Basotho Village Sees the Gospel

The beautiful village of Matsaile, Lesotho and the Basotho people is the focus of this month's blogpost.  Daren Davis and Jim Flora spent a couple of days there last month and had the pleasure of visiting with Justin Morgan and Korby Griffith who were just days away from completing their 2 year Journeyman assignment. Living among the people of this village gave Korby and Justin the opportunity live out the gospel every day. 

The kids living in this village absolutely love Justin and Korby.  As soon as we would step out of the hut each morning a small group of kids would begin making their way to greet us, laugh, stick "fight", and just have fun.  I am sure it would get old if living there day in and day out but for Daren and Jim it was fun to watch.  These kids were seeing the light of Christ in the life of Korby and Justin.

To become a man in Basotho culture one has to know how to protect himself by stick fighting.  These boys were always ready to show their abilities as well as practice.  Justin had to be careful because they could do some damage.  Pray that the men of Matsaile will desire to be strong in the Lord.   

For two years these two Journeyman got their water from this mountain spring and had to carry it back to their hut in a wheel barrow.

Thabang became their good friend.  They spent hours teaching him the Bible, helping him know how to teach the Bible, and how to live as a follower of Jesus.  Thabang watched them live out their faith in Jesus and it made a real impact on his life. To hear Thabang's testimony click here.

This girl may look like her hands are folded ready to pray but the truth is very few of these kids will learn that God wants to talk to them.  They will grow up learning how to communicate with their dead ancestors but God is not interested in them and is irrelevant. Pray they will realize the truth of 1 John 5:14 "This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

Many of the elderly in villages are seen as a burden because they can no longer work like they used to.  Ladies like this one take care of the small children, teach them Basotho culture and tradition and therefore many barriers to the gospel are erected in the lives of these children.  Pray that the children would learn that God loves them, cares for them, and sent His Son to pay for their sins.  Pray that they would realize that God wants a relationship with them. 

The kids could tell there was something different about Korby and Justin.  Please pray that the kids of Matsaile would realize the same God who changed the lives of these young men can change their life as well. 

Jim Flora is a career missionary in the nearby Lesotho village of Katse.  He lives there with his wife and 3 daughters.  Pray for Jim as he considers how to continue sowing and nurturing the gospel seed in the village of Matsaile.  Pray that while Justin and Korby planted the seed of the gospel that others will come to water and that God will cause the increase. 
1 Corinthians 3:6

Daren cooking breakfast.

Korby, the one with the goatee, has returned to the US where he will be looking for work.  Pray for Korby as he adjusts to the US, renews friendships, and looks for a job.  Justin, in the orange shirt, will remain in Lesotho until the end of April.  Pray for Justin as he works with Jim and Teresa Flora.  Upon returning to the US he hopes to help college students learn how they can be on mission with God internationally. 

Pray for Thabang as he continues to shine the light of the gospel in the village of Matsaile.



As we arrived back in Katse we were greeted by Jim's daughter Rebecca riding this donkey. 

To learn more about the Flora family click here.

Extreme Makeover, Extreme MKs

Sanyati Baptist Hospital, a 60 year icon of Southern Baptist ministry in Zimbabwe, is in need of an "Extreme Makeover" as a result of this country's economic collapse.  This hospital meets the needs of over 1,800 inpatients and over 35,000 outpatients each year.  Nine missionary kids, four dads, and one mom from South Africa and Botswana descended onto this property.  The purpose of this trip was to help with the renovation project and do ministry in local churches which have sprung up over the years as a result of this ministry.

Thanks to the mom, Shawna Davis, the kids had plenty of food to eat to give them the energy needed for the hard work they would experience.  The team was divided into 4 teams to help with food preparation and clean up.  Shawna always had plenty of help to get the food prepared and the dishes washed.  The kids did a great job and had an even better attitude.  Looks like Josiah Janz and Meredith Davis are enjoying their meal.  The photo jacker behind Josiah is Micah Davis.

