Ayl forum Rwanda

1. AYLF Uganda
Retreat
2022 Tim
Kreutter
Timkreutter@gmail.com

2. Today I will first be sharing some
of my thoughts:
On the overall theme of
this gathering:
“Leveraging our
Diversity – for our
Better and Sustainable
Future.”

3. And, then I will conclude with
some thoughts on the topic I was
asked to share with you, on :
“Friendship and
Mentorship for
Leaders:

4. Tim Kreutter - a little about myself :
I am Married with 2 grown children.
My wife and I are Dual citizens- Uganda/USA
I am A Co-Founder and M. Director of
Cornerstone Development Africa and also a
Co-Founder and Patron/Mentor of AYLF
I Hold an M.B.A. Degree from Eastern Univ. in US
Based in Uganda
but work
through-out 7
countries of East
Africa – with a
staff of 200

5. Right now I am in the US – a city called
Charlotte, in the state of North Carolina

6. This is our whole family from May of last
year - but since then 2 more grandkids
have been added.

7. was in May but
my daughter
had her second
child in
October.
So we are in
the US for
Christmas and
my has been
here longer to
help her out
with the little
one.

8. So this is
our first
grand-
daughter
after 4
boys.
She is
called Ava
Genevieve

9. Today I will first be sharing some
of my thoughts:
On the overall theme of
this gathering:
“Leveraging our
Diversity – for our
Better and Sustainable
Future.”

10. “Leveraging” it comes from the
word ‘lever” – A common example is that iron
bar they use when changing a tire on a bicycle,
car or motorcycle.

11. “Leveraging”
Means the addition of greater force by
means of a lever.

12. Diversity means Variety or having many
differences from each other within a group.
In the context of people, it would refer to
different nationalities, tribes, religions,
talents and abilities.

13. The group, here in our
context applies to your
generation and we could
say this network of:
Africa Youth
Leadership Forum
(AYLF)
Our vision is that we
would stay connected
throughout your lives in
order to add value for a
better future of your own
lives, in Rwanda and in
this East Africa Region.

14. “Leveraging our Diversity
for a Better Future”
…means, something like
How can your generation use your
Diversity as a positive force to
create a greater influence for a
Better a World.?
Rather then seeing our diversity as an
obstacle and a reason for all the
conflict, war and division we have seen
in our region and in our world.

15. Sometimes when we use the term a “Better Future”
or a “Better World” people think of the term in
regards to personal success or a better life for
themselves.
And certainly there are things you can do to
improve your chances of having a better future for
yourself.
But I hope you can also develop a vision to
use your life in order to add value for
everyone – not just for ourselves.

16. One of the main reasons behind all the
problems we see in our world is that everyone
is just fighting for themselves or their people -
to get as much money, as much wealth for
themselves.
They don’t really consider others.
And, there is no end to it. Because we always
want more and more.

17. I am sitting here in the wealthiest country in the
world – but what I am seeing is that everyone feels
they don’t have enough they all want more.
And 95% are not concerned about Africa other such
places where people are struggling just to survive

18. No matter how big your house is, how
fancy your car is, how much money you
have on your account.
It’s never enough.

19. It’s fine to have those things – but is that all
your life will be about? Will that be your priority
Or, will you also think about doing something
for those who are the ‘least of these’ that Jesus
said is how we will be judged at the end of our
our lives.

20. Before I was born my
parents came to Congo as
missionaries – working in
the medical area and
education.
I grew up in the Great Lakes
Regions of Congo, Rwanda,
Uganda, Kenya, Burundi –
and have now lived nearly 50
years in this party of Africa
My wife and I are Dual
citizen of US and Uganda
A Little About Me:

21. But the Truth is I feel that - My
Country is the Whole World.

22. And all
people
everywhere
are “my
people”.
They are
“my
brothers and
sisters.”

23. And Loving
God and
Neighbor is
“my religion.”
Because this
was said in the
Scriptures to be
the Greatest
Commandment
And, the Sum of
all the Law and
the Prophets.
And Jesus even said in Luke
10:25 – that if you practice this
you will inherit eternal life.

24. So, I left Africa for University in the U.S. when I
was 16 and really did not have any plan to return.
But when I begin University…I began asking
myself these big questions like: What am I
studying for? What is the purpose of life? What
should I do?
That time of questioning and soul searching
about my life… led to spiritual reawakening
…that really changed the course of my life.
Questions you
should be
asking yourself
at this age.

