I’m not so big. I have no strength.
These are often my thoughts when running after my son while rushing to work. It’s a full life with just enough room for my people — husband, son, family, friends, and a little girl named Samantha still growing within me.
My people are my world. But this world is not my home. And my loved ones — the ones sitting around the dinner table or chatting on Facebook — they are a fraction of my eternal community.
Behind the scenes at Seed Company, we’ve been broken by one simple question: How well do I know my eternal neighbors?
Most of us would say, “Not very well.”
We want to change that. So we asked humanitarian photographer Esther Havens and writer Kelsi Williamson to lead a small team to the land where Botswana and Namibia meet. Their goal was simple: to help us meet the San people.
Today, I invite you to meet Anna through Esther’s eyes and Kelsi’s words.
______________________________________
Anna is a single mother of four children from the village of Kapatura in northern Botswana. She’s one of the youngest narrators (Bible storytellers) helping to translate Scripture into Khwedom, her heart language.
Anna is quiet but wears the look of a curious and thirsty learner. Her fashionable hoop earrings and leopard-print dress are the only proclamation of this shy girl’s youth — for although Anna’s words are soft and few, she’s clearly been blessed with wisdom well beyond her years.
“I used to hear the Bible, but wasn’t really interested,” Anna says. Prior to intersecting with the work of oral Bible translation, never before had Anna received the opportunity to learn the Scriptures for herself.
The churches she used to attend taught false doctrines. They convinced members that the only way to know God was directly through the pastors in charge rather than through the Bible. Anna was never satisfied with only hearing what these “people of power” claimed as truth.
When Anna began attending Sunday morning Bible study, organized by Seed Company field coordinator Eben Le Roux, she was suddenly handed the power and confidence to listen, ask questions and learn more and more about God’s Word for herself.
Each week, those that attend the studies practice their ability to memorize, internalize and then share a new Bible story. They work together to reach the best translation; and everyone’s opinion, no matter their age or background, is viewed equally.
In her words, she explains why her favorite Bible passage is Matthew 20:1-16:
“This chapter is teaching me that the last will be the first and the first will be the last. The love of God is the same; He doesn’t love one more than another. His love is equal. When you believe in Him, that’s what He commanded and He will not leave you.”
While it’s easy to get overwhelmed by doctrines, teachings, degrees and pedigree, the simple gift of access to Scripture has provided Anna with more power than any social status could have ever brought her. This realization humbles her. Thankful and passionately ready to move forward, Anna prays that her actions bring glory to God.
We can’t think of a better way to pray for Anna than by praying the very words she says herself:
“I’m not so big. I have no strength — You are the only one who has strength. Give us Your love and give us Your strength that we may do and work. For this moment, God, listen to what I’m crying. This must be done in Your hands. Please take the evil things from the community — the fighting and hatred — so that we may love one another. By Your love, You created us as Your daughters and sons and sent Your Son to come die for us in our sins. By the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.”
Photography by Esther Havens
www.estherhavens.com | @EstherHavens
Story by Kelsi Williamson
www.kelsiwilliamson.com | @kelsiwil
______________________________________
A curious thing happened when I met Anna, my eternal neighbor. I felt an instant connection because, like her, long ago, I battled with false doctrine. But also like Anna, the Word rescued me. And I often forget that I’m just one of many women running after their children and rushing to work. I’m not alone — nor will I ever be — on this side of heaven or the other.
I’ve got a challenge for you. Now that you’ve met Anna, would you share her story with your people? Together, we can embrace our eternal neighbors now.
We’ve created an online experience just for you at theseedcompany.org/san. There you can view more of Esther’s work, read Kelsi’s stories and learn more about Anna’s people.
Together we can make sure we all have the same opportunity to read, to hear and to know Scripture, driving us to glorify God for our unique cultural identity and to, “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:10 NLT).
Together, in Jesus, we are just a little bit bigger and full of His strength.
[linebreak]
This was great–please keep up the series and do it more often!
Hi Tami, thank you! We have a few more stories published here: https://theseedcompany.org/san. And I love you idea for a series. People are beautiful, and our stories are worth sharing.
Marilynn,
In reading Anna’s story, I was reminded that God gives our eternal neighbors spiritual gifts as well. It is obvious that Anna has wisdom and discernment and when I see or read about young people with wisdom beyond their years, I know it has to be a God thing. We need to keep planting the truth because His word does not return void.
