There are many examples this past month of us walking by faith and obeying the voice of the Lord, even though we don’t understand the reasoning or know where it is going to take us!
This month was a month filled with asking God in and through EVERYTHING! Personally and as a team. It was more than ministering to the people in Lesotho; it was also ministering to each other and having God minister to us!
To be able to be in the middle of a valley while still on top of a mountain was breathtaking. There was a small village near the top of the mountain that we quickly fell in love with. This is where our ministry was. To the people in the village. A half-hour hike a way. It was a climb, a struggle and exhausting to get to the top – yet worth every step we took, knowing it was God’s strength getting us there.
From the day we got to the chalet’s in Mt. Moorosi and looked up to the top of the mountain and saw the village, we knew that it was where we needed to be. How do we begin to minister to these people when we don’t know anyone, have a translator or know really anything about the Lesotho culture?
The first day we headed into town – to buy the needed groceries and essentials. We knew that there was more to the day than going in for personal reasons, and God gave us many opportunities to build relationships and pray for people while walking through stores and down the street. We met this lady named Hilda, whom upon seeing us and finding out where we were from, shared with us that we were the people from a vision the Lord gave her, coming to share to the people about Jesus. We were blown away, had smiles on our faces, and couldn’t wait to pray for and with this mighty woman. We all wanted a chance to hug her and share with her about our journey to Lesotho!
As we continued through town, we were walking past a lady who’s shoes were falling apart.
There was really nothing left of them. She had a baby on her back and smelt like she hadn’t showered in weeks. We immediately felt compassion for her and asked if we could pray. She didn’t understand us and kept trying to walk away…so as we walked with her, we felt the need to keep praying. God put it on our hearts that we needed to buy this woman a pair of shoes. It took a little coaxing to get her to follow us, and she didn’t know what we were saying, but followed us into the store where we got her to try on a pair of shoes and walk away being able to walk without dragging the soles of her old pair! The emotions were raging and burdens being felt by many. It wasn’t what we bought her, but the love and compassion and reaching out to the poor and needy that forever touched my heart! We did what we could to share the love of Jesus.
How do you walk into a town/village were Americans are hardly seen and share God without the expectation of them getting something in return? We wanted to be sure that we gave the love of Jesus and not just be a walking ATM, handing out free food and gifts. EVERYONE had some need…but we knew that the only thing that could satisfy ANY of them was Jesus…and kept praying that God would meet them where they were and bless them in abundance by looking to Him and trusting Him above all things!
After our shopping and more prayer, we headed “home” on the crowded, noisy bus! We still had no idea how we were going to communicate with the people in the area…and then the unthinkable happened. Not only did we get off the bus at the chalets, but so did a young Lesotho man! His name is Bernard. He’s young – about 25. He speaks English. He asked us who we were, where we were from and what we were doing, so explained the World Race and our ATL month to him…he smiled and shared that He is a christian and would love to help translate if we needed someone!
Not only did we get a translator, he was literally dropped at our doorstep. He often comes to the chalet’s as he knows the family that manages the place. What a testimony and an encouragement. What a blessing. God brought a need to us that helped us be able to spread the word of the Lord to the people in the village in the mountain!
Every day of ministry began by praying and asking the Lord what he required of us, and to bring into our path people that needed prayer, love and encouragement. Every day, the people came. We had kids following us around, praying with us, and singing songs. We prayed healing and got blessed in return. We watched God move in miraculous ways. Walking by faith, into the unknown, daily is not easy…yet it is what God required of us in order for us to learn how to pray boldly, love deeply and trust his ways!
God blessed us egg for egg one day, just by being obedient! He used us as vessels to touch the broken-hearted, lonely and sick. He gave us words when we didn’t know what to say. Every little opportunity – whether it was on a bus, walking down the road or holding the hand of a child, was used to glorify our Father and praise his Holy name.
This month brought us closer as a team and deepened our faith and walk with God personally. We all have our own stories and ways God met us this month. I encourage you to read my team mates,and Cameron’s, blogs (links to the left) about the experiences they had, and how God worked in amazing, supernatural and miraculous ways to make this month one of the best on the Race!
