Up, Up, and Away!

Well, this is the last entry from Lesotho as we start making the drive to Jo'Burg in less than a couple hours

Wednesday October 9th

We had a great breakfast today at the Umlilo Lodge  and then made our way to Cape Vidal.  On the way we went through another game reserve and saw water buffalo up close along with more hippos, zebras and as we arrived at the beach, Samango monkeys.  Our driver, Kevin, handed us snorkelling gear and we were off to explore an amazing array of colourful fish along the reef.  We had a picnic lunch and then made our way back to the lodge where we packed up.  We then travelled to the George Hotel in Eshowe and had a very eventful night spending time with the owner George, who gave us a tour of all his future building plans that were underway.  We also met a very eccentric artist, Peter Engblom, whose artwork was on display all over the hotel.  He also took us to his creative workshop and showed all the planning that he was involved in as he was in charge of all the makeovers for each of the rooms.

Thursday October 10^th

Today we visited the Inina Craft Agency and Sharon was able to give the ladies great insights on the kind of crafts that would ‘fly’ back home!  She really bonded with the lady overseeing the work there and we watched the ladies do such delicate work beading amazing gifts and projects.  We gave the gifts to the ladies that Pam Cooper sent with us and there were so touched in receiving the book, Jesus Calling.  We then made a trip to see Aurele, who started the Agency, at her home.  She was sick and has had to step back from all her involvement there.  We then travelled back to Butha Buthe where we met up with Pastor James and his family having a small birthday party with a pastor and his team from JoBurg.  They blessed him with an ipad.  We then went back to Pastor James’ home and spent the rest of the evening with them and slept over as well.

Friday October 11^th

Pastor James and I were up at 5am as we off to the highlands to visit an outreach project that the church is involved with.  It was a 5hr trip through the mountains, past Afriski, a big winter resort here and after a crazy amount of switch backs on the side of many mountains we arrived in the village of Solane.  You definitely don’t want to fall asleep at the wheel on this ride or it is a quick roll down the mountain to a most certain death.  Anyways, we were greeted by Chief Mopape who oversees the community and I was able to listen how the current drought has made life extremely difficult there.  You would never know it by the faces of the children who cram into the one room school house though.  Most of them do their work outside.  As I peered into what they were doing, I noticed they were reading English and asked for the opportunity to read to them.  So, I sat down and read the story as more children gathered around and it was so fun being animated with them as well.  We then gave the school teacher our last soccer ball and then I had the opportunity to pray for the chief and his wife and then the school children that gathered around.

We made our way back down the mountains and arrived back in Butha Buthe around 4:30pm.  It was absolutely important that PJ got back as it was a surprise 50th BDAY celebration for Pastor James.  We got cleaned up and then waited patiently as our ride arrived.  To start,  Pastor James and 'M'e Matsepo were blessed with a new suit and beautiful dress to get ready for the big event.  We then arrived at the church just after 8pm and the place was decked out like a wedding was taking place.  There was a long red carpet walkway for them to enter on.  The packed gathering was whistling and singing as they arrived.  There were black chair covers with red bows on the back, amazing center pieces and it was decorated so incredible.  Then the speeches took place and one after one from youth to adults, the head of AFM to the govt official for the area, the prison warden to fellow pastors and his family members sharing their love and respect for Pastor James.  I also had the opportunity to share what he has meant to us as well.   There was dancing intermingled from youth to children and it was so entertaining!  However they don't bring out the food to the very end so we watched the clock go from 9pm to finally 12am where it was time for the grand buffet!  However, the final celebration of the  night was the unveiling of the birthday gift for them as they were blessed with a beautiful dining room table and hutch.  When they uncovered it, chairs were shot in the air and a conga line started as this church lavished their love on their pastor.  We then made our way back to Pastor James' place at 1:30am and had a short sleep.  We were up at 7am as Sepo drove us back to Hlotse where it was time to pack up and make our way home.

It has been an unforgettable journey here in the heart of Lesotho and we are already making plans to come back!  Thanks for all your prayers and looking forward to seeing Jordan, Brynley, Addison and Rylan!!!

