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Ongoing
Updates About Mission South Africa |
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February 16, 2012
Family #1: Gumede Family
Mother: Maureen Gumede
Daughters : Andileage 26, Nosipho age 24, Thule age 26
Grandchildren: Sbahle age 12, Andiswa age 11, Sphiwe age 7, Nsindiso
Age 5, Sphelele age 4, Eshihle age 1, New baby born Dec 14 2011
The Gumede family live in a small one
room shack at the back of a relative’s home. There are eleven people
living in the shack. There is only one bed. Those who do not sleep on
the bed will lay on straw mats on the floor. The family has very little
for possessions and struggles to have food to eat and clothes to wear,
with only a small income coming in. One of the daughters is sick with
seizures and has some brain damage as a result. Another daughter was
raped and became pregnant. Another of her children passed away leaving
grandchildren in her care. Mother Gumede, is a woman of great faith and
has become a regular attendee of church along with her family. The food
that is provided through Understand the Times has made a huge impact
on the family. By providing basics such as flour, sugar, mealie, rice,
beans and oil the family is doing much better. They give God praise and
say that He has looked upon them and blessed them. The family is happy
to attend church on Sunday morning and the older daughters have also
joined the Tuesday Bible study. Ma Gumede has testified that since
coming to church they have seen God bring good change to their lives.
Family #2 Masuku Family:
Nombulelo -24, Desmond-17, Vusi-15, Zanele-13, Nothando-8months
(photo of Vusi, Nothando, Nomvelelo and Desmond)
The Masuku family is led by Nombulelo. She recommitted her life to
the Lord last year and has been a huge blessing to our church. She is
helping with music and children’s ministry. Her younger brother Desmond
is also involved and has a strong call on his life to minister the
Gospel. He desires to go to Swaziland and preach the Gospel when he is
finished school. The family has no parents and have struggled to survive
for the past ten years. The assistance from UTT has helped with food as
well as school fees and uniforms. Please pray that God will provide a
home for the family so they can all be together.
Family #3 -The Mokato Family
This family also lives in Quarry Heights. Their mother passed away
leaving the oldest brother to care for his two sisters. The oldest
brother, Tsepiso quit school to work and take care of his sisters,
Msinhle, grade 11 and Thobile, grade 7. The money he makes
is not enough to provide for
the basic needs of the family. Thobile goes to school at Quarry Heights.
We have been able to help the family with food and school bags for the
girls. We hope to get to know the family better in the coming weeks and
see God really work in their lives. They live in a shack that leaks
terribly and are in need of a proper home.
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January 10, 2012Hi Roger,
I trust all is well with you and your family, and that you had a
wonderful Christmas and new year!
This week we visited the Gumede family to deliver some
vegetables, carrots, potatoes, onions and butternut squash. They
were once again overjoyed by the gift! While there we inquired
about uniforms for the kids to go to school. School begins this
week. As I spoke to the ladies, Mama Gumede was sitting on the
floor of the small shack. She began weeping and crying and
giving praise to Jesus. None of the kids had uniforms because
they could not afford them. Here in South Africa uniforms are a
requirement. Through the donations you have sent we have been
able to not only provide food for this family but now have also
purchased uniforms and shoes for three of the children. The
family is so thankful for the support and this month we will
begin to help even more families through the amazing support of
UTT. Through the family we have also seen more children coming
to church. It is very exciting to be able to minister into the
lives of these children!!! Thank-you so much for all the
prayers, encouragement and support!!!
God bless you!
Dave and Krista and family |
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New shoes for school kids |
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December 10, 2011Information on the Gumede Family
Mother: Maureen Gumede (age 58)
Daughters : Andileage 26, Nosipho age
24, Thule age 26
Grandchildren: Sbahle age 12
Andiswa age 11
Sphiwe age 7
Nsindiso Age 5
Sphelele age 4
Eshihle age 1
The Gumede family live in a small one
room shack at the back of a relatives home. There are ten
people living in the shack. There is only one bed. Those who
do not sleep on the bed will lay on straw mats on the floor.
The family has very little for possessions and struggles to
have food to eat and clothes to wear, with only a small
income coming in. One of the daughters is sick with seizures
and has some brain damage as a result. Another daughter was
raped and became pregnant. Another of her children passed
away leaving grandchildren in her care. Mother Gumede,
despite their obvious lack has always got a smile on her
face and a song to sing. The entire family loves to worship
Jesus. Every time we visit they want to sing. This last time
she wanted us to read Romans 6:1-13 telling us how much she
loved that scripture. The food that is provided through
Understand the Times has made a huge impact on the family.
By providing basics such as flour, sugar, mealie, rice,
beans and oil the family is doing much better. They give God
praise and say that He has looked upon them and blessed
them. The family is happy to attend church on Sunday morning
and the older daughters have also joined the Tuesday Bible
study.
