For Everything There is a Season

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Some seasons seem to go on forever…like basketball! But our season is finally over. The boys were especially busy during August and early September. They finished 4th in two different tournaments. After winning our quarterfinal match in the national tournament last month, we met with defeat at the Final Four earlier this month. In the semifinals we were drawn against our nemesis, St. James High School, a team we have never beaten. We gave them a battle for three quarters before things slipped away and lost 58-45. A similar outcome came in the playoff for 3rd place. We led for three quarters before having a poor start to the 4th quarter and ended up losing 48-42

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Our winter was the coldest in June and turned mild during most of July and August. No snow fell here at school until the 1st day of September. As you can see at left, it wasn’t much. The peach trees were already blossoming and the snow was gone within a few hours. The cold weather persisted for a few days, however, and our students were bundled up in the classrooms, which are not heated.

September brings forth the blossoms on a common aloe, Aloe ferox, found here in the southwest corner of Lesotho. Its English name is the Bitter Aloe or Tree Aloe. There are a few plants right on our campus but up on the rocky slopes above the school there is a large area of them growing. They are found on the north-facing slopes which receive the winter sunshine. Most of the blooms are red though there are some with orange or even yellow hues. The plant has several medicinal uses and a local women’s group has made jam from it, too. The name of our nearby village, Alwynskop, derives from the Afrikaans word for aloe, alwijn.

Last month we hosted the Scripture Union Rally for primary and high schools in the southern districts of the country. We did not have quite as many schools attending as we had hoped, but those who did come enjoyed the day. Activities included games led by students from Masitise, lots of singing by all the groups, drama presentations from two schools and a session on HIV/AIDS.

There were also small group discussions on the presentation by our speaker, Rev. Makhabane from the Apostolic Faith Mission. Our theme for the day and his address was “Setting An Example”. The theme was based on Paul’s advice to Timothy, found in 1 Timothy 4:12: Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

The last event of the day was the Harvest Offering when each group brings a contribution for supporting the work of Scripture Union in Lesotho and then sings a song for everyone.

The Masitise group is pictured at left.

Seasons come and seasons go. But some things should never go out of fashion or season. Another piece of advice that Paul gave Timothy is: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season… (2 Timothy 4:2). Those words reminded me of something similar from 1 Peter: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. (1 Peter 3:15)

As we share our faith with those around us, by word and by deed, may we do so in a manner according to 1 Peter 3:15: “But do this with gentleness and respect.” Let us attract people to Christ through our love for God and neighbor.

Yours in Christ,

Mark Behle

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