A gift and the mother of peace

Worship service at AFM Butha Buthe

Sunday October 6th

Sharon and I were on the road today just before 10am as we made our way to Pastor James' church in Butha Buthe.  We were greeted by a room full of passionate worshippers singing beautiful songs in Sesotho. Pastor James also played a shofar as part of worship and it was stirring. The time of singing went for 2 1/2 hours and everyone there is so in to it, time flies by.The pastors from the various church plants (AFM branch churches) gave an update on their ministries.  I was called on to preach this Sunday again and it was such an honor.  I spoke on vision from the life of Nehemiah and following the message 6 people came forward to put their faith in Jesus which was awesome!

We also took time to pray over those who knew God's vision for their own life but were held back by fear as Pastor James initiated this prayer time.  Now it is time for communion, a time of prayer for Sharon and myself, then announcements and by this point it is 2pm!   Sharon and I then got a chance to listen to their children's choir sing and it was so amazing.  They then followed that by reciting Psalm 23 together.

 After the men's and women's ministry have meetings,  Pastor James gathers together the ministry leaders and together with myself we talk about the possibility of Grace interns coming to serve here.    I shared on a "win, build, equip and multiply," philosophy of ministry, took various questions and a time of prayer followed as well.

We finish and it now 4pm and I happen to notice more meetings taking place....all I can say is wow!  We are then invited over to Pastor James for "lupper" and 'M'e Matsepo puts on an amazing spread including potato salad that rivaled any potato salad I've ever had.  We feel so blessed  and our time together ends in a bout of laughing as we had such a great time with them.

At dusk we made our way back to Hlotse where we met up with Scott and Rochelle, who are interning with Bracelet of Hope at the Leribe Hotel along with Andy and 'M'e Mahlompho.  Scott just happens to have NHL Center Ice and I get a great taste of Canada watching the Senators lose to the Leafs as played yesterday evening.

Tonight 'M'e Mahlompho gave Sharon and I are Sesotho names:

My name is Mpho - meaning gift as she shared how I have been a gift to the church here and Sharon is given the name 'M'e Makhotso, mother of peace and she has seen this quality in Sharon.

What an amazing day and my heart is really filled with so much joy over God's goodness during our time here.

Monday October 7th

At Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park - hire this guy for Lloyd's Tree Service!

Sharon is the real photographer...her pics will be amazing!

The winds were pretty strong in the safari bakkie!

Sharon and I headed out with Andy at the crack of dawn on Monday and made our way to St. Lucia, SA were we began our time here with a night safari at Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park.  It turned into a 4 hour drive as we saw hippos, zebras, antelope etc.  Tuesday was another full day of sight seeing as we were off at 5am to see the big "5" and we caught the elephants, water buffalo, rhinoceros, a lion...so 4 out of 5 was pretty awesome. We also caught baboons, zebras, many types of antelope, giraffes and were treated to breakfast and a BBQ lunch in the park.  We head off to see the Indian Ocean in the morning before heading to Eshowe where we  will meet the ladies who make crafts and specifically the red and white beaded bracelets for Bracelet of Hope.  We look forward to Friday as well as it will be a surprise birthday celebration for Pastor James' 50th!

love this guy!!!

Big Tent Revival

It was rise and shine early this morning for me as I prepared a highlight video for the LXP youth camp and went back for the last morning together as they wrapped up.  It was quite a morning for them as they ran out of power, ran out of propane and there was no water.  Imagine that happening in Canada…time to shut the camp down! At LXP, they just improvise, flip the program around, pray, worship, they find more propane and thankfully the water and electricity get restored.  Camp ends and everyone wants pictures with everyone there, the minivan/buses get completely loaded down, the Toyota Helix pickup I’ve been driving gets loaded down and we are ready to go.  I can’t wait to show you the video of how many youth pack into one of these small buses, it is a sight to see!  I said my goodbyes to people I will remember to pray for including a young girl with the English name, Happy!  I will not forget her beautiful smile.

Sharon and I relaxed in the afternoon and then we drove back to Butha Buthe to spend time at Pastor James and ‘M’e Matsepo’s home around 5pm.  Sharon had a great evening to visit with her while PJ and I went out to one of his church plants in a village near Calendonspoort. 

