Melvins on the move JFebruary2009

INFORMATIVE Tuesday 10-16 Feb 2009 (quotes from a newspaper in Maseru) Bodies in Septic Tanks "...during the last Christmas festive holidays which starts Dec until Jan 2, up to two bodies of babies were discovered on a daily basis. It is utterly irresponsible to flush down the toilet or throw in manholes fetuses because this damages the infrastructure and therefore inducing unnecessary maintenance costs." HIV and AIDS "Let us all be practical in the fight against AIDS. Our people are dying because they lack empowerment that enables them to be economically independent. Effectively fighting AIDS comes with a society’s ability to value themselves. An impoverished society does not care what happens to them because they feel either way they are doomed." (our emphasis) For many Basotho, life has no value, no meaning, no hope. Although most in the lowlands claim to be Christians, few have a personal relationship with God through Christ. Few know the God who loved them so much that He gave His Son so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. The need to share the truth and hope of Jesus Christ with Basotho is immediate yet overwhelming. We need your prayers. Pray that God will soften the hearts of Basotho to hear the truth of His Word. Pray that those who have found value and hope in Jesus will be willing to share it with others. Pray that Basotho will seek empowerment through the Holy Spirit rather than economic independence alone.
Family Feature: Tom and Cindi are very busy trying to use well the time they have left before returning for their first stateside assignment in August. Zachary felt confident after finishing his senior trial exams last week and is focusing on his last bit of course work before the finals in May. Eli recently enjoyed learning what it takes to be a waiter as he helped a church youth group serve tables during a formal Valentine’s Day dinner. Prayers of praise: • Start up of the first house church since arriving • Cindi’s third birthday celebration in Lesotho • Continued interest in True Love Waits teaching • Health and Safety • New Bible study on Marriage and Family Life • New Basotho Team members: The Flora and Pepper families Prayer requests: • Chris, the brother of our team mate, Babs Dial, who was critically injured in a motorcycle accident last week. • Upcoming outreach campaigns by national church in the village of Ha Foso. • Wise use of time while we strive to complete lots of paperwork needed as candidates for long term appointment with the IMB. • Continued interest of villagers in new Bible studies. • One of our translators is being persecuted for working with the Baptist. Generally, Basotho control their church members giving them no freedom in Christ to do what they feel called to do.
We are not only planting churches... it’s still the growing season in Lesotho. Thank you, God for the rain.	Assisting one of the Baptist branches with Bible Study Cindi teaches under the branches of a grape vine.
Christian Revival Church hosted a Valentine’s Day Dinner. A relaxing night out with friends in Ladybrand, SA	After building relationships, the man standing next to Tom asked if we could help start a house church.

Many of the Basotho in the lowlands are literate and have a desire to learn through these Bible studies available in Sesotho and English. We were blessed with "special gifts" to purchase these ministry tools.