25. I see one life-time
(70-90 years here on
earth) as being very
short - compared to
the incredibly vast
and ancient (14
billion year old)
universe we are in.
And then I started to get the
impression that I should
explore returning to Africa in
regards to my life work.
I felt like I should try to invest my
life in things that will count in the
bigger scheme of things.

26. “Teach us Oh Lord to Number our Days
that we may incline our hearts unto
wisdom.” Ps. 90:12
The known Universe is 14
Billion Years Old.
Planet Earth is 4.5 Billion
Years Old
If we live well we may reach
90 or 100.
It’s still - just nothing in the
bigger scheme of things.
Yet, the way we live this life
now has consequences on
the eternal scheme of things.

27. So, it just made
sense to
me…to use this
one brief life I
have to live in
ways that:
Will count for
something in
the eternal
scheme of
things.
You are
here

28. I believe, each of us is asked to make a contribute,
in our life time life, to this grand plan or a vision
for a better world – for a better future.
And at the end of our lives…we will be rewarded
in the next chapter of things – based on how
faithful we were in carrying out our mission.

29. “The coming of
the Kingdom of
God…
On earth as it is
in heaven.”
The phrase Jesus used for this bigger scheme
of things and the plan for a better world was:
It’s a vision for a new kind of world – a better
world.
A world that works for everybody.
This is my main motivation in life – and a
strong motivation is key to our topic today of
resilience.

30. So:
“Leveraging our
Diversity – for our
Better and Sustainable
Future.”
It’s not just for ourselves
but for a world that works
for everyone.

31. It’s a beautiful region, with beautiful people…but
divided, historically into different ethnicities,
nations, religions…still trying to develop cohesion.
Sadly, it’s the part of the world that has seen the
highest number of deaths from war, genocide and
conflict – since World War II compared to all others
Having lived nearly all my life in the Great
Lakes Region…all my life I have seen first hand
the effects of Conflict

32. It’s a bit of an usual
way of thinking -
because we often
think of diversity as
a liability or a
weakness.
Instead of a strength
or an asset.
Especially, when we
see in this region how
the different ethnic
groups, tribes and
religions have
struggled to live
peacefully together.

33. I have had two homes destroyed in war…one in
Congo and one in Uganda.
About 6 weeks ago - I came back from Goma and
again I was seeing this kind of thing happening.
Families fleeing war and living in tents.

34. So, we had an AYLF conference at the Catholic
University in Goma where I was speaking.

35. The audience was very attentive – and included some of
the leadership of the University. We went from 9-1 with
no break. After lunch we went for 2 more hours and they
did not want to stop. And, they were busy taking notes.
They asked many questions about Rwanda – and I told
them Rwandans are good people and we are all brothers
because we share one Father which is God.

37. Goma has 2-3 million people and sits near
an active volcano that can blow up anytime.
I climbed it twice when I was young and
slept on top once to see the lava at night.

38. The last time it erupted was May of last year. So, I went to see
where the lava flowed down towards town and covered
houses.

40. Goma city and Lake Kivu

41. Growing up and living
in this region I can
identify 2 Big Issues
in our Region that are
holding back that
BETTER World we all
are longing to see:
1. Conflict: Violent ways of settling
disputes between nations, tribes, religions or
at universities –between groups that can’t
trust each other.
Due to Lack of Cohesion – Failure to see
everyone as fellow brothers and sisters.

42. Growing up and living in
this region I can identify
2 Big Issues in our
Region that are holding
back that BETTER World
we all are longing to see:
.
2. Corruption. Personal misuse
of resources meant for the whole
nation.
Due to a Lack of Character:
People who don’t walk their talk.

43. Conflict: Annual Military
Expenditures in Africa…$50 Billion 2022
Kenya $908m
Tanzania $600m
South Sudan $525m
Uganda $400m
Algeria $10.65 billion
Egypt $5.3 billion
Morocco $3.2 billion
Tunisia $1 billion.
South Africa $3.4 billion
Angola $3.2 billion
Nigeria $2 billion.
To Fight and
defend against
Who?
Colonialist?
Imperialist?
Communists?
NO..
All of this fear, defense and fighting
is against - Fellow Africans!
It’s a
Big
Waste

44. Corruption
According to the Economic Development
in Africa Report 2020 by the UN Africa
loses about US$88.6 billion, annually from
Corruption.

45. Corruption is a manifestation of the
selfishness we all have – its just
greed and it has no limit. No matter
how much we have we want more.

