Barry and Heather work with Growing Nations in Maphutseng, Lesotho. On 1st April the price of fuel, fixed by the government, increased significantly; petrol went up 26% and diesel and paraffin both went up 60% overnight! There is a 15% increase in taxi fares on the way, and food prices will inevitably follow, as farmers and retailers pass on increased fertiliser, fuel and transport costs. Many rely on paraffin for heating and cooking too, so that will have a massive impact on people, particularly as the country heads into winter. In Lesotho, a country with already high unemployment and dependant on importing most of its food, the impact of the war will hit hard. The work of Growing Nations, helping people to grow more of their own food, is more important now than ever. Please join them in praying for peace, reconciliation and restoration in the Middle East and in the many other often forgotten places in Africa and beyond, where sadly war is a daily part of life. Pray too that Growing Nations’ voice will be heard, accepted and adopted by those around them who are resistant to change.

Barry and Heather work with Growing Nations in Maphutseng, Lesotho. One of the joys of being in Lesotho is hearing the testimonies that gradually come to light during conversations with the team. Examples of these include past students who are developing their own agri-businesses and others, such as Katleho Mohalinyane, who are now leaders in their community. He was a student in 2021-22, who returned home to his remote community, put into practice what he had learnt and the whole community was so impressed with his Farming God’s Way demonstrations, and the way in which his life had changed, that they asked him to be their representative on the local council in 2023. Katleho has used the leadership skills and confidence in God, which were developed during his time at Growing Nations, to influence others in a positive way and bring change. The Growing Nations team also discovered that he had a gift of writing when he was a student, which they encouraged him to develop whilst there. He has subsequently published several books and in one he included a testimony about Growing Nations. Praise God for such testimonies and ask that the Lord may transform more lives through the work that Barry and Heather are part of.

Barry and Heather work with Growing Nations in Maphutseng, Lesotho. At the beginning of March was ‘Farming Quest’, a two-week training course to equip mission workers in how to use agriculture as a tool to share the gospel. Praise God that there were nine participants, three each from Botswana, Lesotho, and Zambia, all of whom had a calling to missions and were keen to learn different ways of sharing the gospel. Please pray that God will use what they have learned to further equip them for their future ministries. On 28^th March there will be a US mission group spending six weeks at Growing Nations, learning about serving on the mission field, and living & working alongside the students; this will include a two-week home stay with them over Easter. Ask the Lord to multiply the fruit of these events, that all who visit will experience the love of Christ and that they will leave transformed and inspired.