A Ray of Hope

These children's smiles are infections!  

This little boy is a character for sure!

So naughty, but so sweet! 

Futball, the sport of choice around here.

Living here for almost two years will make you a brother to these boys. 

Group self-pictures... not the easiest thing to do, but oh, so much fun :) 

The bakkie, which delivered food to over 21 families. 

The tin house to the left is where this woman calls home, 

her little daughter sick inside. 

Please pray that the little girl would get better, 

and they would be warm enough this winter.

 

 People were so grateful when we brought them their food.

They almost didn't know how to respond. 

 No matter where you are,

there is nothing like having a dog. 

Mamelodi is a little township just outside Pretoria, South Africa. 

Throughout Mamelodi are shacks and huts that people call home. Hunger and cold envelope these wonderful people. Meetse a Bophelo is a center which spreads a ray of hope and love for this town. Within the walls of this center there is a community, made up of at least six nationalities; working together to give these people as much as they can. They run an after school program, where children who need a little extra help can come, learn about Jesus, are helped with homework, and sent home fed and happy. The children who come range from the age of 7 to 16 (give or take a year or two). During the average day, the kids trickle in from about 1330-1400, play futball, are fed lunch, sing and hear a Bible Story, then go off to their respectful activity. Which will either be learning how to use a computer, coloring, exercising, or just having fun with one of the teachers. Following that, they are fed a snack and sent home. All to be repeated the next afternoon. 

Nick, one of the leaders here, 

slept all last week in a tent in almost freezing weather to raise enough money to buy food for the families of these children. His heart for these people is incredible and impossible to overlook. For the past two days we have been driving around the town in his bunkie (a pick- up truck) delivering the food. Not as easy at it looks; but the smiles and the tears of gratitude make it all worth while. With the food that was delivered theses families will be able to have good meals and full stomachs for the next couple days, and will have seen just what the love of Christ will do. 

The ministry that this center does is incredible, 

giving selflessly of themselves, of their time, in order to make these children's lives just that much better. It has been my privilege to be able to be part of this, be it even for just a few days.