Different Gifts
“We have different gifts…teaching…encouraging…contributing… leadership…” (Romans 12:6-8)
During February and March all twelve presbyteries in the Lesotho Evangelical Church (LEC) hold their annual meetings. The location rotates among the various parishes in each presbytery. Morija Presbytery had its meeting this year at Tsoeneng (above and right). The meeting took several days and on the final day, Sunday, all the parishes in the presbytery gathered together for worship. The umbrellas were out in force on a warm and sunny day.
“We have different gifts…teaching…encouraging…contributing… leadership…” (Romans 12:6-8)
During February and March all twelve presbyteries in the Lesotho Evangelical Church (LEC) hold their annual meetings. The location rotates among the various parishes in each presbytery. Morija Presbytery had its meeting this year at Tsoeneng. The meeting took several days and on the final day, Sunday, all the parishes in the presbytery gathered together for worship. The umbrellas were out in force on a warm and sunny day.
Every four years there are elections at all levels of the church: congregation, parish, presbytery and synod. Delegates are chosen at each level to represent it at the one 
above it. 2013 is an election year and the new presbytery committee for Morija was elected and introduced during the service. Delegates from this committee will represent Morija at the annual synod meeting at the end of April when elections will be held for the top leadership of the church. “…if it is leadership, …govern diligently.”
Khotla LEC is one of the ten parishes in the Morija Presbytery. A number of years ago they began constructing a new building after their previous one had deteriorated so badly that it had to be abandoned. Such a project is a huge financial undertaking for most congregations and construction is done in phases as they continue fundraising for 
further work. Khotla’s building was stalled for several years after getting the walls up.
Thanks to gifts given to Global Ministries, the LEC was able to top up what the congregation had raised so that they could get the roof on. February’s wooden rafters were followed by March’s metal roofing sheets. Although they still have much work to do to complete the inside, at least they can worship in their new building. The pastor reports renewed joy and life in the congregation! “…if it is 
contributing to the needs of others , …give generously.”
The primary school project at Bolahla is progressing very slowly. The photo shows one of the two classroom blocks with a nearly completed foundation. This was in late February. I was told earlier this month that the other block is now at a similar stage. So far the fall weather has been mild, so I am praying we can get some more work done before snow and cold weather shuts the site (at 7000+ feet) down for winter.
As I’ve mentioned before, this project has been dogged by transportation problems due to the rugged, remote location. We are still searching for a reliable transporter. Hopes are high again that we may have found the right person. Stay tuned! Thank you for the prayers and words of encouragement you have offered as we struggle to make this dream for Bolahla come true. “…if it is encouraging,…encourage.”
Although computer classes in Lesotho’s high schools are becoming more common, finding them at primary schools is almost unheard of, save for a few private English medium schools. Imagine finding laptop computers being used by primary students not for computer classes, but for learning other subjects! Imagine no more…it is happening today at Kokobe LEC Primary School in the remote interior of the country.
Kokobe is the beneficiary of a non-profit organization called Laptops to Lesotho (L2L). L2L was started by a former Lesotho Peace Corps volunteer. Earlier this year L2L volunteers were at Kokobe for several weeks training teachers and introducing these special XO laptops designed for children.
After L2L started a pilot project two years ago at another school some 10-15 miles away, Kokobe was selected as their next school. Neither school is anywhere near the electrical grid, so portable, lightweight solar panels are used to keep the laptops charged. As you might imagine, both staff and students are excited about this technology and there is greatly increased interest in learning! The laptops are being used for all seven grades at the school. “…if it is teaching, …teach.”
Paul’s statement in Romans about us having different gifts serves to remind us that none of us can do it all. We need one another within the body of Christ. May God’s love shown to us in Jesus move us to discover, develop and distribute our gifts for the benefit of others.
Yours in Christ,
Mark Behle
Email: mark37438@yahoo.com
Mark Behle is a missionary with the Lesotho Evangelical Church. He is working to identify development projects, assist the church in preparing project proposals and coordinating project implementation.