We arrived there and Pastor Apollo Creed (his English name of course) was there to greet us out outside a large 30x60ft tent. PJ had led this man to the LORD at a student outreach.  We got in there and it was all set up with mics, speakers, keyboards and lights.  A group of young girls and ladies were singing and leading worship.  I looked behind me and saw a handful of people; however as the singing continued more and more people kept flooding in till the place was packed out.  I continued to look behind and noticed a group of guys dancing to the worship songs so I thought well I might as well join them. It turned out to be quite the workout as we were jumping up and down, moving side to side, right down to the ground in a twist like fashion. It then turned into a conga line that went up and down the main aisle.  For the record, I did not start this conga line!  After the music, the pastor had some people came forward to share testimonies and stories of healing.  There had been meetings taking place there all week. During the sharing time,  PJ  leans over to me and says, ‘do you have a message brother?’  At this point I am full of sweat wiping my face with my t-shirt and my answer…’sure’!   So, I shared on Matthew 6:19-21 and where real treasure is found as well as on the theme of living water.  I shared the gospel and about 50 people came forward for prayer.  PJ, Apollo Creed and I prayed over them  and then PJ had people who needed healing come forward, more prayer and then prayer for those who had lost a family member and again a time of prayer ensued.  After we headed back to PJ’s home, but only after someone gave us a hot meal that included chicken and papa.  The only problem with that was when we arrived back at their place, ‘M’e had already made us supper as well so there we were eating beef and rice at 10:30pm.  We then got back in the Helix and drove back to Hlotse… just another day in Africa!!

About the title...

Big Tent Revival was a great Christian band in the 90s and nothing could be more appropriate for what I experienced tonight!

High Power Soccer Camp comes to Lesotho!

The morning began at 5:30am as youth are designated to get the water and bring it back to get heated so guys and girls can clean up.  The problem was that the water at our school was down to a trickle so they had to walk to the primary school that was about 750m away and then bring it back.  Well they just go ahead and do it here without any complaining.  At morning devotions we sang and danced to “I am friend of God” among other songs.  For breakfast we ate more bread with a porridge/applesauce like food to dip our bread in along with tea.

After playing some more soccer with the youth, I had to head out to Butha Buthe to meet up with the B2B and video them in action on their second day of workshops now taking place at the church.  It was there that I also spent time with a newer initiative by Pastor James, a soccer team that he oversees.  It was a blessing to play with the children and also to hand out our leftover t-shirts, water bottles and soccer balls from our camp.  After they were all sized up, it was time to head out to the dirt field to do skills and drills.  There was a group of young guys who also worked them through the exercises and it was great watching them in action.  Pastor James’ goal is also to build in a time for discipleship and character development to follow each practice.

In the evening we had our last meal together as a team with the B2B group before everyone went their separate ways.  One group is heading back to Canada, another to Capetown while Sharon and I continue to stay on.

Discovering The Story of a Life

Thursday October 3rd

The B2B team began their workshops at Help Lesotho today with a group of business people from Hlotse as Butha Buthe.  Rob B presented a seminar on ‘Conscious Capitalism’ that went over so well and was transforming even for our own team as they were really challenged to look for ways that their business can really benefit those in need as well.  They worked on business plans with the local people on everything from running a poultry farm to a pizza place, from a beauty salon to fresh produce. 

I went back for my second day of camp with LXP Youth (the Leadership Experience) and continued to have the amazing opportunity to build relationships with the youth there.  When I arrived, I was made aware that one of the leaders, Godfrey, was quite sick from a poisonous spider bite.  He did get medication as we prayed for him as well and it would take a good 24hrs for him to get back on his feet.  Elizabeth shared in the 2^nd session that focused the kids on the question of what is in my box that is holding me back, limiting me from truly knowing real freedom in Christ.  She had them go explore outside and spend time alone with God.  They then had to draw a box and write it down on paper.  Free time followed and I got to play soccer with the youth, but also watch some unique games where 4 girls would hold a line in a box and others would launch themselves over the lines using running hand stands.  Lunch was creative as well as we were sent on a scavenger hunt to find it located in boxes around the school and that consisted of a half slice of bologna, a solid chunk of steamed bread and apples and all located separately…the kids ate up the opportunity too!  The afternoon highlight was “The Amazing Race” where the youth had to take inflatable mattresses across a very muddy pond.  They weren’t sure about it at first, but once they were in, the laughter started and some of them forgot about the race and just decided to float around instead.

