We're moving to Tanzania

It is true. No, we haven't changed missions. But mid January we will leaving Lesotho and will be moving to Tanzania. After much prayer, spiritual counsel from our team, more prayer, trying alternative options for ministry here, huge budget cuts from government for flying, more prayer, meeting resistance to doing what we know we are called to do ('Preach and Heal'), more prayer... Sally and I have been given permission to transfer to work in the Kigoma/Ujiiji area of Western Tanzania. It is a big change. It is a long story of how God has taught us about patience, perseverance, trusting in His ways, and being faithful on a day-by-day basis.

We will spend the next 3-4 months in intensive Kiswahili language learning in Iringa, Tanzania. Swahili is the official national

language of Tanzania. Each people group has their own language as well, but we will begin with Swahili. Living in Iringa first will give us the opportunity to give our full attention to language learning. Our team leader wants to be sure that we have a good grasp of Swahili before we move to our mission home in Kigoma.

Once Sally and I reach level-3 in language learning we can move to our mission home in Kigoma. Kigoma is on the Eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the far Western region of Tanzania, south of the country of Burundi. We will be working together with the staff of the Kigoma Baptist Hospital.

Sally and I don't know the exact day-to-day details of how we will minister there, but we know that God continues to give us a calling to 'preach and heal' using the gifts, talents, and experience that he has graciously allowed us to have. That we have the privilege of being incarnate cross-cultural witnesses of the hope of Salvation through Jesus Christ is our joy.

We are excited about the ministry opportunities we will have in the Kigoma area. We are confident that having teams of volunteers join us will be an essential part of our strategy to get the Gospel to each person. Already one couple has shared their desire to come in the Fall and volunteer to help us with sharing the Gospel. The task is huge. One statistic I came across says that there are approximately 500,000 persons within a 5 mile radius of Kigoma. Our task is to 'Shatter the Silence" by working with others in getting the gospel proclaimed.

We will certainly miss our friends and 'family' in Lesotho. It has been a privilege to serve together with them. They have encouraged us, loved us, challenged us to grow in Christ, and made us laugh. We love them!

Stay tuned in 2011 as we share the great things that God will do as His kingdom expands in Tanzania. Daily by His grace...

God with us! Amazing!

Emmanuel - God with us! It astounds me that God would even consider coming to the earth in flesh, born of a virgin, fully man and fully God, to carry out the greatest rescue ever. To rescue us from our sin and sinfulness. I have been reading in Ephesians 2 for the past months and am repeatedly reminded that we do nothing in terms of salvation. It was God's grand idea, to redeem his Name and to rescue us. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, reminds us that we were dead in our sin and in our sinful destructive behavior. It was hopeless. I have worked for 25 years now in medicine and I have never been able to raise someone from the dead, nor to give life back to a dead person. Only God can do that, and that is what Ephesians 2 talks about. When we were dead, Christ made us to be alive, to have a spirit that will respond to God, to that god-hole that we have in our souls. I'm reminded what the old prophet Ezekiel said (Ezek 36) when he prophesied about the time when God would be taking our hearts of stone and replacing them with hearts of flesh - a heart ready to respond to God. And to give us a spirit that would be ready to follow God's ways with joy.

It is amazing, and lest we get it wrong, it is NOT about us, but all about God, His glory, His great name being glorified.

I'm thankful to be a part of a team (IMB and MAF) that is all about getting that message, of God's rescue, to people in their heart language, in a culturally relevant message. It's a message of hope, of forgiveness, of new amazing God-designed purposeful life.

Sally and I are so grateful for each and every Southern Baptist Church member and others that give through our annual Christmas Lottie Moon Offering that funds the largest portion of our mission organizations budget. Already we have been hearing the news that in spite of difficult economic conditions that people are giving sacrificially to continue the task of taking the Good News to ALL peoples. "For God so loved the world that He gave..."

Please continue to pray for us as we work toward the goal that our region has to "Shatter the Silence" in getting the Good News to each and every people in Sub Saharan Africa.

Have a restful, peaceful, joyful time of Celebration of Jesus!

A few more pictures from Katse

Lesotho is truly a beautiful country, unlike any other on the continent of Africa. With 2/3 of the country mountains, you can't help but appreciate the beauty of God's creation. For the team from University of Botswana, it was amazing coming from the relatively flat, arid, desert land of Botsw to the high mountains with beautiful flowing streams. We were truly blessed as we served along side their team and the Flora family.

After returning to Maseru to fly to Matsaile Health Post on Thursday, I returned to Katse to complete the week with the team. Sally stayed the whole 9 days helping Teresa and ministering with the team. Friday we pony trekked into one last village. On Saturday Jim and Teresa had all of us head to the river to have a time of quiet reflection on what God had been doing in the villages and in our own lives. It was a great time to relax and pray and praise God. After a picnic we headed over to the village of Ha Kinini where the Floras have been doing a bible study and kids program for almost 2 years. The kids were excited to see the team arrive and

really got into the songs and games and the bible story that Andrew (Team Leader) told them. I got to do what I enjoy - pray while the team was ministering, encourage them, and hold a little

boy sick with flu as he fell asleep in my arms.

