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BIGGEST YESES OF 2017 YOURS?
WE ARE HERE DOWNLOAD S I N G E R SONGWRITER KELITAH’S NEW SINGLE
LEARN SOMETHING
NEW
THE PRINCIPLES OF PURPOSE
“PURPOSE IS NOT A NEW CONCEPT, IT THRIVES ON RENEWAL”
DIAMOND UNEARTHED EDITION 03:
SHE’S SO FLY!
TSHEPO MUGONI - A WOMAN IN AVIATION
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017
IMAGE BRILLIANT KODIE
Hello there !
We would like to introduce ourselves to you: We are a young creative team that is passionate about blossoming talent and potential. We Love to look for the very things that others are not able to see at first sight- I think they call it “Pioneering.� Are you a growing business? Are you a hidden talent in need of some wind in your sails? Or are you a company simply looking for a budget friendly facelift?
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What Else? We also enjoy brainstorming and coming up with solutions for your space, events and intimate parties. We particularly enjoy well-planned productions. Although we don’t always physically do the work, the Job behind the scenes leading up to the end can surely be carried by us through our consultancy package.
Giving you
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
Your C.S check-list: Theme /Venue
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CONTENTS * INDICATES COVER STORY
3 EDITOR’S LETTER
16 BACK TO EDEN
4 CONTRIBUTORS
Restoration in the Garden, and the purpose God has given us
5 3 BIGGEST YESES
18 KELITAH’S NEW SINGLE
* 6 ALPHA FEMALE
Tshepo Mugoni, a woman in aviation. Her story and aspirations
13 BECAUSE POETRY The battle of the flesh
*14 INFALLIBLE VIBRATIONS The principles of purpose
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24 RELATIONSHIPS
Dating, courting or taking a testdrive?
28 BE F. A. T.
Download We Are Here from singer Kelitah
Life is about constantly learning and growing
*20 ANYTHING EDUCATING
30 PURITY REVELATION
22 RETHINK THE DRINK
31 WRITING THE ANSWER
Learn something new today and change your life
What are you sipping on and how does it effect you?
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How a group of people are changing lives of mothers
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EDITOR’S NOTE My good friend, Gofaone Moyo, Diamond Unearthed’s Health Editor, mentioned in a social media post that agreeing to contribute on DU Mag has been one of her biggest “yeses” this year. With that, she inspired me to dig deep and discover what my biggest “yes” this year has been. I was also curious to find out what others’ “yeses” have been. You’ll get to hear what others’ biggest yeses have been. No doubt, my biggest “yes” this year has been launching this magazine and trusting God to sustain in. My word for 2017 is “love”, and when I decided on it, I automatically said “yes” to showing the love of Christ, as well as receiving it. Our Cover Girl this month is the beautiful Tshepo Mugoni, an inspirational woman who is making her way up the ladder in the aviation industry. This month, we continue learning about Spiritual Parenting, delve deeper into the meaning of purpose, and also get to support Kelitah, a student at Berkley University, who’s studying to be a Film Composer. May the rest of this year be all you had hoped for, and more. Until we meet again in 2018. Have yourself a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
- Nomps -
CONTRIBUTORS
Juby Peacock
Miss Botswana 2004. social worker.poet. writer
Founding Editor Nompendulo Shabangu Photography Cryptic Avenue Layout Designer Mr & Mrs (Studio Brown) Editor Open Button Cover Girl Wardrobe Open Button Cover Girl Make-up Miss Sanaa/Botlhe Mauchaza
Ps. Lydiah Mosimegi author.poet.teacher. mother.counselor. motivational speaker
THANK YOU Mmakgosi Tau
artist.mentor. motivational speaker. entrepreneur.author. mother.minister
Gofaone Moyo
dietician.writer. featured host.lifestyle advisor
We, as the staff of Diamond Unearthed, would like to give a big thank you to the following: The Maun International Airport for granting us permission to do a photoshoot at the airport, and, MackAir for letting us conduct a photoshoot near their planes. Thank you also to everyone else involved in the production of this magazine, we look forward to many more exciting edition.
Mass Bokamoso
poet.writer.youth development facilitator.entrepreneur
Dr. Pearl Kupe
attorney.business coach.author.global consultant
L
etting go of limiting beliefs”
- Boitumelo “Boca Molf” Molefane (Founder, I Shall Rise)
S
aying yes to my new role.”
- Dr. Jana Lackey (Co-founder, CEO at Love Botswana Outreach Mission)
M
y Biggest Yes has actually been saying ‘No’ this year, and learning to put down boundaries as well as taking the time to grieve.” - Sarah Witt (Missionary, Word To Africa)
What has been YOUR biggest YES in 2017? Let us know on our Diamond Unearthed Facebook page.
