Retreat/Break

I was fortunate enough to spend the last weekend at a missionary ladies retreat. It was a nice time to relax, spend time with God and put the worries of my life back into perspective. I had a new roommate (already a good friend, but her first time at retreat) for the retreat this year and I spent so much time laughing, that I think I burned more calories than I took in during my meals :) It is a shame that she is going to be leaving Lesotho soon though :( One of the worse parts of missionary life, the constant leavings of friends who feel like sisters. I also enjoyed some tennis with another wonderful friend, and we are already making plans for many more matches together once we are both back in MI. Besides not having my husband and kids around, I really look forward to this retreat because I can just let down my titles as co-director (BG and KCAL), mom, teacher, and wife, and just be me. If I want to skip the main course at dinner and eat dessert, I will. If I want to do nothing at all, it is ok. I can be selfish with my time (I know that sounds kind of unchristian, but one weekend a year of selfishness can hopefully be forgiven).


I enjoyed meeting with other women who are serving in Lesotho and hearing about ways they are seeing God move, or ways they are struggling in their work and I can be intentional with prayer. Sometimes hearing the struggles of others can really put my own struggles into perspective. Things may not look as bad. We can encourage, and uplift our fellow missionaries. We can also be encouraged by people who flew to Lesotho, just to serve us (so weird when those who serve daily are being served, it feels unnatural sometimes). It is nice to have that break and I think if I didn't have 5 kids and a husband, I would try to do this once a quarter, not a full retreat but a day away, but maybe it is because I have 5 kids and a husband, that I need the break! Hahaha.


I look forward to the week ahead now that I am feeling more energized.

Unforeseen Blessings

I titled my post today as unforeseen blessings because I have been reflecting on God's surprises in our life over the last 6 years. I can't even begin to count the new friends I have made through teams, volunteers, staff, neighbors and missionary families in Lesotho. I can honestly say that I had never known nearly this many people when I was living my quiet life in Zeeland, MI. I have grown in my confidence and in my ability to talk to people (I am still shy in large groups, but I can talk when I need to which is new for me). I have learned how to manage conflict better, and how to be a peace maker, all skills that have come from our move to Lesotho. These skills and blessing could be somewhat expected though, so I am not really talking about those.

This is me giving a speech at a funeral and being translated by Ntate Moribe. I never thought I would have the strength to do something like this, but with God all things really are possible.

I have already shared 2 unforeseen blessings that NEVER would have happened if we did not choose to follow God's path to Lesotho, and those blessings are my youngest daughters. I would not have seen the plight of orphans firsthand, and I don't really know if Bryan and I ever would have adopted. Yes, we talked about it a little, but we were not committed to it like we were after moving here. We would have missed the blessing of a larger and more fun family life. We would have missed the chance to daily love little girls who didn't get enough love and attention for many years of their lives. But we didn't miss a thing because God showered us with His blessings.

Polita and Nthabeleng on our long car ride to Port Elizabeth last August. They are really good sports, even when we threw a 9 hour car ride on them. They decided that the ocean and elephants were worth the long ride, I agree!

Now I want to share another COMPLETELY unforeseen blessing. I never thought my brother would come and see me in Lesotho because of the cost and his busy work schedule. I wanted him to come so badly and my friends, Terp and Tyler decided to surprise me and pay his way to visit me last April. We had a great time together and enjoyed traveling, and he got to know his new nieces, but God had an even bigger plan. During my brother's visit, he met a wonderful young woman who works at Beautiful Gate, and my shy little brother shocked me because he began to pursue this young lady. They only met 4 days before he left Lesotho, but kept in contact over the last 7 months, and she has just returned from a trip to America as his fiancé!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My brother Robert (or Bob or Rob depending on who you are) and his future bride, Tsili, during her 2 weeks in October. 

Yes, you read that right. my brother is getting married to one of my co-workers (I am technically her boss which is super weird now, hahaha) Motselisi (Tsili as we call her) works in the finance department at Beautiful Gate and she is such a great woman. She loves the Lord, is super fun, serves in her church, tells the best stories, loves my brother with her whole heart, and she is going to be my sister. I have been praying for years that God would help my brother find a godly wife, but NEVER did I expect it would be due to his trip to visit us in Lesotho. What a blessing! What a gift! God is amazing at weaving lives together, and I am so glad we followed Him to Africa because He had some pretty huge blessings to pour out on my whole family!!!!

Elijah's Gift

I remember several years ago where I worried that living in Lesotho might be ruining my kids. I think it had to do with them losing their innocence due to witnessing the hardships of the Basotho. I couldn’t shelter them or sugar coat the truth. It broke my heart and I struggled, as most parents do I imagine, with self doubt and fear. I really don’t write this as a pat on the back for my kids, or my parenting because anyone who really knows us, knows that we are a very flawed family ;) I want to share this because it is a huge encouragement to me about the way God works through children growing up surrounded by poverty and hardship.

I have written in my blog briefly about a family from our former church in Maseru who are struggling with poverty. They have lost their jobs and now lost their temporary housing arrangement and were almost on the streets. I have committed to a certain amount of money that I felt I could share with them during their desperate struggle, but I knew I couldn’t help them with more than that committed amount. I prayed for them, pleading with God for someone to come alongside and help them. I didn’t expect the way God provided…

Last week during recess, Elijah came up to me and said that he had been feeling the Holy Spirit prompting him to give away his savings. (Side note- Elijah has been saving for months by doing chores and babysitting because he wanted to buy himself something special for Christmas.) He had been counting his money the night before and realized he was almost at his goal, but that goal was also the exact amount this family needed to pay their first month’s rent. He knew that this family needed the money more than he did. We met with the mother of the family and Elijah shared his gift to her. She was beyond grateful, which I am thankful for, because it was a real sacrifice for a young teenager.

Later that night after he had shared his money, Mercy came to me and asked if she could do some extra chores and earn some money to buy him the gift that he had given up with her own allowance. My heart just about burst at the sweetness of such an offer. I am so grateful that their hearts have been broken for those who have less then themselves. I am so grateful that Elijah has learned to discern what the Holy Spirit wants from him. I am in awe of the obediance of a 13 year old boy as he seeks to serve His Lord. I am humbled by the love of a little sister who has watched her brother give away a goal, and seek to come alongside and make that goal a reality.

This moment was so inspiring to my own faith as I reflected about God, and what it means to follow Him. What am I willing to give up as I put my faith into daily practice? I love that the Lord can use children to continue to show us His ways…love your neighbor as yourself!

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%.

Welcome to This World

Welcome to this World

You probably have no idea
how special you are.
For years and years you
will carry a scar.
Unwanted, unloved, abandoned
at birth,
People will tell your story with
careless mirth.
Was it a pit toilet, a garbage bag,
or buried alive?
Unwanted, unloved, until at our gate
you arrived.
Our eyes well with tears as we
hear your story,
Knowing you will be safe now-
we give God the glory.
It breaks our hearts that you came
to us this way,
Unwanted, unloved, and abandoned
until today.
Welcome to this world, my sweet
little child,
This day of your birth has been
anything but mild.
We will give you love, care, and even
your first meal,
As you wait for your new family,
we hope you will heal.
                     Anita Geurink


I wrote this in honor of the many babies who have been brought to BG these past 4 months. Some are even brought to us the day they are born. It is incredibly heart breaking to hold a tiny newborn baby who was just found in the trash. It is horrible to walk away from a child who screams because the last person who left the room never came back. We welcome them into our family in hopes that someday, they will have the hope that comes through adoption. Until that day, we will show them that they are not unwanted or unloved and they will never be abandoned again!