Welcome to Lesotho! The mountainous country completely surrounded by South Africa. Fusion Squad is the first squad to enter Lesotho; and we are the first Racers at our current mission site, Harvesters Bible Church. We live in (above) the town of Mokhotlong, population…unknown (but seems about 500).
Our work this month is mostly focused on construction. We are helping build the floor for another dorm room at an orphanage. Which also means when the kids get out of school some of us are on kid ministry. Aside from that we do prison ministry, speak at the High school and Primary school, talk at the women's group on Friday nights, help at the soup kitchen and Hospital, and run the church services on the weekends, both at pastor Obed and pastor Tsepos Churches.
So its a bit of a busy month. But its been a lot of fun and its nice to change things up. This month is another All Squad Month, so its 24 people rotating between these jobs and all living at the Mission House. I have enjoyed having the whole squad together. You're not stuck with the same six people for a month, you can talk to more people in English, you don't tend to miss old teammates when they're only one room away, and we share all the work given. But there are also struggles. Especially two All Squad Months in a row. Its had to really know your new team when you only see and work with them for a few hours a day. You have to be more intentional about getting to know your team when there are other people you already know better always around. You are also ALWAYS around people. If quiet time was hard before its almost impossible with 24 people.
Either way its been fun. And while construction is all 3 teams, the other sites are just 1. So far that just been to Prison Ministry (I wrote this my first week at Lesoto sometimes it takes a while to get things online). My team, Horizon, went to the Prison our first Wednesday. First it was nice just hanging out with my team and learning how we do ministry together. Second I did not think i would like prison ministry this much. We arrived and Pastor Tsepo tells us its been 5 months since they we allowed in the prison because some of the guards have been on strike. So us just getting to go is a blessing (and can be scary when you KNOW the prisoners are aware security's low).
As we are walking in we hear chanting. We are lead into the yard and prisoners come and go as they please. I am happy to say most of us were comforted and not as scared as we probably would have been normally. I was mostly excited. The night before we had planned what we were going to do with the hour we had. We ATL'd (Asked The Lord) about it and most of us got a feeling that we should focus on Love and Kindness and worthiness. That no matter what you've done you can't earn Gods love. And no matter what you've done you can't lose it. Other than that we had NO IDEA what the prison would be like. So we knew the next hour would be VERY Spirit lead (the reason for most of my excitement).
Its probably some of the most powerful ministry I've done so far. I've yet to do something that Spirit lead. Usually we go in with a bit more of a plan than, well I guess more accurately we are more adamant about sticking to it. When we arrived we were told they might have to cut us short. We also had talked about praying for people throughout the session. They would come up, or go over to the side where half the team would be praying for people. Not what happened. Instead, after my brothers Simion and Banele spoke, Victoria stood up and asked anyone to come forward that wanted to accept the grift of Jesus; or be prayed over in any way. It took some time but about 20 men came forward. We got to pray for their hearts, health and healing. It was wonderful and powerful watching my teammates go around and lay hands on people. And it was powerful to be a part of it.
It was amazing to hear my brothers speak on such powerful things and hear people praise in agreement for many of the things spoken. Worshiping and prying with many brothers I'm meeting for the first time is awesome (used in the traditional sense).
(OK 'future' me writing now)
The rest of the month was good. We helped to build the floor or an orphanage most days of the week and it was mostly moving rocks and dirt (and playing with the kids who were taking a break from classes). We got to ride horses one afternoon and I loved being at both pastors churches. Banele even sang solo on our last Sunday!
We drove down Sani Pass on our way to South Africa for our next month of ministry. I know I will be visiting Lesotho again!
