The Making of a New Mindset:

Godstime’s Story

My Dearest FaithFuel Community,

In this month’s edition, we dive into the story of a young man named Godstime, who found a caring community in A2S in spite of his family’s several setbacks. Read on to hear of the hardships he faced and the turning point that ultimately helped Godstime to change his mindset from a place of defeat to a place of hope for his future.

“I joined A2S when I was in SS2 (a High School Junior) in 2020. At the time, things were not working out well for us, and things were rough because my dad didn’t have a job. My mom was a trader, who had to move about, hawking, and using a wheelbarrow because we couldn’t afford a store. We were living on the little proceeds that came from her sales, but eventually there was not enough money to fund the business, so she had to stop selling for a time,” Godstime shared.

“Things got so bad that my parents couldn’t afford rent. As young as I was, I still remember the landlord coming to remove the doors of our apartment because we couldn’t pay the rent, and we stayed there with no doors for half a year,” said Godstime. “The house was always open; it was as though we slept outside. It was a traumatic period for us”.

“My dad had started a taxi business, but it folded up after a while because the car had problems and he had to sell it. So, he started learning how to repair generators. It was a difficult period for us, and eventually, my siblings and I had to stop school for a while” Godstime continued.

“I started going through depression, and at some point, I made up my mind not to go to school, so that my parents could focus on my siblings. I eventually enrolled in a computer shop where they do photocopies, typing, and some graphic work. I wanted to learn a skill and to support my family,” he said.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t learn computer graphics well because there were no facilities to aid my learning, and the shop owner’s generator was only to be used to power the shop. We would only turn it on when a customer came around and turn it off immediately after we finished with the customer, so practicing was out of the equation for us. I learned that for a good four years,” Godstime emphasized.

His mother, Mrs. Magdalene, also shared with us how she came across A2S and how difficult things were for their family at that time.

“I watch my children go to school every day without school bags. Instead, they usually used polyethylene bags to carry their books. Their classmates would laugh at them, especially Godstime,” she explained. “I was always in pain and wanted a change by all means.”

“I came across the Gospel Life Church where A2S started, and I volunteered with them and started washing plates. I was always excited doing that with my two-year-old baby wrapped behind my back when one of the staff members, Aunty Roseline, called me and gave me a small parcel and asked me to give it to my children. I opened it and it was school bags! I was very excited; it was as though I had won a jackpot,” Mrs. Magdalene said with a smile.

“A2S didn’t stop there. They gave me capital to start a business, which helped us a lot, and I was able to send them to school and have food on our table.” She added excitedly, “They admitted three of my children into the After School program.”

When asked what schooling in Nigeria has been for him and how A2S has helped him, Godstime said, “At the time I was given my scholarship program, the program helped me in my schooling at first. Over time, the program began to help my mindset because it gave a lot of insights that helped to change my mindset in school,” he shared. “The scholarship covered my tuition and other things, but most importantly, it reduced the burden on my parents.”

“I faced a lot of challenges in school. I wanted to go into medicine and I got chemistry instead. I didn’t have anyone around who studied chemistry who could serve as a mentor, and my coursemates were less interested in the course, so I was discouraged,” Godstime said. “The workshops we had at A2S boosted my interest; it really opened my mind.”

“Now, I think of more skills that I can acquire. I always look forward to networking sessions at workshops as I get to meet more people in my area of interest,” he said. “One unique thing about me is my heart for people. I love people and I always look forward to giving back.”

“God brought A2S to our lives, and I can’t even imagine what it would have looked like for us, and we are constantly grateful to A2S,” he concluded.

As I reflect on Godstime story, it is so encouraging to see how the After School Academy and Scholars Program can give a family hope in a time when things seem hopeless. Just this little bit of hope can turn a mind full of depression and despair into a mindset of possibility and potential for the future. It is inspiring to see how Godstime is continuing to grow in his studies and in his positive mindset.

So, my FaithFuel family, I hope you enjoyed learning more about Godstime and you will join me and our community as we lift him up in prayer. I look forward to sharing more with you soon!

With Love,

Omotayo

A2S Communications Coordinator