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(note: we will feature here several of the latest posts. To see more please visit www.blog.helpinghandSA.org
Many New Educational Toys and Books for the Children!
It was a spectacular day of excitement and fun as we spent time at this children’s home, unpacking and showing the little ones their beautiful brand new educational books, posters, CDs, DVD’s and toys! Smiles and playtime; unlocked!
“Free Shop” Clothing Event for Hundreds!
Partnering with a local community leader – who organized the most needy families and the hall – we held an event we like to call “free shop!” Each man, woman, and child came through and browsed the tables, with volunteers at the different sections ready to help them. Group by group, hundreds of people came to “shop!” Together with shoes, hand sanitizers, and Gospel tracts, they were able to each take full sets of clothing home!
Women’s Day Events in Townships and at a Home for Women in Crisis – Treats and Gifts and Encouragement!
Chocolates, Activated magazines, and gifts were excitedly prepared by the ladies at the mission for several events! At a home for women in troubled circumstances, they enjoyed pizza and treats, gifts, and a movie! In two rural communities, the ladies received boxes or fancy bars of chocolate, and then – together with all those in the settlements – a food parcel with ham, cheese, bread, fruit, and veg! We really enjoy being able to manifest Jesus’ Love for these ladies and their families, bringing a reminder that they are loved and valued.
380 Hygiene Parcels!
Visiting three government clinics and an informal settlement off the N7 highway, we distributed hand sanitizers, soaps, toothpaste tablets, and fresh fruit! Every place we went, these special items were gratefully received, and we were even able to allocate sanitizer for the nurses and other staff to use!
Blankets for Children to Ward off the Winter Cold
Each of the precious children in these rural areas received a large warm blanket, to help them make it through this very cold and wet winter. The young people of Helping Hand were there to hand out the items, wrap the blankets around the children, say kind words, and give warm smiles. It was both wonderful and heart-wrenching to see the living conditions of so many this winter.
On top of the blankets we were able to distribute needed food parcels with fresh food, cheese, and meat to every person in these communities. Both the children and adults were most grateful for the help, thanking us over and over!
Mother’s Day Arts and Crafts at Sunday School
For Mother’s Day, the children at Sunday School glued colourful hearts onto a card, to bring home to their moms after the Bible lesson. It touched our hearts to see how excited they were to create personal art, and how much they looked forward to surprising their mothers in this simple way!
Celebrating the Resurrection with Over 300 People – Older and Younger!
We packed and distributed over 300 treat packs with rusks, chocolates, and a Gospel message!
These packs went to an elderly care home in Kraaifontein, a Christian community initative in Scottsdene, and our Sunday School in Morningstar settlement off the N7.
At the Scottsdene event, Mike was suddenly asked to give a word to the assembled people, which he did with a wonderful Easter message! At the elderly home, the residents and patients were so very grateful for the love and interaction. And at Sunday school, the treat packs were the perfect companion to our handmade “Jesus is Risen” necklaces given after the lesson.
Wonderful celebrations of the most important day in history!
Education in Afrikaans and Eternal Life through Jesus!
We were extended an invite to give a Gospel message to the children and parents from a rural school in Paarl at their bazaar; which of course we gladly accepted!
It was a more rainy day than anticipated, but still the mood was cheery and excited. We brought some healthy snacks – bananas and apples – to the bazaar, and to open, spoke briefly with the parents and children on the importance of mentorship, education, good examples, and faithful study. Then we gave a Salvation message, and invited any who were willing to accept Jesus as their Forever King and Best Friend. 61 did!
The lady who connected us with the school also sponsored 220 Karakterbou (character-building) books – one for every child at the school! And we were able to leave Gospel tracts in Afrikaans for the parents!
Answers to Prayer for 20 Families and an Orphanage
We heard from Mama Rosie (who runs an orphanage and home with over 140 children in Khayelitsha and whom we have been partnering with for over 12 years) that they were in desperate need of foodstuffs. We told her we would certainly see what we could do, but we ourselves are very stretched in resources. Then a couple days later, we heard of 20 families in great need, with one parent of each working at a company which has severely downsized, and even the remaining employees have had to go on short time.
We could clearly see the need, and were in prayer for supply. Then, left field and unexpected, the Lord laid on someone’s heart to give us the proceeds for something they were selling… which was, amazingly and wonderfully, just enough to go out that same afternoon and buy bulk supplies! Then we worked late into the night to pack 3 full bags for each family, with toiletries and all kinds of foodstuffs!
The next morning, we were able to deliver the parcels, which were received with so much joy and thankfulness! And we had enough to fill up Mama Rosie’s bakkie with supplies too! The Lord is always on time – HIS Time, and with just enough supply to do what He puts before us.