Email address: jflorafamily@gmail.com

Our  NEW Africa address is:

Jim and Teresa Flora

PO Box 151

Fouriesburg 9725

Republic of South Africa

Please note: If you need more prayer cards, please email Codi Freeman at codifreeman@gmail.com  to request them.  Thanks!

If you would be interested in coming to Lesotho on a volunteer mission trip please contact our Stateside Volunteer Coordinator, Stan Burleson at stan.burleson@fbcperryton.org  

To learn more about our ministry to the shepherds of the Maluti Mountains, email Delinda Marling at delinda86@aol.com

If you would like to receive our monthly updates, please email Debbie Trammell at  prayersintoafrica@gmail.com

 Please scroll down for the posts . . .

I often think of the contrasts where we live…mountains and valley, cold and hot, people who want to work where there are few job…the list could go on and on. A while back, I was reminded of another contrast. This is a contrast between light and darkness. For those who have been here over the past few month, you know our new gospel presentation compares the Kingdom of Light and the kingdom of darkness. (The gospel never changes, but the way we present it sure can)

The contrast struck me as we rode into a remote village on horseback. As we rode along the ridge of a mountain, I could hear singing. This was not just any singing, this was men singing. You know, that deep, resonant sound when men really sing. It took me a little while, but I finally found them. They were the young men going to the village from the circumcision school. The circumcision school is where all the young men learn about ancestor worship (aside from the obvious). As we shared the gospel in this village, just across the valley in another village, the young men continued to sing. In one village there was Light. In the other village, there was darkness. In one village, hope was being shared. In the othe village, hopelessness continued to prevail.

Our attendance was not good in the village that day…many had gone across the valley because they knew the men were returning from circumcision school (it really is a BIG deal here).  The crowd was great across the valley.  In Matthew 7, Jesus spoke about two contrasting paths. One was wide. The other was narrow. Many people travel the wide path. Few find the narrow way. We live in a land of contrasts. The darkness continues to fight against the Light. Just as Jesus said, men continue to hide from the Light, because they love the darkness more than the Light. Pray that they will see the Light.

Until ALL have heard, Jim

 

Research shows that less than 2% of the Basotho have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That means that less than 2% of the people have the ability to share a true faith in Jesus Christ alone with others, and be involved in the work and expansion of the Kingdom of God. In reality, we all know that if less than 2% have a true faith, the percentage of people that actually share is much lower. This means that there are few workers in the harvest. In Luke 10:2, Jesus tells us to pray for workers. Would you join us in praying for workers? Would you set a daily alarm (set at 10:02 A.M.), so that when you hear your alarm, you remember to pray that the Lord will send forth workers into His harvest? I would ask for prayer in 2 areas. 1. That God would raise up workers from within the harvest. 2. We have several open and approved missionary positions with the IMB. Would you pray that God calls people to fill those positions to multiply efforts to expand the Kingdom of God in Lesotho?

Moruti (Pastor) Phoka on the mountainside…we had stopped for lunch

Until ALL have heard, Jim

I have always been a warrior at heart. I love biblical manhood and men of the scriptures…real men…warriors. These real men are part of the church, and we are in a war, even if it is a spiritual war, one not against flesh and blood. We should be leading in this war, and leading in preparation for battle. I saw this play out today in our setting here in Lesotho. One of our pastors of a church plant was in court today for being in the wrong place at the wrong time before accepting Jesus. He was sentenced today: 8 years or pay a 16,000 Rand fine. That is the equivalent to about $1000 (USD), which is more money than he will make in his life. I watched as his brothers and sisters prayed, engaging in a spiritual battle for their pastor of this little church plant that is just about a year old. I watched as they went to war. This guy is a gospel sharing machine, and God is blessing his ministry. They did not file an appeal, but sought the face of their God for a way forward in this situation. Men and women alike joined in the battle, and, man, can they pray! There were only about a dozen of them involved, but they were praising and praying. All of them have committed their lives to Christ since we have been in Lesotho. As a warrior, I respect other warriors. As I watched these soldiers engage in this spiritual battle, I wept, which is very unwarrior-like. In a country that is steeped in spiritual darkness, today I saw the soldiers of this baby church battle the darkness for the glory of the Light.

We are thankful for what we have received, and the crops even look a little better.  The amount of rain we received on Sunday, however, was about 1/4 of an inch.  Please continue to pray that God will send rain.  If we don’t receive rain, the crops are going to fail, and livestock will die by the thousands this winter…but we know the Great Provider!  He is faithful.

Until ALL have heard, Jim

This is the most promising look for rain that we have had in several weeks…but I need you to pray that God will send the rains to Lesotho.  I was speaking to one of the pastors yesterday, and he said that the people are afraid that “God has forgotten them.” It is very dry and the crops look bad.  The weather forecasts in Lesotho are saying “No rain until March.” You can’t send me a better present on my birthday than about 2-3 inches of a slow rain.  Pray that God sends rain!

