Last month our team #waterbuffaloes stayed in Pretoria, South Africa with a ministry called BEAM Africa! Our hosts were Louie and Erika Lingenfelder. They are a wonderful couple that loves The Lord.
During our time with BEAM Africa, we were able to help out with one of their programs called Life Skills! Life Skills works with people from 18 to 35 years old who are from the townships (impoverished neighborhoods). This program teaches the students basic life/professional skills such as: interviewing skills, basic math, budgeting, communication, resume building, etc. These skills are taught to help prepare them to go out, and get jobs in order to be able to support themselves. The Life Skills program partners with Mr. Price, a major retail business in South Africa, which then has the students take a test to see if they qualify to receive in-store training from them. A lot of the students go on to receive this training, and get jobs with Mr. Price. Others can take computer skills classes, or other courses at BEAM Africa’s MyAEC (My Academic Enrichment Center). What also happens through this program is that the students are entered into job databases in South Africa so most of them will be employed after they complete this program. This will allow them to have the resources to go after the hopes and dreams that they have for their lives. It’s awesome!
The best part of this program is that they are taught about how beautiful, and precious they are in God’s sight. They are taught that God has great plans for their lives, and that they have been created for a divine purpose. Even if bad things have happened to them, or if they have made bad decisions themselves. The past doesn’t matter, because God will redeem them and restore them if they let Him. They can choose to follow God, and step into the amazing things that He has planned for their lives. And you, the one reading this, can do the same!
My favorite parts of the month were: the opportunity to pour into these Life Skills students, and the opportunity to bless and serve our host wherever they needed it. We were able to lift up and encourage our hosts, and we were also able to help out with a lot of administrative work that had to be done.
This month in South Africa has actually given me more clarity as to what I would like to do in my future. I studied International Relations in college, and have known that I would like to work for a Christian non-profit organization involved in the eradication of human trafficking, as well as in the rescuing and rehabilitating of victims. What God revealed to me this past month is the desire to give these victims Godly counsel. To help them to process through their past, to introduce God into their lives to heal them from their past, and to help equip them to step into a new life. I want to see these people healed, delivered, and walking in the calling that God has for their lives. I want to take back what the enemy has stolen. I want these people to know that they are loved, beautiful, valuable, and worthy of leading a life that is extraordinary.
I want to thank each of you for your generosity, and support! I would not be here without you!
But in order to stay on the race, I still have to meet the April 1st $11,000 deadline. I have $2,440 to go, and have to have it met by the end of this month. If you can support me, please do so. And if you could share this with your friends and family that would be awesome! Thank you all so much!
God bless!
Jessica
