This was another amazing story of how God works in our lives connecting strings of years ago for His Good works.
In June, 2000 a group of Snyder men and women traveled to S Africa, to help build a new church for the First Baptist Church of Mabopane about 30 miles N of Pretoria. This was thru the auspices of the NC Baptist Men and the brotherhood partnership with the SAfrican Baptist. Roy Smith headed this up from his home in the Johannesburg. We also found time to be involved with the Door of Hope run by Don and Cheryl for orphans and some kids with HIV.
God's strings stayed connected and in the spring of 2013 I wondered, since I was committed to seeing kids at Mathara in Nairobi, Kenya, why not go see the church we helped build in South Africa; it was only another 2000 miles south??!! So to drag out the old journals and pics I found Roy Smith in Va Beach as head of an association there. He connected me with Pastor Willie who was at Mabopane then with a series of emails. But Roy was not finished with that; he said Al, you must call Becky Young in Cary and maybe visit the orphanage she has been working with for several years.
And so I did and it was the most loving experience: 5 mothers, many from Zimbobwe took care of kids from few months old to kids in early 20's in 5 newly built homes in a compound there in Mabopane.
Father George was their leader and just a whirling dervish of organizing and managing the place.
I saw and examined thoroughly all 30 kids and three had to be referred for more care: one with nasal foreign body that I attempted to remove but had been in there for over 2 years, another with esotropia (crossed eyes) actually George's 3 yo daughter, and newly diagnosed HIV child.
George, bless his heart, drove me to Pretoria to meet with Pastor Willie; we had a wonderful meal and time with his family; he connected by phone and email with David Crocker who led our group in 2000. Then on another day we met with my host mother, Azania and her daughters of 13 years ago, and then on the last Sunday we visited the First Baptust Chruch of Mabopane; it was alive and strong but only 4 original members were still there; we surprised them and in the middle of the service they recognized me. After the service we had a wonderful memory time. God is good!!! and He is ever present!!!! It was a wonderful week with old and new acquaintances made and renewed!!!
I was happy to supply the gas for the old truck George drove and was happy to make a donation for a new van later at the recognition banquet in Cary in October where we were invited as Becky's guest.
Pic also of Father George and kids
In June, 2000 a group of Snyder men and women traveled to S Africa, to help build a new church for the First Baptist Church of Mabopane about 30 miles N of Pretoria. This was thru the auspices of the NC Baptist Men and the brotherhood partnership with the SAfrican Baptist. Roy Smith headed this up from his home in the Johannesburg. We also found time to be involved with the Door of Hope run by Don and Cheryl for orphans and some kids with HIV.
God's strings stayed connected and in the spring of 2013 I wondered, since I was committed to seeing kids at Mathara in Nairobi, Kenya, why not go see the church we helped build in South Africa; it was only another 2000 miles south??!! So to drag out the old journals and pics I found Roy Smith in Va Beach as head of an association there. He connected me with Pastor Willie who was at Mabopane then with a series of emails. But Roy was not finished with that; he said Al, you must call Becky Young in Cary and maybe visit the orphanage she has been working with for several years.
And so I did and it was the most loving experience: 5 mothers, many from Zimbobwe took care of kids from few months old to kids in early 20's in 5 newly built homes in a compound there in Mabopane.
Father George was their leader and just a whirling dervish of organizing and managing the place.
I saw and examined thoroughly all 30 kids and three had to be referred for more care: one with nasal foreign body that I attempted to remove but had been in there for over 2 years, another with esotropia (crossed eyes) actually George's 3 yo daughter, and newly diagnosed HIV child.
George, bless his heart, drove me to Pretoria to meet with Pastor Willie; we had a wonderful meal and time with his family; he connected by phone and email with David Crocker who led our group in 2000. Then on another day we met with my host mother, Azania and her daughters of 13 years ago, and then on the last Sunday we visited the First Baptust Chruch of Mabopane; it was alive and strong but only 4 original members were still there; we surprised them and in the middle of the service they recognized me. After the service we had a wonderful memory time. God is good!!! and He is ever present!!!! It was a wonderful week with old and new acquaintances made and renewed!!!
I was happy to supply the gas for the old truck George drove and was happy to make a donation for a new van later at the recognition banquet in Cary in October where we were invited as Becky's guest.
Pic also of Father George and kids
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