As with previous years this was a joyous time of thanksgiving and celebration. The focus of the service was “In UB but not of UB.” We were grateful to have speeches from representatives from the Ministry of Youth, Arts and Culture and the University of Botswana. The name and impact of FTN is most certainly spreading and people at all levels of society are recognising the value that its message has in Botswana. Both the ministry and the University have expressed a desire to work more closely with FTN. This was followed by a lunch and a Prayer Walk of the campus with Prayer Partners and UB Staff Mentors joining us. Feedback from that has been very positive and that much more needs to be done in this area

Our missions Pastor Jeff Sukop led the devotion on the last day. A week earlier he said, “On the last day there is not really anything new that you want to say I would like for us to wash the volunteers feet.” The leadership of the church, FTN and the interns set up 8 bowls of hot water and washed 80 feet. It was a very moving time for “washers” and recipients alike. After that the leadership of FTN anointed the hands of all the volunteers with all and set them apart to use all that God has given them to reach out to the campus, their families and communities. This really set the tone for the Commissioning Service and the rest of the day.

I mentioned in an earlier letter that we had representatives from other like minded organisations train with our volunteers. This proved to be very fruitful. Some of our young men signed up to join a 12 week discipleship course with local missionary, Andrew Freeman, who has a passion for discipleship. Other volunteers signed up to assist with sports outreach programmes during the vacation with King’s Foundation. Youth For Christ is starting a mentoring programme whereby university students are partnered with a high school student. We had a HUGE response for this sign up. I hope to be able to give you positive feedback in the months to come. We are also in discussion with The Navigators and Campus Crusade For Christ as to how we can work together more closely on campus.

Over the 3 weeks of School of Discipleship we really pushed the need for a strong FTN Club on campus and the need for them to take ownership of it. During the last week many Club activities were decided upon. These included workshops on topical issues, door to door visitation, presentations at hostel meetings, a stall during orientation week, sports and fun days, distribution of a Christian newspaper called the Challenge, cell groups and all night Prayer vigils. Sign up lists were quickly filled and new ones had to be printed. By the end of the week the 2011/2012 FTN Club Committee had been voted in by the volunteers.

The third and final week of School of Discipleship was very special and very challenging. The focus for this week was surviving, thriving and impacting the university campus for Christ. It was really a pulling together of the first 2 weeks and dealing with challenges, temptations and goal setting that a universal to all young people and specific to students that attend UB. Our local lecturers dealt with topics of HIV/AIDS and all its related current issues, evangelism, being set apart, dress code, dating, marriage, pornography, alcohol and drug abuse and setting boundaries in a practical, no nonsense way. What amazed us was the way in which God confirmed things each day from previous weeks and days and that lecturer hadn’t been present to hear what had been shared that day. It was a dove-tailing and cementing on a common vision.

The committee remains active on campus and has created a visible presence. They have attended a workshop about the rules, regulations and privileges of the clubs. They have been asked to take part in several campus programmes.

7 Bible Study groups have been started. These groups are a good mixture of first year students and volunteers who have been through FTN. Those in 2nd year and above are being encouraged to mentor the 1st years. Please pray for the club. We really do believe that they can play an important role in the future development of FTN as a whole and can make a huge difference on campus. The university is very positive towards the Club.

Our two Namibian volunteers have been busy ever since their return home.
• Face The Nation curriculum has been approved by their sending church’s AIDS Committee. It is to be used in the Youth Group and also be part of the After-School- Programme Life Skills classes.
• A nearby high school has been approached for the opportunity of introducing the Face The Nation curriculum to the Grade 11 (16-17 years) students in Term 3 of 2010.
• An introduction of Face The Nation has been made to the Namibia Council of Churches Namibia Steering Committee on HIV & AIDS.
• They have approached the church council to assist with counselling after the morning services

• 140 Volunteers were trained by FTN this year
• They were drawn from +60 Churches
• 60/140 were either returning volunteers or heard about FTN while students at school
• 28 senior secondary schools were reached
• Total of 55 000 teens were reached
• 10 volunteers from Namibia & Zambia were trained to expand and strengthen FTN.
• 2 Rally Teams performed more than 70 rallies
These happened in Senior, Junior, & Private schools, Churches; a Museum; two feeding stations; seven police stations; Open Market places; . . . and a Prison
• +70 Prayer Partners supported our volunteers
• IN SCHOOLS: 5 116 Salvation commitments were recorded
• IN SCHOOLS: 9 295 abstinence pledge cards were signed
• In the Communities as an added bonus:
• 867 salvation commitments were recorded
• 1 716 abstinence pledge cards signed
All together that brings us to totals* of:
• 5 983 salvation commitments, and
• 11 009 abstinence pledge cards
*These are not our final numbers. We are still awaiting statistics from two schools.

To God be the glory, great things He has done!

The “active” phase of Face The Nation has been completed for another year! I put active in inverted commas because life at the office has been no less active. We praise God for the safe return of all our volunteers and the successful completion of their time in the schools.

“Face The Nation…going the extra mile.” was our theme. This was held early in August. It was a joyous reunion time of the teams and a time of celebration, as everyone looked back over the goodness, provision and faithfulness of God over the past three months. The testimonies of some of the volunteers were incredible. Each one is a story in and of itself. I will be sending these to you over the next weeks.

Our facilitators are currently busy interviewing potential volunteers. This is a long and difficult process. 100 volunteers have already been interviewed. Please pray that the facilitators will remained focused and will have a spirit of wisdom and discernment. The success of FTN depends on the caliber of the volunteers.

Please also be in prayer about accommodation for our volunteers, once they are in the field. We are struggling to find suitable accommodation in some areas.

Yours in Face The Nation

Gail Wingreen