46. Conflict……….$50 Billion
+
Corruption.......$80 Billion
TOTAL............$130 Billion
Rwanda Annual Budget $4.6 Billion
Uganda Annual Budget $12 Billion
Kenya Annual Budget $28 Billion
Tanzania Annual Budget $18 Billion

47. Back to our Theme…..
“Leveraging our
Diversity
(As your generation within
the networks that you have
– AYLF & others.)
For a Better and
Sustainable Future.”

48. You are the first generation that has been born
in the “Internet Age” and the “Smart Phone
Age” – and this technology is helping your
generation transcend all these old biases and
conflicts which your parents generations
experienced.
.

49. Modern technology is gradually creating a “Global
Village’ or one Global Neighborhood” – where
youth are interacting with anyone on the planet.
“Through using our
scientific genius we've
made the world into one
big neighborhood, but now
through using our moral
and spiritual genius we
must make it into one big
brotherhood.”

50. 1. Greater Exposure –
you are more flexible
and diverse in your
friendships with people
of different
backgrounds
2. You have a
Different/Broader
Mindset than older
generations. Youth are
more open to new
concepts.
So, what other advantages compared to
older generations do you have to leverage?
(ICRC photo: Rwanda:
Son finds father after 22
years of separation.)

51. A good example of what that looks like
in reality just happened during the
World Game where USA played Iran.

52. Of course these 2 countries have a lot
of political issues and conflict between
them and this over-shadowed the game
..which the US ended up winning 1-0

53. But after the game several of the US
players went over and consoled the
Iranian players who lost.

54. One of the US players who did this was Tim
Weah the son of George Weah who is a former
professional footballer and is the current
president of Liberia since 2018.
When they asked him why
he did it this is what he said:

55. This is exactly what
Jesus wants us to
do:
“When he said: Why
do you greet only
your own brothers!
Do not even pagans
do that??” Mt. 5: 47
“If you want to call yourself a Child of
God then you must begin to love
everyone -unconditionally like how God
loves. And even love your enemies.”
Luke 5:33-36 (paraphrased)

56. Ok now lets wind up with some
thoughts on the topic in particular
that I was given, of :
“Friendship and
Mentorship for
Leaders:
I have been fortunate to have some
very good mentors, so I want to tell
you what I learned about this first then
I will end with the friendship bit.

57. After University & a few years working in
Africa - I did a Masters Degree in the US…
and then my wife and I settled in Uganda in
1990
At that time I teamed up
with 2 friends to create
Cornerstone
Development Africa.
At this time, I met a man
called Doug Coe who
was the “God-father of
the Prayer Breakfast
Movement for many
years until his death in
2017 and he was my most
impactful mentor.
Me with Doug
Coe in 2008 in TZ

58. I met Doug Coe in Uganda .. when he had come to meet
M7. I drove him up to the Cornerstone Ranch in
Nakasongola – just the two of us in the car.
I don’t remember much of what we talked about –
except the question he asked me: “So, what makes
you get out of bed in the morning?”
Me Doug Coe Michael Timmis

59. When he asked me that question - He was asking
what Motivates me to do what I do.
I told him it was the whole concept of “the Kingdom of
God coming on earth” or that better world we all want.
And for about 25 years – he was one of my main
spiritual mentor until he passed away in 2017.
I traveled with him in many countries to have
gatherings like this…he used to make me the speaker.
Doug Coe
Passed away
Feb. 21, 2017
R.I.P.
2008
In Tanzania

60. Icon
A person or thing regarded
as a representative symbol
of something.
A good spiritual mentor also
becomes something like an Icon
to you.

61. Like an
ambassador
who represents
a country...
He became like a symbol to me – that was
bigger than himself.
He symbolized my highest and best ideals
– the character of Jesus and the vision of
the kingdom of God coming on earth.
All that motivated me to keep pushing on
because I didn’t want to disappoint him

62. This still pushes me to
do:
As much as I can...
for as many as I can....
for as long as I can.

63. All human beings have ‘feet of clay’ - meaning
weaknesses or imperfections – if you focus
only those you won’t get the best out of them.
But you can learn from their short-comings,
And you can even disagree with them on
certain issues – but never let that make you to
fail to gain from them their best qualities.
When people
spoke poorly
about “Doug” –
I just said
quietly to
myself that is
not what I am l
focusing on.

64. A good spiritual mentor becomes
something like a Catalyst to you –
they bring out the best in you.
Catalyst

65. Key Mentorship Point:
It’s up to you to make
someone to have a mentoring
effect or role in your life.
You don’t have to ask them.
You don’t have to formalize it.
But you must find how to spend some time with
them
You must study the way they do their things
You must carefully read and analyze everything
the write or teach – and make it your own.

