My last post regarding South Africa (I’M SO LATE DON’T JUDGE ME).
The most important one yet.
If you can’t tell already, I left part of my heart in South Africa. The people, the ministry, the town of Jeffrey’s Bay, the familiarity, I loved it all. I will for sure return one day (hopefully to visit Cape Town, which I missed out on this trip!).
We did a lot of impactful ministry this month, with a wide variety of organizations and programs, but one ministry my team didn’t take part in that our other team, Blondtourage, did was working a “soup kitchen” in one of the nearby squatter camps.
South Africa is unique in the sense that you could drive through an extremely affluent neighborhood at one moment, noticing beautiful mansions on your left and right, and then make a turn into a squatter camp complete with small tin “homes”, dirt roads, and no electricity or running water. The wealth gap is huge. It is quite humbling to say the least.
Blondtourage had the opportunity a few times a week to prepare soup, pasta, and fruit at our log house, then deliver and serve them to the children living in the squatter camp. They would pass out bowls to the kids from a mobile storage unit. I can’t speak for them because I never served there myself, but from what I’ve gathered, the experience was equally heart-wrenching and joyful. The kids were hungry. For some, it was the only meal they’d receive until our team was able to go back and give them more. They were joyful nonetheless. Overwhelmingly grateful.
At the moment, our host, Anita, and one of the girls that volunteers with her regularly, Lehanie, buy, prepare, and run the “soup kitchen” on their own budgets. They feed hundreds of kids out of their own pockets because the need is real. They see the need, and meet it to the best of their ability. They are the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in their community. If we all stepped up when there was a dire need, can you imagine what the world would look like?
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’”.
Matthew 25:35-40
However, as you can probably tell, this is a massive task for two women to accomplish on their own. They partner with World Race when they have teams there, but when there aren’t any teams, the “soup kitchen” initiative remains relatively dormant. When it comes down to it, the kids aren’t being fed. My heart is heavy just thinking about that.
So, because it’s been on my heart, even though I didn’t personally partake in helping to serve, I was called to do a big “God ask” for financial support from all of you lovely people.
I asked Lehanie what they needed finances for specifically and she responded:
“Our aim with the soup kitchen is to try and provide food for the children who can’t afford to go to school, to love and care for them the way they deserve to be but don’t receive at home. To show them that regardless of their circumstances that we want to create a safe space for them and that Jesus is love and in Him they have a purpose! We are currently working from within a container and make all the food at the log house. We’d ideally like to build a cozy building to do it from. That would be our first priority, to work from there and then try to get supplies to be able to make the food there as well. We’d love to be able to supply books, balls, practical games, etc. in the long run that we can use there with the children too. That’s our vision of where we’d love to be in the near future.”
Friends & family, let’s bless this community big time!
“Freely you have received; freely give”.
Matthew 10:8
We cannot forget how greatly the Father has blessed us. Us Americans have more privilege and provision than we even realize or can comprehend. We have been blessed to bless others, and this is just one opportunity I have been shown to share and trust that God will provide and pour blessing over abundantly!
These kiddos will be forever grateful when their bellies are full consistently and their souls are satisfied eternally. YOU are making a difference in the Kingdom. How beautiful!
If you would like to give, the easiest way to do that is through PayPal. Anita’s PayPal email address is [email protected]. You can forward funds there, or you can Venmo me @AllisonCrasi and I can forward them myself. If you have any questions whatsoever, please do not hesitate to reach out!
I am believing God for something big! Thank you for partnering with us in this mission.
Much love,
Allison
