Wrapping up

Getting ready to leave South Africa for 3 months... WOW there was soooooooooo much to do. The school winter break starts just as I leave. God inspired me to organize "Character Building Workshop's" for students during the week before they are out because exams are finished, the teachers are busy marking papers... there is NOTHING for the kids to do at school, but they are expected to be at school. Thrilled with the idea, the principals were happy to arrange for us to spend a day at each school. This is how the day went...

Arriving at the school at 7:45, the movie is quickly set up while the Life Orientation teacher separates the girls and boys, sending one group to me, the other to the field.

On the field are two sessions. Chris takes them through "Courage of Your Conviction", a game where they must remember, listen for their number, and run for the chair when their number is called. For those that don't remember or don't care, they don't win a prize. Like the woman who was healed by touching Jesus' garment, acting on what is important to you will make a difference in your life!

Next the students line up and are handed 3 sweets and told, "Do not eat these till I tell you" some students and leaders are planted as "negative peer pressure", encouraging them to eat the sweets. After Ruben has played a soccer game with them, he asks "How many of you still have your sweets?" Without fail only a handful have self control and the ability to resist peer pressure. They are given a very nice big sweet... WOW, are the other students jealous and complain "but Auntie Shahida said it was ok to eat!" Then the teaching begins... "If you want the best in life, you mustn't settle for 2nd best" Sex before marraige is 2nd best, If you wait, you will have the best!

Back in the classroom the other 1/2 is watching a movie called "Starting Over" about a Christian young man who has the conviction to abstain from sex until married. Invited to a club, he starts out only drinking soda, but soon is pressured into drinking alcohol, when he is drunk he falls to the seduction of a girl who is HIV+. His father, a pastor reacts badly to the news of his status when he is fired from his new job at the bank. In the end there is restoration of his relationship with God and his family. Alcohol dulls the ability to stand for your convictions and have self control!

Now the students are set up for "State It, Sell It, Move It" a session practicing how to respond to negative peer pressure and have a positive influence! In small groups they role play how to use the courage of their conviction to have self control and remain in right standing with God, living out His best plan for their life.

Wrapping up with a Boy/Girl talk, answering questions that the students don't ask of their parents or teachers... very enlightening for us!






Day finished... do it again the next day... and the next day... and the next day!

Total 4 schools, 450 students reached with the message of God's best plan for their life and the team celebrated with KFC for lunch.





Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future"