From adults to 2 year olds, Helping Hand members participated in several runs this past week – one of them being the Tyger Run Saturday morning, which coincides with both Human Rights Day AND World Downs-Syndrome Day! Timothy, our very own downs-syndrome superstar, ran the 5km and arrived at the finish with both hands raised in victory! Here are some more pictures from the events. Hope you enjoy the energy, enthusiasm, and exercise evidence!
We brought milk, cereal, and other needed goods to a local crèche which takes care of approximately 40 little ones from underprivileged families. Their funding is minimal so having food and other items donated to them enables them to keep the doors open and the children cared for. Each child also got a fresh cupcake…mmmmmmm!
The youth of Helping Hand – together with a few adults – went to Stellenbosch on Saturday afternoon and engaged in personal outreach on the streets, fields, and campus areas. The results: Six individuals gave their lives to Jesus Hundreds of Gospel pamphlets were distributed The youth were encouraged, inspired, and thrilled to be part of changing lives for the better; through the Love of God!
(By Angela) For the past six years we have been doing a bible study every Friday at a local crisis centre for pregnant women. These ladies come from all different walks of life, representing every religion, colour and age. They are hurting, sometimes angry, ashamed, or afraid and our goal is not to preach at them but to show them Someone loves them and cares. However you never know if it makes a difference or if they even remember us when they leave. Due to the nature of the centre, you never know how long the women or girls will be there for. Sometimes it’s a few months, for others a few days. Amy (name changed to protect her privacy) was one of the latter. She was at the centre for only a week last year, so we met her only once for a few hours and even then there were others to speak with so our contact was very brief. So brief in fact that if you were to ask me to point her out in a crowd I would have difficulty. Last week, two of our team members were on outreach when out of the blue, a young girl walked up to them asking if they were the same people who had been at the crisis center. Somehow, Amy had picked up on the spirit and recognized that we were the same people. She told us how even though she had met us just the once she had never forgotten us and what we had meant to her. Now, she wants to come over for Bible studies. It was very encouraging for us to see that the Lord had done such an amazing work in her life, despite our brief contact and led her back to our team ( not even Read the full article…
It is always a wonderful thing to get in donations of fresh and quality food for distribution. This food will go out to many families and bring joy into the lives of those who have little to be joyful about.
With the fires raging through areas of Cape Town today, we knew there must be many who need assistance. After looking into it we found a collection centre at Newlands Fire Station. We were able to bring a vanload with fresh bread, rice, water bottles ( especially needed for the firemen and volunteers) cereal packs, maize, stock for soup, flour, and tissue paper rolls. The firemen and aid workers alike were deeply grateful, and remarked how overwhelmed they were by the response to their call for help.
How wonderful to be able to assist needy families at this informal settlement in Cape Town – sprung up on an abandoned farm. Each person was given a food parcel, and the sweet gratitude shown was humbling. May we always remember how blessed we are. While at the farm, the van got stuck in the sand and we were unable to get it out for some time. In the end however, with several of the men pushing, we got safely out. God bless them for turning around and lending us a “helping hand” when we needed it!
The little “fingers” of Helping Hand helped us pack a few hundred bags of samp and maize – which went into food parcels for the disadvantaged.
