|
|
An International Missionary Outreach Dedicated to Evangelizing the Lost By Sharing The Gospel According to the Scriptures
|
|
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
||||||
|
|
South Africa July 2015 |
|||||
|
South Africa Report 6 July 2015 Final Report Mission Thando Preaching the Gospel While many organizations around the world strive towards making living conditions better for the people they are serving not always do they care about spiritual needs and where the people they serve will spend eternity. Not so with the Meisner’s and Mission Thando. I have heard the testimonies from people who have been changed by the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ they preach. There are many different ways to plant churches. Some use church growth methods where communities are surveyed and people are asked what “brand” of a church they would like. Some churches advertise the various entertainment programs they have for the children. Others promote “seeker-friendly” or the emerging church style services where any and all religions can join together to establish the kingdom of God. The Meisner’s do not follow any of these man made ideas. They simply show the lost what Christianity looks like by spreading the love of Christ. They care for the poor. They feed the hungry. They care about those who are sick as well as the elderly and shut in. They transport those who have no way to visit a Dr. to their appointments. They help the widows and orphans. They teach the Bible and preach the gospel to the young and old. They have established a church in an area where most white people would never set foot. They do all of this with five children in a location that is more than halfway around the world from their friends and family.
While I was in Durban I was able to see the ministry in action and meet many people. I was also able to speak at two meetings held at the Center, one for the youth gathering on Friday night and the Sunday Morning church service. For the present, the Center is where their fellowship gathers for meetings. The Center is simply a rented house in the Quarry Heights area surrounded by other houses. While not a church, it is a shelter and a place where people come and hear the gospel. Almost everyone that comes to the meetings has been impacted by the ministry already because they have experienced what true Christianity is all about.
I spoke to the youth group on the topic on the truth of the Bible and why being a born-again Christian is so important when it comes to knowing the truth. On Sunday my topic to the entire congregation was “How to Be a Strong Christian”. This will be my last report. I encourage you to visit the Meisner Mission Thando web site at http://www.missionthando.com/ Also please consider supporting Bryce Homes South Africa though Understand The Times either by check or PayPal.
South Africa Report 5 July 2015 Mission Thando Provides Food for the Hungry Few people that I know have ever experienced what it is like to be hungry day after day, night after night. Most of us are blessed with an abundance of meat, potatoes, a variety of vegetables and desserts. It is a fact that the majority of us eat more than our share. Such is not the case in the area of Quarry Heights, a suburb of Durban, South Africa. The population is made up of primarily poor families who lack food and proper nutrition. Many children go to school with their stomachs empty. They return home after school to find the cupboards bare. Ministering the gospel to families in such an environment without showing concern for the wellbeing of people’s physical needs would be a waste of effort. With some funding from a corporate sponsor and funds raised from churches and individuals who donate through their non-profit ministry based in Canada, Quarry Heights children receive food free of charge twice a day five days a week from Mission Thando. This happens at a house Meisner’s have rented in the area which they also use as a church and youth meeting place. Each morning porridge and sandwiches are handed out to hungry kids before they head off for school. Later in the day David or one of his helpers picks up day-old bread, cakes, pastries, pies and other items from a large commercial bakery and brings it to the Center. I witnessed both the morning and afternoon feeding events myself and saw the impact this program has on the community.
The whole community is aware of the work the Meisner’s are doing in Quarry Heights, not only for the humanitarian assistance, but also for the spiritual leadership they provide by teaching the Bible and showing people the love of Christ. The morning and afternoon feedings do not start until the children participate in singing songs of thanksgiving and praying. It is truly something to see. The following photos could not be described in a thousand words. You have to witness something like this in person to appreciate it.
South Africa Report 4 July 2015 Additional Bryce Homes South Africa The Bryce Homes International Program is a ministry God has raised up in memory of Bryce Oakland who died in a car accident in August of 2001. The program began in 2006 in the country of Myanmar with one home. Now, nine years later there are 60 homes in four countries caring for over 300 children. God has taken ashes and made something beautiful. He has taken the pain of losing a son and brought into existence something too wonderful to describe in words. He has introduced our family to hundreds of children we would have never had the opportunity to know or care for. This is God’s work, not ours. As God provides though His people with financial support we are committed to the expansion of the program by adding more homes. While we have established basic guidelines providing the parameters for the Bryce Homes Program, one of the unique aspects is that we are flexible to new ways God wants to use us to reach out with the gospel to the needy. While in Durban the Lord led me to establish four new homes in South Africa bringing our total world-wide now to 64. Describing the background for each home and the reason for choosing the children and the home caretaker would provide the contents for a book. Perhaps in the future I will write a book to try and convey what it is like to meet children, parents and grandparents who live in hopeless situations. I would then show the results when these same people see the love of God expressed to them in a way that shows someone cares. For now, let me say on this visit to Durban we added two more homes in order to assist grandmothers who faithfully attend church in order help support their grandchildren who otherwise would go hungry. While most South African poor families do receive a small pension or stipend from the government, it is not enough for them to survive. The two grandmothers we have added are in their 70’s and not in good health. One has diabetes with a leg amputated and suffers from heart problems. The other has had a stroke and is confined to her bed most of the time. In both cases David Meisner picks these grandmothers up at their homes to bring them to church every Sunday morning. The Meisner’s met them because they were helping them with their medical needs. It was because of this they became believers in Jesus Christ. Understand The Times and the Bryce Homes South Africa program will now come alongside to assist with further support in order to make their lives somewhat more bearable. A third grandmother who attends the church is a widow who serves the elderly. On a very small stipend she works for Mission Thando as a care giver to the elderly. Each day she visits 20 older ladies and helps by bathing them and giving them their medication. She also delivers the day old bread the Mission Thando ministry receives as a donation from a Durban commercial bakery. The fourth Bryce Home we have added will provide support for a young girl who is also a new believer and attends Meisner’s church. Krista and Dave became acquainted with her when they helped her with a serious medical need. Through this outreach she came to Christ. Through the Bryce Homes Program she will now be able to finish her High School. Her vision is to continue her education and become an administrative secretary. On Sunday morning I saw her worshipping the Lord with tears streaming down her cheeks. Another life transformed. The following are photos of our four new Bryce Homes in South Africa:
South Africa Report 3 July 2015 Bryce Homes International has been formed as a program designed to support orphans and/or very poor children in a home environment. Our guidelines require Christian leadership and personal care that assists in providing spiritual guidance, food, clothing, education and medical assistance. Unlike many programs that target humanitarian assistance alone, our emphasis has been to find reliable accountable men and women with integrity to manage our programs in each country and location where we are working. In Durban, South Africa the Meisner family, missionaries from Saskatchewan, Canada are the ones we have chosen to head up the Bryce Homes South Africa Program. Dave and Krista are committed to work among the poor and unfortunate and to help them both materially and spiritually.
