LESOTHO
1. Something interesting that our ministry host told us is that when the locals see white and “money” they assume that our lives are carefree, even if horrible things are happening. And no wonder; looking at the commercials on TV, even I look at those “white Americans” and assume that they must live better lives. It’s weird to think of how this must compare to someone who lives with nothing at all their entire life, rather than the compared luxury that I return to in nine months. We were watching the news this morning and in between the news anchor calling for women’s equality and HIV prevention, commercials for luxury vacations and hotels played; I couldn’t help but wonder whether those women who need freeing and those victims of HIV think of this weird mix. Do they wonder whether we spend half our energy helping those in need while spending the other half living lives they couldn’t even dream of? Is it fair to live both ways? I guess if I talk with those people (which is actually a reality because I live next door to/with them), I would tell them that that a life of wealth doesn’t guarantee freedom from the ways of the world. I would tell them that the decision by the six teenagers they are living with to leave all that behind is a living testament to how the Lord is abundant in everything. I would tell them that I didn’t leave that life behind just to serve, but to also find a deeper relationship with the Lord that was being hindered by comfort and familiarity.
2. Evangelism: Something that I have to remind myself is that the burden of others’ salvation is not on my shoulders. “For the Lord almighty has purposed and who can thwart Him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” (Isaiah 14:27). It is Him who is bringing salvation through me and my team and He is one hundred percent capable of working through my human mistakes and brokenness when spreading the gospel. Worrying whether I can effectively reach people is a reflection of a lack of trust in the gifts He has given me for the purpose of spreading His kingdom. My shortcomings do not hold the power to thwart his plans for these people; I am just a small part of the story.
3. Funniest Fail of the Week (also kind of sad though): On top of all of Kendra’s ailments, she sprained her ankle yesterday when we were running. Audrey and Casey took her to the clinic where there was a waiting room full of women about to give birth, locals infected with some sort of cough that we think was the flu, and nurses wheeling someone into the waiting room on a gurney. On the bright side, the nurses gave her cough syrup and medicine that was totally unrelated to her ankle. On the not so bright side, the clinic didn’t have an x-ray machine, so they had to go to a different clinic the next morning. The best quote during this entire fiasco was when Audrey said “maybe this time I’ll get to see a live birth” before leaving for the second clinic.
4. Ministry: This month our ministry is reaching out to the students who attend the National University of Lesotho. There are no set times for ministry except for a Wednesday bible study, church, and a few planned events, so it’s been our responsibility to be intentional with our time. The Bible study that we’ve joined currently consists of 14 steady attendees, four of which passed away in a car crash this past year. One of the members of the Bible study was praying us out and said “We know that God wasn’t appointed. We know that He didn’t have to seize power.” This confused me at first, but then it occurred to me that he must see the world as a constant struggle for power. He’s so right though. How lucky are we that our God is permanent. “In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it”. Thrones aren’t typically built on love and one does not need faithfulness to obtain it, but Jesus’ throne defies all logic. Perhaps that is why we are skeptical of it. The students say such vulnerable and profound things (and some funny/weird things), so I made a list.
“If our non-christian friends don’t respond to the church, we bring the church to them”.
“The entertainment media portrays America as a certain way that strays from the Lord (limited English), so how did you find your own way to the Lord?”
Audrey: “How did you all start attending Life Ministry?”
Dethebo: “My best friend, who was in the car crash, used to tell me about the meetings. This was the best part of her week and I loved hearing about the meetings. When she died I felt I had to do something that she loved, so that’s how I came here and I never stopped.”
Dethebo: (While inviting students on campus to the Bible Study) “We don’t care if you go to church, everyone’s welcome; we basically just worship the Lord together.”
Tina: “We were just on break from school because the administration told us we needed to ‘clear our heads’.”
Me: “What does that mean?”
Tina: “Well we went on strike for our allowance.”
(Conversation about how an allowance is basically their tuition that is given in scholarship form; so they were having to pay more than they could actually afford, because their allowances were late or being withheld (I don’t totally understand).
Tina: “Yeah, there were police and tear gas and stuff. Haha.”
Me: “Woah, that’s really serious.”
Tina: “Haha yeah, that usually happens about once per year.”
Alida:”Why are you here.”
Kendra: “To spread the gospel.”
Alida: “Then why haven’t you shared with me before now?” (We had just met her).
Melusi: “Christianity in Africa is a mile wide and an inch deep”.
Student: (Tosses his hat on the ground near Audrey’s feet) “You’re too good to stand on the ground.”
Peto: “I see you have blue eyes. Your hair must be fake.”
Me: “Nope, this is real.”
Peto: “I thought that everyone with blue eyes was blonde.”
5. “Do not try to make the Bible relevant. It’s relevance is axiomatic… Do not define God’s word, but testify to it… Trust to the word.” -Dietrich Bonhoeffer
