Times of Testing
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves… (2 Corinthians 13:5)
A local name for Masitise High School is Phuleng, which means “in the valley.” The appropriateness of the name is readily apparent when standing on the plateau overlooking the school and gazing across to the mountains to the north.
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves… (2 Corinthians 13:5)
A local name for Masitise High School is Phuleng, which means “in the valley.” The appropriateness of the name is readily apparent when standing on the plateau overlooking the school and gazing across to the mountains to the north. Walking on the plateau is one of my favorite places for enjoying the majestic scenery of our area. Earlier this month the aloes (Aloe ferox) were still in bloom and a pair of them provided a lovely frame for viewing the school campus.
October is a time of testing for our students. Both the Form C (3rd year) and Form E (5th year) students are involved in writing their national exams. The Form C exams, called Junior Certificate (JC), are taken by students in Lesotho and Swaziland. The Form E exams, called Cambridge Ordinary School Certificate (COSC), are written by students in countries around the world, primarily in those with historical ties to the United Kingdom. During this time of the year most mornings and afternoons find the school hall and up to six classrooms being occupied by either the JC or COSC candidates. They are spaced out appropriately for examinations, unlike in a regular classroom where the students are more or less wall-to-wall.
For some subjects there are both written and practical exams. The JC Basic Handcrafts practical exam was four hours long and required the students to complete a project using both wood and sheet metal. With limited workshop space and tools, and over one hundred candidates (including one girl), we needed two days to accommodate everyone. Meanwhile, each of the girls (and one boy) taking the COSC Food & Nutrition practical exam was given a meal to plan, cook and present. After the examiner finished inspecting and tasting the results, the students were free to enjoy their cooking.
Our Masitise church also had a test of sorts to pass. A week ago we paid a visit to the Mohale’s Hoek LEC congregation. You may recall from my July newsletter that they had joined us in worship in June for a fund-raising service. Together we had raised over $5000 that Sunday. For our return visit with them we had been challenged to contribute even more than they had brought with them to Masitise. So, we rejoiced in the Lord with thanksgiving in surpassing our goal by 25% and giving a “good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over” (Luke 6:38).
That same newsletter showed a picture of the outside of the new church that the Mohale’s Hoek congregation is building. Although still incomplete, it was more than adequate for providing us with a very large and spacious area for worship and our celebratory offering. As I took in the height, length and width of the space, I could not help but notice that the dimensions were just about perfect for an indoor basketball court!
This will be my last newsletter for some time. I will be leaving Lesotho in early December to return to the States for my home assignment of six months. During that time I will be visiting congregations in Arizona, New Mexico, Wisconsin and Massachusetts. God willing, I will be returning to Lesotho in June next year. Please note below the change in my email address to use from December onwards. I look forward to meeting many of you again and some for the first time. Thank you for your continuing prayerful support of my work in Lesotho with Global Ministries.
In another month we will begin the Advent season and prepare to welcome the Christ child into our world and into our lives. As the remainder of that verse from 2 Corinthians 13:5 states, “Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test?” May the glad tidings of the birth of our Saviour burn brightly within our hearts so that at the second coming of the Lord we will not be found wanting.
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.