I prayed that God would be gracious in his life to allow him to grow up healthy to a point where he could choose to be a follower of Jesus. Life expectancy in Lesotho is only in the mid 30s, and unless he chooses to follow God's safe and life-giving ways, he will end up like 28% of the population, infected with HIV. I thank God for the Flora family and for the pastors and leaders they are training in the mountains of Lesotho. And I thank God for the Botswana University Team for their willingness to come share the good news in Lesotho.

God bless and enjoy this great season of celebrating the coming of the King of Kings. It is truly amazing - Emmanuel - God with us!

Botswanan University Student Invasion

We are so privileged to have a great team to work with (Melvins, Floras, Justin & Korby). This week Sally and I have the honor to work along with the Flora family and their Botswanan University student team. The Floras invited us to serve alongside them this week. The team that has come are actually Americans, Botswanans and two from Zimbabwe. They came to the mountain village of Katse to spend a week working with the Floras as they share the good news. The reason Sally and I are with them is that the timing was just right as I don't have any flights scheduled at this time (due to budget cuts in the gov't). And it was God's timing as Teresa Flora's shoulder is giving her fits and Sally can be her "right hand."

So we headed up the mountains to Katse to arrive the same day as the Botswana team. They

began preparing for this ministry in January, meeting once a week to learn about missions, Basotho culture, and Lesotho. Our mission has a family and a single lady doing university student ministry at Univ of Botswana. So we all met at the Flora family house in Katse Village high in the Maluti Mountains.

The strategy plan that Jim and Teresa had developed

with the team was to go to some villages to encourage the few believers and share the gospel with more, and to go to villages that the gospel of Jesus Christ had never been to! The mode of transport is 4WD plus Lesotho Mountain Pony trekking plus feet. The plan was/is simple. Work with a local Baptist pastor to identify the villages, pray, pray, pray, and then pray some more. Then go with the student team to the village, get permission to share, sing songs in Sesotho and Setswana language, share testimonies of how trusting Jesus and following him works, preach, and then do Q&A. Then pray, pray, pray.

So that's what Sally and have gotten to do along with the Floras and their team. Sunday we drove about 1.5 hours (the last 30 min. of that in 4WD) to the village of Lilomong ('dee-low-mong'). Now why there? Bear with me as I share a pretty amazing story about a young pastor and friend by the name of Sefiri. One day, following God's command to go out and share the good news, Sefiri set out on foot to hike back up into the mountains to share the gospel. When he reached a village he would get with the chief and the people and ask if they wanted to hear the good news. Village after village rejected him but he kept on going. Finally he reached Lilomong and they agreed to hear him and this message from God. Some responded by repenting and turning to Christ. He decided to go further up the mountain but was met at the next village by the priest who informed him if he came there again, he would kill him by stoning him! He decided to continue to go to Lilomong whenever possible and that his pastor would also go there.

Pastor Sefiri and Pastor Molapo have been trying to return to Lilomong village at least once a month. So that is where we ended up on Sunday. Our plan was what I outlined above. And God blessed it. The students were amazing. Great singers, leaders, great testimony. I had the privilege of preaching after Andrew shared his testimony.They just loved sharing what God has been doing in their lives and answering questions. After a full day we headed back to Katse village.

Monday we again traveled by 4WD back to Lilomong to hold a free medical clinic (thanks to generous donations to our mission) and to again do Q&A as well as HIV/AIDS prevention teaching.

We began as before - prayer, prayer, and more prayer. Then singing and a testimony by Michael how God radically changed his life when he placed his faith in Jesus Christ. Then it was time to

do the clinic. Andrew and I saw the patients, Sally dispensed the

medicines, Jim and the rest of the team did Q&A and HIV/AIDS teaching. Some was done one-on-one, and some was done in

groups (like the teenage girls). This university student team was amazing. They stayed engaged with the people all the time,sharing, listening, teaching, laughing, and praying.

Again a long day, but praise God for strength to do the ministry - "I have food that you know not of. My food is to do the will of the Father..."

Tuesday we drove about 45 minutes to a place to get some Mountain Ponies. The villagers rent them on occasion. We went with Pastor Sefiri, Pastor Molapo, Ntate Tsepo, and the team. Jim Flora (being a former cowboy) made sure that all the students had some instruction on how to ride as none of them had ever ridden. I think the thing that I remember the best was 'keep your legs on each side of the horse...' So the 12 of us (11 of

us and a guide) headed up the mountain to find the village of Ha Macona. We trekked up the mountain past freshly planted fields, mountain streams, and rock upon rock until about 1.5 hours later we were there. 7,700 ft elevation, a village of about 75 people. Some were not there as it is the season for cultivating the fields. But as they gathered we had about 40 adult men, women and teenagers plus 15-20 kids. We did the same routine - prayed, sang, shared a testimony and preached (this time it was university student Wasa) and then did Q&A.

