Lesotho is a Kingdom totally surrounded by South Africa, whom they depend on, as their biggest employer and buyer of their main natural resource – water. Lesotho is made up of highland villages, where people live in extreme poverty and few have heard the gospel.
In one of these highland villages Ntate Mosoang dreamt of a man sent by God to be a missionary in his remote location in the mountains of Lesotho. Whilst waiting for the man to appear Mosoang prepared for him, building three rooms for the expected guest.
Initially AIM’s work in Lesotho was in partnership with the Lesotho Evangelical Church, working in the lowlands and training pastors through a Theological Education by Extension (TEE) programme. As work developed in Lesotho AIM realised that there are large numbers living in highland villages, still not hearing the gospel. A team was recruited in 1994 and placed in highland areas, including in the village of Ntate Mosoang. Mosoang opened his home to the new team whilst they learnt Sesotho and took their first steps in preaching.
Now, a Training in Ministry Outreach (TIMO) team is seeking to reach the shepherds of Lesotho a group who have yet to hear the good news of the gospel. AIM are also working in lowlands, seeking to share Jesus through ‘Farming God’s Way’ practices and to equip local evangelists in their work.
Maureen Nyambura is about to join the LEAP team, a three month short term team for people interested in going into long term mission, to be trained and equipped in farming, disciple making, and being on a cross cultural team. She shares about her experience using Farming God’s Way.
In this episode, one our missionaries, Barry Mann, sits down with Molula. Born and raised in Lesotho, Molula participated in the Farming God’s Way programme at Growing Nations in Maphutseng after completing school.
Thabiso Matsoso was part of the Growing Nations student programme from 2013-2014. He is now using Farming God’s Way as he serves in Mozambique.
Over the past 15 years conservation agriculture, with its principles of minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover and crop rotation, has gone from being a fringe farming method, often laughed at by sceptical farmers, to being a viable alternative to conventional agriculture. Barry Mann, serving with his wife Heather at Growing Nations in Lesotho, tells us why.
Lesotho is a small landlocked country surrounded by South Africa. It boasts the highest low point of any country in the world and consists of mainly mountain highlands, giving it the name ‘The Kingdom in the Sky’. Barry and Heather Mann, AIM’s country leaders, tell us more.
The LEAP (Learn-Engage-Apply-Practice) Lesotho team provides on-field orientation and training to AIM members who may be waiting for their intended country of service to open up or to short-termers who are considering a future assignment.
