Outreach Khabos
district in Lesotho
A small group from Smithfield went on an outreach to Khabos during
the 3rd to the 10th of January. Khabos is a district in Lesotho near
Butha Buthe and is situated near the beginning of the Drakensberg mountains. It is a very
beautiful area and at some places reminds one of Switzerland with the tall mountains
either side and the goats that walk and graze high up in the mountains.
Mme Lilian Kopano organized all the meetings. Some meetings were
not arranged beforehand, yet she prayed and God showed her everyday were to go.
Every time we would get to a village, we would go to the chief
(Morena) and then Moruti Fako, a minister from Oraphele Assembly in Maseru, would put our
request forward according to the custom in Lesotho. Every time the chief agreed and
allowed us to talk to the chief’s people.
A farmer made it possible to make use of his Land Rover. We
traveled where the local people said a 4X4 cannot travel. One man after a service stood up
and said, he saw us traveling on Sunday up the mountain, and he could see that God is with
those people. Two ministers commented that it was a supernatural gift from God after they
observed where the 4X4 took us. May God bless the farmer for his willingness that we could
use the vehicle.
- Saturday (03/01/04):
After three minutes upon arrival the first people already waited for counseling. We
then visited people who longed to see Rev. Gideon. One teacher together with her class of
small children, prayed for months that Rev. Gideon would come to them. When she opened the
door she invited us in and we all sat down. She has never seen Rev. Gideon, however when
she found out it was he, she held her mouth and her eyes were filled with tears as she
realized that her prayers had been answered.
- Sunday (04/01/04)
We went to Nkopa, a remote village right on top of a mountain. The distance traveled
from the base to the top of the mountain was about 8km and it took an hour and fifteen
minutes to reach it. Most of the time there was no road, just rock, huge boulders and
extremely rough terrain. As we asked for directions, a man told us vehicles don’t go
up there. By God’s grace we made it up without any major problems, just losing a lot
of sweat. We had a wonderful time there. One of the Ntate’s commented that usually
they are left out when visited by people or the government. This time however they
didn’t hear first from other villages that we were first there at their villages but
that first went to them. They really appreciated it.
We also in the afternoon visited a witchdoctor whom Rev. Gideon made friends with more
than eight years ago. She is the mother in law of Mme Kopano.
Late afternoon the chief’s daughter came for counseling.
- Monday (05/01/04)
We visited several people in Khabos. During lunch Moruti Fako arrived from Maseru and
he joined us the rest of the week. He is over seventy but still full of life and a real
blessing! In the afternoon we went to a remote village, about an hours drive from Khabos.
The village was called Pensi and Rev Gideon said it looked very similar to Switzerland. It
was very beautiful there. The chief was so glad to meet us and after the testimony of Rev
Gideon, the chief spoke words of wisdom and it was evident that he was familiar with the
Scriptures.
- Tuesday (06/01/04)
We visited early this morning World Vision’s devotion and prayer time. It is an
organization that helps with the development of the area. It focuses on the spiritual side
of the people and their physical well being. Rev Gideon shared out of Titus 2:16-18 and
the director and the people had an overwhelming response. They called us back in after
we’ve initially greeted, and gave us gifts! They gave us a t-shirt and a cricket hat
with their emblem and logo printed on it. They said that today we’ve become true
brothers and sisters and friends and partners in the Lord. It was a real blessed time.
Then we went off to the National park and looked at the conference area for a potential
special meeting that can be held for the chiefs Lord willing.
The next village was Khanore that again tested the Land Rover, however the Lord helped us
get over the impossible terrain and arrived at the village. The place of meeting in the
village is under a very old apricot tree that stands in a small clearing in the village.
One person asked how you know your sins are truly forgiven and another asked is the
worship of ancestors wrong. The people asked addresses and thanked us for visiting them
and sharing God’s Word.
On our way back to camp, we visited two very old friends that we hadn’t seen in eight
years, they attended services back then, and they were overjoyed to see the familiar
faces.
- Wednesday (07/01/04)
This morning we visited a village called Motsuare. When we arrived a court case was
underway next to the kraal. The queen of another village came and set her case before this
village. Seemingly she asked a man to do something for her, since she is the wife of the
chief, however he refused and didn’t obey. He had all kinds of excuses and the men at
the court case even stopped him while he was making excuses, telling him to say
‘yes’ or ‘no’ nothing more. In the end he was caught out. But the way
in which they dealt with this case, is to be very much respected, it was an example in
which leaders and elders are to be respected.
Afterward we went to tla Seetsa, this village had one of worst roads we had to travel on.
When we told them which way we took to get there, a man shivered.
There lived a young man who had a dream. In the dream he asked Mme Lilian who is the
leader of the mission that started in Lesotho. In his dream she answered it is Gideon. He
awoke and wrote the name down. Some time passed and he met with her telling her of this
dream. When she heard the name Gideon, she was amazed, because he has never heard or seen
Gideon.
- Thursday (08/01/04)
We drove to Leribe, a town that is about 30km from Khabos to meet the principle chief
of the whole area. The old chief died and then in the same year his son whom succeeded him
also died. Now it is the daughter-in-law who is the Mafumahadi or Queen. She is still very
young, and her mother-in-law is assisting her. We spoke with the mother and she agreed to
a service for all the chiefs in the whole district. We thank the Lord for such a wonderful
opportunity.
We then went to a village called Kotanyane that’s across the river. Up to then it had
been raining a lot even through the night, however it never delayed or interfered with the
services held outside. We had to go through a flooding river. The water came up to the
door handles of the vehicle, but made it safely through and up the mountain in the mud. We
had real blessed time with the children of the village. When we returned, they ran all the
way back with us up to the river.
We looked at property that if it is the Lord’s will, could be ideal property to start
a mission.
We visited Motsware and had a real blessed time there, the people were so overjoyed and
thanked us for coming. Then we went to a house were the girl is a teacher at the school of
Mme Lilian. She wanted to visit Smithfield. The reason that she gave to her father for
permission to come to Smithfield was that she wants to repent and learn how to be a true
Christian. We were amazed.
- Friday (09/01/04)
We went again to Pensi right up in the mountains and had a real blessed time.
Afterward even the chief preached to his people. They were so happy to see us. On our way
back we visited Kota and had a service for the children. They listened so attentively in
the open sun standing the whole time.
The afternoon the local chief together with his whole family visited us and we had supper
together. It was a real time of making friends. The chief agreed to attend the evening
service which was held every night through the week. Rev Gideon gave his testimony. The
chief was twice called to go out, but he just shook his head vigorously and listened
further to the service. When he walked out he had tears in his eyes.
- Saturday (10/01/04)
We went again to Seetsa village and had a wonderful time there. It was raining but the
people gathered with their umbrellas on the porch of the queen’s house. When the
service started the rain stopped, and by the end of the service the sun was shining.
Throughout the week we distributed the heart booklets and also here the people received
with open hands. We drove then to Maseru to meet with Moruti Fako who returned on Friday.
He took us to try and meet the king of Lesotho at his private residential house where
there is not so much red tape. Unfortunately the king requested that make an appointment
since he was not in good health.
Then we returned after having a very full week, and our hearts are
also full of the wonders God has done. What an awesome privilege to be there were God is
working and not missing out because on his wonders and working. May God receive all the
glory honor and praise for what He has done. |
