Build Your House Upon the Rock

Justin and Korby have recently graduated from college and are now serving as Journeymen in the mountain village of Matsaile, Lesotho. Here they are standing in front of their home (a rondavel) where they will live for the next 2 years. Inside this hut is a futon sofa, two sleeping cots, a very small fridge and two burner stove top, both of which run off propane, as well as a water filter and a small table with two chairs. Their water source is a spring 1 kilometer across the mountain from their rondavel.

They use a wheel barrow to haul over 50 liters or 120 lbs of water once every 4 days. In this picture Micah is going to the source to fill up these containers. Once these containers are filled the real work begins as they now have to push the water back up the hill to their home. Just as Jesus spoke the truth to the woman he met at the well, pray that Justin and Korby will speak truth to the people they meet at their well.

Huts like this one surround the Journeyman's hut. Living behind Korby and Justin is Thabo. Thabo started asking questions about God and so Korby and Justin, using "The Proclaimer", a solar powered digital audio player, began listening to the Bible in Sesotho. They were able to teach Thabo using their broken Sesotho and Thabo using his broken English. After meeting daily to discuss the Bible for a week Thabo invited them to his house for "church" where he played a chapter from Mark on the Proclaimer and then taught what he had learned.

Thabo with his written copy of Scripture and his oral copy of Scripture. Pray that Thabo would receive Jesus and give his life to Him. Pray that he would continue to desire to learn the Bible. Pray that he would be used by God to start a church in the village of Matsaile.

Peach trees are everywhere in Lesotho and they were in full bloom in early September. Almost every hut had a least one.

The Basotho use horses to travel these rugged mountains. These two men were on their way to the circumcision camp. This rite of passage for boys is a camp where they learn what it takes to be a Basotho man. In addition to being circumcised, they learn a variety of skills like stick fighting.
The Basotho men carry a Mulamu. This is a stick that is about 2 1/2 feet long and at this camp the boys learn to fight with them. On this particular day the men from the village joined the boys who were in camp to practice stick fighting out in front of the village. All the kids and women came out to the edge of the village to watch.

Justin and Korby had a good seat to watch the festivities. Pray that the young men of Matsaile will see the difference Jesus is making in Thabo's life and that they would become serious followers of Jesus.

Boys like these will grow up learning about raising sheep, riding horses, witchcraft, and ancestor worship. Thank God that Justin and Korby have been obedient so that they will have an opportunity to learn about Jesus.

Do you see his Mulamu (fighting stick) on his back?

Pray that the Basotho men would hunger for God's truth.
Their kitchen was small but the food was good. Sunday morning Daren Davis and Tom Melvin cooked French toast for all the guys.

It gets cold at night in Lesotho. Korby and Justin staying warm in bed.

Their drop toilet sits just outside their hut.

There is no such thing as a quick trip to the grocery store when you live in Matsaile. Justin and Korby have their food and other essentials flown in every few weeks. They also get a break every 4 to 6 weeks and they fly to the capital city of Maseru and have a few days of much needed R&R. Left to Right: Justin, Tom Melvin, Eli Melvin, Micah Davis, Daren Davis, and Korby Griffith. Ask God to give these two young men the endurance they will need to persevere for the sake of the gospel. Pray God gives them more young men like Thabo and that a church will start in the village of Matsaile.

How Blessed is the FOOT!

John Thompson lives in the village of Tati Siding just south of Francistown. He works with the Kalanga Team to reach people in his village with the gospel. Romans 10:15 says "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!" This verse is speaking of men like John but for John it needs to be changed to "foot" not feet.

John lost one of his legs due to an infection when he was 12 years old. When he became a follower of Jesus a few years ago his foot has carried him to bring good news of good things to the people of Tati Siding. John is currently working with Randy Windham as they share the gospel with people and disciple new believers in this area. They currently have approximately 25 people meeting weekly to learn the Word of God.

John became a follower of Jesus when Kelly Carruthers shared stories from the Bible to explain the gospel. John realized that he wanted to follow Jesus and from that day he has visited schools, friends, and family members to tell them the good things that have happened to him because of Jesus. Join Randy Windham and Kelly Carruthers and the rest of the Kalanga team in praying for John as he is an example to those in Tati village of one who seriously follows Jesus.

Ladies are seeking to understand and apply the Word of God to their lives. Pray that they will seek answers to their questions and that the Holy Spirit and leaders like John will provide answers from the Word of God.

Kids sit on the perimeter waiting for their parents to finish discussing the Bible. Pray that the parents of these and other kids will teach them about Jesus.

Kelly Carruthers explains the importance of each believer sharing their faith with their family and friends. Pray that these believers will be bold as they share what they are learning with those in their village. Pray for Kelly as he leads the Kalanga Team. The Kalanga people live along the border of Botswana and Zimbabwe. Kelly also ministers in Zimbabwe to the Kalanga living there.

Kelly and his wife Ann have served as church planters in the Francistown area of Botswana and into Zimbabwe since 2000.

Their three kids keep life fun and exciting for Kelly and Ann. Kayla is starting her senior year at Rift Valley Academy. Pray for her as she is deciding where God is leading her to go to college. Namon, 14, and Noah, 8 are homeschooled. Pray for the Carruthers family as they prepare for Stateside Assignment beginning in July of 2011.

Randy and Kim Windham have been serving as International Service Corp since 2008. Their term will conclude in late November when their daughter KB graduates from high school. Pray for KB as she decides which college to attend. Pray for Randy, Kim, and their son Luke, 14, as they prepare to return to southern Africa in late 2011.