PHOTOS CRYPTIC AVENUE WORDS NOMPENDULO SHABANGU
NOV/DEC 2017
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DU
FEMALE
TSHEPO MUGONI: WOMAN AND PILOT
ALPHA
Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and I’m like, “Oh my God! That’s what I want to be.” The first time I had ever been on a plane was actually my first flight when my instructor took me out for a feel of what it was like.
shepo Mugoni’s love for flying dates back to when she was just a little girl. She distinctly recalls how, at the age of eight, when she was still living in Tlokweng, Botswana, she would hear the roar of the planes’ engines, and as she ran outside, she would notice, almost every morning and around the same time, two strips of white clouds in the sky. “I was fascinated by that… I had no idea what it was, it was just cool.” As destiny would have it, one of the panelists during a Career Fair that was held at her school when she was doing her Form Three, was a pilot. “(He) stood up in uniform, with epaulets, three stripes, and a hat with wings and he (tells us) he’s a pilot, and then he recites the phonetic alphabet: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and I’m like, ‘Oh my God! That’s what I want to be!’” That day, Tshepo told her Mom she wanted to be a pilot. “By the grace of God, we have parents who are not suggestive in terms of forcing us to do what they want; whatever we want to do, they’re quite supportive of it. I didn’t even know what would be required financially, all I knew was that I wanted to be a pilot and that was that.”
NOV/DEC 2017
A WOMAN IN AVIATION From there onwards, God lined up events to ensure that she achieved her dream of becoming a pilot. Because she was never shy to express her dream of becoming a pilot, pretty much everyone around her knew about it; many of those people actually became instrumental in assisting her to achieve her dream. When she was through with her Form V exams, one of her former classmates one day called her and informed her that there was an advert in the newspaper whereby government was inviting students to apply for Commercial Pilot Licensing sponsorship. Tshepo applied and went through a batch of interviews, and became one of eight students in 2007 to go to Blue Chip Flight School in Pretoria, South Africa, to earn her Commercial Pilot License.
The Schooling Experience “I was super excited! The first time I had ever been on a plane was actually my first flight when my instructor took me out for a feel of what it’s like. It was a rude awakening because the system was different. Back there, you had to fend for yourself – no one told you what you needed to study for. The freedom of
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everything: you’re getting an allowance, and you’re not living with your parents. It was fun; it was life-changing; I grew a lot through that experience. There were a lot of challenges as well, because with the training, it’s not like it’s everyday, and if the weather was not good, you were not flying, and our government was getting used to that Pilot Licensing stuff because they thought it was like a normal university or normal school – it doesn’t really work that way. So it did take a little more than two years for all of us actually. Being in a different culture as well was another adjustment.” “The first time I had ever been on a plane was actually my first flight when my instructor took me out for a feel of what it’s like...”
“she was never shy to express her dream of becoming a pilot”
T
TSHEPO MUGONI
It was at Flying School that Tshepo met Tafadzwa “Taf” Mugoni, another student-pilot. “We were at the same airport, but two different schools. It was a love-hate thing,” she says, giggling as she recalls their encounters, “I could say we got along. He got me; he got the jokes.” Tshepo and Taf started dating in 2008 and got married in 2015; they now have a beautiful seven-month old baby girl, Maya. The career path they have chosen works out well for them because she and Taf both love traveling. She also mentions that with both of them being in the Aviation Industry, the fact that they both understand the challenges that come with the job, is a bonus.
“another challenge is the transition from being a single, young woman, to being a mother”
The Challenges “There are a lot of men in this industry,” Tshepo points out, “so the challenges we face as women are being deemed weak, especially if you’re of a small stature; I’m not of a small stature, so I didn’t face that a lot. I have friends who are tiny and people would just look at
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them like, ‘You would not be able to fly.’” Another challenge she mentions is the transition from being a single, young woman, to being a mother. “That’s hectic; I have friends who have transitioned into being mothers and they have expressed how difficult it is, and with our job, you can literally go anywhere, internationally even, and obviously when you move to another location, it’s not easy to uproot a child and move with them. Also, there are no policies looking out for female pilots in terms of maternity, that is, companies have not reached that level where they are proactive in terms of having policies set up for females in that situation.” Having worked both on the ground and behind the scenes, Tshepo states that policies and sensitisation in the work environment to govern the positive treatment of female pilots would go a long way in taking care of them. “It’s not like you’re going to find males falling pregnant, or needing breaks now and then, and the schedules that exist, especially now, the whole six days on, one day off,
“WITH OVER 1000 HOURS OF FLYING UNDER HER BELT” is not really conducive, and you find that a lot of pilots who come here (Maun) are still young pilots, and they grow in the essence of developing.” She desires to see a time when pilots, both males and females, can be retained for a long period of time, and they can grow into having their own families. “(Men) get two weeks paternity leave and they’re back in the office, and that’s fine, but for a woman you still have to recuperate from all that.” Tshepo is a member of Women In Aviation for Botswana, a
branch of an American based NGO. A friend of hers is the President of WIAB; the NGO promotes aviation among women, and encourages younger girls to join the industry. Through WIAB, young girls are shown that it’s not just a dream, but that it can be a reality. With over 1,000 hours worth of flying under her belt, Tshepo has since moved into the regulation aspect of aviation. She currently works as a Flight Operation Inspector for Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana, meaning she’s
mostly in the office, overseeing the operations and flights. This means she stays on the ground more, works during weekdays and is off on the weekends. She looks forward to growing in the Quality and Safety Assurance side of things. “I’d also like to have my own private jet.” It serves as a double-bonus that she would even be able to fly her own plane. About her flying experiences, Tshepo explains how she had some really interesting and awkward encounters with some of the clients at times. “There were some individuals who could not understand how a black young girl is flying them in this small plane. (You’d) be standing there, introducing yourself, and telling them where you’re going and then they would ask you, ‘Where’s the pilot?’ and you’re like, ‘Here I am,’ and you can see the uneasiness in their eyes, especially the men. But all in all, you’d silence them with a nice landing in the bush and they would feel embarrassed after that,” she says, laughing hysterically.”
