Ministry Plan 2014...What is MAF doing in Lesotho?

Recently, we met with our MAF team to create our Ministry Plan for 2014.  It was an exciting time of collaboration with our team mates for Sam and I.  We got to hear more in detail the heart's desires of individuals on our team as well as current ministry thrusts we are each seeking both within the MAF aviation frame as well as on our own out in the community.

While our purpose in being here is to reach isolated people in the mountains through aviation, there are a variety of creative ministry thrusts happening here in the capital city of Maseru.  For example, one of our national staff is pursuing seminary classes on his own time and walks to a far away training facility once a month to do this.  He has completed 5 of 25 classes so far and his end goal is to be more equipped to reach his own people.  Another one of our national staff is working with his local church to build schools and meet the needs of OVC (orphaned and vulnerable children...whom are plentiful here).  One of our expat staff families is partnering with their local church to also reach OVC through an intensive soccer ministry outreach and discipleship.  Sam and Sawyer have joined this outreach and we are amazed at its effectiveness.  One of our expat mechanics uses his downtime in the hangar to do projects for the military guys who we share an airbase with.  Another one of our national staff visits the local dump and prays with the homeless living there.  Another expat family has a heart for new missionaries in town and goes out of their way to show them around, invite them over, give cultural tips, and generally ensure a smooth transition for future success and longevity.

While every program may have its weaknesses and difficulties, Sam and I continue to be grateful for this team and for the diligence we see in so many of our team mates to either SPEAK the Word of God or SHOW the love of Christ in this community according to the gifts and talents God has given them.  It takes faith, diligence, and collaboration to work together until the last one has heard that Jesus Christ came to reconcile humanity to God.

Ministry Plan Meeting 

Sam and Ntati Sefiri, MAF's hired pastor and evangelist, became fast friends and accountability partners.

Head in his hands...

Head in his hands, he slumps and his shoulders heave and shudder.  He's older than old and he loosely grips his cane as his shaky hands stuff a slip of paper back into his coat pocket.  He's at the post office to pick up his social security check from the Lesotho government.  He's been told that he can't get it without a passport.  He can't get a passport without this one piece of paper.  He can't get this one piece of paper without...

"How far has he come from?", I ask our friend, Ntati Sefiri, as hoards shuffle past trying to pick up their own social security.  Sefiri finds a chair for the man to sit in and squats next to him to draw out the story.

"He lives about a half hour out of town.  He has this slip of paper as proof of his birth certificate and was hoping to get his check today, but they say he needs a passport".  The man slumps further and shakes his head, one hand shielding his face.

We sit another half and hour with the man and I get increasingly frustrated with the broken system and with the man in a suit behind the desk who offers no help.  Sefiri walks the certificate from desk to desk and still no one can help.  Hands are tied without a passport.

"Ntati, can we at least give him a ride home?"
"Yes, that would be good."

We walk out to our car and the man shuffles slowly behind, shaking his head and mumbling the whole way.  We hop in and open the door for him.  He tells Ntati Sefiri something and shuffles on past our car.

"Where is he going?  Doesn't he want a ride?  He lives so far away!  Why is he getting into a taxi?"

"He is afraid.  He doesn't know us.  He doesn't know what we might do to him if he gets in our car."

Sam and I exchange glances.  What has happened in the life of this man that would drive him to pay for a taxi when he has no money because he is too afraid to ask for help?  How do you even respond when you are moved by compassion and get turned down?  It's hard to process that response.  Not because we got turn down, but because I want to understand the painful history behind his response.

"You can't force someone to accept your love" said MAF pilot Bryan as he watched the man step into a taxi and drive off.   Not always a happy ending but you're called to keep loving anyway.

Little School in the Mountains...

Welcome to Little School in the Mountains!  Our aim is to make much of Christ in the Kingdom of Lesotho by fostering curious little minds about our Creator while developing academic excellence and social responsibility.

Yesterday we held our first field trip to Tempelhof farm in South Africa.  Join us!

Tempelhof Residence

Come on a drive around Maseru!

A HUGE THANK YOU to those of you who gave to our vehicle fund!  We now have a used Toyota Fortuner to get around town and it will be perfect for our family in this mountain kingdom!  Come on our fist family drive around Maseru with us!

The new Danforth Ride!

Up the mountain we go!

Back down the mountain and back into Maseru.

This is for little Caleb M. who will soon join our team.  You'll get to see lots of moocows and shepherds
when you get here!

Happy 50th birthday, Your Majesty! 

A Dream Come True...

The top thing on Sawyer's list for Lesotho was to catch a lizard.  This big dream came true yesterday in our front yard!

This picture is for Jonah, Wesley, Ezra, A.J., and Jaden.  Some lizards drop their tails when they feel threatened, so as soon as Sawyer reached for him, he lost his tail!  It laid there and wriggled for a few minutes :)

"Daddy, now what do I do with it?"

Letting him go.  Such a hard choice.

Goodbye tailless friend!

Daylight and Prayer...

Daylight and prayer bring fresh perspective.  Thank you to my sweet ones who intercede on my behalf.  Loving you each today!

Sorrow sans distraction...

Nobody knows to warn of the pain of sorrow sans distraction.  So many unseen transitions, so much heartache over new brokenness seen, so many old freedoms lost, so many new things scrutinized.  There is no Netflix to drown out new pain.  No hours of mindless Facebook.  No soulless t.v. to swallow the hurt.

It's healthier, I know, to just sit in the pain.  It's healthier to feel on deeper levels than I've felt in a long time.  Mind and emotions working overtime with nothing to distract.  It's healthier this way.  It forces one to FEEL.  It forces one to self-examine.  It forces one to think of Job's faithfulness when stability crumbled.  It forces one to pray.