Prior to supper the youth were encouraged to do one on one’s with each other and share more about themselves, what is in their box etc. and I was also blessed by this time as I talked with students as well.  Here are some of the stories I heard today.  Some of their names are so hard to pronounce and so most, if not all, have an English name…not sure how they get it, but it works for me.

Lackey’s story (his English name), 17

He shared with me how he made a commitment to wait till marriage before having sex.  He told me how this decision had been the result of “Beat The Drum,” the group that came to the schools and did presentations on abstinence.  The message on purity really spoke to him; however, as soon as his friends found out, they really mocked him.  He said it had been very hard as he was called a coward among other names, but he was staying strong.  He basically told me that the norm for guys is to try to sleep around with as many girls as possible and that shows that you are a real man.  However, he had new confidence and has been able to see through the lies.

Thato P.,  18

She opened up with me and shared how she had just started coming to LXP Youth as a result of “Beat The Drum”.  She shared how she was behind in school a couple of years as she broke her arm and then also got pregnant when she was 16.  Initially her parents were very upset but the family rallied around her and she had a baby boy, Christopher Samuel.  However, Christopher got very sick this past April and the doctors were not able to diagnose him and he passed away.  As the tears rolled down her face, she shared how the whole family grieved his loss and also saw her brother cry for the first time as well.  While she doesn’t understand why this happened, she is coming here and discovering real love and also learning so much about God’s amazing plans for her life.  She takes time to underline promises in the Gideon’s Bible that she has and takes His promises to heart.

Innocentia, 17

She came to LXP from a Catholic home and has also learned so much here.  She has been attending the youth group for 4 years and tells me she needs to not care so much what other people think of her and be confident in being herself. 

Students just randomly came to me to talk about their desire to follow God and exclaiming “I’m out of the box!”  The message is taking root.

In the evening session the youth were challenged to let go of what they were holding on to in their box and bring it forward as an act of faith.  They dropped their lists up at the front and it turned into a real “freedom session”.  We took time to pray over the youth as they prayed over each other as well.

We closed out the night by watching “Remember The Titans”.  It was then time for us to crash and I slept in a classroom with a packed group of guys, over 40 of us just spread out on mattresses on the concrete floor.  It was a great time being with them and I didn’t even get pranked!

Out Of The Box!

The SuperHero team!!

The B2B team werr off early again today as they headed into Maseru at 7am for more meetings and a tour of the Mmelesi Lodge.  My day took a different turn as I had the opportunity to travel just outside Butha Buthe to join the "Leadership Experience" as they were running a camp for over 80 youth.... www.lxplesotho.com   Now youth here means pretty much kids anywhere from 8yrs old right up to 23yrs old attending the camp.  You can check out their ministry at www.lxplesotho.com  The main leaders are Elizabeth and Godfrey along with Piet and Lisa who recently joined their team. They had just run an abstinence initiative called 'Beat The Drum' to over 1200 youth here with a missions team from Holland, Michigan and this was the follow up camp. The theme is "Out Of The Box" and they also attend Pastor James church and that is how I heard about them and this opportunity.  The camp is taking place at Emmanuel High School as youth are off this week with Independence Day on Thursday.

Andy graciously let me use his Toyota Helix and the first task at camp was to move desks out of the classrooms and then load the groceries and move them into the classroom that Rita and her group of ladies would be cooking out of.  After I went with Godfrey into Butha Buthe and we loaded up the luggage from the kids and the vans taking them followed us with them singing right behind us.


Loading up the kids luggage on the back of Andy's pick up!

We arrived at the school and Elizabeth had it all under control at registration with her team.  She divided the youth and leaders into teams and my team just happened to be the 'superheros'....where is my Captain Canada outfit??!  could have used that forsure although knowing these kids I would have been mauled.


