Counseling

Our coaches had the joy of working with Tracee, a mission team member of Falls Church. Tracee, a licensed professional counselor, taught the coaches some helpful counseling techniques and etiquette when working with the leadership summit students. The coaches soaked it all in and are ready to work with their needy students.

· I am going to pray more before I talk to some kind and involve them more in praying with me in the middle or at the end of our conversation.
· I can use this counseling information to build relationship with my students so that they can talk with me about their problems and to be free like they speak with their friends and to ask me questions about my life.
· I will love them all and have compassion to them, encourage them about God’s word, show them who they are before God. Show them different ways of living, be approachable to them and lead by an example.
· If a student has a problem first I have to pray and ask God for wisdom, guidance and strength to be able to help him or her with the power of God. Sometimes the problem is much deeper than it seems so it is important to build a healthy relationship with them. Spend time with them and invite them into your life.

Faith for the sick

Our coaches united together learning more than just how to teach students, but how to reach out and touch their own community. They laid hands on, prayed for, and had faith for the sick.

L.S team we went to Manapo Hospital. Our purpose for that was to visit the patients, to give them words of encouragements to tell them that God still loves them even if they are at the hospital and also to pray with and for them. We started by paying a visit to the children’s ward where we had a chance to pray for them. Then as guys we went to the men’s ward. We met more than eight patients who were suffering with different diseases like chest pains, fly, T.B etc. We encouraged them that all of them they are healed by the power of God. I want thank God for giving L.S team to visit patients and pray with them. -Mokoena Joseph

I got to the children ward to pray with them then I met a young boy who was very ill. He didn’t speak with me because of his illness. I prayed with him and it touched my heart when I saw that boy in the situation but I speak the word of faith in his life and I know that God healed him because He is the healer of every sickness. After that I go to the female ward and I met an old lady who has the heart problem since 2006. She told me that she went to lots of doctors but none can help her. I told her that doctor Jesus is here right now to fill her need because everything is possible with God. She must never give up in that situation because God is there for her and she must allow Jesus to touch her life because she will never be the same again. I thank God to give me time to visit at the hospital. -Busisiwe Mosia

Here we go!

Term 2 is underway and we have had a great start! Our 6 new CIT’s, coaches in training, have trained and anticipated this day for weeks. They were so excited to meet the kids they have been learning to mentor. The coaches who have had several first weeks were excited to see their same kids again and to hear how their winter break had gone. The mentor coaches and the new coaches in training loved working together and are looking forward to helping one another reach the students. Powerful things are going to happen this term!

What's wrong with this picture?

Any thoughts?? Here's a few suggestions.....

Could it be that my calendar said it was only the 18th of July, when really it is the 20th of August? Don't worry though - here is a picture of me in the portable office. It's easy....you just plug into the church, use a long extension cord to reach inside the bus, and plug in your computer, and presto - POWER! ....the trick is, finding a church that has electricity!



Notice, I am wearing layers of clothes to keep warm in the portable office.



Could it be that this is what I wore on the 19th of August? I was trying to get a picture of my breath. Really, I could see it outside it was so cold. Summer?? I don't think so!

Teaching Strategies ready to be used

What a joy to be able to teach. I loved being able to teach all the coaches, newly recruited ones, ones joining us for another year, and ones who have been here longer than I have. I love it when I see their eyes light up, when I know they get what I’m talking about, that they are learning what I am trying to teach. I love watching them sit up a bit taller and start to wiggle in their seats anxious to teach others what I have just taught them. I love it! The end has come to our winter training, where, while the kids are away from school, the coaches are diving deep into it, preparing for what they will soon teach. Not only did they learn the Save Sex curriculum they will be teaching, but they learned some teaching strategies as well. They are excited to go and reach the youth, feeling better equipped to teach. Just read and see, and you’ll get excited too.

