Going For Gold

I was in Zambia for most of the Winter Olympics, so I didn’t get to watch much as it happened. But from a distance, I kept hearing about Norwegian cross-country phenom, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.  It’s like he runs on skis!  Even uphill!  Klæbo competed in six events and won six gold medals. The first Winter Olympian to ever accomplish that. And now, with 11 total Olympic golds, along with a silver and a bronze, he is one of the most decorated Olympians in history.  This gold medal phenom reminds me of our Young Lion, Fred.  We met Fred back in 2014 when he was just eight years old. He and his brother Francis came around the ministry early on, and over the years they’ve become like sons to us. They were among the original 14 Young Lions.

Fred is surprisingly good at everything!  He’s always been a naturally fast and efficient runner…among the top performers in any race the Young Lions have ever been part of.  But it’s not just running. We could be playing Uno, or any other card games, trivia, horseshoes, corn hole, or any other picnic games, Fred just wins.    

Once, way back in the day, we introduced baseball.  Zambia is soccer nation at heart.  Baseball is cumbersome and different.  No one had seen it before, but Fred was good at tracking the ball.  Natural swing, great timing!  

This past December, Fred graduated from high school with incredibly high marks across every grade, an achievement that’s difficult and uncommon in Chifubu. He’s been a committed, disciplined, and focused student from the start.  And now we are excited to be part of Fred’s next chapter.  He has been accepted to attend Northern Technical College in Ndola, where he plans to study heavy machinery and equipment engineering. We’re in the process of getting everything finalized and getting him started strong.  And I genuinely believe that, just like in sports and everything else, Fred is going for gold, and we are cheering him on.

We are so proud of all our lions and want great and roaring futures for each of them.  We know that they’ll take the lessons they continue to learn and apply them in ministry, workplaces, educational institutions, and one day in their own homes and families!  Fred and all the other lions are rising, running, and roaring with lives of bright and shining light!  They will impact any atmosphere they’re found!  Fred’s story is a good one and is still being written.

“You are the light of the world. You cannot hide a city that is on a mountain. Men do not light a lamp and put it under a basket. They put it on a table, so it gives light to all in the house. Let your light shine in front of men. Then they will see the good things you do and will honor your Father Who is in heaven. – Matthew 5:14-16

Would you pray for Fred as he bounds uphill into this next season?  And would you pray for all of our Young Lions?  That they would continue to charge into the futures God has for them?  

We believe the best is yet to come! 

If you feel led to be part of Fred’s journey, you can help support his university costs by writing a check to Orchard and noting his name in the memo.  Our mailing address can be found below in the email footer.

Go for gold, Lions!