayamandi team as they travel to Uganda.

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This morning we were able to attend Freedom Church in Knysna.  Freedom is where several of the Khayamandi team regularly attend.

After church, we had a beach day with 20 or so kids from The Khayamandi Home.  This time together was precious and full of swimming, soccer, rugby, and KFC chicken!

Prayer Requests:
Tomorrow will be a day of meetings with The Khayamandi Foundation's board members, so we ask that you join us in prayer for fruitful conversations to be had about the future growth and potential of Khayamandi.
We are also wrapping up our time here in Knysna over the next two days, so we ask for your prayers in our upcoming travels: for safety and for ease of travel.

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Today began with a large gathering of boys from all of the soccer teams that Khayamandi supports.  Before the matches began, we were given the chance to speak with each group of kids to share the Word and some of our testimonies. Instead of being involved with gang related activities, these kids are choosing to be here learning about God and learning about sportsmanship week after week.

While most of us were at the soccer meet, part of our team split off to visit an All-Girls Afrikaans School. The purpose of this school is to take troubled teens and teach them about life skills, identity, and purpose. Since starting this program, the school has had so much of a positive impact that now the public schools are wanting to teach this curriculum. 

Prayer Requests:
Unfortunately we have had sickness come over the part of the missions team, so we ask that you pray for quick recovery and for healthiness among all of our team throughout the remainder of the trip.

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We started today with a walk-through of a Knysna Township, a community located up on the hill where over 58,000 people are currently living.  These communities range from shacks and lean-tos to modern government-built "Mandela Houses" that residents own and pass down to their children. Bustling with convenience stores, salons, night-clubs, and churches, this community is packed with cultural richness and a resilient spirit.

Later in the day, we were able to have dinner with all of the coaches who are part of the soccer ministry in which The Khayamandi Foundation supports. Tomorrow is the big soccer meet, so we look forward to seeing this ministry in action.

Big shout out to Harrison McKim for being our photographer and providing all of the newsletter pictures for today! 

Prayer Requests:
We ask for you to pray for the soccer meet tomorrow that the weather remains favourable, but more so that the hearts of those attending—players, coaches, and spectators—are open and receptive, and that many lives are deeply touched and transformed by the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

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Today we traveled five hours by car to the small community of Knysna, where we met up with the leadership of The Khayamandi Foundation.  

We were given a tour of the Hands and Heart Skills Development Program. Hands and Heart is a 2 semester yearly program that that equips 40-50 young men and women each year with skills in carpentry, welding, electrical work, and life skills. During our time there, we were able to connect with the students and directors and gain insight into how the program is making a difference within Nnysna.

We were then given the opportunity to have dinner with several of the pastors that mentor with 13 local soccer teams in which Khayamandi helps support. We will be attending a soccer event this weekend to see first hand the fruit of this ministry. 

Prayer Requests:
Please continue to pray that the Lord would go before us, and prepare the hearts of those that we will interact with… that He will orchestrate divine appointments and use us as vessels for his glory.

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After a long 14 1/2 hour flight, we have made it safely to Cape Town.  Tomorrow we will be taking a day to do some sight-seeing before we head out to meet The Khayamandi Foundation, our ministry partners in Knysna, South Africa.

We ask that you join us in prayer for the following:
- That God would encourage those leading the work in country through our engagement.
- That God would bring to our attention the spiritual, emotional and physical needs we as a team and church can meet for them.
- Continued safe travels throughout the trip

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This is the team that will be heading to South Africa and Botswana on mission from
February 9th through February 23rd, 2026.

Pictured from left to right: Dane Walker, Briella McKim, Barret McKim, John Barber, Harrison McKim, Kyle McKim, Tyler Morrow, and Amy Linengerger

If you would like to help fund this trip, please click the button below to be taken to our online giving portal.  Please select the Passion Fund and include "Africa Mission" in the memo.

If you would rather write a physical check, that can be made out to
Community Bible Church and please include "Africa Mission" in the memo as well.
Checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 2916 Highlands, NC 28741