VGYBLOG
Gap Year Students blogging about their year.  Sharing their experiences with the world!

At Leadership Academy we are receiving a lot of teaching about Leadership. Now, the theory about leadership makes sense and isn’t hard to follow. I have a bit of experience leading people, and a lot of the theory connects with that experience. Let’s just say: in theory I can easily state and defend that I’m a good leader. A comfortable place to be.

But than reality kicks in. I am co-leading a community project. When problems arise, I automatically seek for the solution in the performance of my team members, because surely I am doing my part… Then the voice of John C. Maxwell resonates in my head. The law of the lid: The success of an organization is determined by the level of leadership.  Ouch… Reality uncomfortably put me back into place.

Feast your creative eyes on this: an ocean of antiques, live folk-music being appreciated by a mob of popcorn-eating history hunters, rows of hangers parading unique vintage garments and a catwalk event showcasing the remarkable creations of new, local designers…

For the past three weeks, we have been working to turn this fashionable idea into a reality. An event like this requires much more planning than I initially thought it would.

Seeing as I am going to study fashion design next year, I am really excited to organize an event like this. When times are tough and “me-time” seems to be a distant memory from my past, I just think about what an awesome experience the Vintage Fashion Fair is going to be!

Arranging the VFF is teaching me a lot of valuable life-skills that I’m definitely going to need in my future. I cannot think of a better way to grow!!

The past few weeks we have had some awesome, but challenging and intense lectures. That's why we were pleasantly surprised when we heard that it was time for an adventurous outdoor activity. The Leadership Academy was going mountain biking.

We went for a 27 km trail ride in Tsitsikamma. It was a beautiful route. There was a pleasant balance between peacefully enjoying the scenery on the one hand, and taking on the challenges of long steady climbs and fast daring descents on the other.

Luckily their were no serious crashes, so the war wounds could be limited to a few bruises and a sore bottom. Highlights of the day: enjoying each other's company in a different setting, the last long decent, Andre's nosedive, and the beautiful view over the ocean and Storms River mouth at the viewing point halfway along the trail. Our minds are freed and ready again!

Ludi du Toit: "Guys you're coming to Durban with me!".  Of course, imagine the excitement bubbling up within us! Travelling 14 hours in the comfortable surf masters van- with the coolest music, and the funniest people- I couldn't wait! This trip was going to be a jol!
But the reality of sharing my life story to a bunch of school kids I didn't know, got me feeling terrified and insecure.

As I stood up to start sharing what I had been through and how God has completely changed my life, I felt this incredible amount of strength that came purely from God. I specifically remember my two main highlights of the trip. First was a secondary school we went to in Somerset East on our way to Durban.

It was the first time I shared my testimony outside of VGY.  I was afraid and intimidated, but as I started speaking I felt such healing come over me and once we where done, girls came up to me and started opening up and asking to receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

A week of digging to the deepest parts of my soul…. Discovering memories I had long forgotten.  Emotions came up that I thought were buried forever, buried so deep that it wasn’t supposed to effect my life but without me knowing it became a part of who I was.

When God started stirring in my heart and stripping the soil of my memories the walls were broken down and the healing process began.  After a lifetime of dealing with shame and guilt, a week of tears and laughter and then finally a revelation of God’s love, I walked away with freedom love and a blessing and pathway into my manhood.  What the devil build up for years, God healed in a moment!!

What exactly do I believe, can I explain it to someone with conviction?  With horror I realised that I could not answer this in a simple persuasive manner.  The foundations of my faith were riddled with cracks & holes, the spiritual house I had tried to build was damaged due to previous storms.  It was time for renovating my heart. 

Lectures on Hebrews 6 foundations laid a strong solid foundation and placed my feet on the rock Jesus Christ!  Finally I can explain to you what I believe.  No longer do I strive to earn my righteousness, I repent of dead works. 

Knowing the 7 Baptisms, especially the baptism of fire & suffering helps me to understand people better and deal with life in a house of 30 people! 

Laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead & eternal judgments finally all make sense! So when storms and floods come I will stand firm.  I have a solid foundation to build on!

The first thing that I think of is people ...EVERYWHERE...all the time!! Then my mind moves on to sweeping, mopping, scrubbing.. However, contrary to what I believed before I arrived… none of these thoughts are attached to bad feelings.  If I’m upset there are always some 15 people to comfort me! 

I’ve learned to clean up around me and I’ve discovered that it isn’t as awful as I thought it was (much to the delight of my parents I’m sure :) Sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, cooking and people … who would have thought God could use these things to change me…

VGY Orientation is a twelve day ordeal organised with the purpose of bringing us students to the end of ourselves.  For twelve days we were pushed physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.  We walked and ran for hours, carrying tyres, poles and our backpacks.

We marched and ran in strictly regulated columns, facing consequences when our spacing became too relaxed.  We competed for food and the opportunity to go to sleep early.  We fought fatigue, hunger, blisters and bruises but despite everything, I wholeheartedly encourage others to do it. The satisfaction of winning a chocolate bar to share between eight people is indescribable!  To come to the end of your strength only to realise that you don’t have to do it alone is overwhelming and to be reminded everyday until you finally realise.