“HERE I AM”
Having experienced, and overcome, the challenges of being a woman in aviation, she says, “It can be done, if you want to do it, by all means, go out and do it. You can expect it to be a bunch of boys – don’t be surprised if you’re the only girl. Just be yourself, don’t be afraid to own it, you don’t even need to be something you’re not. Be prepared to be called up at any time because even though scheduled, things can change at any time.” She also emphasises the importance of keeping oneself current. “Be flexible and take instructions, go for your exams every six to twelve months, go for your check flights; there’s a lot of checks and a lot of exams that you have to go through…(just be) flexible, and willing to learn new things.”
Be Prepared To Have Fun Tshepo strongly believes that Aviation is the path that God has set her on. “I love meeting people, it just opened up so many things to me, so many opportunities…and honestly, it’s just fun. When you’re in the sky, there’s clarity. There are those rough patches, but that’s also fun. Aviation is not just flying these days, unless
you’re just flying for yourself, and have your own plane, but if you want to do it commercially, be open to the fact that it’s not just flying. You can go a long way with just a Pilot’s License; be prepared for a trail of paperwork. Things are going digital now, but you still need to fill out stuff. When I started flying, I just thought it was flying, but ever since I started with CAAB, I’ve learnt that there’s another side to it, and to appreciate the (people) on the ground because for you to be up in the sky, (it) was
“for you to be up in the sky, it was because of all the preparation from the guys on the ground, and the guys that are on the ground actually have a hand in everything”
It Can Be Done
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because of all the preparation from the guys on the ground, and the guys that are on the ground actually have a hand in everything.” Her favourite flying quote is one that has been commonly attributed to Artist Leonardo da Vinci: “When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will long to return.” - DU
WORDS NOMPENDULO SHABANGU Nompendulo Shabangu is the Founder, Creator and Editor of the Diamond Unearthed publication
BECAUSE
POETRY
‘SOME PEOPLE GRUMBLE THAT ROSES HAVE THORNS; i AM GRATEFUL THAT THORNS HAVE ROSES.’ - Alphonse Karr A Tour Round My Garden
THE
ANGELINA ANTHEA BONG
BATTLE OF THE FLESH A bitter fruit I plucked and could not swallow, two weeks of conscience ended hollow I carried a seed of love to grow and last, murdered alas by swords of lust Spring was blossoming beneath my heart, now carried on my sleeve like fall’s art I chose true love to wait like daffodil cheers, failed a thousand times with dry tears How do I face the flowers of my soul, a bride dressed in pure scarlet of gold? Shall I torture my weak thorns of flesh? Shall I surrender and put it to rest?
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P
urpose is not a new concept, it thrives on renewal. This requires the virtue of patience to be upon a believer. Wisdom is essential if you hunger for a deeper understanding and ownership of your purpose. The gift of salvation is the most precious treasure one can lay as the foundation of their life. It walks not alone, but with a body of spiritual gifts that liberate a Christian from the fangs of nothingness. Ecclesiastes 2:13 reads, “Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.” Wisdom is likened to the excellence of light because the darkness cannot supersede it. To be stuck in a position of emptiness with no substance to show for your passion in life or purpose is an error that only willingness and wisdom can correct.
INFALLIBLE VIBRATIONS
THE PRINCIPLES OF PURPOSE
“then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness” Ecclesiastes 2:13
You are purposeful. You are powerful. These are words I submit to you on this offering of Infallible Vibrations. Embrace them, engrave them in your vocabulary and repeat them everyday without fail. When you get stuck, beat down, or you feel as though you’re aimlessly
Wisdom is likened to the excellence of light because the darkness cannot supersede it. Purpose is orchestrated by God, the Destiny-Shaper, Giver of Honour, and Master of Eternity.
NOV/DEC 2017
Ecclesiastes 3:10 & 11 reads, “I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of man are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time...” There is a task set out for your specific attention during your time here on earth; a career that must pour into the “cause” your heart burns to bless. It is in every season that you will get the revelation of what your purpose entails. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reads, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” What follows after this verse is a poetic binary that offers these seasons to a believer. Bear in mind that there will be a season to sow and a season to reap; a time to gain and a time to lose. When you gain and even when you lose, let praise and worship to God never depart from your lips.
