Prayers over Plates: Week Five: Lesotho
PRAYERS OVER PLATES:
Join us in praying for the Michele Bennett in Lesotho
as we make “Spinach Moroho with ‘Fat Cakes’ ”
A bit of the Michele’ story first ...
I am a retired, single mother of two adult children – one serving in the Air Force and one in college and a missionary/volunteer, who is serving as the Operations Manager at Beautiful Gate Child Care Center in Lesotho (a small landlocked country in South Africa). Serving as the Operations Manager, which basically means I oversee the day to day operations of the facility. This includes loving and caring for up to 75 children and approximately 50 staff.
For several years I knew that once my youngest graduated high school, I would retire and move into the missions field. What I didn’t know at the time, was that my desire to follow wherever God leads would mean moving to the other side of the world from all my family and friends. So during the summer of 2017, I found myself packing up my house, putting it up for rent, driving cross-country to move my daughter into college and getting on a plane to move to Africa.
I came here thinking I would use my gifts and talents, for God’s glory, and I have. What I didn’t know is that it was not about what I am going to do for God and His Kingdom, but what HE has, is going to, and is doing in me. I have been humbled by the love and grace of the amazing Basotho people. The generosity and joy I have experienced here surpasses anything I have experienced in my life.
That doesn’t mean everything here has been easy. There are days when life is hard. What this does mean is that God is enough. He has shown Himself over and over again as the faithful and loving Father He is.
The name Beautiful Gate comes from a story in the Bible found in Acts chapter 3 vs 1-10. Beautiful Gate is a care center dedicated to bringing hope to abandoned and vulnerable children. This hope is found in Jesus Christ. Beautiful Gate Lesotho opened its doors on June 25, 2001, moved to our current facility in 2007, and we have grown here by God’s grace and provision ever since.
Today we care for up to 75 children, primarily between the ages of birth and five years old. With the help of the Ministry of Social Development we are able to run a successful adoption and biological reunification program.
In the past 17 years, Beautiful Gate Lesotho has provided care to over 500 children in need. We have seen over 150 children reunified with biological family and over 250 children adopted locally and internationally.
Ultimately, Beautiful Gate Lesotho is a ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Everything we do centers around and is founded on His faithfulness and gracious provision.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
For Beautiful Gate Lesotho: continued donations as we are an 85% donor-funded organization. We rely heavily on the generous free-will donations from individuals and organizations all over the world in order to provide quality care to the children God entrusts to us.
For the Children of Beautiful Gate: that we, the staff, would continue to glorify God by loving and caring for the children He has entrusted to us as they wait for the forever family He has predestined for them.
For myself: That I would continue to grow in my love and trust of The Father.
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If you would like more information about either myself or Beautiful Gate please email me at 1lmicheleb@gmail.com or opsmanager@beautifulgatelesotho.org