Fr. Octavianus Jawa

20th October 2013: Arrival in Botswana

January – July 2014: Learning Setswana in Divine Mercy Parish, Metsimolthabe

July-October 2014: Assisting Parish Priest of Holy Cross, Mogoditshane

October 2014 – November 2015: Assistant Parish Priest, Saint Joseph, Gumare

November 2015 – March 2022: Assistant Parish Priest, Holy Cross, Moditshane.

March 2022 – Priest in Charge of St. Anna Parish, Ghanzi.

My missionary journey in Botswana is a transformative experience, full of challenges and opportunity to learn.

The desire to share my faith, and interact with the local community led me to a deeper understanding of the diverse cultures and faiths of the people I met. These challenging experiences included culture shock, climate change, and the food that can come with arriving in a new place, especially in Botswana, which has cultural differences. This can be a difficult adjustment, but it can also be a source of growth and learning.

Despite these challenges, I found my experience in Botswana to be deeply rewarding. I also renew my gratitude for the blessings I have had in my life as a missionary of the Word of God in Botswana.