Thursday, March 29, 2007

Mission Helps Team


Dear Everyone,

We are privileged to Dave Weaver, Jonathan Lucas, & Jon McVey with us for two weeks. They are here as a Mission Helps team to help us re-roof and remodel our storeroom into a "prophets chamber." They are doing great work and LOTS of it!

We're busy too!

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Lesotho Update

Dear Praying Friends,
Time flies, and I'm sure it's time for another prayer update.  Thank you so much for your faithfulness!
Praise:

  • Thank the Lord for encouragement and spiritual food that I (Glenn) got from the Ministers' Conference that we attended just over a week ago.  Also we are praising the Lord for protection on the long journey.  It was nice to be with Rev. John Parker and Dr. Alan Brown.  (Dr. Brown presented a session on the doctrine of holiness.)
  • Thank you for praying for the difficult situation with a nurse who was fired at the clinic.  There are still some problems, but God has helped us.
Prayer:
  • This is a very busy time for us.  A Mission Helps team is coming to help us put a roof on the back part of our house next week.  There is much work to be done to get ready for their arrival.  Also pray for success, good weather, and protection while they are here.  Pray that God will bless them for leaving their jobs in America for more than two weeks to help us out!
  • Continue to pray for revival among the pastors.
  • Our annual Easter conference will be from the 5th to the 8th of April.  Pray for a special outpouring of God's Spirit during this time!
  • Continue to pray for the political situation in Lesotho.  Today there was a large demonstration that blocked the streets in front of the parliament building.  So far things have been peaceful, but there are "rumblings" that worry us.
  • Please help us pray for rain.  This summer has been very hot and draw.  Many farmers have just chopped their corn crop into silage to feed their cows.  We really need rain before winter comes.

The success of our ministry to the Basotho depends on faith-filled intercession.  Your prayers make a difference in the battle for the hearts of the lost!

Sincerely,
Glenn, Stephanie, & Kaitlyn Gault
Hope International Missions

Group E-mail

Dear Everyone,
Steph started writing this e--mail, but all she did was put the addresses on it. I guess I'll write a little, and then maybe she'll add some more if she has time. This morning I worked at Matukeng until 12:00, then we came to Ladybrand after doing a couple errands in Lesotho on the way. Steph took Michelle out for lunch for her birthday, so I have Kaitlyn for a while.

I've been busy working on the carport shelter at Matukeng. I'm building it out of steel, so the all it needs now is the roof. We started digging the foundation for the storeroom beside it today. I think we will pour it tomorrow. I've still got LOTS I want to get done before the Mission Helps team arrives next Friday! Steph has been busy, too. Tuesday she made pear butter. I think she's also been doing some cooking for when we have visitors.

We're going to have a busy fall and winter. After the building team leaves, it sounds like Christy Contreras and her friend Debbie Cawman will be visiting for a few weeks. Debbie is working with Pilgrim Wesleyan Mission (Merrifields) and we think she's planning to eventually got to Mozambique. We're not sure of all her plans, but she called Steph on Tuesday to ask if she could come here for a while when Christy is here. Then in June and July a TLC team and another team from here in South Africa will be with us. I think they will mostly be staying in Ladybrand and with Uncle Piet and Aunt Hester, but they will want to do outreaches and visit in Lesotho. After they leave, we're planning to go to Zimbabwe with Bibles.

Not a whole lot worth writing about has happened since we e-mailed last Friday. Sunday night was S.W. van der Merwe's "English" 21st birthday party. (There is another celebration on the actually day for the rest of his relatives. This one was for the missionaries.) We had a really nice evening with him and spent the night at their house. Monday morning we left early to go to Bloemfontein for Steph to get a tooth fixed. As usual it was a long day, but we got a lot of errands done while we were there. By evening, Kaitlyn was sick and tired of being in her car seat, so we took her to the Mc Donald's playland for a little while. We got back to the van der Merwe's late, so we spent the night again there and came back to Lesotho first thing on Tuesday. Tonight was supposed to be a school board meeting, but that got postponed. I guess as soon as we get a few groceries, we'll head back to Lesotho.

