Orange Bracelets, Preschoolers, and an “Outside of the Box” Camp!

Our LXP Lesotho team leaders have recently returned from America. In the 5 or 6 weeks that they were gone, we were asked to hold down the fort and continue with all existing ministry tasks. During that time we were also able to start up a few additional ministry projects.

As you remember, we ran the Beat the Drum abstinence initiative the first week in August. We have tried to keep the fire alive at the two schools we were working with. It has definitely been a challenge to try and meet the needs and requests of 1200 students between the two schools. At St. Phillips High School, we have an open door of which we have taken full advantage. One afternoon a week we venture to the school and run what we call “abstinence club” with about 70 students. The club is open to anyone who would like to hear more about remaining pure and enjoy fellowship with like-minded students. The topics we discuss are things like “how far is too far?” or “how do I control my feelings and desires?” The students are open and eager to hear more. During Beat the Drum, the students who have made commitments to abstinence received orange bracelets as a reminder of their pledge. Still to this day they faithfully wear their bracelets!

At the second high school where we ministered during Beat the Drum, I (Leah) have started up a very informal gathering of girls who just want to talk about the difficulties of life and personal challenges they are facing.

The other new ministry project we have begun to run is teaching at the local pre-school once a week. We have an hour slot where we sing songs, play games, and teach Bible stories. A few weeks ago, we taught them about the seasons of the year. These three and four year olds glued plants and other things that represented each of the seasons.

Last week was our bi-annual youth and kids camp. The theme was “Out of the Box” and we truly tried to make it a camp out of the box with funky relays, scavenger hunts, and the like. The main objective of the

camp was to get them to think of themselves and their lives in greater ways than they ever have before. They
 can be or do anything they want to! They don’t have to be trapped in a box of other people’s expectations, cultural norms or even be limited by what they think they can achieve in their life. There’s more! During one of the sessions, the kids wrote down the things that are holding them back from achieving their full potential. Later that evening, each person took their piece of paper and put it in a box to represent putting these things, these strongholds, where they really

belong. On their off times at camp, the 90+ kids enjoyed swimming in the (very muddy!) lake and playing games like skipping rope and hula hooping. We had a few new kids that we met through Beat the Drum that joined us for camp. All in all it was a great time!

In personal news, baby girl Bakers is doing well! She officially has a name: Harmony Kgomotso. Her first name came about because she is a “beautiful blending” of two cultures and races, and her middle name is Piet’s actual first name (pronounced Ho-moat-so), which means “Comfort”. She’s growing well and the pregnancy is going great as well. I have to say this is one of the easiest pregnancies I’ve heard of. I haven’t had a single day of morning sickness and I’m actually enjoying it. I feel like I’m cruising through. I do have a few fears, though, about the birth. I am really trusting God for a smooth and quick birth that does not involve any interventions such as drugs or a caesarian. Please pray with me as I trust God completely for these things. Harmony is quite the active baby and we can’t wait to meet her come January. 

Truly Loving Africa,

The Bakers