In late June, I, through Shane Willard Ministries, had the honor to spend time visiting an organization that we support in South Africa. This organization I spent a few days at is not only a primary school and early learning centre, but also a family support program which renders support to the orphaned and vulnerable children in one of South Africa's poorest communities, Mamelodi. We as a ministry consider it a great blessing to have been given the opportunity to financially support such an impacting and fruitful work.

 

Each year that I visit this incredible organization I witness the growth and fruit of their labor. I am always overwhelmed listening to the testimonies of the families and children who are being positively impacted within the community of Mamelodi.

 

The changes within this organization each year I visit are always so evident. It is hard to put into words the feelings of joy that grip your heart as you see the smiles and receive the hugs of 60 beautiful children who you know have each come from pain and brokenness and have now been restored to hope, love, and opportunity. What price can you put on a life?

 

Proverbs 22:6 tells us to "start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."

 

It is a great privilege to support an organization who is taking advantage of the most impacting years of these children's lives by proactively imparting hope and the love of Jesus. An organization who sincerely believes in the importance of investing time and value into these precious little beings and do everything they can to ensure they receive the best possible start to life.

 

The Early Childhood Development centre in Mamelodi started in January 2013, and is running at full capacity now with daily care for 40 children. The ministries donation this year has helped rendered the following services to at least 8 children for a total of 4 months:

 

• Education by a trained teacher and assistant
• Small classrooms as children need intense help with regards to education
• Nutritionally well-balanced meals daily cooked by our cook, Martha
• Individual therapy, if needed, by a social worker specializing in play therapy
• Experience outings like, visit to the bird park and having an athletics day at our centre

 

The ministries donation also contributed towards the Family Support program which helped in serving and reaching 8 families from Mamelodi for 4 months with the following services:

• At least 3 home visits by a trained care worker per month
• Spiritual care of the families, through practical outreach and support. Many of the families have come to know the Lord through the care and love of the team
• Nutritional support in the form of food parcels, mealie meel, and vegetables
• Psycho-social support in the form of counseling and advice sharing
• Budget skills taught and assistance given
• Social Justice and Legal assistance through our Pro Bono programme, assisting with ID documents, grants application with Government, wills and property conveyancing
• Individual or family therapy by a trained social worker

 

The future is in our hands. It is the collective responsibility of each of us to bring about change through our actions. God has entrusted us with all that we need. The most loving thing He has entrusted each of us with is the freedom to choose. The freedom to choose where we will impart our time, resources, love and words. Where are you choosing to share what you have been so freely given?

 

I can promise you that there is nothing more rewarding than choosing to impart heaven into somebody's pain and need. There is nothing more fulfilling than choosing to share your love, time and resources with somebody who could never possibly do anything to repay you.

 

We sincerely thank each of our partners for their continued support towards what we as a ministry are doing around the world. It is because of the generosity of people like yourself that we are able to continue blessing those who are unable to do anything in return.

 

Should you wish to financially support us in helping bring heaven to earth, you may do so by logging onto our website www.shanewillardministries.org.