A Note From Pastor Steve Hi Everyone!  I found this prayer that my 16 year old daughter, Liberty, wrote on the table a few days ago.  Libs is a fun, passionate, sensitive, caring , and crazy teenage girl!  She is often dramatic, and can sometimes push us to the edge, but she is also incredible and loves the Lord and what He's doing in her life!  I felt like this would just give you another small window into life in South Africa. A Daughters Prayer

As I look over at my friend, I see that he is in his own world worshiping. He sits next to me every Sunday. It has nothing to with me, but more where I sit. It's in the front row, in his own words, "the closest to God". During worship I realize that it's a miracle these guys are even alive, let alone in church. These guys had no hope for their future, nothing but a joint in the their hand and alcohol in their heads when I met them. I've seen something change in them and I don't know how to explain it. I've seen them cry so hard they cant stand up under the presence of God. I've seen them smile and laugh as they dance in front of Him and I ask God how can you put so much joy in someone who has lost both his parents, whose brother may never walk again, who has the weight of his family on his shoulders, and who is scared he may never get out of the "ghetto".

Oh God, please keep these guys strong. Show them the future they could have. Show them all what you have for them. Show them that they are strong in you and that they don't have to prove anything to anyone. Let them know that they are surrounded by a different kinda "gang" A gang of people that will always be there for them and that will lift them up when they're not strong enough. Show them how to treat a girl and respect their families. Teach them to be brothers as well as sons. Let them know they are never alone and that a bottle can't solve their problems. Spark that fire for you Lord, and never let it burn out!.

These guys aren't the only ones that struggle. One of my closest girlfriends is 15. Her parents are divorced. She loves her dad and mom, but tends to fight with her mom and blame her for everything thing that goes wrong. She needs a daddy. Someone to take care of her.  Where else does a girl go when she's looking for love?  This beautiful girl has a horrible reputation and is now going to be a mother at the age of 15. She's scared of going to school and tells me " I love being with you coz you make me feel like a girl again and I don't even feel pregnant, you don't look at me that way". This girl's whole life was taken away from her and I cant help getting mad.  Part of me wants to go right up to that 21 year old boy and scream and smack him.  How could he do that to her, yet I realize that she did it to herself, she was looking for love and she thought she had found it.  So many girls think they have found love with that one "amazing" guy and will do ANYTHING to keep him happy but the thing is, how many other girls are doing ANYTHING to keep that same exact guy happy. I cant tell you how many times I've heard them say "he loves me Liberty" or "we'll be together forever" and even "I'll kill myself if he leaves me"  it makes me wanna scream.

Father God, please shows these girls you love them and that's the only love they need! Show them that they are beautiful and strong.  Let them fall in love You and not the next guy walking down the street. Give them the power to say "NO" and tell them that you hear them. That you can dry their tears and that they are never alone. Give them strength to wait for that perfect guy that you have picked out for them.  Be the daddy to girls that aren't as lucky as me to have one of there own.  Wrap them in your arms and protect them from hurt, show them they are princesses and deserve the world, nothing less, your love is never changing. Thank you God, for loving me, and giving me a father and mother, and brothers that have always made me feel loved and beautiful. Please do the same for my friends that are crying out to you.

life isn't easy for anyone, including me sometimes. I feel guilty for feeling upset or sad, but I have to remember that I'm just a kid and I'm learning. The other day I explained it to my friend like this, " I'm in a dressing room trying on so many different styles of life and I'm getting hot and tired and I don't want to keep trying, but I haven't found one that fits just right yet, and there's people out side just yelling at me to finish up being a teenage girl and being ME. I have allot of emotions and I'm not the best at hiding them. I often break down in tears coz I'm not so sure how to handle things. I have a big heart and wanna help each and every friend but I cant fight their battles for them. I have my own battles to fight. I have my own destiny to find, and its hard, its extremely hard trying to say "no" and be the daughter, sister, and friend I need to be, the one I should be.

God, please give me the strength that I need so that I can do what you have called me to do. Give me the wisdom so that I know what I need and what I don't.  Thank you for keeping me safe in situations that weren't.  Thank you for never giving up on me and thank you for being there when I needed you. I know I've just started to live my life and I wanna know who I am in you God.  Keep me under your hand and guide me through life. I know it wont be easy, but I wanna change the world. I wanna see girls stand up for themselves and know who they are. I wanna see guys be confident and not be scared to be who they are. Thank you for all you've done in my life and all you've done in the lives around me! AMEN