Mark Behle, Global Ministries

missionary in Lesotho, serves the Lesotho Evangelical Church.He is a math teacher

at Masitise High School.

A few words to know:A few words to know:

The country is called The country is called LesothoLesotho. .

The people are called The people are called BasothoBasotho. One . One person is called a person is called a MosothoMosotho..

The The BasothoBasotho people speak a language people speak a language called called Sesotho.Sesotho.

Lesotho is Lesotho is completely completely surrounded surrounded

by South by South Africa.Africa.

Only about Only about 10% of 10% of Lesotho’s Lesotho’s land is land is suitable suitable for for agricultureagriculture..

Lesotho has the Lesotho has the highest “low highest “low point” of any point” of any country in the country in the world.world.

The Maletsunyane The Maletsunyane River and FallsRiver and Falls

The inspiration for The inspiration for the design of the the design of the Basotho hat.Basotho hat.

The Basotho The Basotho blanket is part blanket is part of the national of the national dress.dress.

YesYes

Yes, this is Yes, this is Lesotho!Lesotho!

Maseru, the Maseru, the capital city, has capital city, has about 300,000 about 300,000 people. The people. The country as a whole country as a whole has less than 2 has less than 2 million people.million people.

Traditional Traditional homes are homes are built out of built out of stone stone

Animals Animals are a daily are a daily presence presence in Lesotho.in Lesotho.

A herdsman A herdsman and his sheep.and his sheep.

Herd boys Herd boys relaxing in the relaxing in the mountains.mountains.

The Lesotho Evangelical Church (LEC) The Lesotho Evangelical Church (LEC) celebrated 175 years in 2008.celebrated 175 years in 2008.

Masitise Cave Masitise Cave HouseHouse

Masitise LECMasitise LEC

A painting A painting showing showing Jesus Jesus healing the healing the Basotho.Basotho.

Rev. Zacharias Rev. Zacharias Ramonotsi & Ramonotsi &

familyfamily

Rev. Elsie Rev. Elsie MohlatsaneMohlatsane

An LEC Service of An LEC Service of OrdinationOrdination

Outdoor Outdoor worship at worship at one of the one of the

out-stations.out-stations.

Sunday Sunday morning morning worship at worship at Masitise LECMasitise LEC

Receiving the offering is Receiving the offering is a time of celebration a time of celebration and joy.and joy.

Masitise LEC Youth ChoirMasitise LEC Youth Choir

Women’s Women’s Fellowship Fellowship groups.groups.

The Men’s Fellowship group leading a The Men’s Fellowship group leading a chorus.chorus.

The campus The campus of Masitise of Masitise High School.High School.

Snowcapped Snowcapped mountains mountains are not are not unusual unusual during the during the winter winter months at months at Masitise.Masitise.

Day students Day students arriving at arriving at school.school.

Morning Morning assembly assembly

begins each begins each school day.school day.

Mr. Mr. Monareng, Monareng, Headmaster Headmaster of Masitise of Masitise High School.High School.

A cold A cold classroom!classroom!

Helping Helping students students during a math during a math lesson. lesson.

Part of a very overly-crowded Part of a very overly-crowded classroom of 80 students!classroom of 80 students!

A stack of exercise books to be A stack of exercise books to be marked for one class.marked for one class.

A chemistry A chemistry lesson in the lesson in the science lab.science lab.

Computer Computer classes are classes are very popular.very popular.

Basic Basic Handcrafts Handcrafts

class.class.

Home Economics Home Economics class.class.

One of the One of the dormitory dormitory areas on areas on campus.campus.

Inside one of the Inside one of the dorm rooms.dorm rooms.

A basketball game held at A basketball game held at Masitise.Masitise.

A Sunday A Sunday afternoon afternoon gathering of the gathering of the Scripture Union Scripture Union group.group.

Bible study is done in small groups.Bible study is done in small groups.

Scripture Union student Scripture Union student leaders.leaders.

A Scripture A Scripture

Union rallyUnion rally

Hiking up a Hiking up a mountainmountain

Summer camp Bible studySummer camp Bible study

Canoeing on one Canoeing on one of the dams in of the dams in

Maseru.Maseru.

Enjoying Enjoying watermelon!watermelon!

Supper at Masitise is simple: bread Supper at Masitise is simple: bread & tea. & tea.

Enjoying a lunch of papa, cabbage & Enjoying a lunch of papa, cabbage & sausage.sausage.

One of the cooks in the One of the cooks in the kitchen stirring the kitchen stirring the

papapapa

A meal of papa and beans

Attending Attending church on church on Sunday Sunday morningsmornings

Staff houses at Masitise.Staff houses at Masitise.

A “line house” outside A “line house” outside the school campus.the school campus.

Lebelang with his parents outside Lebelang with his parents outside their home.their home.

The kitchen and The kitchen and living room in living room in Lebelang’s house.Lebelang’s house.

Sebabatso lives Sebabatso lives with his brother with his brother at his at his grandmother’s grandmother’s home.home.

The kitchen The kitchen where where Sebabatso Sebabatso cooks.cooks.

The living room inside Keneuoe’s The living room inside Keneuoe’s home.home.

Collecting water is a Collecting water is a daily chore for most daily chore for most people in Lesotho.people in Lesotho.

Four former students from my first Four former students from my first group of students.group of students.

Lemohang Likets

o Mothepu

Liekelitsoe

Lemohang

Liketso Mothepu Liekelitso

e

A beautiful summer A beautiful summer scene in the valley scene in the valley where Masitise is where Masitise is located.located.

A rainbow of A rainbow of hope for hope for Lesotho’s Lesotho’s

future.future.

““I am the Way, the I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”Truth and the Life.”

Global Ministries is able to send missionaries, like MarkBehle, on behalf of Disciples and UCC because of yourgenerous support of DisciplesMission Fund (DMF) andOur Church’s Wider Mission(OCWM). Thank you for sharing the story!