Until ALL have heard, Jim

We have had some rain since my last update…in fact it rained yesterday!  It was light and didn’t last long, but it rained.  It rained all around us today, but it missed us.  The crops are sure looking better, so we are thankful that the Lord is answering your prayers.  Please continue to pray that the Lord of the Harvest brings rain.

On the spiritual side of things, rain also continues to fall. I retuned to Ha Nkaobee today for another round of discipleship, and had 27 at the gathering.  Several of the new believers had shared their testimonies in the village, and several of those who heard the story of Jesus from their friends and neighbors were the new attendees. No new believers today, but we did take a few steps down the road of discipleship.

Yesterday, however, 2 ladies in the village of Ha Ramakoasti committed their lives to following Jesus.  Our journeygirls, Katy and Kelsey have been visiting with and discipling a young lady in that village that recently lost her mother.  In the midst of that, these 2 ladies have been attending their discipleship “meetings.”  They heard the gospel through these 2 journeygirls.  Molimo o ke molemo kanete! (God is truly good!)

Until ALL have heard, Jim

 

I want to thank you again for praying for rain.  However, we need rain again already.  We are behind this year, and the rain has really helped the crops, but we could use another nice, steady rain.  Many villages are still without water.

On another note, I returned today to the village of Ha Nkaobee, where 9 people committed their lives to Christ last week. I returned for discipleship, and we started learning to share our testimony and learning the 2 Kingdoms Gospel presentation, talking about our need to share the story of Jesus and what He has done.  We had some new people this week, and as I taught the 2 Kingdoms, 5 more committed thier lives to Christ!  The journeygirls were in a different village, and watched today as one of the ladies they have been discipling shared the gospel with a woman who also committed her life to Christ.

Rain continues to fall in Lesotho…today it was a spiritual rain!

Until ALL have heard, Jim

Thanks to all who have prayed for rain!  It has been raining here for the past 4 hours…a nice, steady rain.  God is SO good.  In addition to the rain, He also allowed us to share the gospel several times today, with a young man who teaches at one of the schools committing his life to Christ this morning!

The team from Second Baptist Griffin, GA heads out in the morning, and God definately used them here in the mountains.  During their time here, we saw 17 commit their lives to Christ…including the chief and his son in one of the villages we visited. This church hosted an IMB Base Camp a few weeks ago, and have put into practice here, what they learned there.  It was fun to watch them learn and progress throughout the week they have been here.  When someone would commit their life to Christ, one of them would look at the rest of the group and ask, “When does discipleship start?”  One of them would answer, “Right now.”  And they would begin to talk about what that person needed to do to begin a strong walk with Jesus. They have had an incredible week!  They saw people come to Christ, but they also saw others reject the gospel and remain steeped in deep darkness.  One of thise was the last lady we visited this afternoon.  She is old and probably does to have long to live.  She said she would think about the things that were shared, “and maybe later would forsake everything and follow Jesus.”  My prayer is that she does.  The team finsihed the day with hearts heavy for this lady.  Please pray that the Lord continues to work in the hearts of the Basotho.

Until ALL have heard, Jim

It has really been a long time since my last blog, and much has transpired since then.  We have seen many commit their lives to Christ, be baptized, and are on their way to being disciples who make disciples.  All of your prayers for these are appreciated.

But tonight, I am asking for prayer in a different area, and the situation is becoming desperate.  We need rain.  Normally the rains come in October.  This year, we are past mid-November, and we have had no measurable rain.  We have had a couple of dust settlers, but those evaporate in a few minutes.  The reservior is lower than I have seen it…there are several places where you can see land in the middle of the reservior.  For those of you who have been fishing with me back near the foot bridge (past Ha Suoane), the water is low enough that I can jump across the river there…and for those of you who have not, the water is usually about 150 yards wide under that bridge.  Crops are wilting as I type.  Many villages have run out of water.  As we are visiting villages, the number 1 prayer request is “pula”(rain).  What a testimony it would be for our God to show HIs power and glory to answer these prayers.

The predictions and forecasts on the radio are not giving much hope…rain sometime in February or March. Would you join me in praying that God will bring rain, both physically and spiritually, to a dry and weary land?

Until ALL have heard, Jim

In just a few short days, the Basotho team will welcome Leah, Steve, and Isaiah to our team as we partner together with Reclaimed to reach the orphaned and vulnerable children of the mountains. Please PRAY for this sweet family as they leave the US tomorrow headed for Africa! And…the Barnhills are coming home! These kids were so excited when I gave them the great news!