ISB Lesotho - Peter Grange

Lesotho a poor country with golden opportunities
Peter Grange of Nottingham West Branch opens some windows on the little-known country of Lesotho.
The entire country of Lesotho is over 1,400 metres above sea level completely surrounded by South Africa, with permanent snowfalls expected throughout the year in the most mountainous areas. It has a population of 1.8 million of whom 90% are Christian. 
It is a country where 40% of the population live on an income below $1.25 per day, yet has achieved a literacy rate of 94%. However some 23% are infected with HIV/aids. Funerals are traditionally lavish, leaving relatives with an additional financial burden.
The Gideon work was first started there in 1977 with some 1.5 million Scriptures having been distributed to date. There are currently around 20 active local Gideon members in the country. 

In September a team of ten International Gideons, eight from America, one from Australia and myself from the UK met to help the local Gideons. We began by first visiting the churches to explain what was going to happen. During the following five days we distributed over 107,000 Scriptures by the hand of a Gideon with words of witness and testimony.

This was a remarkable achievement since organisation in Africa can be a significant challenge. We give thanks to God that on many occasions it appeared that things were not going to work out, but in the end they did.

On the final flight into Lesotho I was sitting next to this young man. We were just 15 minutes from landing and I hadn't managed to get into conversation with him and was still praying for an opening. Then I managed accidentally to knock my tomato juice and spill it on him. This wasn't the kind of introduction I was thinking of when I was praying!
But we talked, and I discovered that he had studied in England and knew a good deal about the Gideons. He expressed an interest in helping with the International Scripture Blitz I was about to join in Lesotho, and in becoming a Gideon. Please pray that as the local Gideon members work with him he will become a member.

We cautiously and prayerfully entered the dusty, dirt-covered open prison compound surrounded by cells, nervously carrying some 200 Testaments. We were shown to a central raised area and the prisoners gathered silently and slowly around. The armed guards moved back and I reminded myself of God's instruction to visit those in prison (Matthew 25:36).
This was the maximum-security section of the main prison in Maseru, the capital city of Lesotho. Some men were awaiting execution, most had little chance of parole, but this was just the sort of place Jesus would visit if He walked the earth today.

I did not see one prisoner refuse a Testament as we moved around and spoke with them. I introduced them to the Helps section at the beginning of the Testament followed by the Scriptures about God's love at the back and invited them to consider how they might want to respond to that love. I explained that today they could exercise the most important freedom of their whole lives, which would have an effect for eternity.

After talking further with the guards it was established there were some 1,000 other prisoners and guards and a couple of days later we were back with Testaments for all. We give thanks to God for His provision throughout the prison presentations; five institutions were visited in all.

One morning I was taken to a school of about 1,000 pupils. We took the assembly and were expecting to hand out the Testaments directly to the children as they went to their classes. But all the teachers were suddenly called to a meeting and the head girl and boy were left to show us around each class individually to pass out the Testaments.

It was a wonderful opportunity to talk individually to the children and many of them asked especially relevant questions. We were able to pray individually for many children as they enquired how to move closer to God. Thank you for your prayers. I do not think I have ever experienced such a blessed move of God. It was some 90 minutes before the teachers returned by which time we were finishing with the final class.

It is often very precious to take a moment after a presentation to pause and just watch God at work, as young and old alike open His Word, many, of course, for the first time in their lives. Please pray for some of these people as they engage with God so that future Gideons will be able to record a decision to follow Jesus.

What a joy to meet a pupil who received a Testament on a previous placement. Her decision to follow Jesus is recorded 24 April 1996. Do pray for her as she seeks to grow in God.