Strong Faith

 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭3‬

Today we had the pleasure of seeing Gogo Elizabeth and some of the orphans that she loves.  She does this without any government support.  The kids are about to finish school, meaning that Gogo will be their sole provider for food.  She started this day with a single Publix bag full of food for 18 kids.  We had planned to take the kids clothes shopping today, but through guidance of our friend Linda and discernment of what is most needed, God provided a carload of food for gogo and her 18 orphans.  The Hebrews verse listed above goes on to describe many of scriptures most faithful people.  I add Gogo Elizabeth to my list of the most faithful.  Being with her is being closest to God.  God always provides in his own time.  Especially for orphans and widows- this is pure and faultless religion.  So very thankful.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”  James‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬

Gogo Elizabeth

Gogo Elizabeth and Buhle showing their before and after kitchen.

Some of Gogo’s joyful kids.

Brothers from another mother

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭

Meet Siyonda, who’s been loving his “brother from another mother” Kululeku (Siyonda on the left and Kululeku on the right).  Siyonda has helped Kululeku navigate life, get employed (in a country with over 30% unemployment), and helped him have a strong spiritual walk.  Seeing them together today and their brotherly love for each other is such a gift.  In a place with such difficulty and challenge, love creates a light that shines so brightly you can’t miss it.

Siyonda working hard at his job making insoles for work boots.  He takes such care in his work, super proud of him.

The difference 8 months makes

 We met gogo (grandmother) Ngcayi last November.  Although everyone wasn’t in the first picture below, there were 9 people living in this metal home.  They had experienced crime in the worst way as this home has no locking door and was located in the bottom of a valley without many nearby neighbors to help.  This was November of ‘24

Fast forward to June of ‘25 and thanks to God’s gifts, this family has a secure new home that isn’t in a valley anymore.  Thank the Lord for their safety and their transformation to joy we experienced today.  Here they are in front of their new home.

Thankful for Judy and Jessica coloring with the kids.  Such a blessing.  Loved spending time with this beautiful family.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

From the Bible Project- "poor in spirit" refers to those who recognize their spiritual need and dependence on God, acknowledging their inability to earn salvation or achieve righteousness on their own. It's an attitude of humility and dependence, recognizing one's spiritual poverty before God. This contrasts with self-reliance and spiritual pride.

This family demonstrates their dependence on God and as a result brings me closer to God.  I work everyday on not being self reliant and spiritual pride.

Thankful…

Our Will…

Such a gift today seeing my Ntshongweni boys Sanele on the left and Mlondi on the right.  Sanele shared with me that he’s actively seeking God’s will in his life.  Like all of us, he’s had mountains and valleys through 29 years of life experience.  He’s praying to surrender his life to God’s will.  He’s seeking the good things God prepared in advance for him to do through prayer and discernment.  We talked about surrendering our life to God.  Seeking His will versus ours.  Such a blessing to hear him share what he’s learned and how God has shaped him to seek His will.  Proud of Sanele for thinking this way.  Such a gift and such a great way to put faith on a firm foundation.  Makes me think of these scriptures.

Whose plan am I working on?

Whose kingdom am I seeking?

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭15‬

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭31‬-‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The story of the Bible is God seeking relationship with us.  I find myself often seeking my own way rather than God’s way.  But, in my heart I trust that God’s way is better than mine.  Proud of Sanele for working on this and I am confident that this will be a lifelong journey, as it is for everyone.

Thankful…. 

This song says it all…

Ntshongweni trip #20?

On the way we think trip #20…  so excited to see our Ntshongweni family.  R-L: Jessica, Valelie, Judy, Susan, Justin, & Scott.

“Two things I ask of you, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”  Proverbs‬ ‭30‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭

For everything there is a season

It’s been 15 years that we’ve had our Ntshongweni family.  I’m reminded that- "For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven" Ecclesiastes 3:1

You thought the Byrds had an original song? Byrds- Turn Turn Turn

This week we’ve reconnected with so many of our long time family.  It gives me joy to experience these different seasons.

Here’s Mlondi over the years.  Growing up to become a young man who is caring, joyful, and has the best laugh in Ntshongweni.  OSHA site inspectors may not have liked our ladder setup in the second photo.  Now Mlondi is as tall as Alex in the first photo.

Seyonda is the tallest in this early photo. He’s the tallest in the second photo too.  Seyonda has the gift of helping people around him become better.  He’s a role model and acts out of genuine love for others.

Kululeku is the little dude in the yellow shirt on the right.  He always has the best smile and perseverance that we could all learn from.  Thankful to know kululeku.  Jessica gave him his photo album with pictures going back over the years, so amazing and such a cherished thing.

Nhlanhla (Lucky) had a huge heart and an amazing countenance.  He was filled with love and always there for his neighbor.  The first photo shows his great smile.  We visited and cleaned his grave in the second photo.  We miss him.

Quit your bitchin…

“Here is what we seek: a compassion that can stand in awe at what the poor have to carry rather than stand in judgement at how they carry it.”  Father Gregory Boyle

I have to admit that when I’m in my home country small things can be very annoying.  Potholes in the streets, an Amazon package that is delayed, they don’t have my favorite granola at Publix, I don’t have clean socks…  all first world problems that are totally insignificant.

The second house we went to for food delivery had 5 folks living in a single room.  Grandmother had lost her ID and was no longer able to claim her pension/disability.  So pastor Thwala suggested we drive to Hammersdale township to the office of home affairs to set an appointment for her and arrange transport.  When we arrived the woman working the office explained they don’t offer ID service and suggested booking an online appointment in Durban, or Pietermaritzburg.  Pastor say with Mlondi and logged into the website to schedule an appointment.  The earliest available appointment was next year.  Wow…  Gogo and her family have to wait for nearly three months to get an ID so she can claim her disability.  So much for first world problems…  here’s a photo of their one room house and two of the family members.

So thankful for perspective and to have pastor work so hard to help people in difficult circumstances.  Love your neighbor.