We had many new experiences in the new year in a new continent. To start, we washed all of our clothes by hand. When I told some of our hosts it was our first time doing laundry that way they were so surprised! It made me actually appreciate the coin-operated washers and dryers that were seldom available down in the basement of my apartment back in Chicago. We also experienced building fires to heat water for warm showers. We chopped our own wood and even hiked through a forest to bring back extra firewood to have a bonfire on our last night. These adventures were a lot of work but they allowed us to bond with our other teammates and hosts. I wouldn’t look back and change anything about them.
While the women of Lesotho taught us a lot, we had the pleasure of teaching them new things too. We hosted a “women’s week” where we discussed different topics each day. The first day we did a makeup lesson but incorporated scripture showing what true beauty is actually about. They grew in confidence as they learned that, despite what society considers to be beautiful on the outside, God looks only at our hearts on the inside. The next day we taught them a choreographed dance called the church clap since dancing can be a form of worship to God. We also instructed them in yoga one day teaching them that our bodies are temples where the Holy Spirit dwells and that He has entrusted us to care for ourselves well. After talking to our hosts, they also asked us to teach them about etiquette. They explained that when girls leave the village to go to school or work in more urban areas that they don’t always know what to do in dining situations. They shared an example that they aren’t even aware of what a napkin is or how to use it. We were able to show them how to set a table and properly use silverware. For many of the women, it was their first time ever using a fork. It seemed as foreign of an object to them as it did to Ariel in The Little Mermaid. They enjoyed the lesson and the snacks we shared that day though and we were grateful to spend that first week with them while continuing to build our relationships throughout the month.
In the mornings, we would begin our day by going for a walk with our teammates and hosts at 7:00 am everyday. It was a wonderful way to get our blood flowing and see the beauty of God’s creation in the valley of Malealea. We would have quiet time with the Lord and His word overlooking the mountains before going out for ministry at 9:00 am. That’s when we would walk to the villages which was sometimes a 45 minute hike into the valley. We experienced the opportunity to encourage and evangelize to households by going door to door. Everyone we met was so welcoming and so willing to listen to whatever is was we had to share with them. Their hospitality blew me away and I couldn’t help but think that this would probably not have been our experience in the U.S. We would talk to people about their life and their faith, getting to know them while sharing how God already knows and loves them. A few people even accepted Jesus into their hearts for the first time. We listened to prayer requests and also prayed for God’s healing power to cure various illnesses and ailments. It was an intimate month with the Lord and His people in Lesotho.
Our last week we went into another village for three days and two nights for similar ministry. After talking with each family throughout the month, we would offer to help with any chores or tasks around the house. We often helped walk to get water, another new experience we encountered. Women usually carry buckets on their heads to get water everyday so we did the same. Their strength absolutely amazes me to think they do this their whole lives. These moments were especially memorable as I have ran two Chicago marathons with Team World Vision, an organization that works to provide clean water for children in Africa. What a blessing it was to see those fundraising efforts come full-circle. After fetching water, we had two worship nights where the people of Malealea sang and danced to our same God. Although we didn’t know their native lyrics, we were able to sing along and catch on to their dance routines. It was so beautiful to see multiple generations together and I could not stop smiling from ear to ear. It was probably one of my favorite experiences the whole month.
A final new experience to share is that I preached my first ever sermon. When we arrived at Africa 4 Jesus, our host said that someone would have to preach at church every Sunday. That meant 3 of the 14 of us would rise up to the occasion. At the time, I wasn’t completely turned off by the idea but knew I didn’t have anything specific to share. One morning as I was praying to God about the people Malealea, He put on my heart the idea to write my last blog about “What’s Holding You Back?” He also nudged me that the blog could be used a sermon. After approaching my team leader who was probably going to preach that weekend, she said she felt God telling her to wait and that someone else might preach but she wasn’t sure who. As we sat in the four-hour service church that Sunday, I was able to focus on my sermon while the Holy Spirit gave her a complete new whole sermon for the following week. It was a beautiful testimony of two sisters in Christ being obedient to God’s voice.
We encountered a lot of growth to start our first month in the new year and in Africa. While our new experiences continue, our fundraising efforts are finishing up. If you would like to support our ministry in the remaining seven months and countries, please prayerfully consider contributing to our cause. Please see link to donate or Venmo @caitlinmarvin this week. Thank you for your continued prayers and support! Watch a recap video of our month in Lesotho here:
