For the past four years, Nathan and Taryn Dirks have worked among African Initiated Churches in Botswana with a focus on youth ministry. One of their collaborative projects is Pula Sports Development Association. At the beginning of October, this ministry was featured on Botswana’s national television during a primetime program called First Issues.
The association is renovating an empty lot in Bontleng, a Gaborone neighborhood known for crime. Recycling the waste found in the area, such as using empty beer bottles from a nearby bar to build beautiful walls, the youth cooperative is bringing new life to a spot where stabbings used to occur routinely. In addition to teaching life skills through sports, the Pula Association will model green technology, provide aquaponics gardening opportunities, free wi-fi, and community meeting places.
Watch the community center take shape while listening to Nathan Dirks, Swift Mpoloka, Wame Ofentse Chiepe, and others describe their vision in the First Issues presentation:
Click here to watch TV news story.
The Dirks serve through a partnership with Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission, Mennonite Church Canada, and Mennonite Mission Network. Their 1-year-old son, Malakai, shares the good news and builds relationships through dancing and playing at the Bontleng park.
“Malakai knows the leaders of the churches from their visits to our house,” Nate said. “He often runs to the front of the church while they’re preaching yelling, ‘Hi!’ He hugs their legs as they walk around the pulpit. The congregation is gracious and they are always amused by his gregariousness.”