What was shocking to me was just how deeply engrained was the belief that everything in their life centers around appeasement of the ancestor spirits. The people were very eager to hear about 'what does your church say about...' We answered many many questions in the group and in smaller groups by showing them in the Bible what the answer to their questions were. Many were in disbelief and argumentative at times. Those that attended a Catholic church about 5 miles away told us that the priest told them 'if you have questions about God don't read the Bible, just ask me.' They were so eager to

at least hear what the Bible said. It was awesome to hear the Botswana University students answering the people with 'God says in the Bible...' As we neared the time to go, several of the older women practically begged Pastor Molapo to come back every week to teach them as they wanted to really know what more of what the Bible says. Others were not so interested but as

Basotho culture dictates, were very polite and kind to us.

As we prepared to leave, Jim Flora gave a PROCLAIMER MP3 player to one of the ladies. It has the New Testament in Sesotho on it and it is rechargeable by either solar or hand crank.(check out www.faithcomesbyhearing.org) She and others were elated to receive it. Our prayer as we headed back on the horses was that God's word would be listened to that evening and that through it, their eyes would be opened to the beauty of gospel of Jesus Christ.

After the horse ride back and the truck drive to the Flora's house we were all tired, but excited about what God is doing through simple obedience to his command to go and share. I voiced a brief prayer of thanks for the strength and grace to do what our region's theme is - to "Shatter the Silence" and share the good news.

I'll share more later next week. As I write this I am at home in Maseru preparing to fly to Matsaile tomorrow for medical clinic there, then will head back up to Katse early Friday morning to join the team for another trek deeper in the mountains to another village that has yet to hear the good news. Thank you Jim and Teresa, Gracie, Anna, and Becka and the Botswana University Student team for allowing us to be part of your ministry team. Thank you Southern Baptists and other supporters for making it possible for Sally and I to serve the Lord here.

Hey, thanks for reading and please pray that in all of this, Jesus Christ will be praised and the good news will be heard. Pressing on daily by His grace...

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my dad's 80th birthday. I am Larry, son of Leo L. Pepper, Jr. I am so proud to say that. I love my dad and miss him so much - he in America, and us in Lesotho. I am so privileged to have a dad like mine. From my youngest days I remember my dad doing certain things EVERY day - telling my mom that he loves her, kissing her goodbye and again when he returned from work, and reading his Bible. Everyday.

I am so thankful for growing up in a family that loved each other and loved the Lord. Dad committed his life to be a follower of Jesus Christ not long after he married mom back in 1950 and has walked with the Lord ever since. He hasn't been perfect, but what he has shown me is how to love the Lord and love others. He taught me about integrity, about working hard no matter what you are doing, about being kind to people, about treating others with respect, and about loving others. That has had a huge impact on our family and on my life. I have seen my dad walking with the Lord, living a life of love and of service to others. My dad's (and Mom's) love for each other and for the Lord Jesus Christ are the reason that Sally and I are serving in missions in Africa.

I love you Dad! I pray that your Lord and Savior Jesus will continue to give you strength for each day, love for mom and for your family, and many more years to teach us how to be a man of God.

Praise God for the Rains!

The rains have come to the mountains of Lesotho - actually the whole of South Eastern Africa! This is a critical time for the rains as the people have been waiting and waiting to see if the crops will survive. Most of the Basotho are subsitence farmers, in other words, they depend on each growing season to survive. This is the time to plant corn, the main staple of the Basotho.

Of course with heavy rains and wind comes NO FLYING. So that's not great in terms of getting to the clinics and health posts, but hey, at least with the rain there is the possibility of food and survival.

After two days of heavy rains I did get to fly to the mountain village of Semenanyane with our team. Like my usual mornings, I rode my bike to the hanger for the morning MAF meeting. After the plane was loaded and fueled we got ready to head to the mountains. Semenanyane is a very wind sensitive airstrip so this time the MAF pilot (Melvin Peters) stayed with us at the clinic while we did our patient care. I saw patients while the eye nurse took care of the eye patient referrals and the dental technician saw his patients. We were just about to finish up when I heard the radio call that there was a "Code-1 at Mokhotlong" A Code-1 means a life or death situation and MAF basically drops everything to go and get that patient and get them to a hospital, often to the one in the capital city Maseru. We decided to get to the airplane and head to Mokhotlong - a 20 minute flight. About 5 minutes after landing a double cabin pickup pulled up to the plane with a pregnant woman who had obstructed labor (in other words, the baby was stuck and wasn't coming out without a C-section). Now Mokhotlong Hospital currently has 3 doctors but unfortunately they had no power so they couldn't do the operation. It was either fly her to Maseru (a 50 minute flight) or put her in a truck and drive her 6-7 hours over some rough parts. So we got her situated in the back seat, got ourselves back in and headed to Maseru. The LFDS ambulance was waiting at the hanger when we arrived and whisked her off to the hospital to do the C-section. Tomorrow she'll be visited by the MAF Chaplain (Ntate Sefiri) to get her a blanket for her baby and to share the gospel with her.

It was a great day of treating patients, praying for them - 'meeting needs with loving deeds.' We thank God for how is providing support to the MAF/IMB Lesotho mission teams. We are so thankful to our mission and to our 50,000+ Southern Baptist churches that voluntarily support missions through the Lottie Moon Missions Offering and the Cooperative program.