Elizabeth overseeing the registration table.

We then went on a mass scavenger hunt with our teams and we bonded together as we crawled under spider-web like mazes, created pyramids and built structures together.  Supper was next on the agenda and that was a new experience for me as I ate pap, cabbage with onions and peppers and sausage mixed with tomatoes and then I looked for a fork...no fork, no spoon.  The food wasn't new, but eating with my hands was a first since being here!

Next was the first session and I was treated to passionate and exhuberant worship experience filled with dancing, conga lines and a lot of laughter as I tried to keep up with their moves!  We sang songs like "Lift Jesus Higher"  great memories of that song from camp days and 'Trading My Sorrows'.  The message focused on getting 'Out of the Box' as Leah shared from Genesis 13 on the life of Abram and

 John 10:10

I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.

Praise, worship and dancing in the classroom!

This verse truly embodies what they leaders are giving to the youth here.  The message was on living life to the full, dreaming big and realizing also how the enemy is the thief and wants to keep us from experiencing that fulness.  A time of prayer followed with more worship music and I prayed together with Lackey.

Rita as she prays with a young girl



My day ended there but the youth were still going strong and they were off to Capture The Flag with lit torches!

I have been given the option of sleeping over and I build up my stamina for that as all the guys and girls cram in separate classrooms and they just cover the floor with mattresses and I'm sure you get lots of sleep!

Peace out from Lesotho!

more pics from camp...everyone wants in on the action!

Poor is how you define it!

In the conference room at the LNDC

We were off and running at 7am as we headed into the capital city of Maseru.  We went to our first meeting at the Lesotho National Development Corporation where we listened to a presentation on 'business innovation in the country. We then visited a large textile plant that is run by two brothers whose family came from Shanghai, China.  They employee over 800 people and ship clothing primarily to the US to major chains like Costco.  It was an incredible operation to watch and learn about their challenges as well that included losing quality workers to HIV /AIDS.

Women sewing a ladies top... orders here are as large as 1 million items!


In the afternoon our group was split in two and one group visited the government office of agriculture and our group visited AFM Handicraft and saw a smaller scale business that primarily makes school uniforms and specializes in embroidering logos.  They employ about 20 people here and we took time to listen to their business plan and see how we could encourage them.  We made our way back to Hlotse and arrived at 6:30pm after a 2 hour drive and were part of round table discussions with local businessmen and women there.  We ate dinner together.and had the opportunity to hear their stories and learn about their challenges.

A young girl wearing one of the uniforms made by the AFM Handicraft

For me it felt like a God appointment as I sat right beside a pastor who had quite the business to sustain himself as well.  Alex runs the Royal Beauty Palace Salon.  He and his wife who has a degree in cosmetology provide hair care, do manicures and pedicures, make up and also provide massage therapy.  He spoke very good English and talked about also training people in this field as well.  He has a heart to see people overcome poverty and he spoke of the acronym for POOR...people overlooking opportunities regularly!  I felt like I was learning more from him.  He also has started a church called the "Christian Family Assembly' and he and his wife have a 5 year old daughter.

A pastor to pastor meeting with Alex.

The main challenge he faces is finding a large enough space to do his business as his current location is quite small, but he has great drive.  Also at our table was a young man starting a poultry business, another doing windows and one guy doing a computer business as well as learning how to harvest potatoes twice in one growing season.  The biggest challenge overall is finding capital investment as the banks aren't too quick to help out business start ups and if they do it usually comes with about 15% interest.  It was another full day of understanding what work opportunities people have here in Lesotho.  Our time together closed in prayer as it began in prayer and it was great to hear Tsepo, the man in charge of the meeting, share that prayer is part of every meeting.  The hope is that the business people gathered there will form an association and continue to meet.  One of the neat parts of the meeting was listening to those who gathered share what they learned.  One table realized how much they could gain from using each other as referrals as one lady made wedding dresses, another had a catering business and another, a print shop.  So their 'ah ha' moment came when they saw how they could each support each other by telling their customers about each other's services.

It seems appropriate to pray the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 over this group, "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD.  "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."