Josiah's brother Caleb had kitchen duty.  It was hot at Sanyati so we drank a lot.

Each morning, after breakfast, we gathered for Bible Study and prayer.  Dennis Janz, the team leader, encouraged the youth to understand that young people keep their way pure by living according to God's Word.  Pray that the youth of the K2 Cluster will commit to living according to God's Word and will be committed to a life of purity.

The kids had a list of jobs to complete.  One of them was less than glamorous.  They were asked to assemble roofing screws.  These screws came in bags of 1,000 and each screw was made up of three separate parts that needed to be assembled.  There were 15 bags of these screws.  Some kids spent hours working on this job.  Some would take advantage of a spare moment and grab a bag in hopes of finishing all 15 bags.  By the last day all 15 bags were completed...just in time for another 20 bags to show up.  They worked on those as well.  By them doing this the next team, a roofing team, will have screws ready which will enable them to roof more of the hospital. 

Painting a hallway of the hospital was also on the list.  This job created a lot more excitement than the less glamorous screws.  After cleaning, scraping, and preparing the wall, eager middle school students, lead by Dad, Tim Shaw, also known as "Mr. Man" tackled the job of painting.  After Daniel Shaw and Josiah Janz labeled every can of paint so that future teams will know where it is to be used the kids gathered supplies to paint the hall.  With patients, nurses, and visitors walking up and down the hallway these youth worked diligently to paint.  Pray that these youth would learn the value of hard work and grow to do all for the glory of the Lord.

The big boys were always ready to do the heavyweight jobs.  Micah Davis and Andy Janz dug a ditch at the nearby Sanyati High School in order to bury the cable supplying electricity to the water pump.  With shovel and pick axe these two made quick work of it.
A day later a truck showed up with 15 tons of roofing supplies.  Micah and Andy offloaded the steel and handed it to Dennis Janz and Brandon Warner and some national helpers who organized it in the storage container.  Pray for Micah as he plans on starting University in August of 2012.  Pray for Andy as he and his family return to the US in late April where Andy will finish his senior year before starting college in the fall of 2013.

This container is where all the supplies for the project are being stored.  Anna Shaw and Meredith Davis compiled an inventory of all the supplies and tools stored in the container.  The container is not level and therefore the doors do not shut properly.  Dads, Brandon Warner, Dennis Janz, and Daren Davis spent hours jacking up the container in hopes of leveling it.  After 3 days it still was not completely level.  Pray that when teams come they will be careful when closing the container. If the handles break the supplies will not be secure.

The youth also had opportunity to teach the Word of God at local churches.  Micah Davis taught on the importance of forgiving yourself and one another just as God forgives us.

Meredith Davis taught on the Prodigal Son.

Dennis Janz did an excellent job of summarizing the previous lessons and challenging the believers to live lives committed to God's Word.

After a long day of working the youth enjoyed playing games, and just hanging out together.

One of the teenagers grew a year older while on our trip.  Daniel Shaw turned 14.  Pray for Daniel as he returns to Rift Valley Academy where he is in school.  Pray that Daniel will continue to grow to become the man God wants him to be.

The K2 Youth Mission trip team - Daren Davis, Brandon Warner, Dennis Janz, Daniel Shaw, Shawna Davis, Tim Shaw, Josiah Janz, Rhett Warner, Meredith Davis, Caleb Janz, Andy Janz, Micah Davis, Peyton Davis, and Anna Shaw
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Let the Little Children Come

These 3 lovely ladies are shining the light of God into the lives of many Tswana children.

(From left) Torie Warner, Teresa Kabika and Amanda Turner meet at Gaborone Baptist Church each Friday afternoon to lead the GBC Children's Ministry.

Pray that these children will come to know the truth, that they are each a special and unique creation of the One True God and He desires a relationship with them.

Torie teaches the children a Bible story each week. The number of children have almost doubled recently. Thank God that these children are so eager to learn His Word.

