Days are spinning by. We continue to do one on ones and bible studies. I am continually amazed by the young men and women that God has sent Jo. Some are ambassador's children, many have traveled to other countries, one is in ministry, some own their own businesses, others are in management positions of businesses,and most are in their twenties are early thirties. They are the movers and shakers of this society. A number lost parents somewhere in their childhood, for so many households in Lesotho are headed by someone under eighteen years of age. So much of Jo's ministry is in leadership development, in helping mentor these young leaders as they learn to live out their faith in all aspects of their lives. The one on ones has much to do with this mentoring, though in one a young woman accepted Christ, and in another forgiveness issues were dealt with. Jo has now asked me to take several of the one on ones. I have done so once so far. I taught on the Father Ladder and God brought freedom to this person as she forgave a relative and relinquished inner vows made. We will continue the next time we meet. Every Thurs a men's group meets, every Sunday evening the woman's group that Jo is letting me lead, then there is a beginners bible study that meets on Fri evenings, that was so large that part now meets on Sat. night, and a more advanced bible study that meets on Monday nights. This last Sunday, with the woman's group, I continued to teach about discipleship, talking about the passion that we should have in following our Rabbi. Next week we'll look at the cost of discipleship.Now to the photos. The first one shows a small sandstone quarry. We saw a number of them as we went out into the countryside one afternoon. Buildings here are generally either made of quarried limestone, or cement bricks, or stones plastered in cement, or more traditionally plastered in a mixture of cow dung and mud. The last varies in color from a yellow ochre, to a grey, to rust, depending on the soil used. They are such wonderful earthy colors. All the sandstone is quarried and cut by hand. We passed several tektons on our way out, standing by the side of the road, chisel in hand, with a stack of cut stones piled nearby. Thought I'd get a picture of one on the way back, but didn't see them then. Missed my chance. Kept thinking of the tekton (builder) who became our Rabbi.The second picture is of a village farmer and his cow cart. I overexposed it. Sorry, Hope that you can still make out the blanket, knit cap, and gum boots he is wearing. So many men here dress like this even in town, but especially the farmers and shepherds. One of the things that had amazed me is that you will see sheep and cows down in Maseru, the capitol city, grazing right up next to the street. A shepherd will be somewhere near. You see them everywhere, in the city, in the villages, up in the mountains. Jo showed me how to wear the blanket when I bought mine. The Basotho are known as the blanket people. Blankets are worn by women as skirts over pants, and as capes by both men and women. They are heavy wool and though are made in the England, are only sold here. They are held on by a large safety pin, and the women pin it in front, and the men on the side. You will see older women with one as a skirt, and one as a cape, or mothers, with blankets as skirts, and smaller blankets fastening a baby on their back. I've seen women carry bags and such on their heads.The last two photos show dongas, the deep ravines that scar the countryside, and carry with each rain more soil of Lesotho into South Africa. One of our team members has said that it is the greatest export of Lesotho, and without compensation. This same afternoon Jo took me a bit farther into the countryside into the near and low mountains to get a feel of what mountain village life is like. It was so quiet and peaceful compared to the crowding and confusion of the city. Bedtime is calling. Those of you who know me well will be amused to know that here I go to bed by nine or nine thirty, generally, and wake up between five and six, or sometimes earlier.
God be with each and every one of you.
Millie
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