The second week on the World Race we entered the matrix. We went on a mission trip within a mission trip. The church that we’re partnered with here in East London, South Africa sent a group to Lesotho to run a “holiday club,” or in American terms, a vacation bible school, for the kids up in the mountains. I’ve been blessed to visit two new countries in just two weeks.
As we crossed the border and entered into Lesotho I was shocked by the amount of poverty I saw, even in the middle of cities. Living in South Africa had not prepared me for the rest of Africa. South Africa is well off, mixed-cultured, and varied. Lesotho is not. Out of all the people out on the street, I saw one white person. The local shops were tin shacks, and the majority of people wore clothes most Americans would throw away. I found myself looking out the window and thinking, wow, I must be so much better than these people. Then I stopped, checked myself, and wondered, did I really just think that? I gave that thought directly to the Lord, and He reminded me that these are His people too. He loves them just as much as He loves me. They are the reason I’m here. I found out later just how beautiful they are.
After a cozy 8-hour ride in the back seat of the Ford Fiesta my teammate was driving on the wrong side of the car on the wrong side of the road, we arrived at our missionary post in Malealea Valley, Lesotho. We were working with an organization called Africa for Jesus, run by one of the nicest, godliest couples I have ever met. It was quite the adjustment from my first week where we had our own rooms in a nice apartment with all the electricity and running water we could want. This week we did it Lesotho-style. We slept in a room with cement walls, dirt floors, a tin roof, and some squeaky neighbors we affectionately named Stuart Little and Gus Gus.
Our bathroom did have a hot shower and a toilet that flushed (praise Jesus!), but much to my dismay it was located about 100 feet outside of our room. Let me tell you, waking up in the middle of the night with a stomach bug, having to fumble in the dark for your headlamp, make your way through the yard and into the bathroom all in time to poop and/or vomit is no fun. No fun at all. But through all the cold, darkness, and discomfort the Lord was there. He gave me an incredible sense of contentedness even though, physically, I was miserable. I didn’t have my bed. I didn’t have my mom. I didn’t have any semblance of regular comfort, yet I was at peace. Praise God.
We put on a holiday club for the kids for three days. Unfortunately, I missed the first day due to being sick in bed. But the second two days were wonderful. Interacting with the kids was a little challenging since most of them didn’t speak much English, but it was such a privilege to work with them. Luckily we had a wonderful interpreter. The backdrop of valley and mountains was enough to take your breath away. Every time I looked around there was something new and beautiful to see. We were certainly blessed to be in the valley.
We were blessed to be able to go into the surrounding villages and interact with some of the Basotho people. Their houses are mud huts with thatch roofs. If the house was slightly larger and more luxurious it would have a tin roof instead of thatch. Many of their cloths were dirty, mismatched, and full of holes, but no one seemed to mind. To us they have so little, yet they were so willing to give. One woman gave us canned peaches because she wanted to be hospitable. It could’ve been her dinner.
“Sitting across from the temple treasury, He watched how people dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and dropped in two small coins worth very little. Summoning His deciples, He said, “This widow has given more than the rest, for they gave out of their surplus and she gave out of her poverty.” Mark 12:41-43.
These people are so willing to give; yet they have so little to give away. By our standards they have nothing, but they are full of joy. Many of them have never left Lesotho, let alone the Malealea Valley. We can say, what a sad, limited existence. But from my observation, it is the opposite. They are content with what they have. They’re not seeking the next promotion or pay raise, because the option isn’t available to them. There is a true freedom in being satisfied with what you have.
It’s a similar mindset that the Lord gives His followers. He creates complete contentedness with what He’s given us. He creates thankfulness, and thankfulness creates joy. Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. God makes us free to just be.