Blessings to you in your endeavors,
Bev
Hi Bev! At Seed Company we are often humbled and encouraged when we are reminded that people living thousands of miles away, enduring many hardships for the sake of sharing the Word – are also praying for us. I’m encouraged by wise and discerning women like Anna, and you. Thank you!
Hi Marilynn! Thanks so much for introducing us to Anna. Her story serves as a reminder that God uses each and every one of us to do His work. It’s amazing to see how our eternal neighbours around the world jump over hurdles to access the Scripture while over here, I sometimes struggle to read my Bible each day. I get distracted by the things of this world.
It’s clear that Anna has an intense hunger and thirst for God’s word; she devours His truth. I want to develop that hunger again.
Donna
Hi Donna,
So do I. It can be such a struggle. Behind the scenes at Seed Company, we often encourage each other to “end Bible poverty” for ourselves first. And the beautiful thing about meeting our eternal neighbors is the hunger and thirst they inspire in us.
And now you have inspired me that much more with your transparency!
Mahalo!
Marilynn
Thanks for introducing me to one of my new neighbors. I have been to Botswana and Namibia with a short term mission group from my church.
Hi Birdie! What a blessing to have traveled there, and to have such a personal connection!
Thank you soo much!! Anna is a perfect example of commitment and devotion to a living word if God. The beuty of Anna story, is that in God’s eyes we are all the same. Until I came to Christ I learned that no matter if I’m white or black, Hispanic or Asian, tall or short, fat or skinni. His love for me is beyond my understanding. Anna is a women of God and her courage is what I’m taking with me, and I can’t wait to meet her in heaven!!!
Hi Rita! I love your words, “His love for me is beyond my understanding.” Yes! His love fills the deep wells of courage that we all need everyday. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for filling Anna and Rita with Your courage!
I just wanted to tell you how much my heart and spirit have been encouraged by this story! I often refer to other believers as my Eternal Neighbors, sometimes using the phrase fpr those I’ve been blessed to only speak with by phone or perhaps write, but have never heard or seen the phrase used elsewhere! That phrase is what prompted me to read, and of course to ask myself the very question you posed, namely how well I know these Neighbors.
Well, I want to know them more!
Please continue to share the life stories of our other Eternal Neighbors! I can’t wait to meet them.
Frances
Hi Frances, that’s so awesome that you’ve used that phrase. I was writing the intro to a soon-to-be released missions periodical by Seed Company called Co:Mission. “Eternal neighbors” just came out during that moment. We will be sharing more of these stories, one every quarter. This coming January, together we will meet the Tzutijil and Ixil people of Guatemala while meditating upon John 1:14 (MSG). Thank you for the encouragement!
What a wonderful story!
Thank you!
Amazing! I do remember to pray for my other brothers and sisters but it is the first time that I ever thought of them as Eternal Neighbors. Thank you so much for sharing Anna’s story. I look forward to meeting more of my neighbors.
Thank you, Claudette! For your faithfulness to prayer and for encouraging us to keep sharing more stories.
Thank you for sharing the refreshing story of my sister in Christ.
Hi Mary Ann! Thank you for reading. 🙂
Thank you for this wonderful story – please share more!! May I not forget my neighbour and always remember that those who are so often regarded as inferior, poor, of another colour is NOT least in His kingdom, but those who are last will be first and those who are first, will be last.
Much blessings
Hi Rina! And that is the Scripture that inspired this post, and our soon coming missions periodical called Co:Mission. Your enthusiasm is contagious! Love it! And we will share more. Mahalo!
amazing and lovely story..its so easy for us to wrapped up and not think of others and those who are our eternal neighbors..thankyou for showing us this great story, in our busy lives may we pause for time to think of who it is we will be sitting around talking with in eternity and learn more of them here too. blessings
Hi Polly, thank you for sharing your heart. Every blessing to you as well!
Its simply wonderful to see the gospel reaching the ends of the earth and meeting our eternal neighbors through your story. Anna’s prayer is very touching. I hope she will discover through the Word that the “name” of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is Jesus. Jesus says, (John 14:14) You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Wonderful story! We so often and to easily forget about those in small foreign countries. If the country is not in the news–then we don’t think about them!
We all need to pray hard to know & have compassion on our eternal neighbors!
Great work!