Lastly, I want to encourage you to take a look at this new You Tube video by MAF about MAF Lesotho. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZmfNCmSPCo) You might see a few familiar faces...

Burnt Rondoval Roof and NO rain

Just got back from a very very dry Matsaile. I had gone on Tuesday for the twice monthly doctor team visit. Our team (ophthalmic nurse and two pharmacy techs) and I were met at the plane by Justin and Korby. They were on their way back to the capital city (Maseru) for their time out of the village to rest, restock, take in some fast food and a movie or two. We waved by to the guys as the dust flew from the airplane takeoff. As we started the 20 minute walk to the village I noticed just how dry it had gotten. A guy rode by me on a horse and I nearly choked from the dust it had kicked up. The problem is that we've had essentially NO snow in the mountains this winter. And that's a problem. No snow, no nitrogen for the soil, and likely not as good of corn crop. (A friend shared with me that as snow is formed it captures nitrogen from the atmosphere). This is windy season and so the combination of no snow, plowed fields, and high winds = dust, dust, and more dust.

We reached the village and as the team was setting up the medicines, I walked over to the chief's rondoval to greet him and find out more about what happened. I had been informed by the guys that Saturday night someone tried to burn down the chief's rondoval while he was sleeping in it! The chief was matter-of-fact about it sharing that it was just an act of 'juvenile deliquency' and not to worry. A message had been sent to the police and they were just waiting from them to come and apprehend the accused. The police are at a town 3-4 hours away. The thatch roof was burnt on the lower edge around about half the perimeter. Fortunately he had noticed the smoke and then saw the flames out his window. According to the chief, several people came to his rescue and put it out before it destroyed the roof. After he shared his story, I prayed for him, the people of Matsaile village, and especially for the person who tried to kill the chief. We know that only God can change a person from a murder to a follower of him (remember Saul who became Paul).

I rejoined the doctor team as they were set up and ready to begin the day of work. We began with a song and then I prayed for the sick, for rain, and for God to open the eyes of the peopel to see the beauty of Jesus Christ. It was a pretty usual day as we cared for 52 patients - providing the diagnoses and needed medicines. The people are very thankful for the government providing this service as the closest clinic is a 3 hour walk (there are no vehicles or roads in Matsaile).

Went and saw the chief again before we left to walk back to the airstrip. The MAF plane was later than expected. After some time I found out that there was a problem with the plane after it landed at an airstrip just a 10 minute flight away. Another plane and pilot was sent from Maseru to pick up Melvin and then proceed to Matsaile. I ended up staying behind as there wasn't space for all of us - and I had the key to the guys rondoval. I had a very quiet and restful evening which I used for reading the bible and praying that God would do a mighty work in the hearts of the people of Matsaile. The next morning a plane came to get me and bring me back to Maseru.

As we flew back over the central range of the Maluti mountains I couldn't help but notice how dry everywhere was, and even the reservoirs were lower than usual. We really need rain. Please pray that God would send those long soaking rains that will help for the Spring planting and to replenish the reservoirs. Pray too for the safety of our MAF pilot colleagues as this is the 'windy season' and mountain flying becomes much more challenging.

Daily by His grace...

Back Flying Again!

After three weeks of being grounded, we're back flying tomorrow morning (Wednesday). I will be in a meeting at the Ministry of Health all day to be trained on the country wide decentralization of health care plan, but our specialist eye/dental care team will be flying to one of the health clinics. I thank God for answered prayers - patients will get the care they need, our staff will be able to get back to the clinics and out for a break, and we can all do our jobs again. Thanks for praying!

Matsaile Ministry

It's been a long three weeks of no LFDS flying. Same thing as before where the Lesotho gov't is failing to pay the flight bill to MAF and we are grounded. In spite of that, through some special gift money, we flew up to Matsaile on Tuesday to hold the biweekly medical clinic. I was really happy to be sitting in the back seat watching Kelly have the controls to fly under the careful eye of MAF pilot Danny Hulls. Enroute to Matsaile we picked up another missionary who is heading to another part of the mountains to meet a village chief in order to begin the work of ministering to herd boys. Two stops later we were at Matsaile airstrip. Wewere met at the airstrip by Justin and Korby. We gathered up our medical and repair supplies and headed to Matsaile village.

This visit was two fold - to do the clinic and to fix Korby and Justin's HF radio antennae. Strongwinds had broken some fasteners and the lower half of the folded dipole had fallen down. Danny is a pilot/mechanic and offered to help fix it with Justin's help. While they worked on that Kelly, Korby, Thabang headed over to the building to prepare for the clinic. With the help of Ntate Tsupane and a couple of the village health workers, we get the place set up, unpack the medications, and then have a word of prayer before seeing patients. I like to pray for those gathered and

then pray with each patient as I examine and treat them. As we were setting things up, we were surprised to meet a

lady that had come from Thaba Tseka (about 5-6 hours walk) to do voluntary HIV testing for any patient desiring it. I was glad to find out that only 1 of 15 tested were positive for HIV.(the country wide prevalence is around 23%)

Thabang and I saw the patients while Korby and Kelly dispensed the medications. It was not quite as busy as I had hoped (saw 46 patients) but I think that people were not expecting us as they knew of the problems in paying

the bill.