66. The guys I started Cornerstone with
also met Doug Coe around the same
time as me – but they did not take him
and his teachings the same way that I
did.
BETTER TOGETHER!!

67. I worked with these 2 guys as a team for 6-7 years
and it is an example of “leveraging diversity’ –
because we had very different personalities and
back grounds.
But because we had a Strong Shared Vision we
put aside our egos and our differences – and our
diversity became a strength as we each brought
different abilities to the Vision.
has been a joint effort between friends with a
shared vision:
BETTER TOGETHER!!

68. So, I want to now give you some
points on:
How to get mentors and how
to benefit from them.

69. First, I define Mentoring as:
 “The process of transferring:
knowledge, character qualities, skills,
vision, world-view and attitudes from a
mentor… to a mentee.”
So, mentoring is a generally any formal
or informal relationship in which a
person with greater experience and
wisdom guides another - to develop
either personally and/or professionally.”

70. I am using the term “mentor” in quite a
broad way, to mean:
1. Someone who is having a significant impact
or influence on your life.
2. Someone from whom you can tap –
knowledge, wisdom and understanding.
3. Someone who symbolizes or represents
higher ideals, concepts and values to you.

71. Studies of successful people in all fields of life –
are finding that when such people are asked....
they are quickly able to identify ...one or two
mentors that helped them to reach their
potential.

72. Here are a few
examples of famous
Mentors and
Mentees.
From various fields of
life.

73. Oprah Winfrey was mentored by celebrated
author and poet, the late Maya Angelou. ”
“She was there for me always, guiding me through
some of the most important years of my life,”
Winfrey said. “Mentors are important and I don’t
think anybody makes it in the world without
some form of mentorship”
Television

74. Steve Jobs found of Apple was a mentor to
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
When Jobs died in 2011, Zuckerberg posted on
his Facebook page, “Steve, thank you for being a
mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing that
what you build can change the world. I will miss
you.”
Tech &
Media

75. Mother Teresa’s
mentor was Father
Michael van der Peet.
After a retreat he led in
November of 1975, she
handed him a handwritten
letter. In it, she asked for
his guidance:
"I would be grateful if
I could turn to you for
spiritual help.’
After that, they wrote letters, spoke regularly
and confided in each other for over 20 years.
In
Ministry

76. Prophet Muhammed and his
Uncle Abu Talib
Just before he was born,
Prophet Muhammad’s
father died and when he
was still a child his mother
died.
So, it was his paternal
Uncle Abu Talib took him
as his own child and raised
him among his many
children.
Later on in life his Uncle stood by him and
protected him - when the Prophet faced
opposition for his monotheistic teachings.

77. Nelson Mandela credited Mahatma Gandhi
with influencing his leadership – through the
books he read while in prison.
The two never met but a conference in 2013,
Mandela said, “In a world driven by violence and
strife, Gandhi’s message of peace and non-
violence holds the key to human survival in the
21st century.”
Politics

78. When I was doing research for
this I was struck that:
These are all bright,
gifted people.
But they were not too
proud or too shy.
To seek out and cultivate
relationships with
mentors
To ask for advice from
others
To ask for help
To learn from the writings of
others.

79. I have to admit how I was
also struck by how:
There are good hearted
people out there who
actually willing to share
their knowledge freely
with others, when asked.
Sometimes there is a
“Win-Win involved.
Often a mentor sees a
mentee as someone
who will carry on
something that is
important to them.

80. Six points on:
How to get mentors and how
to benefit from them.

81. 1. To get a good mentor you
are first are going to have to
work on yourself.
“When the student is ready the
teacher will appear.” ancient saying
In other words: When you do your
best and prepare yourself – you will
attract and God will put you into
contact with the people you need to
activate your greatness.

82. 2. To get good mentors you are
going to have to seek them out.
You need to be on the look out for
people who inspire you.
For people whose lives and wisdom
speaks to your heart.
Jesus said: “Seek and you shall find.
Knock on the door shall be opened.
Ask and you will receive.”
In other words, “Be Proactive”

83. 3. To get the most out of your
mentors you are going to have to
ask constantly for their advice, ask
questions and seek their opinions.
Questions activate the mentoring dynamic.
Questions start to pull wisdom out of them
and create a connection between you and
them.
Wise people like those who ask questions.
Because those who ask questions and are
the most curious.
And curious people learn the most.

