Tomorrow, we saddle up the horses and we ride.  We ride up the valley, not just any valley, but OUR valley.  We ride up from the wrong end, but we ride into the valley of the Batlokoa.  I checked today, and that’s how it is spelled: Batlokoa ( Pronounced “Ba-klo-kwa”).  The Batlokoa are part of the Basotho, but they were originally a different tribe.  The became Basotho under King Moshoeshoe by joining him and fighting with him.  As a reward for their loyalty, he gave them a valley.  The valley runs, from east to west, about 100 kilometers, from Ha Shesote toward Mokhotlong.  It is the valley of the Batlokoa.  Throughout the approximately 100 km, there are villages scattered.  The ride up the valley to Liseleng (Pr. “Dee-sell-ing) will take about 2 hours by horse.  The volunteer  mission team from FBC Perryton, TX’s equipment will travel by 4X4 truck.  It will take the equipment about 3 hours.  This is the second team to go to Liseleng. 

Very soon, we will make the 6 hour drive around the mountain range to the other end of this valley.  We will meet the chief, and see if he will let us work in this valley of the Batlokoa.  We will even see if he might want us to live there.  In a few months, we will be living somewhere on the other end of this valley.    I will load up the truck, lock in the 4X4, and we will go where it can.  When it can go no more, we will saddle up, and ride horses in from the east, sharing the good news as we travel.  We will find a place to live, and we will begin meeting people and building relationships and sharing the gospel . . but tomorrow, we ride . . .we ride into the valley of the Batlokoa for the very first time.

Until ALL have heard, Jim