In November 2009 I had the opportunity to go out to Lesotho for 2 weeks and serve a  New Frontiers church in the capital, Maseru, as part of a Life Change Team (see picture, right). There were 9 of us in the team from various churches in the South-east and South-west of England and for most of us this was our first experience of overseas mission. We flew to Johannesburg and then had a long drive South before reaching Maseru and arriving at our self-accommodation site, Durham Link.

The church we would be serving is called City of Joy Community Church and is headed up by a guy called Thabo Motsusi. An English couple, Nigel and Cheryl Clark, who had been in Lesotho for the past 2 ½ years were our hosts. Nigel at the time also assisted Thabo in leading the church along with a local man, Letsema.

Lesotho is a relatively poor country the average wage being 300 Rand a month or about £1.40 a day so life for most people here is hard to say the least. In fact the UN describe 40% of the populus as being 'ultra poor'. Lesotho has also been ravaged by AIDS with the average life expectancy plummeting from around 60 to 36 and 40% of children losing one or both parents to the disease. This is the background that shapes the life and ministry of the church.

It was great to be together 24/7 praying, eating, teaching, serving and just hanging out with each other.

The main ministries of the church include practical care and provision for the poor of Maseru including regular visits by church volunteers to provide prayer, food and clothing, Foundations for Farming which attempts to introduce a far more effective and soil friendly way of farming resulting in greater crop yields, and Bokeletsa Bana ('gather the children') a 3 times a week project run by a lady from City of Joy, Pinkie Sefali, which provides local children with not only a meal but also a basic education as well simply a place to play and have fun.

It was in these areas that we were to assist City of Joy. We were also involved in some street evangelism and a church outreach day, Jesus Day, where our role was to perform a drama presentation of the gospel to the inhabitants of Maseru!

It was an amazing time for all the team where our faith was really stretched each day and over the 2 weeks we became very close having flown out to Africa as virtual strangers. It was great to be together 24/7 praying, eating, teaching, serving and just hanging out with each other. God certainly used us to encourage and bless both the people of City of Joy and Maseru but also God brought about changes in the team as we trusted Him that he would empower us and equip us to love and serve a church in tough conditions.

Despite the tough way of life out here the people, especially those in the church, were some of the happiest and friendliest I have ever met. The love God has put in my heart for this country and it's people is amazing, as well as a great love for those who in a very short time became very close friends, City of Joy and my fellow team members. One day I would love to go back to the visit the people of the aptly named church, City of Joy!