84. Eventually, it is said, they found
him “in the temple courts, sitting
among the teachers, listening to
them and asking them questions.”
Lk.2:45
There was a
time, when
Jesus was only
12 years old,
when he got lost
in Jerusalem
and his parents
did not know
where he was
for 3 days.

85. 4. To keep a good mentor you will
have to implement much of their
advice or live in a way that they feel
what they are putting into you is
worthwhile.
Such people are busy and they only have so
much time and energy – so they tend to put
it where it will create something of value.
You don’t have to implement everything they
tell you – you still have to use your own
discernment.
…but if you don’t implement a good portion
they may stop mentoring you and move on.

86. 5. Finding a mentor isn’t always a
structured process. In the real world,
mentors normally come through your natural
relationships”. Mentors are most often simply -
experienced people you get to know and look to
for advice, informally and naturally.

87. 6. Start by offering some sort of
unique value to them and to “give
before you get.”
Since your ideal mentors are probably busy
people, your best approach is to figure out their
vision and help them to realize their vision and
they will be more likely to help you with your.
Young people often approach senior people only
when they have a request for some kind of
assistance and it should not be a surprised when
it is not met with the desired result.

88. 3 Different Types of Mentors
Career Mentor – for your guidance
on your area of work or study
Life Mentor – for advice on
relationships, financial
management, health etc.
Spiritual Mentor – for knowledge,
wisdom and understanding about
the meaning and purpose of life

89. There are 3 levels of Mentoring
Relationships in all of our lives that
we all need to reach our full potential.
1. Older men/women that serve as
our mentors
2. Peer mentors that we are
walking with for accountability,
encouragement and partnership
3. Younger people that we are
mentoring -

90. “Intentional friendships”
Where each of us purposes to
commit ourselves to a few other
brothers and sisters.
We allow them to speak into our
lives.
Most people are creating and
maintaining friends accidentally
and haphazardly.
Peer Mentorship

91. These kind of Long-Term
Committed Friendships have
mainly 3 benefits:
1. We will have friends who can help
hold us accountable to our highest and
best values – and thereby help us
reach our highest potentials in life.

92. 2. We will have friends who can
be there for us, to support and
encourage us through the ups and
downs of life.

93. 3. We will have friends to synergize with
or partner with us- in order to achieve our
personal goals and collectively make an
impact in the world.

94. Most of you young, ambitious
leaders are concerned with
mainly two things in life:
1. How to establish yourselves or your
family materially or financially - so as
to provide for the physical needs and
live a comfortable life. (Success)
2. How to live a life that counts for
something in the greater scheme of
things – that makes a contribution to a
better society. (Significance)

95. Both success and
significance in life are
largely a result of people’s ability
to make and keep good friends.
The degree to which we can form
long-term committed relationships and
remain together
- in many ways will be the degree to
which we experience effectiveness,
fulfillment and influence in life.

96. Here are a few
examples of famous
Friendships.
From various fields of
life.

97. African Woman: Wangari Maathai
Bio: “She was all about
building
relationships. The
core of the Greenbelt
Movement was her
relationship with her
best friend Virt
Mbaya. They talked
and laughed endlessly,
Wangari and Virt.
They were both
university professors.”
First African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize
for "her contribution to sustainable development,
democracy and peace."

98. Business World: Those who have achieved
long-term success in the business world most often do so
through strong partnership and joint ventures.
All of us know what Bill Gates has done with Microsoft
Computer Software…but not all of us realize that he
has a partner, Paul Allen, who has been his closest
friend and worked along side him since High School.

99. Business World: Those who have achieved
long-term success in the business world most often do so
through strong partnership and joint ventures.
We know Steve Jobs: as head APPLE
computers, I-Phone, I-Pad, I-Pod …when you take a
closer look, you
find that he co-founded the company
with his best high-school friend Steve Wozinak and
they worked together for 12 years to develop
Apple during the beginning stages.

100. Regional Example
In Uganda the current
government originated
from of a group of 27
young men who went to
‘the bush’ with a shared
vision.
Most of them went to the
same high school with
him and formed the core
of their movement.
This includes President
Kagame in Rwanda

101. ~Strong Friendships~ ??
1. So how do you relate with your fellow
friends, your brothers and sisters?
2. Who is your “family?” Who are your true
friends? Where is your real community?
3. To whom are you accountable, spiritually
– in other words: Who holds you
accountable – to your highest and best
ideals?
4. Who is walking with you through the
mine-field of temptations in this world to
ensure that you don’t destroy your life
through the pursuit of foolish pleasures that
are ultimately destructive to body and soul?
5. Who have you allowed to speak into your
life?