After finishing the clinic we had some time to sit and talk with the guys and have prayer together. We were thankful to be able to complete the tasks we had come to do. We then carried the medical and repair supplies back to the airstrip to prepare to fly back to Maseru. We were soon airborne heading home. 50 minutes later we were on the ground and heading to the house.

Please continue to pray that the bill will get paid so we can resume normal flights. We have staff that need to get back to the mountain clinics and others that need a break. We have three successfully treated patients who were discharged from the hospital here in Maseru but can't get back home till the flights resume. And pray for our LFDS staff as we are discouraged.

Daily by His grace...

So which are you doing?

Sally reminded me this morning that what I posted perhaps wasn't entirely clear. To some of you, it may have come across that we had been doing it all wrong, and suddenly I got some 'new revelation.' It's not the case. Rather what was exciting me from the meeting in Augusta was to realize that our organization now had a 'fresh view' of how you can do the both of Preach and Heal. I had the opportunity to gather with a large number of our health care professionals and supervisors that were being trained and were excited about the both of Preach and Heal. Unfortunately in the past, in some areas where our group works, the supervisors had not viewed this approach as a valid way of church planting, and so had either stopped or at least strongly discouraged our health care personnel from using their medical skills as part of their ministry. (yeah, I know that sounds pretty severe, but it was true.) Sally and I were blessed to have worked in a region where our supervisors were supporting us all along the path.

So, it wasn't that I got a new revelation in Augusta, rather it was affirmation of what Sally and I had been doing (the "A,B,C,D,E" concept) in Uganda over the past years. We began by entering the community (part of the university and hospital), caring for the needy (in the hospital and then HIV/AIDS clinic), and then because of our compassionate loving care were able to get into homes with families of our patients, sharing the gospel. We saw God work in amazing ways as we went into people's homes with our Ugandan colleagues at our side, empowering them to do the same. Disciples were made, and churches were planted - all by the grace of God and for His glory!

What excites me is that Dr. Fielding put it down in a book, something he and his family have been living and teaching. And now, others will have the opportunity to apply those A,B,C principles with intention on the front end of ministry (or be affirmed that they are already doing it). The bottom line is to be more effective in doing what Jesus calls us to do - Go, Preach the Good News, and Heal.

That excites me.

Preach and Heal, or Heal and Preach?

If your task is to share the Gospel with people who haven’t heard before, then which is the best (or better) way? Preaching is good, but what if people are hurt and hungry and not interested in listening? Healing is great, but what if you are so busy doing it you fail to preach the truth? How you answer the question depends a lot on your background, experience, biblical understanding, and your world-view.

I just returned from a conference in the US sponsored by our organization that really challenged my thinking about this topic. Over the years I have tried to integrate both in our ministry, but I confess that the ‘healing’ part of it tends to take precedence. I have felt the tension of ‘preach or heal’, but haven’t really got it figured out. I have been continually remodeling my ‘Theology of Health and Illness’ as I call it, but this conference really forced some re-thinking. Much of the material came from a book called “Preach and Heal” by Dr. Fielding. Now don’t be put off by the title thinking it is only for health care people. It is one of those books that I really think everyone who is serious about following Jesus needs to read. (I don’t often get so passionate about recommending a book, with the exception of the Bible)

I just love the opening chapters that basically have an ongoing dialogue between the ‘preacher types’ and the ‘healer types,’ each presenting their biblical basis for saying that “Preaching” is right, or “Healing” is the answer. They both have strong arguments. Fielding helps us to better understand this artificial dichotomy. You may be surprised to hear that the author (a medical doctor) will conclude that the answer is not one or the other, but both. And will try to convince you that the church has to once again embrace the opportunities of Preaching and Healing in order to more effectively reach all who need to hear the good news.

I like how he takes the “A,B,Cs” of emergency medicine (airway, breathing, circulation, etc) and applies them to missions. Let me share just a bit to whet your appetite to buy the book (available through our mission link on the right).

We all know the biblical mandate for missions. Both the OT and NT make it very clear. Jesus, makes it very clear in his teachings, and the early NT church got to it after a while (after the initial persecution of the early church). In the book, Fielding suggests the following as a model for a form of missions that is both Preaching and Healing, whether you are a health care worker or not.

Access the community. Be in the community, side by side the people you are trying to reach. This is the relatively easy part.

Get Behind closed doors. Although mass-evangelism can work, it is more effective getting into peoples homes where you can share the love of Christ with them and their family.

Care for people with the compassion of Christ. That care takes many forms, both tangible and non-tangibles, medical and non-medical. There is great power in first diligently listening, and then praying for people in their time of trouble.

Disciple the believers – to be followers of what Jesus taught (remember he said to go and make disciples, ‘teaching them to obey all that I have taught you’.) This may not take the traditional form of teacher/student, but that of ministering along side one another, learning the culture and language, while modeling the Jesus-way of life. It’s not just about head knowledge, but heart knowledge translated into a Holy Spirit empowered transformed life.

