Joys

Lucky for me life is not just about learning to trust God (see last post).  Learning to trust him, for me, involves too much struggle.  So I am grateful for the day to day joys that life and living offer and which distract me from the challenges of spiritual growth.  Little children surely know how to bring joy to life.

Our friends, the Lepheana's have four little ones in their house hold, one a niece.  At a past time in their lives they had not the opportunity to support their oldest daughter to go on a school trip to Thaba Bosiu, the historical "mountain fortress" of Lesotho.  They now live but a thirty five minute drive away.  Without a car that is still a long way, but to their daughter's young mind that distance should not be an inconvenience.  A statutory holiday was coming up, May 1, when the girls would be out of school.  It was still warm, the forecast was looking good, and it seemed a great opportunity to offer to take the family to Thaba Bosiu.  (Just dont tell the kids lest they be disappointed if the weather changes.)

When the day arrived, Ntate Kuena was not able to go.  He was needed at his work.  The kids, however, were washed and dressed and ready to go when I drove up.  They had been told the night before of the trip and there was no way they were going to miss it.  But without Ntate Kuena, I wondered about the challenge of getting four little ones aged 10, 7, 3 1/2 and 2, up Thaba Bosiu.

Off we went.  What a delight.  Only one, "I'm tired," on the trail up to the plateau top.  The little guy (actually three weeks shy of age two) spent some time on his mother's shoulders on the way but the other three scrambled up on their own. 

What a tough mom, eh!  She got me to the top

We made it! A view at the top.

Then we spent three hours wandering around on the top, making sure we didn't miss one sight that the oldest daughter's school mates had told her about.  Towards the end of the time the three year old was weary but still not complaining.  She got a short ride on my shoulders where she nodded in and out of asleep.

I'm just three, but I managed on my own.

I think the biggest joy for me was a few days later when I heard about what happened when the family was back at home.  There, the older ones shared with all who would listen about their trip to Thaba Bosiu.  The three year old, the niece, as she snuggled in bed with her mother that evening, was not falling asleep.  She was recounting every detail of her day's adventures.  My joy was having been able to facilitate a day that provided them with such special memories. 

Another day, another family.  This time a trip out of town for a picnic.  In a land with few native trees, this trip was to a location with an wooded area of imported trees.  Playing in leaves, big piles of leaves, is a memory from most childhoods, but not in Lesotho.  Here were lots of leaves, leaves the like of which the little ones along on this trip had never before seen, let alone  played in.  Unfortunately they were a bit reticient about leaves and though they did get into throwing some back at me, it was their mother who, for the first time in her life, experienced being buried in a pile of leaves.

Oooh, what's with all these leaves?

Mom??!??

Forget the leaves, can we get back to the food?

Blessings come in so many ways.  What a blessing and source of much joy to be able to provide memories for others, especially when they are children, or children at heart. 

~ Benno ~

The Hand of God??

A few weeks back, in a moment of self pity and discouragement, watching the new and fancy cars zipping past my pre-2000 Honda, I was asking myself, “If the rich in Lesotho don’t seem to care about the poor in their own land, then why should I?”  How is it that humankind everywhere, when our own needs are met, can so easily overlook the other?  Such thoughts do come now and then.  They don't linger long, but they can be discomforting.  Which brings me to the Mustard Seed.  Where to for this little organization?

In April the board members were wrestling with the question of where they felt God was leading the Mustard Seed.  Below is a summation of their thoughts of where God is leading.

- God has greater plans for the Mustard Seed.

- Seeing girls suffering without education has to make us want to serve more girls.

- Provide school fees ourselves for girls not accepted for the government bursary.

- Find our own land/place, a permanent home.

- Enlarge our territory, enlarge our hearts, but it is God who will provide.

The Mustard Seed.  Where to?  How does God speak?  Is it the collective wisdom and thoughts of a group, our board?  If it is, then the Mustard Seed may be facing God sized growing pains in the near future.  Their sense is that we are to reach out to more girl orphans struggling to continue their schooling.  This year we are involved with about 18 girls.  A couple from the past have moved on, while about six new files have been opened.  Is it feasible, possible, to consider working with 50 girls next year?  Something that big is just too scary for my faith.  

How does God speak?  Are events that have occurred since those April deliberations the hand of God?  Another way of Him speaking, calling us to trust in Him, and that He will provide?

A group of local individuals have been working with orphans.  Their focus is to help orphans to understand and know God, the one who loves them and wants their best.  They do this through regular meetings with the children and helping the children develop income generating skills though jewelry making.  Circumstances had led them to a place where, if they were to continue, they were in need of a registered organization under which to deliver their program, Jewels of Hope.  They approached us, the little Mustard Seed, and asked to partner, or more correctly, to come under the Mustard Seed.  

The vision and mission statement of the Mustard Seed includes providing income generating skills to our participants.  A group of trained local people, with financial and administrative support from an Australian organization - a program ready to hit the ground running - through circumstances and past contacts, God brings to the Mustard Seed.  Today we have: a signed agreement with Jewels of Hope in South Africa, a group of workers familiar with the program, and strong support from Pioneers of Australia.   There is still much work to be done and relationships to be further developed, but together we are preparing to start up a Jewels of Hope project that will involve 20 participants, some of them current Mustard Seed girls, but most, new referrals from schools and chieftain's offices.  The tentative start up month is September 2012.  At that time participants in the Mustard Seed programs will swell from 18 to about 35.  With God at the helm, working with 50 girls next year may entail fewer growing pains than I had envisioned.

This school year the applications on behalf of orphans to the government sponsored bursary program far outstripped the available funds.  The funds available met less than half of the need.  Some of our applications were amongst those not funded and at the  Mustard Seed we are asking, “Do we stretch our limited funds to also cover school tuition fees?”  In early May we did pay the second quarter fees for one girl in a special situation.  A few days later she shows up at my house.  She reports that her primary school principal has found a private donor.  Yesterday I was able to speak with the donor's contact in Lesotho.  Indeed this donor (from Germany!!!) is prepared to cover the tuition and exam fees for this Mustard Seed girl for her five years of high school!  The Mustard Seed will continue to provide support as well as funds for uniforms, school supplies and some school related activities.

God is not limited by my lack of faith, and I wonder if he chuckles at my amazement that resources for one of our Mustard Seed girls is coming from somewhere I had never anticipated, Germany.  

"Provide school fees ourselves for girls not accepted for the government bursary."  This was one of our board members thoughts on where God was leading us.  With German resources covering the fees of one girl, the Mustard Seed can now "provide school fees" for the last of our girls not approved for the government bursary this year.

Ah, but yet I doubt.  Do I declare that this is the hand of God showing me he is able to provide?  What if he does not provide next time?  Or what if the Mustard Seed steps out 'in faith' and funds more girls next school year and then runs out of money?  Lord, "help thou mine unbelief!" (Mark 9:24).

Lord, when I see the new and fancy cars zipping by and I despair and lapse into discouragement, may I not forget that you still care, and may I have the faith to beleive that you are able to provide for those struggling in Lesotho.  Lord, help thou mine unbelief!!

~ Benno ~