Dear friends,
We would like to share a few prayer requests.
Challenges Faced by the Elderly in Our Nearby Communities
In the communities around us there are quite a few elderly people who have health challenges. Many times, their home environments are not favorable surroundings for their delicate constitutions. Some of the family members might use alcohol and drugs. This may cause serious problems in the home. Their neighbors may play beat music on large speakers throughout the night making it impossible for them to sleep. They also might not receive proper care and nutritious food, because fresh fruits and vegetables are scarce, or the little that is available are very expensive.
Many times, the elderly also need to look after their grandchildren, because the children’s mothers work in other towns or farms far from home. They may only come home once a month. This put a lot of responsibility on the elderly because now they must take care of themselves and their grandchildren.
We have a dear elderly lady in our congregation who have been struggling with serious health issues in the past month. Three weeks ago, she struggled to breath and we had to rush her to the clinic from where the ambulance took her to the hospital in Pofadder, the town closest to us. Thankfully, while she was in the hospital her health condition was stabilized, but she still was very weak.
We realized that in her weak health condition, it would be very difficult for her to go back to her home in the community close to us. We saw that she needed a period of rest and personal support in a different environment where she does not have any responsibility and where it is quiet. We felt it on our hearts to open our home and to establish her in our guest room.
She now could rest and recuperate. We served her with fresh vegetables from the mission garden. She had stayed with us for nearly three weeks and we are thankful to see that she is getting strong and well again. She will be able to go home soon, where one of her children will continue to take of her. Please keep her in your prayers.
Pottery
For the past few weeks we were hard at work to prepare for a Christmas Market that will be presented by Domino Servite School, at Kwasizabutu Mission, Natal. Domino Servite School is a co-educational academic Christian school. The school is closely associated with KwaSizabantu Mission.
We have to make different ceramic pieces for them to sell. Some of the items are sugar bowls, milk jugs, pot plant pots with a small plate to place under the pot, and different sized bowls. All of these items we throw on the wheel. Other items include small decorative birds, penguins, bells, animal serviette holders etc. These items we slip cast in plaster of Paris molds. When they are dry, we hand paint them with different decorative colors.
This involves a lot of work, but a dear Christian family visited us and their children helped us to paint some of the pieces. It was exciting to work together, and to think out creative ways to decorate the items. We are thankful for their help.
Please pray for this Christmas Market, since the income of all the items sold will directly go to forward God’s Work.
We value your prayers and support,
Gerhard, Elmané, and children