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“Your purpose is the framework for your legacy; this is what you give your children and the generations to come after” wandering this earth, find a quiet place and encourage yourself. Matthew 5:13 - 14 says, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned?... You are the light of this world...” If you can realise your power as a creation imagined and created by God, if you can think of yourself as an ornament of God’s love, and if you can envision your gifts offering a solution to sorrow, then your flavour won’t go unnoticed and man will have no reason to trample you underfoot. Purpose is a bundle of treasure that carries with it the dreams one would hope to make a reality. Purpose is also a collision of the regrets, the joys, the disappointments, and the truth that await one in life. The word ‘purpose’ can be taxing to the human conscience, this is because it means you play relay with your inner man, passing one flame of passion on to the next one. For every flame, there is a hidden gift. For you to unearth that gift, there is an exchange you need to engage in. Run right along to the next point in order to still qualify to run this race called life. Every stage of life is meaningful. The puzzle analogy has been used so many times but I would like to offer it a bit differently to you. Growing up, I realised that purpose was one of those questions everyone would ask of me, but those who asked
rarely had answers of their own. Then, I began my own search, and the power of purpose became clearer to me. The process of learning what we are purposed for is what keeps us alive. The stumbling blocks, along with the stepping-stones, are all painted to come together as you build up the puzzle of your life. So, what is your purpose? Where do you belong? How do you know you have made the right choices? Purpose is perfected by passion; it’s a process that recognises your efforts. Most importantly, your willingness to pursue your purpose opens divine enlightenment that enables you to imagine solutions in an era of chaos for humanity. Purpose, however, is not a one-man show. It’s not an island of ideas. Humanity is intended to be intertwined and inter-relate on purpose and principle. Purpose speaks to four principles and these are: 1. Solutions: This is the birth of ideas to provide solutions for gap-filling and innovations for change-making. 2. Peace: For the heart is joyful when there is a constant and consistent personal validation of value to humanity. 3. Inheritance: Your purpose is the framework for your legacy; this is what you give your
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children and the generations to come after. 4. Distinction: Your purpose is unique, and as such, there is an exclusive signature you develop as it unfolds. Your level of dedication increases and opportunities begin to overflow in your life. I leave you with this: Purpose is realised by the inner man for the outward fulfilment of society’s needs. Purpose is your gift to God, a reminder that He created a vessel of obedience when He created you.
“purpose is realised by the inner man for the outward fulfilment of society’s needs”
WORDS MMAKGOSI ANITA TAU Mmakgosi Ophadile Anita Tau is a well rounded artist, mentor, and motivational speaker. She is the cofounder of MO Scripts and Sekei Girls. She is the author of two anthologies, “All Over My Tswana Mind” and “The Allure of Transparent Sin”.
o
ne of the most fascinating things about Eden is the simple truth that Eden was actually a garden. As such, we see the heart of God towards His creation; it was for us to flourish in a beautiful and conducive environment. We were made for paradise, a lush garden filled with exquisite surprises of natural living. The Bible says God’s design is to give us life, and life in abundance, a future, and an expected end (John 10:10, Jer. 29:11). We see the evidence of this statement in the account of our first home, Eden. Darwinism suggests that the world as we know it was a result of an explosion also known as the Big Bang; Scientology teaches that the world evolved into what we see today as an aftermath of this mighty explosion. The Bible clearly contradicts this, and affirms that we are not a result of random chances; it declares that we were thoughtfully conceived by our Maker, and that with everything He created, He confirmed its brilliance, even the magnificence of our original home: Eden. Many scholars suggest that the garden was a mythical place, while some suggest that the
NOV/DEC 2017
BACK TO EDEN
RESTORATION IN THE GARDEN garden was never a literal place, but rather, a spiritual one. Over the years, many scientists and archaeologists have suggested that the location of Eden had been identified, however, they have all pointed to different geographic locations. The Bible sites the location of the Garden of Eden as being between mighty rivers. In Genesis 2:10-14, four mighty rivers are mentioned in association with the garden of Eden, namely, Pishon, Gihon, the Tigris, and the Euphrates. My goal, however, is not to discuss the theory of the probable location of this paradise, or send us on a wild goose chase of fact
“it’s impossible to return to Eden and not be struck by how much dominion man was given by God. The Bible says this dominion is over all creation: the fish of the sea, birds of the air, every living thing that moves on the earth”
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checking. Instead, I desire to explore this habitat that God had intended for us to live in. In modern times when we speak of a garden, we mean a beautifully cultivated scenery in our backyards. The description of Eden in Genesis, however, suggests a larger expanse of flora and fauna existing in unison. It is here that man was first announced as the steward of the earth. It’s impossible to return to Eden and not be struck by how much dominion man was given by God. The Bible says this dominion is over all creation: the fish of the sea, birds of the air, every living thing that moves on the earth and more (Genesis 1:28-30). It is quite unmistakable from the account of the Garden of Eden that it was God’s intention for human beings to interact with nature. It is also evident that dominion is not just a human right, but also a responsibility. I love gardens. My father has a beautiful garden that is his labour of love in our home. Sometimes, I wonder if I have green hands myself because I have noticed it would seem that certain people have the unique gift of gardening. Every time they touch the earth, something beautiful sprouts out of it.
