Here in Lesotho, our ministry for the month is at a small high school.
But this school is different from the rest.
This school is for the misfits.
The ones who don’t belong.
The ones who don’t fit in a normal collection of well behaved students.
This school is for the drug addicts and students who have been kicked out of other schools.
Today we spoke about dreams and careers and passions. We talked about what the passions in their hearts are, and what the Lord has instilled inside of them.
We brought notecards and pens for the students, because they do not have pens and pencils of there own. We had each student write the career they would want on the front of the notecard and had them share it with the class. There was everything from doctors to pastors to scientists to singers. Following that, each student wrote down the steps it would take to become what they had dreamed of. Some wrote things like going to university or having confidence in themselves.
We passed out watercolored pieces of paper with bible verses of encouragement to the students. We chose verses like Psalm 18:28 & Jeremiah 29:11. Each verse gave encouragement that the Lord directs their steps and to have confidence that the Lord will provide. Each student read their verses out to the class, speaking hope and life into each other.
As the misfits they are, they are told that they can’t succeed- that they can’t follow their hearts and rise above what they have faced. Today, I think I saw a spark in some of them. A spark of life, to continue and not give up. To face those hard things and choose to follow what passions they have.
Today showed me a small glimpse of what the next few weeks will look like. My hope for this month is to show these kids that their weeds can become wild flowers. That their past will not determine their future and they will not be labeled by their circumstances. I see hope and purpose for this school. I feel hopeful for these students- that they will rise above what society tells them they are. These kids are not much of misfits in my eyes, but students with futures and passions and desires. They’re dreamers.
With love, Zahli
“You, Oh Lord, Keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” -Psalm 18:28
“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 hope and a future.” -Jeremiah 29:11
