Wow! Has it really been that long???

I have been on the road quite a bit lately.  The past few days Teresa and I took the River Oak guys to Mokhotlong before heading to Johannesburg for their return flight.  We traveled to Mokhotlong on Tuesday, where Don and Steve were able to meet some of the folks from the village of Makhoarane.   We introduced them to the chief, and they were able to see the people coming to the top of the mountain when they saw our truck.  It has been a while since we have made the tek to this village, so the people were glad to see us, but also wanted to know where we have been and said, “O patile!” (“You have been hiding!”)  We did not have a translator, so the visits were very short.  We sang a little, and Teresa and I used what Sesotho we could.  Steve and Don also witnessed a first…I prayed in Sesotho for the very first time.  It was not particularly long, and certainly not eloquent, and my mind went blank after about 6 sentences, but it was all in Sesotho!

After spending the night in Mokhotlong, we headed for Johannesburg early Wednesday morning.  We arrived without incident 8 hours later.  We dropped the guys at BIMS, and I went to have blood drawn.  On Thursday morning at 4 AM, we headed for Pilanesburg National Game Park for some African Game viewing.  We saw lots of animals, but unfortunately, the lions and elephants seemed to be in hiding.  We headed back to Jo’burg about noon, and the guys did a little shopping before catching a meal and then heading for the airport.  I see on Facebook that they have arrived home safely.  I had a follow-up medical appointment on Friday, and we headed home today.

I do not have final tally on the number of people who heard the gospel during the River Oak trip just yet…I will try to get that out in the next day or so.  We did have 1 salvation at the new church plant in the village of Ha Tselabeli on Sunday.  He is a man about my age that committed his life to Christ after the service.  He is not from that village, but another village backa ways in the mountains.  He assured me that he would be sharing the story of Jesus there.  We also baptized 2 more believers in the village of Mapeleng.  All of you River Oak people need to ask Don about that…he baptized her once, but she went under twice, and Don almost went down with her the second time.  Steve caught it all on video.  Unfortunately, I cannot load video due to our internet connection, but trust me, what started out as her hugging Steve after the baptism included unsure footing on a slippery riverbed, and ended with them both being very wet.  Thanks you for your faithfulness in interceding for the Basotho!

Does she look happy?

 Until ALL have heard, Jim