Empower the local body of Christ-followers. If Sally and I try to do it all, there are only two of us – limited impact. But if we do the A,B,Cs and then do D and E, God can multiply the effect. I have to confess it is often hard, with my ‘I can do it all’ mentality, to let go and empower others to do it. Yep, they will make mistakes along the way, but so have I. Our task is to encourage one another in our walk with Christ.

So there it is – the summary of the ABCs of Preach and Heal missions. For us the ‘A’ and ‘C’ is the easy part, but the ‘B’ is the part that takes effort. And without an intentionality of the ‘D’ and ‘E’, we would just be another group doing good for the poor. Christ calls us to do more than just ‘do good.’

The book has several chapters on how one can take these ABCs and apply them to areas like Community Health, Water and Sanitation, Nutrition, Prison and Refugee Camps, Volunteer teams, and some traditional medical areas like HIV/AIDS, Community based TB treatment, and Mobile Medical Clinics.

I would really encourage you to get this book. If you are interested there is another article on “Teach, Preach, and Heal” by Michael K. Augustson, MD that challenges us along these lines. (www.churchclinic.org/resources/hcrs_teach_preach.pdf) It’s a great read.

As you might imagine, Sally and I are once again rethinking how we are doing our work in view of these simple, but biblical concepts. We are excited to think of what God may do though us by applying this to our ministry to the Basotho in the mountains of Lesotho. We’ll keep you informed…

Back in the Air Again

Wanted to let you all know that the gov't has paid enough of the bill so that LFDS is back flying again. Thank you for praying! So tomorrow, Monday, the LFDS team will head to the remote mountain village of Matekane to provide much needed medical care. I won't be there as I am heading to Augusta, Georgia to the Medical Missions Mobilization Summit at Warren Baptist Church. (http://www.regonline.com/MMMS10)

Thanks again for standing in the gap for the Basotho.

Is My Heart Burning?

This morning I began re-reading a book Kelly gave me for Christmas a couple of years ago. The book is entitled "Great Days with the Great Lives" and provides daily readings along with Scriptures that chronicles 10 great lives found in the Bible. In the introduction, the Russian Poet Boris Pasternak is quoted

"It is not revolutions and upheavals that clear the road

to new and better days, but someone's soul inspired and ablaze."

That caught my attention immediately. I'm ready for a clear road to new and better days. The past months have been frustrating as the ministry plans Sally and I had seem to have all fallen apart. We've been praying for direction, for inspiration, for 'revolutions' of ideas if I may use that term. So I could relate to the poets quote. But then I read it again and realized that what was lacking was the latter part.

To be very honest, I have been spending too much time contemplating the unaccomplished things, and the challenges at LFDS, and the difficulties with the government, etc. Considering the poets thesis, I would classify myself as having a soul that is uninspired and certainly not ablaze. That may sound harsh, but it is true. The past 12 days of not flying again has afforded me the time to do some self evaluation and soul searching. It has been a process of asking hard questions, talking to God, and waiting for answers. Which is the really hard part because I am of the personality type that likes to make things happen. But not this time, I've purposed to go slow and learn.

So what am I doing? I've realized that this is time to immerse myself in the Scriptures. In addition to reading the gospels, I enjoy listening to podcasts of great preachers. I was doing just that last evening as I was on the eliptical. The sermon was based on Jesus' words in John 15 "if my words abide in you..." As I came to the end I was evaluating the message and was about to say 'this wasn't that great' when the preacher said something that hit hard. He shared how he and his wife have a weekly lunch 'date' and that for the past 6 months that date took the form of the first 20 minutes lamenting all the challenges and problems they were facing in the church family. He shared that in the midst of that date he suddenly realized that they had not once shared scripture, but only complaints. They purposed at that moment to change. He shared a verse that really hit me. The psalmist David is in the midst of trouble but is writing about the past mercies of God. He says,

I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;

I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;

I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness

from the great congregation.

As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me;

your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! (Psalm 40:10-11 ESV)

What struck me was that I had been focusing on all the 'troubles' Sally and I are having and haven't recalled the great mercies and the faithfulness and the salvation God has shown toward us. Not only that, but I haven't been speaking of that faithfulness and salvation, instead just complaining. No wonder I don't have a inspired and burning soul. I know I'm not the only one that is struggling with this. I do recall those in the Scriptures who call out to God to give them a heart that burns for him, that longs for God and his word, that is ablaze with the joy that comes from being totally satisfied with and in Jesus Christ. What I've realized is that I need what only God can do through the power of the Holy Spirit through Scriptures - to transform me more towards the image of Christ. Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." (John 6:63 ESV)

So, as we wait to hear the news of when we can get back to flying to serve the Basotho in the mountains, I'll be trying to do better at recalling the great mercies of God and saturating my mind with the life changing, soul igniting words of Jesus Christ.

Daily by His Grace,

Larry

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Grounded once again!

Well, it's a repeat of last year! The Lesotho gov't is 3 months behind on their flight bill payment to Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and so we're grounded once again. The explanation given this time is that the Finance Ministry (like the Dept of the Treasury) has failed to process things to get the money transfered. This same thing happened last October and we were grounded for a month. So, no Doctor Team flights, no patient flights except for life threatening emergencies.