102. 5 Principles for Forming
Strong Relationships:
1. You will only develop strong
friendships by intentionally investing in
them - by spending quality time with a
few other like minded friends.
You might have 1000 friends on Social Media
but you can’t be good friends with 1000.
Ask yourself, suppose in the middle of the
night you fall sick and you feel you are dying.
Do you have any friend you could call who
will get out of bed and come for you.

103. 2. Strong long term friendships
require strong commitments – if
possible verbally- like the marriage
vows a husband and wife make to each
other.
You must purpose to be there for your
friends in good times and bad – till death
do us part. It’s a promise you make to
one another.

104. 3. Strong relationships
require ‘self-sacrifice’
– at times you have to sacrifice
your time, energy and resources to
help one-another especially during
times of difficulty.

105. 4. Strong relationships are based
on trust and trust can only be
earned by those who are Trust-
worthy.
In other words, people who will not betray
you, people you can confide in.

106. 5. Strong relationships require
forgiveness – all of us at time offend one
another and the only way to repair the
relationship is to apologize and ask for
forgiveness.
Sometimes you have to do this even when you
feel it is the other person who should do it first.

107. Good Friends can
become your
strongest Network:
We are very familiar
with the idea that to
start a business you
need capital.
But many people don’t realize that to get started
in a life that will enable you to reach your higher
levels of potential – there is an equally important
kind of capital that is required.
And, this is your ‘Social Capital,’ meaning the
network of friends, family and mentors that you
must intentionally cultivate in order to benefit
from its power.
Social Capital

108. I can tell you these things – but it’s up to you to
INTENTIONALLY cultivate – good
relationships in each of these 3 areas.
1. Older men/women – senior people
2. Peer mentors - ”small groups”
3. Younger people that we are mentoring.
And those that do - are often the ones who…

109. In summary:
1. Seek out Senior Mentors: Make sure
professors or lectures – know you by name.
Talk to them after class. Ask them if they know
you. Ask them if there is any help they need.
2. Learn to invest in friendships – these
people around your right now are the kind of
people you can keep as friends for the rest of
your life. Be part of a weekly small group.
3. Be a mentor to younger people. –
People like me know that we are who we are
because we have young people looking up to
us.

110. Anita Avarez is U.S. Olympian swimmer
who competes in a sport called
synchronized swimming – that’s like a
combination of artistic dance and
swimming.

111. Her coach is Andrea Fuentes who is
a former world class swimmer.

112. Swimmers in this event must hold their breath for
extended periods of time under water, and Anita
fainted while pushing herself to the limit.
This image which
was captured by
the pool camera -
shows Anita
sinking slowly to
the bottom of the
pool
during the recent
world synchronized
swimming
championships in
Budapest – June of
2022.

113. Up above no one knew what was going on .
There was a life guard on duty but he did not know
that Anita was in trouble in the water.
Only her coach and mentor Andrea Fuentes
quickly scanned the pool deck and made a split-
second decision that ultimately saved her life.
She just dove into the pool to look for Anita right
in the middle of the competition - and she did this
while still wearing her watch and her normal
clothes.

114. She found her lying unconscious
and pulled her up 3 meters to the
surface of the pool – where she
could breathe.

115. The whole thing looked like this:

116. Following the incident, Anita was asked, “What have
you learned from your coach Andrea?”
“As a child I followed her when she was a
professional swimmer, and when we found out she
was going to train us, we were blown away.
She doesn’t just want us to be successful as
athletes. She wants us to be better human beings.”
Anita
Andrea

117. When they asked Coach Andrea about
it she said:
“I had to pull one of the humans who I
love the most out of the water, and fight
for her to breathe.”
Andrea
Anita

118. In these trying times, there are far too many
young people drowning right in front of us.
The youth we work with are fighting to breathe.
We watch as many sink away, some even commit
suicide, as a result of the pressures that come
with navigating the challenges of youth.

119. This story is reminder of the value of coaching
and mentoring.
This coach could tell when Anita was in the water
for longer than she normally could manage.
This coach was ready to assist.
This coach was quick to act while others stood on
the sidelines.

120. Thankyouforyourkindattention
🙏
Love to all of you!

121. Facebook:
Tim Kreutter
Instagram:
Tim_Kreutter
Email:
Timkreutter@gmail.com