August 2026: Leadership Track & FFX 2 Electric Boogaloo
The month of August started off slowly, which is why this will be a shorter newsletter. After the DTS debrief, we had a two-week break. I spent most of the time resting, relaxing, and decompressing from the chaos that was the last six months.During this time, I also started going to the gym. During outreach, I felt the Lord speak to me. It happened when I was thinking about what I want in a future wife—you know, the Proverbs 31 woman. As I was listing these things in my head, I felt the Lord say, “A woman can check all the boxes for you, but it is on you to check the boxes for her.” It was a very confronting moment, so I prayed into it more, and I felt the Lord was inviting me into a season of self-development. Through this, I began to feel more of the fear of the Lord regarding my stewardship of my body. So, I made the decision to focus on my health and fitness and put the spouse search on the back burner for the next few months. I’ve been consistently going to the gym for the past few weeks. I also felt led to continue with the FFX formal, known as DTS. I remember going for a walk and reflecting on my experience leading—my successes and failures. I was thinking to myself, “I wish I could have done it better.” When I said that, I felt the Lord say, “You still can.”
That’s when I knew that I should stick with it. I see it as an opportunity to grow and to compare my experience to last year. I believe we can do something, grow from it, and then move on to something else. But with this, I’ll be able to see how I can improve and grow as a leader. Between now and February, I will be staffing the FFSA Leadership Track, which is the onboarding school for people who want to become staff at FFSA. This is the school that I attended from September to December last year. Leadership Track 25’ was such a special time in my life. I grew so much in my walk with the Lord and in my friendships, and I’m so excited that I get to be a part of the discipleship and development of the new staff we will be adding to the community.
In the meantime, before Leadership Track starts in early September, we are preparing for their arrival—making sure interviews are done with the new staff and students, setting up the rooms and kitchens, and getting everything ready. The weekend before the school started, I had the opportunity to go to Limpopo, which is a province in the northeast of South Africa and truly feels like where Africa starts. For one of my friends’ birthdays, I was invited to go on a hunting trip. It was an amazing time. I got to see lots of animals, including but not limited to giraffes, ostriches, baboons, elands, wildebeest, zebras, and so much more. I got to eat good food, rest well, and enjoy God’s beautiful creation.
It was a much-needed and fun way to rest before another crazy season.
Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. It is a privilege to share what God is doing in my life and here in South Africa.Please continue to keep me in your prayers. If you feel led to support me financially, you can do so through my support page, which provides tax-deductible giving. The link is available on my website's homepage. Whether you support me financially or through prayer, I am truly grateful. Finally, please let me know how I can be praying for you as well.
Grace and peace, Thaddaeus
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