This year, I had a specific and intimate desire to return to the garden. In fact, when organising the second “Juby Peacock Prayer Breakfast”, I felt a yearning in my spirit to host the event in a garden. We had a great time of fellowship with women from different denominations at Queens Gardens in Molepolole. Everyone who attended testified about the move of God that happened in that place as we worshiped God in that glorious garden. During that time, God had led me to seek Him more and learn about the mention of gardens in the Bible. As I led the Prayer Breakfast, I specifically prayed for the restoration that God wants for us to co-exist with nature. We see a striking account of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane in the book of Matthew. The Bible says He prayed so much that His sweat was as thick as blood. We could dismiss this occurrence as a mere coincidence, but why would the Second Adam pray in a place (Matthew 26:36-46) that holds the same definition to the place where the First Adam fell? I call it restoration. Was this part of God’s redemptive purpose? In the Bible, many parables allude to gardens, or demonstrations that use
processes that happen in gardens. We see pictures of crops and soil illustrating the conditions of our hearts and to demonstrate Kingdom principles; The Parable of the Sower does this, and so does The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. Such deep and meaningful heavenly stories make reference to contents of gardens. When we return to Eden, we see that God had intended us to live in communion with nature, having dominion over it all, and being good stewards of it.
“we see the heart of God towards His creation; it was for us to flourish in a beautiful and conducive environment”
WORDS JUBY PEACOCK Miss Botswana 2004, Juby Peacock is a Clinical Social Worker. She’s a poet, a writer, and an advocate for the marginalised, who uses her writings and poetry to stir political and social change in the lives of Baatswana, and people the world over by addressing contemporary issues.
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elitah Kalonda is a fourth semester Film Scoring Major at Berkley College of Music. She is a Singer-songwriter and Performer, and is studying to be a Film Composer. She has a passion for music, and genuinely believes that the world can be positively changed through the use of arts and music. Kelitah says: “Africa has been graced with the natural talent of creativity in the arts and it is my desire to see more Africans being on par with the global industry. There has been a growth in African music in particular, but I believe that Africa can make a bigger impact on the global industry than it is now. I really want to start an initiative to train young artists to get the tools they need to compete with the global music industry. Kelitah’s favourite quote: “Music doesn’t lie. If there is something that needs to be changed in this world, it can only happen through music.” Jimi Hendrix “This is why I do what I do,” Kelitah explains, “Whether it be through song, performance, or composition, I want to spread light and love to the world.
“I BELIEVE AFRICA CAN MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT ON THE GLOBAL INDUSTRY THAN IT IS NOW” The world in this time is hurting, bleeding, and wandering in the dark. The world needs love and light more than ever before, and if my music can do that for at least one person, I will be fulfilled!”
Help Kelitah with her studies by downloading her single, “We Are Here”, which is available on iTunes, Amazon, Deezer, Apple Music, Google Play, and YouTube.
Kelitah admits that staying in school has been a journey of faith; studying at one of the best music schools in the world comes at a very high cost. God has already provided so much for her, and she continues trusting that God will complete what He has started. Kelitah has released a beautiful single called “We Are Here.” The sales of her single will subsequently help to fund the rest of her studies.
Links to Kelitah’s social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kay_litah/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/ Kay__Litah Facebook: https://www. facebook.com/KelitahOfficialMusic/ Link to my first single: http:// smarturl.it/Kelitah_WeAreHere
phillipians
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call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. - Jeremiah 33:3 -
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down
ANYTHING Human beings are learning creatures. We are always learning with or without our consent. The things we expose ourselves to, will determine if we learn something of value or not.
EDUCATING
NOV/DEC 2017
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T
T
he mind is like a computer, the eyes and ears are like a USB, they collect everything you focus on like it’s vital data that needs to be uploaded. So, be careful what you see, be careful what you hear. Human beings are learning creatures. We are always learning with or without our consent. The things we expose ourselves to, will determine if we learn something of value or not. We are living in the information era, a time where information is one of the greatest assets a person should strive to have. The beauty of it is that this asset is everywhere, and literally, just a few clicks away. Learning is not just limited to schools anymore; it is now a lifelong process that can enrich and enhance your knowledge daily. Here are some really useful things you can do to learn something new everyday 1. Read different material Be in the habit of getting different material and going through them – you will be amazed at what you will learn. Personally, I find the Advertiser to be one of the most
“Learning is not just limited to schools anymore; it is now a lifelong process that can enrich and enhance your knowledge daily” informative reading materials I have come across in this country. It is really impressive the number of things I have learnt about health, personal development, and even how to maintain my own house. Seeing as I have not taken a great liking to reading, I have recently developed a way to get me reading. The trick is to find books and other reading material that can grab my attention, and which cover topics I am deeply interested in. 2. YouTube If a picture is worth a thousand words, then what more of a video? YouTube is a great resource for learning just about anything. I personally have
WORDS MASS BOKAMOSO KEFENTSE Mass Bokamoso is passionate about helping youth discover and develop their potential for leadership that impacts society. Mass regularly organises and facilitates various youth targeted projects such as Mosele Wa Pula. He has organised projects in Tanzania, Zambia and Kenya. He is a spoken word poet, and is currently working on his book titled “You Will Not Eat This Paper”.
