Tucked away in the mountainous terrain of southern Africa lies the country of Lesotho. For more than five years, CrossRidge missionaries Jake and Ginger Goss, along with their daughter, Timber, have called Lesotho home and worked to share the gospel with its people. Recently, a team from our church embarked on a mission trip to Lesotho to support the Gosses and witness firsthand the transformative work they are doing day in and day out.
Led by Senior Pastor Marc Farnell, Pastor George Bewley, and Elder Brett Weinstein, our team set out with clear objectives: encourage our missionaries, assess future mission trip possibilities, and deepen our understanding of the challenges and opportunities in this unique corner of the world.
At more than 3,000ft elevation, Lesotho greeted our team with its rugged beauty, but reaching the ultimate destination was no small feat. The total travel time from DFW Airport to lodging in Lesotho spanned 36 grueling hours, including flights, layovers, border crossings, and more. Yet the fatigue faded away as we immersed ourselves in the vibrant tapestry of Lesotho’s culture and landscape and settled into guest houses in the capital city of Maseru.
What a joy it was to be reunited with the Goss family! Our days were spent traversing the countryside and journeying to remote villages. Each village we visited—Ha Mpusi, Ha Rapokalana (twice), and Manganeg—offered a glimpse into the daily lives of the Basotho people. Despite the language barrier, (we didn’t know more than how to greet them in their language), we received huge smiles and more words than we could’ve hoped to understand in return.
In these villages, our mission took shape. In addition to preaching the Word, the Gosses work to give every person a Bible. To receive a Bible, a person must memorize and recite seven Bible verses. The Bibles are in the villagers’ own language, and some prefer audio Bibles, which are about the size of a smartphone and in their own language. We were able witness both young and old recite their verses and see their ecstatic reactions when they were handed a Bible of their own. Some villagers even went as far as writing their names on the fore edge.
In Manganeg, we watched a woman get glasses and see clearly for the first time! Her excitement was palpable as she read the Bible with newfound clarity. These Bibles and the glasses are provided by CrossRidge Church through our mission giving and International Mission Offering.
As with any mission trip, flexibility and creativity are key because you never really know what a day will bring. One of the most memorable encounters was our visit to one of the villages in Ha Rapokalan and Manganeg, where we had many more children than adults. (How many people are in a village depends on the time of day, the season, and the time of year.) Rather than only preaching the gospel message, our team, narrated by Pastor Marc, acted out the story of David and Goliath. We never knew our team had such acting talent just waiting to be unleashed! The children were especially amazed at Brett’s interpretation of a lion and a bear.
Our mission extended beyond the rural communities to the bustling city of Maseru, where the Goss family ministers to students from the local university. Every Saturday, students gather at their home for a meal and Bible study. During our visit, the group reviewed the previous week’s homework out of the book of Jude, Brett then taught on Paul’s conversion, and the students blessed us with questions and a desire to dig more deeply. Then we all had a good time playing volleyball, ping pong, and other games. The food drinks and games are also provided by CrossRidge Church’s mission giving.
As our time in Lesotho drew to a close, the team was blessed to have breakfast with three of the university students and get to know them, hear their stories, and learn how to pray for them. We are already eager to see them again.
As we reflect on our journey, we are filled with gratitude for the opportunity to witness God’s work in Lesotho. And we are grateful to the Lord for blessing us with so much time with the Gosses. We know the work they’re doing bear fruit for generations to come.
This mission trip may have ended, but it won’t be our last. Our commitment to supporting our missionaries and the people of Lesotho remains unwavering.