Incarnational Ministry in Matsaile

Justin and Korby are there! That's right, as of Monday they are now living in Matsaile village. last week was a flurry of activities as we flew three flights to get all the supplies there and things readied. Wed/Thur Mike Shutts (MAF Pilot/Mechanic) and I were flown there to install the solar and radio system. As usual, we had to haul the supplies from the airstrip to the village, a 30 minute walk. Once there, we began the work of re-assembling the antenna pole. A big thanks to Roger Clark (MAF Mechanic) who helped to build the antenna in pieces so it would fit in the airplane and then be easy to assemble at the village. With the four pieces put together, Mike and I and one of the men in the village got the pole up next to the house. Then we ran some metal straps above the block wall and under the thatch to fix it in place (the pole had a spike welded to the bottom to drive into the ground). Then it was time to hoist up the folded dipole antenna and secure the ends.

Next it was time to put up the 80 watt solar panel and do the electrical wiring. We had brought Mike's folding aluminum ladder so it made for easy access to the thatch roof. The stuff is really thick so Mike pushed through guide wires so I could then send back through the wire to secure the panel to the rafters. Then back inside again to set up the lights. Justin and Korby now have two 12 volt lights that give some great lighting.

Well, once we had the solar installed it was time to test out the HF Radio. Mike gave a call to "49" (that's the MAF base in Maseru at Mejametelana Airport) and they answered back. The radio works, but this is the time of year in the solar sun spot cycle where communication via HF radio is not ideal. We will use it during daytime hours as a means

to communicate with the guys. There is one area in the village where there is cell phone coverage. Already we have had to use that backup plan as that day the radio signals were not good.

We praise God for all the help from our support team in Johannesburg as well as the great MAF team here in Maseru. It took a lot of team work to get all the supplies to Matsaile airstrip and then to the village. Praise God for the faithful support of Southern Baptists in giving to missions to make this possible. We now have two young guys being "Jesus" to the people of Matsaile village and the 6 surrounding villages. There is no question now that the good news of the gospel will reach the Basotho there.

The guys are outfitted pretty good now. They have their solar lights as primary with headlamps, candles and kerosene lantern for backup. The rondoval has a kerosene heater that also doubles as a one burner cooker. They have as their main cooking source lpg gas to run their two burner stove and the camp fridge. It's a pretty good set up and will work well for them to have as their home and base of operations. I will be traveling there twice a month as part of our normal Lesotho Flying Doctor Services mobile health post so I will use that opportunity to meet with the guys as part of my part in mentoring them. LFDS also has the

public health team that travels there once a month to do pre-natal care and under-5s immunizations. This will give the guys some 'outside' contact apart from the radio calls. The plan right now is for daily radio/phone checks. We have had one 'hiccup' as the promised completion of their pit latrine did not come through. We will fly two more bags of cement there on

Friday (weather permitting) so it can be completed. Meanwhile, they have another pit latrine they can use.

So, please pray for Justin and Korby as they adjust to life in Matsaile village.

Pray for opportunities to share the love of Jesus with the Basotho there.

Pray for endurance as they learn to live in the village.

Pray for wisdom in the work they do there.

Will send more pics next week after I make a visit there on Tuesday. Meanwhile, I'm back to our LFDS clinic and health post doctor team visits.

Hurray for Megan!

We are so proud of our daughter Megan! This Sunday we celebrated her graduation from Hope College with many of our extended family.

We want to thank God for all that He has done in her life over the years, and especially the past 4 at Hope
College.

We also want to thank so many of you that have contributed to her success - by your encouragement, by your loving care, by your 'taking care' of her while we have been in Uganda and Lesotho. It is not easy being away from our kids, but we have seen them taken care of and loved on by so many of you when we have not been able to be physically there. Thanks too to our Uganda and Kenyan friends that helped to 'shape' Megan while she was in school there.

It was great to get back in the USA a week ahead of time to 'reset' our clocks and be 'awake' for her graduation. Graduation at Hope always falls at the same time as

the Holland Tulip Festival so we got the added fun

of seeing over a million tulips in blossom around Holland.

Graduation day was sunny and we enjoyed having family there with us. Adam flew in from DC and Kelly drove

up from Taylor University in Indiana. Sally's mom and sister and kids came as well as some of our family. It was great to see not only Megan graduate but also some of her Rift Valley Academy classmates.

After grad we went over to Aaron and Jenn's (thank you again!) and had a party to celebrate Megan's birthday, her graduation and Mother's day.

Lots of food and conversation, getting caught up with family, seeing the newest addition to the Pepper family - Dan and McKenzie's daughter - welcome to this crazy family Alexis Pepper.

So what's next for Megan?

For the next two months she's coming back to Lesotho with her sister to spend their summer (our winter) together. She interviewed with CityYear and is waiting to hear about a job in Boston that would start late August. Meanwhile we will spend till May 21st here in the MidWest enjoying time with family and friends.