I can use the strategies because it is important to me as a coach to be examples to the students so that they can be the best leaders of the future because they can see that I prepare my self and allow every learner to participate. I am very happy everyday when I come to class and I speak loud so that they understand what I am talking about. – Busisiwe

When I come to my classes I will use the teaching strategies that I learned this past two months. I will make sure all of my learners are participating in the class. I will allow them to ask questions and give them high fives.–Patricia

By always looking at what I’ve learned about teaching strategies is going to help me not forget what to do and what not to do. What I like is that all teaching strategies that I’ve learned are important.– Thapelo

I’m going to us the teaching strategies I learned so that I can be the best coach or teacher to change more lives. I’m going to manage my time by preparing myself, to be early in class, be organized and stay on topic. –Constance

I will be a good teacher who the students would also learn from. Time management, learner participation, and staying focused will help me teach them better.– Mapuleng

Weather Report

I woke up this morning and the sky looked a little gray. It appeared that it might be a little colder today than it has been.

Seems as though my eyes were not deceiving me as I peered out of my bedroom window because this is what I saw when I checked the forecast:

Saturday Night, Aug 16

Mostly cloudy and very cold; breezy this evening, then a bit of snow, sleet, and freezing rain late. Winds from the E at 16 mph.
Realfeel®: 15 °F
Low: 22 °F

Sunday, Aug 17
Cloudy most of the time, winds gusting past 45 mph and colder with periods of rain in the afternoon. Winds from the NE at 24 mph.
Realfeel®: 33 °F
High: 49 °F

Sunday Night, Aug 17
Very cold; periods of snow, sleet, and freezing rain in the evening followed by a bit of ice late. Winds from the NE at 12 mph.
Realfeel®: 16 °F
Low: 19 °F

Shame. I guess winter isn’t over in South Africa. Sure hope you are enjoying your summer!

Thanks Outreach Staff

I had a great time getting to know you. I loved watching you grow throughout your time here with us as God revealed more of who He is to each one of you in different ways. I loved hearing the stories of what God was doing through you to the people; your persistent prayers for Rosalinda’s complete healing and the miracle you witnessed as each day you went to visit her she could move a little more, walking to answer the door and greet you in the end (Hallelujah), your obedience to God as you stayed, prayed, and comforted a family as they watched their mother/grandmother/friend die, your willingness to step out of your comfort zones by praying and laying hands on the sick in the hospital, your demonstration of Christian character and love as you built relationships with the Basotho’s in their homes, your ability to trust God to get you through the rough times, your absorption of God’s word and your drive to make it part of your daily life through our weekly Connect sessions, and your laughter, joy, and love for Africa. I loved praying with you and being able to share visions and words God spoke to me for you. What an honor, joy, and privilege. Thank you for coming to Africa, for all your hard work, dedication, and love!

Debriefing

Sorry, I’ve been away for a bit. I have been away for a week debriefing, decompressing, processing, and spending time with our Outreach Staff. These 16 young people from the states have come and spent the last 2 months with us, working right along side us, joining in our Thrive family, working with us to serve the Basotho’s and helping others, through mission teams, do the same. They have cleaned toilets, washed dishes, worked coffee bar, set up chairs, and done many other jobs learning the hands on version of what life is like as a missionary. They have demonstrated a servant’s heart through it all and have learned more about God, themselves, and each other in the process. A lot has happened in their lives and in the lives of others during their extended stay with us. I enjoyed getting to know them through our drives together, our Sunday evening Connect sessions, and even more this past week as I heard more of what God had done in and through them while they were here. Here are just a few snippets of what I heard:

* Trust God that He is God all the time
* My first reaction was to praise God
* Throw yourself into Christ with 100% obedience and purposefulness
* You can learn something from everyone
* I should teach people and put all my hope and strength in Him
* I can’t always be in control
* There will be hardships along the way, but God will be with me all the way.
* It was all about planting a seed
* We got to be used by God
* I can walk confidently in Him