The blessings of rain

I wrote this last week Thursday, but I am noticing that BG's internet doesn't work on Thursdays for some reason! Then I forgot to post over the weekend, so here are my thoughts from last week.....

Today we celebrate the rain because last year there wasn’t any. The famine was severe, and many have gone hungry, near starvation, for months. It will take some time for the crops to grow, but there is relief on the way. A really cool God moment is that the Baptist missionaries were able to get seed out into the mountains a few weeks ago when there was a light rain, and now we are having some very heavy rainfall in Maseru, and that rain brings great hope.

I have learned to appreciate rain so much more now that I live in Lesotho. I have always seen it as something that is needed, but is more of a nuisance than a blessing. It was something that ruined picnics, BBQ’s, and days at the beach. In MI, many farmers have ways to irrigate their crops, so I never had a real appreciation for rain. Now I see rain as a blessing. It brings life. Life is restored through food growth, life through drinking water, and life through cleanliness to wash away germs and bacteria.

 I am praising God that He has heard the prayers of His people. He has sent the rain. He has restored life and hope to the Basotho people. God is faithful and He is good. Last week the ponds were the lowest I have seen them since being at BG, and as I sit in my office, I watch them bursting with water. I am thankful. None of our staff complain as they are walking through the mud, and the rain to go and get their tea today. They are smiling, and they are thankful because God is pouring down His blessings onto the land!

The called are falling and need prayer

This blog post is for all of you who have a burden to pray for pastors. It is officially pastor appreciation month, and I completely appreciate my pastor. He has welcomed us as full and appreciated members of our church family, even though he became our church's pastor after we were in Africa. He has visited us several times and checks in with us often. He is a good leader, a caring man, and a humble servant of God, and we are blessed to call him our pastor. It is through his support that we have remained strong here in Lesotho. Thank you Pastor Art!!!!!! Can't wait to see you in December!


Unfortunately, we have not had that kind of love and support from the pastors of the churches in Lesotho. We have been hurt over and over by watching these leaders fall. Power and prosperity have snuck their way in where God should have been. Lust and greed have woven into hearts that have become weak. Satan is winning the battle in taking down the leaders, those called to lead their flocks, and it is terrifying. We have attending 3 churches in our time in Lesotho, and in all 3 churches, the pastors have fallen. I realize that all of us our human and have a sinful nature, so I don't say this as a judgment to them, I say it from brokenness. When your leader falls and does not repent, your church, family and community could fall too.


"Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." Acts 20:28


"It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money."  1Timothy 3:1-3


Please pray for God to humble them, turn them from the path of destruction, and restore them to His side. Pray for their heart to be like the heart of David, a heart that saw the error of his way and turned, brokenhearted to God. I am praying that we can all be encouraging and loving and not full of gossip and spite. Please pray for the pastors in Africa, but also for those all over the world. The temptations and trials are harder for those in leadership, but with the help of God, all can walk an upright life.


Please encourage your pastors, not only this month, but every month.

Thankful for BG

Greetings from Lesotho everyone ;)
I have just finished reading 2 great books over the last 2 days, sadly, it was because I was sick for 2 days, but at least I got to read ;) It has been awhile since I have read a good fiction book and I really enjoyed reading AD 30 by Ted Dekker. It was written as a story that takes place while Jesus was starting His ministry. I enjoy thinking about what it must have been like to live when Jesus lived.


We are about to get into a busy time at BG. We have a friend from Belgium who is returning to volunteer at BG, then a team from England with our friend Jenny next week, and a new church from West MI is sending a team in the beginning of November. We are also full with volunteers so we are back on track in being fully busy. It is enjoyable to have so many people interested in BG, but it is definitely full days of work ;)


The kids enjoyed a nice week off of school last week for Spring Break. It was nice because we went to BG with Polita and Nthabeleng and they got to play with the kids and see the staff. It melted my heart seeing them hug some of their favorite people. I love that BG is part of their story and it warms my heart when they tell me stories. I keep thinking that part of the reason their transition into our family went so smooth is because of the love and care at BG. They already began to feel worth, love, and affection before they came to us. They had begun to heal a little from the hurt of abandonment during their time at BG. Now they can go back and see the ones who loved them, and they can have good memories of how they met them in their need and loved them. I am thankful that I do not have a jealous heart, but a heart that loves these staff so much, I am honored that they got to be the mothers before me.


There is no place I would have rather had my girls be if they couldn't be right with me. I have read a lot of article that really bash orphanages and care centers and I completely agree that some are terrible, but it is unfair to lump all of them into the terrible category. If BG wasn't around, there would be 71 kids under the age of 6 living on the streets. There is not a good foster system here, it is extremely flawed, so the best place for kids in Lesotho is a care center. I only say this because the articles I read said people should never give their money to an orphanage. How sad it would be for the country of Lesotho if everyone took that advice and these precious babies were left out on the streets. For those of you who have been faithfully following our journey, thanks for your love and support for the work we are doing at BG. We could not run this ministry without the prayers, financial support, and help of friends around the world.


Sorry my blog post jumped around a lot. It could be because I am recovering from the flu and my brain may not be at 100%.