Thank-you for the difference you are
making in their lives.
God Bless,
David and Krista Meisner
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November 23, 2011
The following report came from Dave and Krista Meisner regarding
their visit to the shanty home I visited in Quarrey Heights
W in Durban. We left funds behind to do something
immediately.
Krista wrote:
We visited the family on Monday night when we were passing out food.
It was my first time there (Krista) and I was amazed by this
precious family. They were all gathered in their room sitting on
their bed eating. Their smiles lit up the room!
The hug I received from "Grandma" was one of those great big bear
hugs, and she wasn't letting go!!! Through translation she explained
how she knew that we had brought the food through your donation but
that it was really from God!!!! I was so blessed by her
understanding.
She then asked her daughter to lead a song about the power of the
blood reaching to the highest mountain and the lowest valley!! The
whole family sang and there was a powerful presence of God in that
little shack. I prayed with the family and invited them all to
church on Sunday and they eagerly said they would all be there!!!
There is something truly precious and unique about this family.
Please pray that God will direct us to other families like this that
your support can assist! We know there are many in need but finding
Godly caregivers takes God's leading and discernment!!!
Thanks again and we will keep you informed on how things are
going!!!
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November 11, 2011
I am here is Durban visiting David and
Krista Meisner who have a tremendous ministry reaching out to the poor
and needy. David originally is from Eston, Saskatchewan and is about the
same age as my son Bryce if he were alive today. Yesterday, I spoke at
New Hope Christian Academy, the school where two of the Meisner children
attend. The topic was Dinosaurs and the Bible. The children
seemed delighted by the presentation.
In the evening I spoke to the youth
group which is held at the Meisner home. About 20 young people attended
and listened to a lecture I gave that emphasized that the Bible view of
origins helps us to understand the origin and history of life versus the
deception of evolution. I am most encouraged to see how this missionary
couple and their family are reaching out here in this part of the world
to those who are in need. The fact is there are many in need. Westerners
who sit in their comfortable megachurches pleading to have their ears
tickled have no idea what it is like in other parts of the world where
people live from day to day. We pray that more people will wake up out
of their sleep and do something that will count for God like the
Meisner’s are doing. It is also encouraging to see that they are not
here to play games but are 100% sincere and committed to serve Jesus. |
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November 12, 2011
The Bible states that there will always be
the poor as long as there are people on planet earth. Sometimes we
become so consumed with the troubles we encounter in our daily lives we
forget about the needs of others. From what I understand about the heart
of Jesus, we need to have a reality check about what we are doing as
servants of the Lord – are we helping the poor by being His hand
extended.
Perhaps, this is why I have been sent to Africa at this time. Maybe I
needed a shocking reminder. For the past year or so I have been
compelled to warn Christians who are building their kingdoms to remind
themselves of what they are doing as Jesus will soon be returning. Few
have listened. Besides I have lost most of the friends I once had
because they are more concerned about their legacies here on planet
earth than they are about standing up for the truth.
While I am accustomed to seeing poor people in poor places all over the
world, yesterday I saw things and heard about situations that caused me
to ponder why these things have to be so.Our day yesterday here in
Durban was spent visiting an area where human beings are destined to
live out their lives without any of the basic necessities that we are
accustomed to having – food, clothing and shelter. David and Krista
Meisner are here in Durban basically
volunteering their time to serve the poor black community that have more
needs than you could possibly imagine.
Let me tell you about one of the families I visited yesterday. Nine
people lived in a shack about the size of a dog house in America. The
only source of income for the whole household was the pension from a
grandmother (about one hundred dollars a month). Two girls in their
early 20’s sat on bed eating porridge for their daily meal as there
were no chairs in trhe room They were her daughters. They had no income
at all. One of the girls suffered from epilepsy. Her sister had been
raped. She tested positive for the HIV virus and so did her child.
Several other children walked around naked. They were children the
grandmother was looking after as they were also grandchildren she had
from other sons and daughters who had died from AIDS.
The shack they lived in was covered by a roof of tin that was leaking.
The dirt floor had turned to muddy slime. The naked children were not
able to get their footing and slipped and fell in the mire.I asked some
questions through the help of an interpreter who spoke the Zulu
language. The 56 year old grandmother was a Christian This was the
reason I was taken there. As you can understand this poor lady was
helpless. David Meisner and I prayed with her. I told her I would do
what I could to help out through the Meisner’s.
Today I will be at Pastor David’s church. They meet in a school room in
this same area where I visited this family. I spent some time early this
morning putting some thoughts together which I hope will be encouraging
for them. During the night I woke up several times. Thoughts were going
through my head and a few questions like this: would it be possible to
find ways to come along side and help out at least some of these people
with some of the basic needs of life as well equip them for sharing the
gospel with others?
Something to think about, isn’t it? |
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