Well, that's all I can think of. Maybe Steph will add some more.
Love to all,
Glenn, Stephanie, & Kaitlyn

P.S. The pictures are from Kwasizabantu. It is a beautiful mission property. The flowers come from their own nursery and gardens. In the background of the other picture is the auditorium that seats 10,000 people. The first one is self explanitory, I think.

Group E-mail

Dear Everyone,
Steph started writing this e--mail, but all she did was put the addresses on it.  I guess I'll write a little, and then maybe she'll add some more if she has time.  This morning I worked at Matukeng until 12:00, then we came to Ladybrand after doing a couple errands in Lesotho on the way.  Steph took Michelle out for lunch for her birthday, so I have Kaitlyn for a while.

I've been busy working on the carport shelter at Matukeng.  I'm building it out of steel, so the all it needs now is the roof.  We started digging the foundation for the storeroom beside it today.  I think we will pour it tomorrow.  I've still got LOTS I want to get done before the Mission Helps team arrives next Friday!  Steph has been busy, too.  Tuesday she made pear butter.  I think she's also been doing some cooking for when we have visitors.

We're going to have a busy fall and winter.  After the building team leaves, it sounds like Christy Contreras and her friend Debbie Cawman will be visiting for a few weeks.  Debbie is working with Pilgrim Wesleyan Mission (Merrifields) and we think she's planning to eventually got to Mozambique.  We're not sure of all her plans, but she called Steph on Tuesday to ask if she could come here for a while when Christy is here.  Then in June and July a TLC team and another team from here in South Africa will be with us.  I think they will mostly be staying in Ladybrand and with Uncle Piet and Aunt Hester, but they will want to do outreaches and visit in Lesotho.  After they leave, we're planning to go to Zimbabwe with Bibles.

Not a whole lot worth writing about has happened since we e-mailed last Friday.  Sunday night was S.W. van der Merwe's "English" 21st birthday party.  (There is another celebration on the actually day for the rest of his relatives.  This one was for the missionaries.)  We had a really nice evening with him and spent the night at their house.  Monday morning we left early to go to Bloemfontein for Steph to get a tooth fixed.  As usual it was a long day, but we got a lot of errands done while we were there.  By evening, Kaitlyn was sick and tired of being in her car seat, so we took her to the Mc Donald's playland for a little while.  We got back to the van der Merwe's late, so we spent the night again there and came back to Lesotho first thing on Tuesday.  Tonight was supposed to be a school board meeting, but that got postponed.  I guess as soon as we get a few groceries, we'll head back to Lesotho.

Well, that's all I can think of.  Maybe Steph will add some more.
Love to all,
Glenn, Stephanie, & Kaitlyn

P.S.  The pictures are from Kwasizabantu.  It is a beautiful mission property.  The flowers come from their own nursery and gardens.  In the background of the other picture is the auditorium that seats 10,000 people.  The third one is self explanitory, I think.

Friday, March 9, 2007

Greetings from Steph and Kaitlyn

Dear Friends and Family,
Here's a quick update on our lives.

We were able to stay at the farm Thursday night last week.  It had been quite a while since we had been there.  All of us had been longing to see each other.  We had a very nice visit that night and Friday morning before going back to Lesotho.
Glenn had a very lengthy meeting on Saturday morning.  The financial committee explained the church's budget to all of the congregation delegates.  They were wondering why each congregation had to come up with so much money for the Easter conference.  Looking to the government and leaders for help is a definite African mindset.  I feel that Glenn and the committee are doing a wonderful job of slowly leading the national church towards more independence, but here and there, there are a few growing pains.  Glenn said the meeting went well.

He has been working on a carport/storeroom last week.  He hopes to get it finished (or at least close) so the things in the back storeroom of our house can go in the new storeroom.  That will help the Missions Help team get more done when they arrive.

Glenn left early Monday morning for the ministers' conference at KwaSiZaBantu (near Durban) and traveled with the Geises and several South African pastors.  Uncle Piet and Aunt Hester also went taking a load of Lesotho pastors and maybe some more South Africans.  Glenn has sent me quite a few text messages and calls me once a day.  The weather has been nice, and the services have been good.  I think maybe there are 4 services a day, for sure 3. I think there are at least 1000 people there.   Bro. John Parker, the Bible Methodist Missions leader (I'm not sure what his title is), is there.  Also Dr. Allan Brown (I think, maybe it's his son).  I believe they are in charge of the first IHC in South Africa. That should be interesting.

