From July 22 to August 9, the Lesotho District and the RSA Free State District hosted a LoveWorks team from Point Loma Nazarene University. This team assisted with outreach, evangelism, revitalization, and beautification of the district centre in Lesotho, located just outside the capital city of Maseru, as well as with evangelism and outreach in the RSA Free State District in South Africa. Lehlohonolo Oliphant leads the Lesotho District, and Sam James leads the RSA Free State District.
Oliphant acknowledges that the team from Point Loma has helped to restore some hope and purpose for the Nazarenes of Lesotho. “The effects have been exceptionally positive and encouraging,” Oliphant said. “The team’s involvement has fostered a stronger bond between our church and the overall community. It’s truly heart-warming to witness the connections being made.”
The presence of this team has been significant for the youth of the Nazarene churches in and around Maseru, Lesotho. It was essential to see the enthusiasm of the youth. Since the team is comprised of college-aged young people, it was good for the local youth to interact and connect with the group from Point Loma. It created a vibrant atmosphere that will have lasting effects.
One of the most crucial projects that the team helped to execute was restoring the water supply to the district centre. The centre had been without a reliable water supply since 2017, when the pump for their borehole burned out. The team helped install a new pump, ensuring that water was flowing to all parts of the centre. A school connected to the district centre will also now benefit from a working pump and borehole. Additionally, members of the community will take advantage of the water offered by the Lesotho District.
The team spent one week on the RSA Free State District, visiting schools, churches, and nursing homes across the district. Thanks to the coordinated effort of Dr Jarlen Keet, the district secretary, the team had a packed calendar and was able to visit a school for blind and deaf students outside of Bloemfontein, South Africa. A couple of highlights of the team’s time in the Free State were the visits to the churches in the evenings and time spent with young people. The enthusiasm of the young is something our churches can be proud of and utilise for God’s glory.
Let us join together in praying for the Lesotho District and the RSA Free State District as they strive to maintain momentum through follow-up visits in the community initiated by this team, and in engaging the youth to remain committed and enthusiastic.