Dials ftom the mountains May 2007

Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philipians 4:11-13)

May 22, 2007

Dear Faithful Prayer Partners,

The scripture passage above from Phillipians was the theme of the ladies conference I attended in Kenya and it is one that I have committed to memory because it personally speaks to me as I am sure it does to all of you. Truly there is a secret in every circumstance...whether you are living in prosperity or in hunger or in suffering need....the secret is in knowing Christ. I have learned and am continuing to learn that through Christ I can do anything He calls me to do. Through His strength I can endure and I can succeed, not in my own strength but in His. In my weaknesses (and there are many I assure you), He is made strong in me. I am learning that I CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me and I CAN be content in whatever situation or circumstance I am. In any and every circumstance, whether you are traveling a road of sorrow or even walking through the valley of the shadow of death, you can be strong and endure and even come out on the top of the mountain. Whether in prosperity or in suffering need, God loves you and Christ will be our strength if we allow Him.

So much has happened these past two weeks that I am not even sure where to begin. Ok, at the beginning is always a good start I guess. The last we wrote Babs was on her way to Kenya to attend a ladies conference. The boys and Alan survived fine in my absence (thanks for prayers in that area:) and Alan even had a team of three wonderful men of faith while I was away. They were from the Mountain View Baptist Church in Spearfish, South Dakota and were being hosted by the Vennell Family (MAF) in Maseru. The Vennells were gracious to share a part of their team with us and sent their pastor and two other men to spend a few days working and ministering in the mountains with Alan. They arrived the day I left for Kenya and departed for the lowlands the day before I returned so I missed out on working with them however I did get the opportunity to meet and get to know them during my stay in Maseru while waiting for my Kenya trip to begin. (Thanks Steve, Ben and Treg for your ministry in the mountains and to my family while I was away.) God allowed me to meet with them one final time before they departed for America to say good-bye and wish them well. Alan and the boys really enjoyed having "guy time" as Daniel put it. I believe his exact words were: "I really missed you mom but we had fun doing "guy things!" While I terribly missed all my boys, I am thankful for those "guy-times" because I know they will be remembered by Daniel and Mohau for years to come and I know that those times will always be cherished by Alan too.

I flew back with MAF into the mountains and Alan and boys met me at the little village air strip. From there Alan drove us home and immediately headed down the mountain to Johannesburg to pick up the next team from Mission Team Inc. and Shorter College in GA. Only minutes prior to their arrival at our gate in Katse, I had been given the keys to what would be our new home for the next four years. Yes, that's right! We asked you to pray for a new home and God answered your (and our) prayers! The Shorter College Mission Team arrived on Friday and by Saturday we were undoing the last of the boxes in the house. God not only provided a new home but also the help we needed to move. Now how good can it get?! We are so thankful for the team and their help. The team began a Back Yard Bible Club in the village of Ha Ramokoatsi in the mornings with Team Leader Scotty Davis presenting training in "Personal Holiness" to the national pastors and lay leaders in the afternoons . Evenings were spent in great fellowship over dinner followed by a good cup of coffee. The week seemed to fly by and we could hardly believe it was time to take them back to Joburg. Alan arrived back home yesterday and immediately began doing some of the handy man things around the house that make it a home.

The house was used as a "company house" for several years, and it and the yard need lots of work. Still, it is just perfect for holding prayer meetings and discipleship classes and it is so roomy and warm. For those of you that "Google Earth", the Lat/Long is: S 29 20.033 E 028 28.913 elevation 2157 meters

The Shorter College Mission Team is our last "team" to come to Lesotho prior to our departure for stateside assignment. Now we must prepare the national pastors and lay leaders for our departure. Please pray that they will be strengthened and made bold to carry on the work in our absence to lead their people to the Cross. The next four months will also be a time for us to personally prepare our family for returning to America...there are medical appointments that have to be made, application for immigration for the boys that must begin and our home and household goods will need to be made secure while we are away, and then there is the "what do I pack to take with us" issues to deal with. And let's not forget the homeschooling that will need to be done prior to and while stateside.

Seems like only yesterday we were referring to stateside assignment as being just over a year away and now it is almost upon us. Many of you we will see in person during those six months and we look forward to those reunions. One of the wonderful things about being on the field is all the great people you meet and the strong bonds that are made when teams come and minister beside you. Please pray that as we make these preparations, we will also be sensitive to the needs of those we are leaving behind us. Pray for the Basotho of the mountains that they will be obedient to their calling and that the Holy Spirit through their obedience will ignite a church planting movement here in the mountains.

We have been without a phone line lately and it has caused us to lose some emails going and coming, if you sense we did not receive an email you sent or you are still waiting for a reply, please resend...no pictures or forwards please. It is up and working (kinda sorta) but please continue to pray that all the communication issues get resolved.

Please continue to pray for the church of Ha Ramokoatsi that God will bind the believers together and make them a strong body not afraid to share their faith with others in the village.

These next few months will also be a time for us to strengthen and encourage Pastor Roma and his wife in the village of Ha Mphorosane. In March we camped with the South African Mission Team for four days in the village. During the daytime we did hut to hut evangelism and at night the Jesus film was shown followed by preaching and presentation of the gospel. There were many who received Christ during that time and many seeds of faith planted. Now it is time to go back and do follow up and discipleship training to build a firm foundation of faith in the hearts of those who came to know Jesus. Please pray for Pastor Roma and MemaRoma as they try to lead their village to Christ. Pray for the villagers who made a decision to be followers of Christ that they will remain faithful in that decision. Pray for us as we present discipleship training in the short time we have left. Pray that the Christians in this village will be persistent in telling the message of the Cross to others and that God will soften the hearts of those who previously rejected the truth.

Also please pray for a little boy named "Hlabeli" who is only three years old. He has been dedicated to the ancestors to be a sangoma/lethuela (witch doctor) and function as their protector and voice. His father believes the ancestors spoke to him in a dream instructing him to do this. Please pray that God will speak to this father and reveal Himself in a way that this man will come to know the Lord of Lords and spare this child from a life dedicated to the evil one.

Praises this week:

* for the week in Kenya at the ladies conference

* for the Shorter College Mission Team and their ministry among the mountain Basotho and for their help in relocating us in our new home.

* for the South Dakota Team that shared in the "guy time" with Alan, Daniel and Mohau and for their testimonies to the Basotho during that weekend.

* for our wonderful new home. We love it. Thank you Lord.

* for God's faithfulness and perfect timing in all things.

* for Christ above all else

May all praise and honor and glory be to the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for loving us and for allowing us to love you. As we say in the mountains of Lesotho: "Tsyamea le Molimo" (Go with God). May God give you special hugs this week and strengthen you in your soul and spirit.

In His Name,

Alan, Babs, Mohau and Daniel Dial

Katse Village, Lesotho