This is a post from 2014. Recently published. Much has changed in the last 12 years
Here is our latest update for our ministry at Restoring Hope Village in Welkom, South Africa. Life has been busy and our time is drawing to a close. Thank you to each of you who has lifted us up in prayer and supported us during our time here! God is at work and there are some really neat things happening.
First, some photos of the newest children. Our purpose in this trip was to help do whatever it took to open the 3rd house at the village. Praise God it happened quickly and God provided one baby and 6 children to live in the house with Momma Mompho! Here they are.
WIth the ongoing operation of the houses here our duties have turned from doing last minute tasks, training housemothers and getting all the supplies needed for a new house to the necessary and sometimes mundane. Susie has been working on organizing the storage areas that hold clothing, shoes, bedding and other essential items that have been donated to RHI as well as training a volunteer who will replace her when we leave. A new staff couple is coming Wednesday and their container is expected in September. Room had to be made to accommodate additional clothing that will soon be here.
Keeping up with the financial records has also been Susie's responsibility. Since that work is easily done anytime, she is often called away to help with more urgent matters--taking sick children to the Dr. or hospital, babysitting so others can tend to important business and so on. Susie is training a new local staff member who will be doing the financial business as part of her duties.
Bob has list of maintenance and construction issues that never seems to grow short! Working overtime doesn't even help! One of the bigger jobs was building steel roof trusses and installing them on the new storage/shop building. A local steel workers strike caused a rush to get materials before there was a serious shortage.
Another responsibility of this trip was to provide transportation--whenever, wherever for whomever needed it. When we arrived there were only 2 people with drivers licenses--our son and daughter-in-law! Most of the driving was errands and routine drop-offs and pick-up from Morningstar (preschool) and the school. For whatever reason the school has 2 or 3 different ending times so it was often 3 trips in the afternoon to fetch children. Two months ago we took many trips to the doctor and hospital with the new children. Now that they have settled in and are being fed a very nutritious diet their health has dramatically improved. Friday we took 3 of the children to the local eye doctor for evaluation and one is in need of glasses. Nothing is easy so this was a 2 trip ordeal involving both of us due to school schedules! None of the South African staff currently here has a drivers license.
We love what we are doing and love caring for the staff and children of the village. Now that the children are much healthier our emotions can rest as well. We can't explain the emotional hurt when we care for children that have been seriously neglected by their caregivers--to the point that their life is on the line. Sometimes we have to just not spend too much time looking at these kids and dwelling on their circumstances. Instead we must direct our thoughts to how God has provided a loving momma and staff for them. It is so exciting to have an opportunity to answer their questions and tell them about God and His provision and about Jesus Christ and His Salvation!
God has graciously provided 4 full time US staff members, 9 South African staff and 3 interns who will be here when we leave on Tuesday. I don't think they will miss us too much. On the other hand, we will miss the activity and the 33 or so people here every day!
Thanks again for your support and prayers!!!
Bob & Susie