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learnt a lot from YouTube, so I know what I am taking about. Here are some of the things I have never sat in class for, but I can now do (or use) very well, thanks to Youtube: • Photoshop • T-shirt printing • Playing the guitar • Making pallet furniture • Beat-boxing • Investing • Floor tiling • Painting a house • Cutting my hair
“Take advantage of the internet; don’t let it take advantage of you.” The benefits of learning something new There are a lot of good reasons to make learning something new a part of your daily routine. The following are just the that I have seen evident in my life: 1. It boosts one’s confidence. 2. It increases your level of creativity. 3. It helps inspire you and those around you. 4. It helps you to easily adapt to new situations. Challenge yourself to learn something new every day.
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emperatures are on the rise, and by the time February hits, most of us will be wondering if we are still on earth or are now in hell; that’s what the heat in Botswana does to most of us. With highs of up to 42 degrees Celsius, the only thing to do is to be found with a hat, an umbrella, sunscreen, and sipping on liquids. Liquids, drinks, beverages, whatever you may prefer to call them, are the only escape to the debilitating heat we experience in Botswana. Cool Time, Coke, juice, iced tea, water – we all have our preference. But the most central questions are: Are our preferences killing us? Are they leading to us becoming an unhealthy generation? Do we really know what we are consuming in these beverages? The truth is, most of us are not making conscious decisions about what we are drinking. We are usually concerned and conscious about what we eat in the form of food, but when it comes to beverages, all caution is thrown to the wind. Maybe it’s the thought or mindset of, “what harm can really come from the things I drink?” The reality is, there is a lot of harm that comes from these beverages as most of them are
RETHINK THE DRINK
WHAT ARE YOU SIPPING ON?
“We are usually concerned and conscious about what we eat in the form of food, but when it comes to beverages, all caution is thrown to the wind”
high in sugar. Studies show that in North West, South Africa, the numbers of people consuming sugary beverages has doubled since the early 2000s. A lot of what we drink is the reason why we are failing to make headway in our journeys toward healthy living. Most of the beverages we consume are extremely high in sugar, and the sugar found in these drinks actually contributes massively to the amount of energy we are taking in. In most cases, this energy is not accounted for by the consumer and results in negative results when it comes to weight loss.
“The reality is, there is a lot of harm that comes from these beverages as most of them are high in sugar.” Do you know how much sugar is in your favourite beverage? Below, I will be sharing some things you need to look out for in those beverages whilst trying to cool yourself down: • Read the label - Determine if your beverage is full of free sugars or intrinsic sugars (free sugars are associated with a high incidence of dental carries). - Always look at your ingredient list; the list usually goes from highest to lowest. - If sugar is in the first three ingredients, know that its present in large quantities. - Be aware that sugar can be listed as many names e.g. molasses, dextrose sugar, corn syrup, sucrose, honey, etc. - If you are wondering how much sugar is in your drink, divide whatever number appears on the level by 4 to determine the number of teaspoons present. - Be careful: usually sugar is listed as per 100ml and per serving (as determined by the manufacturer), but most times, we consume more than that.
• Drink lots of clean and safe water as your beverage of choice; here’s how: - Plan to drink water if you struggle with it, set an alarm if you have to. - Carry water with you. - Drink a glass of water before every meal. - Plan ahead and put the amount of water you want to drink in the fridge the night before. - Add lemon, mint leaves, berries, or cucumber to the water for flavour. - Use fruity herbal teas and rooibos (unsweetened) to vary your water intake.
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WORDS GOFAONE LAONE MOYO Gaofaone is a Dietician who has been engaged as a dietician for the Botswana Youth Netball team in the 2014 2nd Africa Youth Games, as well as the 2017 Netball Youth World Cup. She has feautured on Wellness Live, as well as a health newspaper column, Voice Women, also appearing on an online wellness channel, FIT2Be.
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ingle, Christian men and women go through many challenges everyday on the topic of dating and courtship. With so much information and literature available to them through media, they get even more confused and struggle with making choices on whether to delve into the dating scene, as the new dispensation would have it, or just the good oldfashioned courtship. With cultures shifting, and new trends moving in everyday, and social media, above all, taking over as the voice of
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RELATIONSHIPS:
DATING, COURTING, OR JUST A ‘TEST-DRIVE’ reason, there is a display of “perfect relationships” which don’t necessarily project the true image of dating or courtship, or whatever you may want to call it. They are made to conveniently forget that heartbreak, disappointment, or just plain imperfections exist and are real. Of this we are certain: human beings are relational. In Genesis 2:18, God says it is not good for man to be alone. God created us to be relational beings because He is a social God. He lives in community within the Trinity as Father, Son, and Spirit, and He made humanity in His image. People are designed to be in relationship. Just as you were created with a
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need for God’s companionship, you also were created for the companionship of other people. It is, however, vital that they guard their hearts against unnecessary heartache and pain, as it is the wellspring of life. [Proverbs 4:23 NIV]. As such, taking the time to get to know someone you want to consider your “partner” in a relationship would be a necessary ingredient to determine if you are meeting the real person or their “Christian” representative. God created us to be relational beings because He is a social God. Let us attempt to define the two terms of interest, Courtship and Dating, and determine their basic differences. I have to emphasise here that there has to be a difference between “worldly dating” and “biblical dating”, as the Bible sets prescribed standards and behavioural patterns that have to be followed by Christians. We are more interested in the Biblical standards of relationships and will be leaning towards them in this article.
