Thursday October 3rd
The B2B team began their workshops at Help Lesotho today
with a group of business people from Hlotse as Butha Buthe. Rob B presented a seminar on ‘Conscious
Capitalism’ that went over so well and was transforming even for our own team
as they were really challenged to look for ways that their business can really
benefit those in need as well. They
worked on business plans with the local people on everything from running a
poultry farm to a pizza place, from a beauty salon to fresh produce.
I went back for my second day of camp with LXP Youth (the
Leadership Experience) and continued to have the amazing opportunity to build
relationships with the youth there. When
I arrived, I was made aware that one of the leaders, Godfrey, was quite sick
from a poisonous spider bite. He did get
medication as we prayed for him as well and it would take a good 24hrs for him
to get back on his feet. Elizabeth
shared in the 2nd session that focused the kids on the question of
what is in my box that is holding me back, limiting me from truly knowing real
freedom in Christ. She had them go
explore outside and spend time alone with God.
They then had to draw a box and write it down on paper. Free time followed and I got to play soccer
with the youth, but also watch some unique games where 4 girls would hold a
line in a box and others would launch themselves over the lines using running
hand stands. Lunch was creative as well
as we were sent on a scavenger hunt to find it located in boxes around the
school and that consisted of a half slice of bologna, a solid chunk of steamed
bread and apples and all located separately…the kids ate up the opportunity
too! The afternoon highlight was “The
Amazing Race” where the youth had to take inflatable mattresses across a very
muddy pond. They weren’t sure about it
at first, but once they were in, the laughter started and some of them forgot
about the race and just decided to float around instead.
Prior to supper the youth were encouraged to do one on one’s
with each other and share more about themselves, what is in their box etc. and
I was also blessed by this time as I talked with students as well. Here are some of the stories I heard
today. Some of their names are so hard
to pronounce and so most, if not all, have an English name…not sure how they
get it, but it works for me.
Lackey’s story (his English name), 17
He shared with me how he made a commitment to wait till
marriage before having sex. He told me
how this decision had been the result of “Beat The Drum,” the group that came
to the schools and did presentations on abstinence. The message on purity really spoke to him;
however, as soon as his friends found out, they really mocked him. He said it had been very hard as he was
called a coward among other names, but he was staying strong. He basically told me that the norm for guys
is to try to sleep around with as many girls as possible and that shows that
you are a real man. However, he had new
confidence and has been able to see through the lies.
Thato P., 18
She opened up with me and shared how she had just started
coming to LXP Youth as a result of “Beat The Drum”. She shared how she was behind in school a
couple of years as she broke her arm and then also got pregnant when she was
16. Initially her parents were very
upset but the family rallied around her and she had a baby boy, Christopher
Samuel. However, Christopher got very sick
this past April and the doctors were not able to diagnose him and he passed
away. As the tears rolled down her face,
she shared how the whole family grieved his loss and also saw her brother cry
for the first time as well. While she
doesn’t understand why this happened, she is coming here and discovering real
love and also learning so much about God’s amazing plans for her life. She takes time to underline promises in the
Gideon’s Bible that she has and takes His promises to heart.
Innocentia, 17
She came to LXP from a Catholic home and has also learned so
much here. She has been attending the
youth group for 4 years and tells me she needs to not care so much what other
people think of her and be confident in being herself.
Students just randomly came to me to talk about their desire
to follow God and exclaiming “I’m out of the box!” The message is taking root.
In the evening session the youth were challenged to let go
of what they were holding on to in their box and bring it forward as an act of
faith. They dropped their lists up at
the front and it turned into a real “freedom session”. We took time to pray over the youth as they
prayed over each other as well.
We closed out the night by watching “Remember The
Titans”. It was then time for us to crash
and I slept in a classroom with a packed group of guys, over 40 of us just
spread out on mattresses on the concrete floor.
It was a great time being with them and I didn’t even get pranked!
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