Amanda works with the children to memorize scripture. Recently, a young girl came for the first time. After the meeting she quoted 2 scriptures that had been memorized at previous meetings. Amazed, they asked her how she had been able to do this and she explained that her cousin had been coming home and teaching her the scriptures! Praise the Lord!!

The kids love having Amanda's oldest, 4 year old Taylor, around to keep them smiling.

Torie's oldest, 11 year old Rhett, helps lead the children in singing praises to the Lord by playing his guitar. What a blessing to see children ministering along side their parents.!

Pray that these children will continue to come and learn God's eternal truths, pray that they will continue to teach their family God's Word when they get home, pray that the children of Botswana will impact their country for God's glory.

Thank God for the faithful witness of Torie, Teresa and Amanda. Pray that the children will see Christ in everything the women do. Pray that the children, while intrigued by games and crafts, will be drawn to the Cross.
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Two Churches, One Village

Molepolole is the largest village in Botswana, with a population of over 70,000 people
...and quite a mouthful to say, "Mow-lee-po-low-lee"

There are two Baptist churches in Molepolole. This is David & Selabe Thokwane. He pastors Calvary Baptist Church.

One of the believers at Calvary Baptist is a blind man, once he found such a warm welcome from the Thokwanes, he invited his other visually impaired friends. They are all very active at church together. In this picture they were singing for the church. Pray that the worship of these two churches would please God and glorify His name.

Molepolole Baptist Church is pastored by Sethuba Kalaeng, he is in the center of this picture. He and a church member were out evangelizing in their community and were joined by Pastor Jack Ranto, of Lobatse Baptist. Pray that these pastors will find their strength in the Lord and not grow weary of doing good, that their lives would point their communities to Christ.

Pray for the children of Molepolole, that they will hear and believe the Word of God, that they will make a decision to serve the Lord with their whole heart and not be lead astray by the world.

The ladies of Molepolole Baptist and Calvary Baptist came together to prepare this meal and fellowship together. Pray that they will stand united as the body of Christ, that their large village will see a difference in them and the way they live. Pray that many Tswana people will come to know Christ as their Savior through the witness of these two churches.

Chief Bottle Washer

Jim and Teresa Flora and their three daughters live in Katse, Lesotho. On a recent visit to Lesotho we were able to minster alongside Jim. Teresa and the girls had to stay in Johannesburg due to Teresa recovering from surgery. This trip provided us with numerous opportunities to minister in the mountain villages of the Sotho.

Jim was host, teacher, cook, and chief bottle washer!

In addition to washing the bottles he also led us along the mountain passes and trails to the villages of Makoabateng and Mapoleng where we had the opportunity to meet those who are learning the Word of God.

As we made our way from village to village the road was often blocked by the animals the Basotho raise for their livelihood. Sheep like these are a staple to the economy of the rural Sotho. Isaiah 53:6 says "All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him." Pray that the Sotho would no longer stray away from God but turn to God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Huts like this are clustered together to form the villages which sit on the side of the mountains. As we looked out over the mountains, villages were seen in every direction, villages where people live who need to hear the gospel.

Pastor Phoka lives in one of these mountain villages and pastors Khoklo-ntso Baptist church. His wife prayed for him for years before he became a believer in Jesus Christ. She prayed with tenacity and commitment. Now he works closely with Jim Flora and together they proclaim the truths of Scripture.

Kantine is growing in his faith and relatioship with Christ by leaps and bounds. Jim believes he will be ready to be the Pastor of the Makoabateng Church by the end of this year. Presently Jim is leading this church. Pray that Kantine will continue to be faithful and continue to mature in his faith.

We were honored to serve for a few days with Jim. He and his family serve in a very tough place. Lesotho is a rugged country with a very challenging climate. While we were there the wind was blowing with the temperature hovering right at freezing. Pray for Jim and Teresa Flora and their three girls as they experience the joys of serving God together.This Basotho boy is loving the attention. Pray for boys like this, who will grow up to be shepherds and while living a lonely and tough life, will choose to follow the Good Shepherd.