One of main objectives for taking this trip to South Africa in July of 2015 was to visit our five existing homes and measure the progress since my last trip two years ago. This way I am able to personally assess each individual family and adjust the program accordingly as special needs arise. As well, there have been a few changes and new families or children replace those who have moved on. We like to be open to special needs that we were not aware of before and replace those who have benefited from the program and are now capable of working towards self-sufficiency. It took us about one day to visit all the five homes we are supporting in Quarry Heights. One situation we observed was a health issue. One of the grandmothers who cares for an entire family was suffering from a severe condition of shingles and had been confined to bed. Her mattress was broken down and wire springs were poking into her body as she tried to find comfort. David and I went to a local furniture store where we had purchased some furniture for this family before and bought a new mattress and transported it to her humble home. We prayed for her before we left. On Sunday she was sitting in the front row of the church service to hear me teach.
In another one our Bryce Homes we were informed the teenage girl we have been caring for was in the hospital. When we first met her we saw that she had been born with a deformed back. David and Krista had transported her many times back and forth for medical appointments. The Dr.’s made the decision to operate to correct the problem. On Sunday afternoon we made a trip to the hospital where she was located and took her grandmother and visited her. The compassion and love that Dave and Krista have for the people they shepherd is truly commendable.
During my time in Durban we have visited all five Bryce Homes and delivered a monthly supply of vegetables to each home. I interviewed most of the children and the adults in the home who are in charge. Following are the photos of the five families:
South Africa Report 2 July 2015 My first day in Durban was packed with activity from morning through evening. David Meisner picked me up early in the morning and we made our way to Quarry Heights. This is the location in Durban where all of the Understand The Times Bryce Homes are located. This is also the area where the Meisner’s have their base for the majority of their mission work - Mission Thando. Please check out their web site at www.missionthando.com/ David arrived at my bed and breakfast location with his vehicle loaded with food supplies that would be delivered when we visited our five Bryce Homes. About one year ago David was hijacked by thugs and his vehicle was stolen. Thankfully, David was not harmed.
Our first destination was the Mission Thando Center located in the heart of Quarrey Heights. This is an area where the government has relocated over 10,000 people. Most of them are still living in severe poverty conditions. David and Krista have been called to this location from Canada to “spread the love of Jesus.” The meaning of the word “thando” in the Zulu language is love. Their Mission Center is simply a low cost rental house they have secured in the area where they can administer their outreach to the Quarry Heights community.
The current goals and objectives for Mission Thando are as follows: orphan care, after school programs, computer classes, youth programs, feeding programs (morning and afternoon each day) for the hungry, HIV/AIDS programs and elderly care and assistance. Their non-profit organization raises support for their work (please read the details at http://www.missionthando.com/donations). Presently, a staff of four assist David and Krista to implement this program. This is my third trip to Durban. I have seen tremendous growth and progress since my first trip and highly recommend the work they are doing. If you have ever considered supporting a missionary family in a faraway land, your investment in the Meisner’s ministry would be a good one. As previously mentioned, besides Mission Thando, the Meisner’s oversee and administer our Bryce Homes program in South Africa. In a following report I will share the details of the visits we made to each Bryce Home. South Africa Report 1 July 2015 I have arrived in Durban, South Africa and will be here visiting David and Krista Meisner and our Bryce Homes for several days. The Bryce Homes South Africa Program was established in Durban, November, 2011 when I made my first trip here. David and Krista are missionaries from Saskatchewan, Canada. They have five children ranging in age from 14 years old to a newborn baby. I have known David since he was a small boy as he went to school in Eston with Bryce. David and Krista administer the South African Bryce Homes Program for Understand The Times. They have founded their own non-profit organization and are very active in reaching out to the poor and unfortunate in the Durban area. As well they have planted a church in Durban and work extensively with children and young people. Our goal in ministry has always been to work together with established like-minded ministries to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Meisner’s are a perfect example of this. We are very pleased to be able to partner with them. While I am here we will not only be visiting all our Bryce Homes, I will be looking at the possibility of expanding the program. Daily reports will be posted on our website with photos that will keep you updated. As well I will be shooting video footage so that we can provide more information about Bryce Homes South Africa.
Sincerely, Roger Oakland
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
Understand The Times is an independent non-profit organization in
Canada and the United States.
|
||||||
