Making progress among the Lesotho shepherds
Nineteen months in and our team look, speak, live and even sometimes think like the most ostracised and impoverished people in Lesotho – The Balisana (shepherds).
The shepherds live high in the mountains of Lesotho – the Kingdom in the Sky – caring for flocks and herds, which belong to wealthy owners down in the valleys. They live in marginalised, isolated communities outside the reach of the local churches. From five and six years old, these boys and young men work away from their families with no education or literacy skills. But they have a very well-developed oral culture of songs and stories, which are handed down from generation to generation.
Nineteen months in and our team look, speak, live and even sometimes think like the most ostracised and impoverished people in Lesotho – The Balisana (shepherds).
Sam & Leanna are leading the Lesotho shepherds TIMO team. We asked their four children, Zeke (3), Zeph (5), Suzanna (11) and Ella (14) what’s it like.
It has been a year since the Lesotho TIMO team leaders Sam and Leanna Williamson moved to South Africa to prepare for the start of the Shepherds team’s assignment. Here are their reflections on what has happened since.
In December, Sam was interviewed on UCB radio about the Shepherds and the TIMO teams desire to reach them with the good news of Jesus Christ and plant a church among them.
The ‘Extreme TIMO Team’ reaching the Shepherds of Lesotho has finally begun! The international team is made up of five energetic and adventurous young men; Caleb, Spencer, Tobias, Mark and Chris, with Sam as their team leader.
Sam Williamson, who is leading the Lesotho Shepherds TIMO team, talks about finding a suitable location for the team and the unique living conditions…