Our First Team Trips to HaLebesa: September 2018

In September 2018, One Day ran its first team trips to HaLebesa, Lesotho. Demand was strong within Liberty Church, and rather than limit numbers, we chose to run two teams back to back across the month. For many involved, it was their first time travelling to Lesotho and their first opportunity to see firsthand what Chris and Sheila had begun pioneering in HaLebesa.

At that stage, the first two houses on the One Day site had already been built to roof level. Foundations had been laid, walls had gone up, and the vision was becoming visible on the mountainside. The arrival of the teams marked the beginning of wider participation in the work that Chris and Sheila have been undertaking in the months since they moved out to Lesotho.

Building the First Homes in HaLebesa

The primary focus for both teams was practical building work. Volunteers helped put roofing in place, slab out interior walls, and decorate. For many, it was a new kind of work in a very different environment. The mountain setting of HaLebesa brought a sense of scale and exposure that contrasted with life back in Ireland.

Working alongside the ongoing local build, the teams were able to contribute tangible progress to the houses that will later become family homes for orphaned and vulnerable children. It was steady, hands-on work. More than the physical progress, it gave people the opportunity to understand the commitment and endurance required to establish something lasting in that setting.

Throughout the trip, there was a growing awareness that the houses represented more than structures. They were part of a long-term commitment to create loving, stable homes for children who would live there in the years to come.

A Site Becoming a Community Space

The site is already becoming more than a construction project. During the day, a group of local children gather, playing games and interacting with Sheila. Relationships are forming naturally, and the land is beginning to feel like a place of welcome.

Seeing children freely coming and going helps shape the understanding that One Day will not only build houses, but will also cultivate a space where community life can grow. These informal interactions are just as important as the physical building taking place.

Worship Evenings and Church Under the Tree

One of the most memorable aspects of the trip unfolded unexpectedly. The teams were staying in the home of Mme Puleng, the local town councillor, who has been a consistent support to the project. One evening, a few of us were playing music and singing worship songs in the house. Rob on the guitar, Mick on the bodhrán. Members of the community heard the music and asked if we would do it again another night.

The following gathering filled the small living room. People from the community came, and there was a sense of shared curiosity and openness. A short message from Scripture was shared, and conversation continued afterwards. The community then asked if a Sunday service could be held.

That Sunday, a simple service took place on the porch between the two houses on the One Day site. People gathered outdoors, sitting and standing around the space. When the second team arrived later in the month, they continued what had begun, holding another service under a large tree at the corner of the site, with worship music played through the sound system of a jeep.

Over the course of those weeks, several people began exploring faith more seriously, and some chose to follow Jesus. Ongoing conversations and discipleship are beginning to take shape. It has been encouraging to see spiritual conversations unfolding alongside the practical work of building homes.

Strengthening Local Partnerships

Both teams also visited the local school in HaLebesa. The children welcomed them warmly, singing songs and engaging with them openly. These visits provided a deeper understanding of village life and the educational context in which many local children are growing up.

The second team also travelled to Pulane Children’s Centre, where they assisted with renovation work and practical tasks. This broadened the team’s experience and strengthened relationships beyond the immediate One Day site.

For many volunteers, the trip has provided a meaningful cross-cultural experience. It has created space to listen, learn, and better understand the realities of life in the mountain communities of Lesotho.

Looking Ahead

These two September 2018 trips have been significant for several reasons. Practically, they have helped move the building project forward at an important early stage. Relationally, they have allowed Liberty Church to stand tangibly behind Chris and Sheila in what they are establishing. Spiritually, they have marked the beginning of local gatherings that we are continuing to explore and nurture.

Perhaps most importantly, they are helping to set the tone for future team trips. Participation involves practical work, shared meals, local partnership, cultural exchange, and openness to what God is doing in the community.

We are grateful to everyone who travelled on these first teams. Their willingness to serve, adapt, and contribute has helped lay both physical and relational foundations that will shape One Day in the years ahead.