Dating Dating, in my opinion, is a more relaxed and loose term, where a man and a woman who are physically attracted to one another come into a relationship and they share companionship, romantically, or just a deep friendship. This type of companionship is a less serious relationship that doesn’t necessarily have to end in marriage. Here are two people who are looking for someone to share their inherent desire to love and be loved without intent to commit. It is characterised by surfacelevel connections, one night stands, and if it does end in marriage, has a high divorce rate. It is basically a selfcentered relationship based on temporary gratification. Most young people tend to understand and relate well with this form of relationship, often running into all sorts problems, temptations, heartache and disappointments. Courtship Courtship, on the other hand, is a more spiritual relationship between a man and woman, who prayerfully get to know one another as much as possible, in a safe and pure environment. It is a post-dating stage that will potentially end in marriage. The relationship
is purely platonic at this stage. Boundaries for restraint are important and necessary as the commitment in the relationship is not certain yet. In order to avoid temptation, the couple is to stay away from heavy petting and let things develop progressively with time. It goes without saying then that activities like kissing, fondling and even having sex are forbidden as the couple is not yet married. A vital principle in the Bible is that physical intimacy is a privilege of the covenant of love sanctioned by God in marriage. (Hebrews 13:3-4). If you are not in this covenant, then you do not get the privilege of intimacy. Scripture is replete with statements that sexual immorality leads to death, that it is idolatry, and that those who are characterised by it will not enter the kingdom of heaven [1 Corinthians 6:12]. In addition, other passages explicitly tell us that sexual immorality is not something to flirt with. Romans 13 (right after speaking positively of how and why to selflessly love one another) admonishes us not even to “think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Ephesians 5 tells us that there must not be “even a hint of sexual immorality” among the followers of Christ. However, it cannot be denied that finding someone who is
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willing to wait can be a major challenge. Singles attempting to follow the courtship model within today’s culture do run into a lot of practical questions such as: How do I know that this is the one? What if we do not hit it off in the bedroom once we are married? When am I really ready to take it to the next level of committing? How old should I be to court? And a host of other questions. Let me mention here that neither dating nor courtship is mandated in Scripture. In the end, the Christian character and spiritual maturity of the couple has to determine what they do, when, how, with whom, to what extent and why they do it that way.
“How do I know that this is the one? What if we do not hit it off in the bedroom once we are married? When am I really ready to take it to the next level of committing?”
Whatever the couple does, the Bible states, “flee from sexual immorality...” [1 Corinthians 6:18]. Singles should look for Biblical answers to all these questions, rather than try to figure out the dating scene on their own, or base their actions on what the world tells them. So many Christian women unfortunately are consumed with marriage that they make the mistake of pursuing relationships too quickly, instead of allowing a friendship to develop. Relationships can be challenging. One has to allow time for the relationship to flourish and grow; don’t be so anxious to proceed to
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“When in doubt, ask God for guidance and be prepared to trust and obey Him. God loves us, and He does not want us to fail in life. But that sometimes means He will not give us what we want, when we want it, because He knows the positive or negative results of our truest desires”
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“you would be surprised what you could learn if you take it slow” the next level. You would be surprised what you could learn if you take it slow. We live in a corrupt world. Worldly standards and Christian standards are like oil and water. A very sound warning not to be entangled in the world, after having been saved is well captured in 2 Peter 2: 20. One critical question to ask yourself is this: “How many men or women would I ‘test drive’ before I finally decide that this is the one l want?” When in doubt, ask God for guidance and be prepared to trust and obey Him. God loves us, and He does not want us to fail in life. But that sometimes means He will not give us what we want, when we want it, because He knows the positive or negative results of our truest desires. Sometimes He will say “no” or “not now”; keep that in mind as
you seek guidance from Holy Spirit in your friendships and other relationships. Remember Proverbs 3:56, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” God sees the bigger picture and knows what is best for you at this point in your life.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
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WORDS Ps LYDIAH MOSIMEGI Ps. Lydia Mosimegi is a motivational speaker, a couple’s counsellor, teacher of languages, an author, and a poet. She has a great passion for God’s Kingdom, with women and children holding a special place in her heart. she is married with four children.
