Such a beautiful country. Known as the “Kingdom in the sky”, we were in the mountains. When we drove into the valley, we were hit by a snow storm. I know. Snow in Africa.
We got out at a scenic point and stood under a water fall, only adrenaline and excitement to keep us warm.
Although we were surrounded by beauty, what made Lesotho special was the incredible group of people that lived there and poured into us. We partnered with local churches in the valley, helping them with everything we could.
We visited the hospital and prayed over sick people while encouraging them through scripture. We gave a message and served food at a soup kitchen. We spoke at high school cell groups. We visited the primary school to do manual labor for a new building. We got to visit the boy who lived in the psych ward.
We were also so blessed to live down the road from the St. Claire’s, a family on a long term mission. They have 3 kids, Kyle, Ellee, and Sadie, and they loved us so well. They showed us hospitality at its finest.
-In their Land Rover defender, they drove us down the side of a mountain, through a river, to a cave where they made a fire and we all roasted marshmallows together.
-For a week, they had about 4 of us over every night, and Abby cooked us an amazing dinner, whether that be spaghetti, homemade chick-fil-a chicken tenders, tacos, or pizza, Abby was willing to prepare a meal on a fundraised budget just to show hospitality.
-One night they invited us all over for a movie night and we watched Rudy, and Abby made us a football shaped cake.
-They celebrated Halloween with us, and brought their kids in costume, and we had a dance party and ate too much candy.
We really didn’t deserve the St. Claires.
When we left to head to Johannesburg, we were one of the first responders to a car crash. I wrote a blog about it at http://willholt.theworldrace.org/post/god-dont-you-care
It was traumatizing to say the least, and when Jonathan heard about it he got his family together and drove 6 hours all the way to Jo-berg where we were staying before our flight to offer one on ones and pray over us. He was willing to grieve and cry with us. The whole family was constantly praying over us. I look up to him as a man in so many ways.
Their family still stays in touch with us, reading and commenting on our blogs. They are on a fundraised budget as well, and still they donated to my world race fund.
Here’s some memories I got to share with the teams in Mokhotlong:
-He who shall not be named’s farts that caused several evacuations
-Cole’s frequent nose bleeds
-Hiking a mountain then pooping on the summit
-Riding in the bed of Obed’s truck on top of caskets
-Truth or dare that got way too tense way too fast
-Having to use the long drop when the pipes froze overnight
-Finding out the pipes were frozen after your post morning coffee ritual.
-Playing jump rope with the ladies who were 8-9 months pregnant living at the hospital
-Hiking down to the river several nights a week, sleep in a cave with a fire looking at the stars, then hike back at sunrise for breakfast.
-Infinite stops at fish n chips, the only fast food restaurant in the valley to get fat cakes.
-Watching Napoleon Dynamite on repeat.
-Swimming in the river.
-Jumping out of a tree into the river, landing on a blanket, lifting said blanket out of the water only to find it was a cow hide.
-Going on runs with the St. Claire’s black lab named Ruby.
Watching Monster’s University with Kyle, Ellie, and Sadie.
Lesotho really felt like home and it made hard to say goodbye. I’m so thankful for all that was learned as well as the memories made.
Thank you so much for reading!
