Talking with Melanie Melanie Quinn shares about an experience while serving in Botswana. This text will be replaced

A presence in Botswana Locations Botswana Ministries Indigenous church support Mission Network personnel and resources support churches in development and missional outreach around the world. While many of these churches have roots stemming from foreign mission endeavors, others are indigenous to the local setting. Leadership training Leadership training can take place formally or informally and develops church leadership, builds the capacity of servant leaders, and prepares them to train others for ministry. Youth outreach Youth outreach workers walk with adolescents who have already chosen to follow Christ, and invite new believers to join the community of faith. Mission workers often join local initiatives to help young people develop their faith. Partners Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission Bopaganang Basha Ba Semoya Inter-Church Ministries Botswana Mennonite Church Canada Workers Melanie Quinn Melanie works with youth at the Bopaganang Basha Ba Semoya center, with displaced women and children at an immigrant center, and with HIV+ teens. She also counsels women and leads Bible studies. Nathan and Taryn Dirks Nathan and Taryn work with a particular focus on the young adults. They are working on Bible teaching, community development, and environmental stewardship as well as helping to develop young leaders among the churches.

I always felt drawn to work with youth. Since I became a Christian 10 years ago, my sense of call was very strong and I recognized a clear purpose – I was to go.

At first, I had many reservations – my age, my lack of training, some health issues – and I tried hard to push aside any drive, any urge, to go out into the field.

When I finally wanted to voice what I felt, the person I chose to tell was a good friend who never minces words. I knew that if it was a bad idea, she would tell me. The same weekend that I chose to talk to Diane, my friend, about it, I was at a women’s conference and overheard someone discussing work in Africa. My heart was singing! When I sat with Diane and told her about my feeling, she smiled and encouraged me to pursue this call.

However, I again tried to put it aside and not think about it. I soon felt restless, and was bombarded by images of people working in Africa and people talking about following the purpose God had for them. I realized that nothing else had ever given me a peace before feeling this call. I knew God has intentions for all of us, and struggled with finding my place. I had a lot of what I thought were good arguments against this purpose, but I could not change my heart.

Pursuing this ambition was not easy and it surely did not run smoothly. There were many obstacles. My family was shocked and my friends were worried. Many people in my small church thought our congregation was too small to afford sending a missionary. But, somehow, despite these roadblocks, my prayer changed from “If I go,” to “When I go.” I continued to feel God pressing in on me. Even my mother, who was very against me going, admitted it had been her childhood dream to go to Africa.

One of my other goals was to aid in the fight against HIV/AIDs. I had several friends who died from this epidemic, and had worked with young people who were affected or infected, even before I became a believer. Here in Botswana, the rate of infection is incredibly high and the death rate astounding. What I find in Christ – hope, love, joy, commitment to community – is something I do not own, but certainly I wish to share it.

I cannot cure this disease, but I can share community and faith with young people struggling to find their way.

Melanie Quinn works with youth at the Bopaganang Basha Ba Semoya center, with displaced women and children at an immigrant center, and with teenagers who have HIV/AIDS. She also counsels women and leads Bible studies.