It was really encouraging to hear these leaders speaking about all they had learned during their six weeks of being students in the LDC: some had tears in their eyes as they spoke about how they planned to implement new values in their leadership teams and ministry settings around the world. One of the younger men - who's getting married next month - said to us at the graduation: "Thanks to this course, I'm not only going to be a better leader in the future, but I really believe that it has also equipped me to be a better husband."
I can hardly believe that this was the fifth LDC I've worked with since coming "back to Europe" in 2007. Yes, in just a few weeks' time, it will be five years since I packed my bags and left Cape Town behind. I have to admit that I enjoyed having three South African ladies among the delegates this year. It was fun to hear those familiar accents, and to be wished "Lekker Verjaar" on my birthday again. I'll be keeping in touch with one of them for the follow-up coaching that we offer after the school, and with another for a more informal mentoring connection in the year ahead. My other "coachees" over the summer months will be a Singaporean lady who works in Thailand, and a German lady who also happens to be going down to Cape Town for a few months this year.
