Mission
2011 Mission Trip to Cape Town South Africa
This year we had one goal and it was to help the needed children of Cape Town and the surrounding area. It has been a wonderful and positive experience.
To be able to reach those children we had to work with Pastor Eric Hofmeyer who uses soccer to gather the kids off the streets of Cape Town and also of many small community's around.
This program is for any children, some live in absolute poverty in the "Township" or on the street.
With a week's program which included breakfast,lunch,educative play, creative craft, and one soccer game per day. We are trying to bring those kids out of the street but most of all out of their street's gangs. With love,simplicity, sharing and laughing we are showing them that it can be DIFFERENT.
Many children are orphaned and are abandoned or their parent are absent because of alcohol and drugs. They become an easy target for gang activity,prostitution and more. The leader of their gang become their new father or mom...
This year, we have bring many soccer balls, jerseys, shorts and jackets and good treat for the kids. It was just perfect since many kids don't even have jerseys to play soocer.
We also had the privilege to visit the children of the Cape Town Orthopaedics Hospital. With Irene her husband Kerhart Werner and a group of friend we went with boxes of surprise for boy and girl. Home made goodies, hand made warm hats, toilet and personnel gift. Those kids are from all around Africa and stay there for a long time away from their family. This hospital accomplishes miracle operation on those children. One little girl was happy to show me that for the first time of her life was able to walk...Her smile said everything. Normande was also happy to help a young boy from Congo, nobody was able to understand him he knew only french. He was so happy to be able to talk to someone.
Next year we want to bring boxes of gift from Canada to those sick children and share more time with them. "A smile can do a lot."
The first encounter of the street kids was with Pastor Eric Hofmeyer and Bradley DodJem (coach) and few kids of the street around the gyms of the Baptist Church. We give them balls and clothing, one of the boy had only on shoe... Next year we will try to get some running shoes .
The kids were so happy to play for us and they all said thank you...
Eric will have one a week a meeting with these kids and through the soccer game try to teach a positive new reality of life.
Through Pastor Eric Hofmeyer and his organisation "Adullam" we had helped the Gardens Commercial High School with the Inter-Class soccer Tournament, those soccer balls can go fare and bring so much joy...
Mitchell Place "Township" is the next big soccer camp place. This township is one of the most poor and corrupted place and it is surely were the children need help. Pastor Merlin had made it happen with a teem of young leaders in a very old vacant school.
Hundred children were already there early in the morning for their breakfast and ready to play. After the breakfast they had a play showing them love and sharing. Gospel music and dancing with so much fun and laugh.
Their day will be full of activity,food and lot of loving teaching. We were their with them and so happy to be able to do something. You should had seen their face's expression when David had given them their own soccer balls. For South African Children it's the most valuable gift.
The kids were so happy to play for us and they all said thank you...
Eric will have one a week a meeting with these kids and through the soccer game try to teach a positive new reality of life.
Through Pastor Eric Hofmeyer and his organisation "Adullam" we had helped the Gardens Commercial High School with the Inter-Class soccer Tournament, those soccer balls can go fare and bring so much joy...
Mitchell Place "Township" is the next big soccer camp place. This township is one of the most poor and corrupted place and it is surely were the children need help. Pastor Merlin had made it happen with a teem of young leaders in a very old vacant school.
Hundred children were already there early in the morning for their breakfast and ready to play. After the breakfast they had a play showing them love and sharing. Gospel music and dancing with so much fun and laugh.
Their day will be full of activity,food and lot of loving teaching. We were their with them and so happy to be able to do something. You should had seen their face's expression when David had given them their own soccer balls. For South African Children it's the most valuable gift.
In Cape Town,Mitchell Plane,Paarl Normande met different ladies and was able to use her skill as a Life Coach to help them. Talma is one of them, a grand-mother with a lovely grand-son, Jeremiah.
An other lady, Zelda is starting a great organisation to help the Gangster kids to be free of drugs and prostitution. She will be coached by Normande all year long with the help of internet .So many good encounter of people who need direction and coaching and it has been a privilege to help them....Julian, Eric,Justine,Jennifer etc...
The third soccer camp was in Heideveild, an other "Township" with a lot of young family. Pastor Kuiten was there with 50 kids,very young from few months to about 12 years old. Same program with breakfast and lunch,some volunteer ladies were in charge of the food and teenage leaders were helping this camp. Life music,crafts class and the soccer game. It is a pleasure to see those kids playing, laughing and sharing. Again it is for us a privilege to be there and play with these kids. More soccer balls were given with a very laud thank you...For Pastor Eric it is also a great joy to see how Heideveild had grown in their leadership since he was the one who had started this community center 20 years ago.
So much more we will like to do but five weeks went just like a whisper. We will go back next March 2012 with more projects.
We will like to thank C.A.R.E for their generosity and trust in us. Marion your are a wonderful lady and Kalene you have been a great help. Coastal Church our church with Pastor Dave and Cheryl Koop for their support and prayers. Pastor Brian thank you for your prayers. Frank Peyton with your team for the soccer balls and uniforms. Sandra and Frank Cumming ,you are great friends. Pauline Cardinal, Normande's sister you had always believed in our projects. Our children, Julie, Vartan,Jason.Jonny,Jared and Nicole and our friends who had believe in us.
OUR BIGGEST THANK GOES TO GOD WITH WHOM EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
