8. Reunion

							                                    8. Reunion


God gave Trendsetter the following scripture concerning the vision two weeks

before the reunion:


     Amos 9:13 "Yes indeed, it won't be long now," GOD's Decree. "Things are
     going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of
     the other. You won't be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at
     once – and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off
     the mountains and hills.


It felt strange to be back at his old High School. All the teenagers of ten years

ago then were grown-ups… they looked strange yet familiar.



They spoke with one another about what they had done during the last ten

years… it was most interesting. Trendsetter and Passionate were amazed to

learn that Eager Beaver was a head chef in the army, Insecure became a well-

known photographer, Jealous became a journalist and People’s Pleaser was a

writer. What a strange bunch they were together.



They laughed and joked around. Passionate suddenly got very sincere and said

that he had an announcement to make. One could hear a pin drop. Suddenly

Passionate had all the attention… He suggested that they should go and sit

outside… away from the other people since what he was about to share was very

sincere.



His dad had several franchises and wanted to expand his business. He and

another big company wanted to merge in order to complement each other’s




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business. They wanted a unique advertising campaign. Passionate was in charge of

that campaign… he had a budget and had to come up with an idea.



He had an idea indeed. He had read in an Adventure magazine a few days before

about several attempts different groups of people made at conquering the

Destiny River. Everyone had failed.



He had looked at the Destiny River on a map and did some research. It

originated in a country in Africa called Ethiopia and it ended all the way on the

shores of Egypt. It was 5 000 miles long… He estimated that it would take

approximately 4 months to complete the journey.



Everybody started talking… turned and looked at Trendsetter. What was the

vision God gave him and what was the challenge again… could he please refresh

their memory.



The Vision was:



To travel on the mighty river called MY DESTINY. I should start at the source

of this river and end at the shores of Egypt.



The challenge:



It is my responsibility to get ALL my friends to the shores of Egypt. When I

arrive… they should arrive too.




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He didn’t have any words… Passionate started talking again. It was a life dream

of his to canoe on such a river as the Destiny. He wanted to canoe every inch of

that river… BUT he couldn’t do it alone… he would need a team to come with him.



As he would be canoeing in his one-man canoe… somebody had to accompany him

with a rafter in which the team members and supplies would be transported. He

could think of no-one better than Trendsetter. Trendsetter had rafted on many

different rivers in the world … in Passionate’s eyes; he was the most suitable

person. He majored in Geography… they would need his knowledge.



Concerning the rest of the team… it could be anybody.



Jealous said: “I will go and I’m sure my magazine would sponsor me.”



“I’m in… said Eager Beaver… ”I need a break and I’ll make the food.”



“I have a sponsor for our food” replied Passionate.



“Great, Eager Beaver you are in control of the food. Make a list of all the food

we would need and e-mail it to me.”



“What about you, Insecure… are you coming with?” Jealous asked.



“I don’t know… maybe… I’ve never been on a river before.”



“Except for Passionate and Trendsetter neither of us has been… Am I right?”

asked Eager Beaver.




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“I’ve been on a dam with a yacht before… I guess that doesn’t count… does it?”


“Did you get nauseas, Jealous?”


“No.”


“That counts” said Trendsetter.


Trendsetter thought about how they all would compliment each other. Therefore

he told the group how strange it was that everyone was needed to complete this

journey.


He felt that opportunity was in line with the visions they all had received from

God when they were teenagers. They fit in like puzzle pieces. They started

making plans enthusiastically.


He and Passionate would take responsibility for the trip.


No, said Passionate… God gave Trendsetter the vision… the group had already

elected him as leader when they were teenagers. It would be best to keep it

that way. Everyone agreed; even Insecure.


Trendsetter continued… Jealous could write short articles about the journey

and about the people and countries they would meet and visit on the way.

Insecure’s photographic skills were needed. Jealous would want photos for her

stories so would everyone else.


“I’m sure Peoples’ Pleaser would want photos for the book he is going to write

about this adventure. Eager Beaver will organise the food. My wife, Lovely, whom

you guys will meet later, would be my back up. I’ve taught her everything I know

about river rafting and we have done a lot of river rafting together. She and I


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are a team and she knows first-aid. We would need a lot of preparation and

prayer and research.”


Passionate told Trendsetter that they would need at least six months to

prepare… he would be taking a 10 month break… His dad was retiring and wanted

him to take over the company after the merge. He needed to take a good break

after all the years of studying and working at the company. As he knew how to

handle finances… he took the liberty of planning accordingly. He offered to

sponsor Trendsetter and Lovely a full year’s salary. He would employ them for a

year in his company’s the marketing division. The food company would pay Eager

Beaver for the four months of the journey… Insecure could make a lot of money

selling the photos to the magazine Jealous worked for. His company would buy

photos from Insecure for the marketing campaign… They would also pay

Insecure if he was prepared to take video footage of the journey too. Jealous’

trip would be sponsored by her magazine… as it would get the scoop.


That sorted out everybody’s finances. There were two months left of that

year… Passionate suggested that they started with the preparation first thing in

the New Year. Everybody had to be ready 1 July of the following year.

Everybody agreed and exchanged mobile numbers.


Somehow, they had bonded in a special way.


Trendsetter couldn’t wait to get home to tell Lovely the exciting news. On his

way home he spoke to God and pondered on the scripture God had given him two

weeks before.


He realised that the opportunity could only be from God. He knew they were all

entering a new season. What about the teenagers at the schools… the



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Trendsetters Club? Would he and Lovely ever go back teaching again? What had

God in store for them?


Everything happened so fast… his head was swimming. He laughed with joy!


O’ Lord, You are full of surprises! I love Your sense of humour in the scriptures.

I love You, my Lord.


The Holy Spirit gave Lovely a scripture while Trendsetter was at his reunion

which she didn’t understand:


     John 12:24 "Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the
     ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if
     it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.


After Trendsetter had shared what was happening at the reunion, Lovely

understood the scripture. She understood that God was telling them to move

on… She shouldn’t hold on to the Trendsetters Club. They planted the seed… God

would let it grow… God started it… He would take care of it! He had bigger plans

for them… the fulfilment of Trendsetter’s “teenage” vision.


They handed in their resignations at their schools and explained to the

teenagers… As the teenagers had learned about obedience to God’s instructions

and Word… they were happy but sad… they really loved Trendsetter and Lovely.


A new season had started!




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