Winter is here, and the need is very great. On behalf of all these dear ones who received soup. meat, bread, bananas, and cereal, we thank those who made this project possible! It was a joy to do it, and joyfully were all the items accepted!

This year, we’ve partnered with a small local Christian radio initiative that broadcasts specifically into prisons; connecting both inmates and correctional service officers with the Gospel and targeted messages of Love and Hope. Our Helping Hand team personally records/edits devotional audios which are played daily, reaching individuals all over the nation! Thank you Jesus for a WHOLE OTHER ministry!

Thanks to donations and gifts in kind, we could bring these desperately needed items to “Mama” Rosie and the 160+ children she cares for. There were bags of flour, beans, maize, rice, cereal, sugar, and baby formula! There were also brand new clothing items for some of the younger children, and Prime drinks for the faithful staff members! When loading the van, we suddenly felt led to give some packs of nappies that we had received and were not allocated yet. When we arrived in Khayelitsha and Mama Rosie and her operations manager saw the stack of nappies, they burst into rejoicing and thankful tears! Then we learned that they simply couldn’t afford to keep the kind of nappy stock needed for the amount of little ones they have, and had been stressing about both the practical lack and the Department of Health’s inspections. So even though we didn’t know the urgency of the need, God knew and provided! It was such a joyful day!

How lovely it was to celebrate with the ladies at this home for women in crisis for their graduation! They had completed a course on God’s Love and the value placed on each on of God’s Children, regardless of background or the way others may treat us. To help make their graduation memorable, we brought treats and snacks, did a photoshoot of individual/group portraits for them to keep printed copies of, and even joined for an “ask men” Q&A session, at which they could ask any question on their hearts regarding men and what to expect/look for in a Godly man going forward. We are so glad to be a part of their lives and encouraging them to walk into a brighter future with Jesus at their side.

What a blessing indeed! From multiple sources and contributors (some COMPLETELY unexpected) this event came together. We pulled up, and within minutes the line of waiting people was hundreds long. We prayed together, and then began distributing. There were beautiful carrots, potatoes, onions, and apples – then bread, stock cubes, cereal, tea, coffee, sauce, chips, vitamin beverage, and Gospel material! It was truly wonderful once again to see the many grateful smiles, and watch as little children and adults alike dug into their parcels immediately to enjoy a bread, fruit, or drink, or stood intently reading their Gospel tracts. A VERY busy and happy day!

The children of Helping Hand were a big part of this Nurses Appreciation focus, as they joined in to go from clinic to clinic, giving smiles, hugs, and treats to these faithful caretakers, who labour long and often unthanked hours all the year. The children even did an impromptu song and dance “show” to a song about God’s Love, which was met by loud cheers! A lot went into packing, printing, and preparing the treat and card packs, and we are so very glad to see how thankfully they were received by all the nurses.

From our original focus of bringing much-needed hygiene and sanitary items to these families, the Lord expanded greatly! From multiple directions, supply came, and we were able to not only give the packs with toothpaste/brush, soap, washcloth, sanitary pads, and sanitizer, but also a large food parcel to each man, woman, and child! Meat, bread, bananas, tea, rusks, sugar, Gospel material, and more …and more. We also so much appreciate the young men who gave of their time to help distribute. What a great blessing and privilege we all feel to have had this in-person opportunity to show God’s Love.

We spoke to our Sunday School children on the importance of staying clean and healthy, both physically and also spiritually through the Word of God. (Psalm 134:19, 1 Corinthians 3:16, John 15:3) “Teacher” Amy demonstrated how to brush teeth correctly, and then we handed out to each child packs with toothpaste, washcloths, toothbrushes, soap, and sanitizer! (The older girls also received women’s sanitary items) They were all so grateful for these much needed and important toiletries, and WE are so so thankful for those that made this project possible through support and friendship!