An ordinary Botswana duo

Ruth and Art Thiessen would say they are ordinary people doing nothing out of the ordinary. “Please don’t belabour the ‘dynamic duo’!” Ruth said. “We’re no heroes, just doing what God has called us to!”

Ruth Thiessen, left, with a friend in Botswana.

And yet, having spent 12 days with them at an Mennonite Central Committee project in Botswana, observing the relationships they have forged, I am inclined to think they are not all that ordinary.

The Thiessens, members of Bakerview MB Church, Abbotsford, came to Botswana in 1999 and helped establish Botswana Christian AIDS Intervention Programme (BOCAIP), an explicitly Christian and interchurch Botswana-based agency. BOCAIP has grown from a fledging agency to a multi-million dollar operation with a host of qualified staff and over 1000 trained volunteers in 11 centres, besides the national office in Gaborone. Only a handful of them, including Ruth and Art, are non-Africans.

The Thiessens’ roles kept changing and expanding throughout the term as BOCAIP took shape. Initially, Ruth was coordinator of the counselling centre in Lobatse and Art was “unassigned spouse.” Within a week they were assisting in the head office, and Ruth began doing public relations. Orphan day care is also a significant area of interest in her life, as is providing moral and spiritual support for those involved or infected with AIDS.

As a “jack of all trades,” Art serves a critical role with BOCAIP. If he can’t fix it, people say, “it’s either not repairable or it’s not broken.” Yet the Botswana assignment tested him to the limit as he was required to manage the rapidly growing BOCAIP financial base for a period of time. He is now trying to maintain BOCAIP’s assets, including some 22 vehicles and various office buildings, as well as providing support for office staff, particularly the financial department.

Art Thiessen, second from left, with BOCAIP staff.

It seems right, they say after their term of more than four years, to leave the operations entirely to the very capable African board and staff. They hope that Mennonite Ministries/Mennonite Central Committee will remain associated with BOCAIP, lending support as deemed appropriate by the agency.

Both Art and Ruth are devoted caregivers, having an attitude and gifts rooted in their strong Christian faith and their own experiences with grief. They demonstrate their concern in a way not all that ordinary.

—from report by Bill Thiessen

Bill Thiessen was responsible for establishing the MCC BC AIDS program. Ruth Thiessen was the first staff person, serving nearly 9 years before going to Botswana.