Outfitting the Rondoval for the Journeyguys

Just got back from the mountains - Matsaile Village. We did a MAF cargo flight to carry up the new door and other furnishings for the Justin and Korby's rondoval (round house). This is phase one of outfitting the place. Everything has to be weighed and then secured in the Cessna 206T. Oliphant and Maila did a great job getting all the stuff loaded in and tied down. The flight is about 40 minutes - roughly 70 miles. There are no roads to the village. The airstrip is 0.4 miles from the village so we carried things by hand and wheel barrows. Took 4 of us two trips but we got the door/frame, futon, mattress, table/chairs, bedding, some kitchen items, and the portable generator and tools I needed to put in the new door. By the time we got everything to the village it was close to getting dark so the work had to wait till morning.

We are so grateful for the way several people in the village have embraced the idea of having the guys living there to share the gospel and teach the bible. This week I had three guys that were so helpful in getting the door put in - Ntate Tsupane, Ntate Thabang, and Ntate Moloi.

Woke up the next morning to a cloudy, drizzle and cold day. Started by tooking out the old door that didn't fit and

couldn't latch shut. (Note the traditional Basotho blankets. They are really warm - part wool/acrylic). Next was the task of fitting the new door frame into the opening. Fortunately I was able to drill and anchor the frame to the stone blocks. Then it was the task of fitting, and adjusting and re-adjusting till it was in. I am so grateful to my dad for his patience over the years of teaching me a lot of different things like basic carpentry and electrical and plumbing. Some may argue that a little knowledge is dangerous, but hey, with the combined skill of the four of us we got the door in. (Ntate Tsupane knows stone work and some carpentry). After that, it was time to

use mud/manure mixture to seal around the door frame to fill in any gaps. Sounds weird but really works good. Through out the day we talked about a variety of things including the word of God and what place it has in their lives.

We finished the work by around noon but the weather was too bad between Matsaile and Maseru for the pickup flight. It worked out well as it gave me time to reassemble the futon, the table and chair, to put down 2/3 of the floor covering, and clean up. I was blessed that evening by one of the widows who had cooked something like an egg omelet and cornmeal for me for my supper. It was pretty exciting to be able to sleep in this rondoval that will be the home of Justin and Korby. I enjoyed the extra time to read my bible and pray for the people of Matsaile, for Justin and Korby, and for the expansion of God's kingdom there.

I woke up the next morning to look out the window to see 10 feet of visibility as the entire village was blanketed in a fog. Turns out Maseru was totally enveloped in a fog as well so all aviation activities were on stand by. By mid morning the fog lifted and the flights could begin. Ntate Tsupane, Ntate Thabang and I headed to the airstrip carrying the generator and tools. I got back to a sunny Maseru by mid afternoon, thanking God for a successful journey.

We have more trips to go as we still have the solar panel, batteries, radio antenna, radio and other supplies to install. That will happen the end of May after we get back from the USA.

Oh yeah, we are so excited to be heading to Michigan next week. We are so proud of our daughter Megan as she will be graduating from Hope College on May 9th (her birthday too).

More about that later...

Mountain Men for Matsaile

We are so excited to finally have Korby (on right) and Justin here in Maseru. These two young guys are recent college grads that are doing the IMBs Journeyman program. They will be working with our team over the next two years - but living in the remote mountain village of Matsaile. This past week Sally and I have been getting them oriented to some things in Lesotho like driving a stick shift on the other side of the road, beginnings of language lessons, lots of Q/A about the things we've learned over the past year, meeting Tom, Cindi and Eli (our team mates), meeting some of the MAF team, etc. We've been working with our mission to get things ready for their living in the mountains in a rondoval (round house). We've got their HF radio/antennae and this week picked up the solar system that will provide the basic power needs for the radio and two lights. And we got them a new door - which the guys and I spent almost two days putting on the hinges (it's a split stable door), lock set, frame, and varnishing it so it will be ready to install in the rondoval as the current door doesn't lock and doesn't close right. It would be pretty cold with the old door. Their rondoval is the one on the left with the lighter cut stone. It is 18 feet in diameter which is pretty big. We also hauled over to the MAF hanger two truck loads of their supplies for their place. It will be transported up along with the door early next week.

We also took the guys over to Ladybrand, RSA for a horse riding lesson. Even though we have all rode before, Sally and I knew that we'd benefit and they also

agreed that we could all learn something new. We

over some basics of riding and horse behavior. Boy I wish I had done that when we first got here...

Well, I took the guys to the airport this morning as they head off to Zambia for 30 days of training with our mission. It will be all about living in remote situations, learning language, and living in community.

Pray with us as we continue to prepare things for Justin and Korby in Matsaile. I had planned on taking a plane load of things today to Matsaile but the weather was not cooperative. We will have about three to four plane loads of things - especially the door. I have to get that installed so the place can lock. Hoping to do that next Tue/Wed. We are so excited to have these two guys on our team. They love the Lord, they are committed to investing two years of their lives in the lives of the people of Matsaile and the surrounding 6 other villages. Their task will be to live among the people as an incarnational witness of Jesus, to share the good news, to teach the bible, and to start new churches. A big task...