We are thankful for men like John who are sharing their faith, teaching the Word of God, and impacting the lives of Kalanga men like this one.

Fertile Hearts in Rocky Soil

One of the people groups of the K2 Cluster we have yet to engage are the Pedi. They live primarily in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. In the heart of this Province is the small town/village of Diphagane located about 90 miles southeast of the Polokwane where some of the World Cup games have been played. The town is nestled in the rocky hills and formations that is common to this area.

We have been praying for a missionary to come to this town for over 5 years and God has called John David (JD) and Lori Thompson to share the good news with the Pedi. Pray for JD and Lori as they prepare to leave their family and friends in July to begin training before moving to Diphagane in October of this year. JD and Lori have been married for 2 years. While there will not be snow in Diphagane it does get cold during the month of June.

Rocks like this are typical of the landscape of this area. Pray that the Pedi will drink of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." 1 Cor. 10:4

The roots of this tree ran along the surface of the rock until they found dirt some three feet from the trunk.

While there is a river running through this village the town down does not have a water system so few of the homes have indoor plumbing. This picture shows several green water tanks. Tanks like these are used to store water which was purchased from a water truck that makes its rounds each week. Pray for Logistics Coordinator, Barry Hill as he figures out the best way to get water into the Thompson's house.

Pastor and Mrs. Chris Maupa live in Diphagane. They are Pedi and have a heart to reach their people for Christ.

Pastor Chris grew up in this town and used to play in this river while his cattle were grazing nearby. He spoke fondly of his boyhood home and loves his people and his home. Pray for Pastor Chris and his wife as they work with three Baptist churches in three different villages.

This is Christ Baptist Church in Diphagane.

This is a potential home for the Thompsons. Pray for Barry Hill as he works with the owner to determine whether it can be rented for the Thompsons.

The houses are built in the midst of the rocks and hills throughout this village.

South Africa and the world has soccer on its mind. Tens of thousands of people are watching games in elaborate and beautiful stadiums around South Africa. This is a small soccer field I saw as I drove through this village. If you look closely there are rocks right in the middle of the field. While the field is empty in this picture I am sure there are numerous Pedi boys and girls who frequent this field with dreams of soccer fame. May the Lord Jesus become famous with the Pedi people. Matthew 9:31 says "But they, when they departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country." Pray that His fame will spread in Pedi country.

Soccer + Strategy = Saints

World Cup starts today, June 11th in South Africa (SA). Rustenburg, SA is one of the host cities where soccer matches will be played. Rustenburg is located in the Northwest Province of SA and is home to the Tswana people. There are about 4 million Tswana people and close to 3 million of them live in SA and most of those living in this province. The South Africa Tswana (SAT) Team is one of the teams of the K2 Cluster who seeks to minister to the Tswana of SA. This team is praying that their plans for ministry (Strategy) during the World Cup (Soccer) will equal Tswana people hearing and accepting the gospel (Saints). Pray for this team and their national partners, and partners from the US as they minister during the World Cup. Driving into Rustenburg it is obvious that World Cup fever has hit the town.

John Putman is the Team Strategy Leader and lives in Rustenburg with his wife Jennifer and their youngest daughter. Their oldest daughter is in college.

The USA team will play England on Saturday, June 12th at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. The Bafokeng are a Tswana Clan who live in the Rustenburg area.

The entrance to the stadium.

The stadium where a number of matches will be played.

Rustenburg sits below mountains and hills like this one. It is a beautiful area.

This is a school in the village of Bobuanja which is near the stadium. It is a traditional Tswana village and are of the Bafokeng clan. John and Jennifer have been prayer walking in this village, meeting people, developing relationships, and sharing the gospel with the goal of a group starting to meet. Pray that the men and women they have met will hear and respond to the truth and be saved. Pray for Lucky, a friend of John's who has heard the gospel but not yet accepted it.

One of the homes in the village of Bobuanja.

This is Freedom Park. This area is a squatter camp where people from all over SA and Africa come to Rustenburg for jobs in the platinum mines. Most of the houses are made of sheets of tin. The people live a very difficult life struggling to get basic necessities such as water. John and Jennifer have been ministering in this area for a number of years. Ministry is very slow and difficult. Please pray for direction for John and Jennifer as they seek God's guidance in their ministry in Freedom Park.

A man walking through Freedom Park with all of his worldly possessions. Pray for men like this one to hear of the treasure that is available to him through Jesus Christ.

Dennis and Jody Janz live in Mmabatho, SA and serve as Church Planters among the Tswana along with their 5 children. They are on the SAT Team.

Dennis sharing the gospel with a man in Extension 39 a "neighborhood" of government built homes.

Wes Gestring is a professor at Northwest University in Mmabatho, SA. He and his wife Beth and their three children also serve on the SAT team.

Wes sharing the gospel with two young Tswana students.

Over 95% of the students at Northwest University are Tswana.
Pray for the Janz and Gestring families. During the World Cup they will be working with a volunteer team from the States and national partners. They will be prayer walking, witnessing, showing the Jesus Film, holding soccer clinics, and showing World Cup games in villages. Pray for them as they seek to make His name known among the Tswana.

While the world looks to SA during the World Cup may we pray that the Tswana will look to Jesus for forgiveness from their sins and become saints.

Pray for Tswana men like these two. Pray that John, Dennis, and Wes will have opportunities to share the truths of the Gospel with men and that men will accept Jesus as the way, the truth and the life. Pray that Tswana believers will share their faith with their people.

There are two great websites you can visit to see more stories of ministry going on along with the World Cup. Check out http://www.worldsoccerjourneys.com and http://www.mreport.org