Steve and Gwen and their two children, Philip, Glenn, and at least two other men are crowded into a trailer house.  Glenn said things are "cramped".   I am glad I chose not to go!  Glenn will not come back till  late Saturday night.  The conference ends Wednesday night or Thursday morning.  I think the IHC starts Friday and ends Saturday night.

Kaitlyn and I have had a quiet time here.  She and Thabiso enjoy playing  together--not much interaction--but they do communicate some.  Thabiso is walking now, although he still prefers to crawl every now and then.  He is three months younger than Kaitlyn.  It is interesting to compare them.  I do think that often Basotho babies develop slower physically and mentally probably because of poor nutrition.  Thabiso is so cute.  He has the most adorable smile!  Kaitlyn started calling him "Papis" but now it's "Hobby".  'Me Manthabi is "Me Mahobby".  She talks all the time about them, also Micah (Geise) even though she hasn't seen him for a couple weeks.

Sunday afternoon we went to a "missionary fellowship" in Maseru.  Every couple months they do this, usually to have a farewell time for leaving missionaries and welcoming new missionaries.  Kaitlyn enjoyed all the toys that the hostess has at her place.  (It's the same place where my Bible study is.)  The whole weekend the weather was acting like rain was coming.  We did get 1 ml and then 5 ml one day.  Sunday I thought for sure the fellowship would be rained out, but the clouds kept moving on.  The cool weather was refreshing.  Monday was windy and cool, and that night it was quite cool.  I forgot to check how low it got, but it was a foretaste of fall weather.  Today (Wed) was warmer, but things have not climbed back up into the 90's and I'm not sure that they will.
I'm hoping to go to town tomorrow (Thur), but I'm not sure if I will.  Kaitlyn's running a fever again.  I think it's her teeth, but I'm not sure.  I guess you'll get this when you get it!  I'd better wrap this up so it gets sent this week.

Oh, I forgot to share my early morning scare.  After our family devotions this morning, Kaitlyn and I went to make the bed.  Often she "helps" me, but today she was sick and grumpy so I set her on top of two pillows on my side of the bed while I made the bed.  Then I put her on the bed and picked up the pillows to put them on the bed.  I noticed a "bug".  After a closer look, I realized it was a scorpion.  I grabbed Kaitlyn and put her in her chair in the kitchen then got the bug spray.  But the scorpion was gone.  I gingerly shook out my penguin, my sandals and my rug which had all been on my side of the bed, but no scorpion.  I really didn't think I could sleep in my room tonight if it was still there.  I sent a text message to Glenn, kept on praying, and started spraying the room after moving my nightstand and the bed some.  I give the bed another shove, it was there.  It put up a fight with its tail against the spray, but it just wasn't big enough.  I felt very shivery afterward.  When Glenn is here, I get up on my side of the bed, but I've been getting up on his side while he's gone.  Usually I get up barefoot although I suppose the scorpion could be in the sandals too.  Then Kaitlyn was sitting basically on top of it.  Just yesterday morning she got in bed with me then after a while she got down on the floor on my side.  I'm so thankful for God's protection in our lives!

Thursday morning:
Kaitlyn is still running a fever so we're waiting to go to town till Friday.  It's cloudy and cool here today.  Glenn said it's cloudy and rainy there and not much is going on.  He is hoping to go on a tour of the mission if it does not rain too much.  Trust you will all have a wonderful weekend.  Thank you for all your prayers, emails, and love!

