Area Team Leaders Camp in Zimbabwe

74 team leaders attended a retreat in Zimbabwe this summer.  Amongst this group were 23 work crew members that selflessly gave up their time and energy to serve their peers. Everyone experienced the joy of Christ through games, delicious meals, singing and dancing, and learning. These leaders give up so much of their free time to share Christ with teenagers, so it is crucial that they get away to relax and invest in their own spiritual lives.

Camp story by Mandla, Area Director in Harare

“The Area Team Leaders are the backbone of this ministry. They help run the ministry assisting Area Directors and Staff teams. From Harare, l travelled with John, Sima, Percy Tembo and Perseverence Mutore. Three of them are also DGL students. They were blessed to meet with other amazing Area Team Leaders from all over Zimbabwe.

It was a joyful and moving experience to share stories, fellowship and learn from each other. As an Area Director, l was also learning a lot from the Area Team leaders specially the part of the program where we share our testimonies during meals. It moved me to know deeper stories of the people that serve alongside with us. Our 4 Associate Regional Directors, Sharon, Sthandazile, Bheki and Quinton showed everyone love, they shared, taught and engaged with love and passion. We were so much inspired.

The games did not disappoint, thanks to Paddington Johannes and Philani Mathuthu who worked on logistics and made our games memorable. Usually we spend time taking lost teenagers to camp. It was amazing to jump into the slide and play all the games with a relaxed mind without thinking about where campers are as we were campers ourselves.

In addition, the work crew and kitchen team led by Shanade did an amazing job. The food made me remember my first Young Life camp in 2009 when l was a camper. They served us well and made the camp memorable.

Lastly, let me end with the most amazing part of the program. The worship was a blast! It helped us get closer to the Lord. Thank you to amazing DGL students Baron and Tomas who led us to be intimate with the Holy Spirit. This was backed up by the morning quiet time and discovery Bible study.

The Area Team Leaders across Zimbabwe are now on the same level, knowing the same things and well trained to go out and change lives.”

Story by Nashima Arab, DGL Student;

“Training camp was great, and it was quite extraordinary to be a part of the first Area Team Leaders meeting in Zimbabwe. Thanks to my very thorough Area Director we arrived well versed in our duty and ready to receive word from the Lord as to how we should go about His great mission in our areas. We covered core concepts at the training, Leadership Tree, mentorship, area planning and mostly the calling of God. The readiness to do mission work is reiterated by the great commission, but we learned that, like Nehemiah, we must be sure in the Lord. Stand ready in His word and face opposition with confidence whilst building a team that shares in spirit and in labor. It felt like I was a kid again experiencing camp for the first time, the games were painfully fun and challenging teaching us how difficult it is sometimes to carry a lost kid all the way through to Jesus’ feet. Overall it was a great learning experience.”