Glorifying Steps

January 23rd was the first day of school for all our kids!

The week leading up to the start of high school was a bit hectic to say the least. We had so much to do before the kids were ready to head off to school!

If you saw our video about Reclaimed’s new High School Ministry, you know that high school looks a little different here in Lesotho. The kids board (live on campus) and have meals prepared for them each day. And, unlike primary school, there is a cost to attend.

Tyler and I were blown away by the response we received about High School Ministry sponsorship! Each student has a sponsor who is praying for them daily, will be receiving updates on the child, and is paying all the fees for their education.

Because they are boarding, there was a long list of supplies the kids needed before moving in. The list included things like a school uniform, a blanket, books, pencils, shoes, a mattress, and even a spoon. I worked hard to gather a list of all the things they would need before moving in.  Some kids already had items from the previous year, so that made the list we needed to purchase a bit smaller (and more complicated) That week, while we were busy filming the kids for the video, Brett took a trip down to Leribe to shop for all the supplies. I was so grateful he offered to do that for us. It saved us the trip, and a lot of time!

After only a few hiccups, all the kids had everything they would need and got a ride to school on Friday. It was a crazy day moving everyone in, but it was so rewarding to see them begin this new chapter of their lives. Without Christ in their young lives and without the Care Centers pouring into them, these children would never have been able to go to high school. The Lord has given them such an opportunity and I am so blessed witness it.

We have had two days of High School Ministry so far. The kids come over on Saturdays and we enjoy the “Four F’s”: Food, Family, Faith, and Fun. Even from the first to second meeting, we have seen a big change in how they interact with us and each other. I personally can’t wait to see what God does in their lives this year!

Please be praying for them as they face the challenges of being a high school student.

Pray that they would:
– Make the right choices and not fall into peer pressure.
– Have an understanding of their subjects and be given the knowledge and study skills to pass their classes.
– Grow in their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and develop a bond with each other for encouragement.
– And find joy and happiness in this new phase, despite all the hardships they have already endured in their young lives.

We love these kids and really pray they feel the love Christ has for them.

With Love,
Tyler & Rachel

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Well, we wrote that post a month ago but never got around to posting it. Life happens!
So here is an even more up-to-date update on High School Ministry since the first two weeks.

Each week it gets better and better with the students interacting with us! The first week everyone was quiet and didn’t seem to be very comfortable. But now, after many Saturdays with us, they are laughing a lot and really seem to be enjoying themselves.

Each Saturday we have games to play, a Basotho meal (the first week we tried spaghetti, and that did not go over well), a memory verse to learn, a Bible study, worship (which they love), and a time for us to hear about their week and tutor them in an subjects they need extra help with.

We have the kids memorize the Bible verse from the previous week and if they can recite it to the group, they get a prize! The kids got really excited about it after we added little packs of cookies to the prize box. The kids have learned two great worship songs – No Longer Slaves and Oceans. They sing along and look forward to this time way more than I expected them to.

As for the tutoring time, we asked the kids to bring their notebooks for the subjects they have questions in. The first three weeks, no one brought books or had any questions, but then the fourth and fifth weeks we have students coming early and staying late to get extra help in their subjects!

With this new ministry the interns have been extremely helpful. We really don’t know how all of this would be happening if it wasn’t for their help. We’ll be in real trouble when they leave us in just a few months!

Thank you for your continued prayers over these students. Three of our girls haven’t come in the last two weeks due to “mandatory race practice” at school. We are hoping that after the day of the competition they will come back to High School Ministry because we really want them all to be there to have this time to grow in relationship with one another and with the Lord.

With Love,
Tyler & Rachel