W hen I first moved to Botswana and started attending church, my Mentor, taught us about being F.A.T. Perhaps this concept seems a bit strange to you; I can assure you, it sure was to us as well. I recall how, as a teenage Youth Leader, Ps. Gary, taught us about being F.A.T. Even though he went on to teach us what F.A.T stands for, and what each term means, I came to learn that I had to actually exercise these principles in order to own them, and to understand them more in depth. For mentorship to be effective in your life, you need to strive to be F.A.T
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MENTORSHIP:
BE F. A. T
Being F.A.T stands for: Faithful, Available, Teachable. Faithfulness One of my Bible School professors, Dr. Sidney Westbrook, taught us that the Fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22,23, can actually be easily memorised by categorising them into groups of three: Group 1) Love, joy, peace; Group 2) Patience, kindness, goodness; Group 3) Faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It has often been said that half of success is showing up; showing up is, in fact, a huge part of what faithfulness looks like. Faithfulness is proving your commitment against all
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odds, even when the butterflies have disappeared and you don’t quite “feel it” anymore. It’s all about moving forward in faith. In fact, I believe that faithfulness is synonymous with loyalty. “God will always reward faithfulness and obedience.” - Dr. Jerry Lackey Available We tend to be more drawn to people who avail themselves to us. As you grow up, both in the natural and the spiritual, you learn that there are many things that demand for your time. As human beings, we appreciate those who avail themselves, despite not having enough time. Have you ever heard it being said, “You don’t have the time, you make it,”? It’s true. Life becomes more demanding as more responsibilities are added upon us; we simply learn how to prioritise what means the most to us. Likewise, we may come up with many excuses as to why we are not available to carry through a certain task, but the
“Faithfulness is proving your commitment against all odds, even when the butterflies have disappeared and you don’t quite “feel it” anymore” truth is, you’re more prone to being used by God if you avail yourself to Him. God knows us through and through; He knows we have a lot going on, but if we ready avail ourselves to Him, He can give us the strength and grace to achieve a whole lot more (and things that actually have a positive bearing on our eternal lives), as opposed to when we don’t avail ourselves to Him.
Teachable I often pray, “God help me to have a teachable spirit.” You don’t ever get to a point in your life where you know it all, regardless of how long you live on this earth. My greatgrandmother passed away two years ago at the age of 117, and believe me, even she did not know it all. If we are not teachable, and if we act like we know it all, we will repel those whom God has
placed in our lives to shape us into being the person God has called us to be – this even includes those younger than us. God has been known to even use inanimate objects to illustrate important teachings to His people, trust me, He can (and does) also use people younger than us, those whom we deem less educated than us, and even people who are not saved. Strive always to have a teachable spirit, and you will grow spiritually in leaps and bounds.
“You don’t ever get to a point in your life where you know it all, regardless of how long you live on this earth” WORDS NOMPENDULO SHABANGU Nompendulo Shabangu is the Founder, Creator and Editor of the Diamond Unearthed publication
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I
t was the middle of May in 2017 when Purity Revelation Ministries received a phone call from a lovely young mother named Hope, who had just become homeless. She had nowhere to turn, with all the local shelters filled. During this phone conversation, we knew that we needed to assist this single mother of four daughters, and we felt the sheer urgency to do so. Hope went on to tell of her daughter’s medical complications, being a heart transplant patient, and due to the high stress on the family, the children’s father abandoned them and moved across country. Hope was now facing the bulk of working alone, paying bills, as well as handling the healthcare needs. A few years back, God birthed
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PURITY REVELATION MINISTRIES
LOTUS LOFT HOUSING
this ministry’s ultimate vision of a maternity home, to house single pregnant women, empowering them with the Gospel, raising them up, and releasing them to be a blessing to others. Purity Revelation Ministries has done much to aid and support the prolife movement, being a witness that God carries purposes and great plans for all conceived, and that regardless of the situation a child is born into, it simply does not take away the beautiful and godly value of that individual. However, with Hope in desperate need, Lotus Loft (our housing component) had to open early. Therefore, we placed Hope’s household in an extended stay motel, with the accommodations of a full kitchen & bathroom, comfortable beds, etc. On her own, Hope acquired improved employment making more money, and she sought out additional community resources to enhance their overall quality of life. Lotus Loft covered the extremely reasonable motel expenses, and assisted with food, transportation costs, baby care items, etc., for a month. Once Hope found an apartment within her budget, the ministry covered her first month’s rent, as well as the security deposit
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to house single pregnant women, empowering them with the Gospel, raising them up, and releasing them to be a blessing to others
for her new residence. Hope and her girls flourished, being loved on and ministered to in very practical ways. Because of these victories, the ministry has taken this same business model to apply to several others. We are a completely debt-free nonprofit organisation, that supplies stable housing to pregnant mothers, outsourcing the maintenance responsibilities, allowing our team to focus
directly on the lives at hand. Three positives that make Lotus Loft unique: - We are one of the only maternity homes in the U.S. that brings in the family unit – mothers and all her children. - We accept minors, regardless of age. - We are the only Evangelical Bible-Based
Outreach within our state of Arizona. Lotus Loft extends the following, at no cost to our families: Housing, food, utilities, toiletries, transportation, clothing, diapers, formula, day care, labour & delivery classes, employment advancements/ educational opportunities, effective parental guidance, Early Childhood Learning for infants and children, mentoring/counselling services, one-on-one pastoral care, discipleship programme, family bond of sisterhood, easy
transition with the completion of the programme eight weeks post-delivery. We grow close to our beautiful mothers through churchgoing, as well as hours’ worth of Biblical studies, many times with ladies who have never opened a Bible prior to coming. They grow in the Lord by leaps and bounds through His amazing salvation that He so freely gives. In fact, one of our residents was recently baptised! Lotus Loft counts it a joy to be a part of their pregnancy journeys; we have the honour of throwing baby showers, we are also blessed to be a part of the labour and delivery process, and beyond. We are excited to be able to share more with you in the upcoming articles! For more information, please visit our website at purityrevelation. org, and click on the Lotus Loft Maternity Housing Services tab, and to make your taxdeductible donation that goes straight towards this legacy of
WORDS DAWN GUEVARA