Love and Blessings,
Stephanie

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Lesotho Update

Dear Praying Friends,
Once again we want to thank you for your faithful prayers!  They mean so much to us, and we see God at work as a result.
Praise:

  • Just last night Philip Geise sent us a text message on our cell phone saying that one of the students from Hope Christian Academy prayed to get saved!  Rejoice with us!
  • Glenn and the other workers finished the incinerator for the clinic yesterday
  • Praise God that the elections went smoothly in Lesotho, and so far there has been no bloodshed in the aftermath.  (See the prayer request below, though.)
Prayer:
  • Please continue to pray for the political situation in Lesotho.  Two parties have not accepted the outcome of the elections, and tensions are growing.  Earlier this week a hand grenade was thrown at a politician's house.  Fortunately no one was injured.  A strike or demonstration has been planned for early in March.  Please help us pray that God will diffuse the tension and prevent widespread violence.
  • Pray for the pastors in Lesotho.  Next week we will be attending a ministers' conference and the first IHC in South Africa.  Pray that this will be a time of revival for all of us.  Pray for traveling mercy on the long trip.  Also pray for Stephanie who is not going.
  • Continue praying for God's help at the clinic.  We have had to deal with a difficult situation where a nurse stole drugs and sold them for profit.  We forgave him for the stolen drugs, but dismissed him.  Instead of accepting our forgiveness, he took the clinic to court for "unfairly dismissing him."
News:
  • A Mission Helps team is coming from the 23rd of March to the 6th of April to help us put a new roof on the back part of our house.  We are really looking forward to their help and fellowship. 
  • It is hot and very dry here.  People are saying that they will have to kill some of their cattle by June or July if there is not enough rain.

If you don't want to receive this e-mail prayer update, just drop us a line, and we'll take your name off the list.  We promise we won't be offended!  If you want more info, you can check out our blog at www.gaultsinlesotho.blogspot.com.

We depend on your prayers!
Glenn, Stephanie, & Kaitlyn Gault
Hope International Missions

Group Email

Steph is at the missionary ladies' Bible Study, so I'm writing the group e-mail today.  We came to town together.  Kaitlyn stayed with me so Steph could be free at the Bible study.  I'm sitting in the car at MAF's hanger.  A cool breeze is blowing for a change after several days of hot, calm days.  Kaitlyn is asleep.

For what it's worth, people are saying this is one of the hottest summers for a long time in South Africa/Lesotho.  I don't put a whole lot of stock in comments like these because we tend to forget other hot summers and cold winters.  Nevertheless, it has been HOT and very dry.  We haven't had significant rain for a month or more, and everything is just withering up.  A lot of corn fields will be a total loss, but a few people planted early enough that they'll get a decent harvest.  Last Sunday someone told me that they would have to slaughter there cows by June or July if we don't get a lot of rain between now and then.  Another young man told me he plans to sell his cows soon while prices are still good.

This has been a very busy week again, but I can't think of much news to write.  We finished up the incinerator yesterday except for installing the steel doors and grates.  Yesterday I had steel and cement delivered to start build the carport storage shed.  I can't remember if we told you that we're expecting a Mission Helps team at the end of March to help us put a roof on the back of our house and begin turning the storeroom into an efficiency apartment.  Before they come I have to get this storeroom built and move the stuff out of the present storeroom into the new one so we can remodel the old one.

The difficult case with the dishonest nurse at the clinic seems to be dragging on.  The police closed his illegal clinic and gave us back the drugs he stole from us that were left.  We are trying to avoid taking legal action at quite a financial loss to the clinic, but the outcome of everything isn't clear yet.  The way he talked to the church secretary earlier this week, it's like he's wanting to bring a law suit against the clinic somehow.

Monday next week several of the pastors and I are going to Kwasizabantu Mission near Durban for a pastors' conference and the first IHC in South Africa.  I'm not positive, but I think Bro. John Parker and Bro. Leonard Sankey are speakers at both conferences.  The pastors' conference is from Monday to Wednesday and I think the IHC starts on Thursday or Friday to Saturday or maybe Sunday.  We'll come back on Saturday afternoon/evening so that the pastors can be at their churches on Sunday.

The Lesotho Defence Force seems to be testing or repairing one of their helicopters. They start it up for a few minutes, then stop it again to do more work.

Kailtyn is talking more and more.  This morning she saw Munchkin chasing the cat and said, "Dog run fast."  She uses quite a few 3 and 4 words sentences.  We think she's going to be a real chatter box!

Well, I can't think of anything else to write, so I'll close.

Love,
Glenn, Steph, & Kaitlyn