Early September is the time for the peach blossoms to come out and welcome the return of spring.  The beautiful color they add to the otherwise mostly brown landscape is easily detected as you walk or drive around the countryside.  Sometimes the blossoms get surprised with a late taste of winter, but this year September has warmed up nicely and winter seems to be securely in the rearview mirror.

Those familiar words quoted above from Ecclesiastes have been on my mind quite a bit as some unexpected change is coming into my life.  This year marks my 15^th year of teaching at Masitise.  I am completing my 3^rd time around taking groups of students through their five years of high school mathematics. If there is a good time to leave teaching, it would be this year at the end of the term in November.

For some time now the church leadership of the Lesotho Evangelical Church has been asking me to consider taking up the position of Planning Officer.  This is a full-time position which would require me to leave teaching and Masitise, something I was quite reluctant to do at first.  However, since in Global Ministries we seek to work with our partners, like the LEC, and serve in capacities where they feel we can be of benefit, I have found it difficult to refuse the call of the church.  Many years ago I never thought I would be teaching math in Africa but God led me there.  I’ve come to trust that God knows best and I do now feel led to follow this call in a new direction.

So, later this year I will be moving to Morija, a small town about 25 miles south of the capital city Maseru.  Morija is the historic home of the LEC.  It was founded in July 1833 by French Protestant missionaries and is now the home of many LEC institutions.  The LEC church there is the oldest standing church in the country.  It was constructed during 1847-57 using locally made bricks.  The steeple was added in 1905 when parts of the church were rebuilt. 

While I hope to work at home in Morija part of the time, I will also be working out of the LEC office in Maseru.  This position will involve working with various institutions of the church in identifying development projects, assisting the church in preparing project proposals and coordinating project implementation.   Such projects could include things like new classrooms for schools and water projects.  I’ll be working with pastors and churches, principals and schools.  I will also be serving on the denomination’s Planning Commission. 

Earlier this month the LEC President, Rev. Tseliso Masemene, and my pastor, Rev. Zacharias Ramonotsi, graduated from the University of the Free State in South Africa after completing an honors course in Pastoral Theology.  Both are hoping to continue their studies at this institution next year by beginning work on a master’s degree.  Not many of the LEC pastors have done post-graduate studies, a situation which often leaves the LEC Seminary in Morija short-handed.  It is hoped that one day one or both of them will join the faculty at the seminary.

The Scripture Union group Friends of God continues to do well.  In August thirty-eight of our students attended the annual rally (left) for the southern districts of Lesotho.  Around two hundred students and leaders from eight different schools were in attendance.  My co-leader of our group, Mrs. Salemane, was not with us as she was on maternity leave.  She recently returned to her duties at Masitise along with her first-born child, a daughter named Tsepiso (“Promise”).

In the past year a number of generous churches and individuals contributed funds to Global Ministries for the Computers for Masitise project.  Before installing the computers we’ve had to renovate an old classroom and make it suitable as a computer lab.  Most of the renovation work (left) is now finished and we are awaiting the delivery of fifty computers.  We hope to receive these by the end of September.  More photos of the new lab with the computers and students will appear in the next newsletter.  Thanks be to God for your support!  

Another verse that I’ve been thinking of in making the decision to leave Masitise is Romans 8:28. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Yours prayers for me in this transition would be much appreciated.

Yours in Christ,

Mark Behle

Email:  mark37438@yahoo.com

Mark Behle is a missionary with the Lesotho Evangelical Church.  He is a Mathematics teacher at Masitise High School, Lesotho.