Growth = Change
 Today I taught the interns how change is always present and needed. Going through a lot of changes at the moment I felt like I was speaking to myself.
Change is always going to be in my life. No matter what is happening. Nothing ever stays the same. And that's good.
You can't have growth without change. Whenever there is growth, change is always present. I want to constantly be growing and maturing, therefore I have to constantly be changing. It is strange to really think about. If I haven't changed in the last week, then I haven't grown.
Growth always produces change, but change doesn't always produce growth. I need to be actively seeking growth so that all of these changes in my life are producing something worth while. Sometimes it is hard to be that focused on developing myself, but that's what I want.
I want to be like the flowers that allow the changes to occur without putting up a fight or fuss. I want to seek out areas that I can change in order to move forward. I don't want to be forever the same.
I don't want to just change, I want to grow! Labels: Leadership, Spiritual
Why I Am Here.
 My heart sunk as Matthew, a coach, explained that he was leaving Leadership Summit. I was excited for the wonderful job opportunity that God had opened for him, but sad to see him leave. Before he left he wrote how much his time with us meant to him:
"When I first came to Thrive Africa in 2007, I only happened to know half of the things I now know about the kingdom of God and his ways. Even though I was already a born again Christian, the truth remains that I couldn't pursue spiritual excellence as I should have until Thrive Africa Leadership Summit featured in my life with a greater contribution in my spiritual growth, by making what was previously just a part time concern to me to now and most recently be a full time concern. For what I could only be able to do sparingly (during my spare time) I was now with Thrive Africa LS doing it all the time. And it felt good! As incomplete and spiritually lacking as I was when I arrived here, Thrive Africa LS became a path which lead me to my spiritual maturity. What can I know compare or refer to Thrive Africa as? It's like a filling station... and we are like vehicles. It has been filling me." As he explained the impact that Leadership Summit had on him, God confirmed again and again that this is why I am here. Labels: Coaches, Leadership, Memories
Did You Know?
 Each year we give our students surveys at the beginning and at the end of our classes to see if their beliefs have progressed or not. After our first survey here is some of what we have found:
- 1 in 5 students in Qwa-Qwa believe that AIDS does not exist
- Half of students in Qwa-Qwa believe that their sin is too big for God to forgive
- Only 55% of youth know that God wants us to wait until marriage to have sex
- Less than half (43%) of the youth in Qwa-Qwa know the consequences of drugs and alcohol
Continue to pray that we see God drastically change their knowledge and beliefs. Labels: Coaches, Leadership, Spiritual
Discovering the Truth
 Leadership Summit classes are in full swing now. The students have their books and have begun to share and develop opinions on difficult subjects. One of the coaches, Busisiwe, shared this after her class at Boitsebelo, "It was good to be with the learners and they were very happy and they told me that they are ready to learn more this year because they found out that we talk about hard topics and it will be easy for them to discover the truth about the topics. I am happy to hear that and to be a part of their life to tell them the truth about the Word of God."
I know that God has great plans and this is just the beginning of the many testimonies we will hear throughout the year.Labels: Coaches, Leadership, Life, Spiritual
Perks of Missionary Work
When mission teams come to minister they almost always want to go on a safari before heading back home. Most teams need someone to drive them to the safari lodge and then to the airport. Because of this, one of the perks of being the missionary and driving them to the lodge is that we usually receive a nights stay in a nice lodge and dinner. Although I have to do some catch up work, or prepare ahead of time, it is nice to have a short break. These last few days are spent helping the mission team members develop a deeper desire for what God is doing in Africa and leaving them with a lasting image of the vision of the ministry. This next week I am participating in helping one such team and then picking up another from the airport. It should be a good time of connecting team members with God's heart. Labels: Fun, Leadership, Life, Vacation
Igniting Leadership
 I have been preparing the last two months for a retreat for the coaches to reignite their passion for Leadership Summit that they had at the beginning of the term. I was amazed at how quickly three days of lessons and activities flew by after all of the preparation, but every bit of it was worth the effort. Over and over again they told me how much the lessons meant to them. One of the coaches, Joseph, shared with me the following:
“I have learned that I need other people and God in order to accomplish my vision or goal. From now on I am looking forward to see myself working together with my teammates to accomplish the Leadership Summit vision.”
As I was teaching, I could see light bulbs coming on for the first time in many of them. I know that they have seen what God has called them to in a different light and I am excited to see how this next year will be affected by it.Labels: Coaches, Leadership
Gaining Leadership Skills
 God is renewing my passion for discipleship. We had the opportunity to attend a leadership conference put on by Willow Creek Church, a church in the States. During the two day conference, we listened to eight speakers from pastors to billionaire business owners. Some of the highlights of the weekend for me were listening to Bill Hybels share his wisdom on the importance of finding your own leadership style. I feel like I was challenged and pushed further in my own leadership abilities. As a department, we are making personal goals and keeping one another accountable over the next year. I look forward to begin to implement some of my gained insight.Labels: Fun, Leadership
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