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Ishmael Rabatho

Ishmael has been a pioneer for years, but he says this is the greatest challenge he’s ever faced.

We currently have 10 Global Mission projects and 10 pioneers serving in Botswana. Please remember them in your prayers.

Meet Ishmael Rabatho, a Global Mission pioneer reaching out to the Basarwa or Bushmen people in a village called Bere in southern Botswana. Ishmael has been a pioneer for years, but he says this is the greatest challenge he’s ever faced.

Every weekday morning, Ishmael meets with Chief Kgosi to pray. The chief has given Ishmael a special privilege. He’s invited him to attend every gathering at the kutla, the village’s sacred meeting place, and start the meetings with prayer and a Bible reading.    After meeting with the chief, Ishmael goes to the clinic to pray with the staff and patients and share a few verses of Scripture with them. Then it’s off to the school to pray and sing with the children. The Basarwa children love to sing and quickly learn songs about Jesus. You can often hear them singing at night before they go to bed. 
 In the afternoon, Ishmael visits people in their homes and studies the Bible with those who are interested.   Ishmael walks nearly everywhere he goes, carrying his well-worn Bible. He almost always has sand in his shoes!  This is a typical Basarwa home. It can be very cold in the desert at night, but because it’s colder inside than outside the Basarwa sleep around a fire on the ground.
 “At first the villagers didn’t like it when I came to visit,” Ishmael says. “Some left when they saw me coming and others even moved away! But I kept praying for them and now some of them welcome me into their homes to study and pray.”  
You can often find Ishmael talking and praying with a young person in the village.
Sometimes Ishmael brings his church members oranges—a sweet, juicy treat in the dry Kalahari. From young to old, everyone seems to love them. 

“At first the villagers didn’t like it when I came to visit,” Ishmael says. “Some left when they saw me coming and others even moved away! But I kept praying for them and now some of them welcome me into their homes to study and pray.” 		Chief Kgosi prays during the church service. The Basarwa’s language is filled with soft clicking sounds.

You can often hear the bleating of goats around the church.
 

Every day, Global Mission pioneers, such as Ishmael, reach out to people who have never had the opportunity to hear the Adventist message. Their work is often difficult, sometimes dangerous, and always possible because of your support. To learn more about their unique ministry, please visit www.global-mission.org.

We currently have 10 Global Mission projects and 10 pioneers serving in Botswana. Please remember them in your prayers.

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A Pioneer Life for Me A Global Mission pioneer in Botswana tells his story.