New Heart And Mind: Helping People
Outreach by Triston Jacobsohn for New Heart and Mind
Number #40: What's Next?
SEPTEMBER 2022.
GREAT NEWS! 4 more adults were baptized into Christ! After months of just sowing and letting God's seeds grow, we had this wonderful harvest. Praise God! We average around 25 people every week at our church meetings. Our ministry includes Sunday meetings, the Reading Program, and feeding program. However...
GREAT NEWS! 4 more adults were baptized into Christ! After months of just sowing and letting God's seeds grow, we had this wonderful harvest. Praise God! We average around 25 people every week at our church meetings. Our ministry includes Sunday meetings, the Reading Program, and feeding program. However...
... WE HAVE TO GO. We have been offered a ministry position in Canada. I have been torn between going there and working here in South Africa, but it seems that God wants us there.
IN THE BIBLE the number 40 is meant to be a time of testing. Once 40 is over a task is complete. Jesus was in the wilderness 40 days. The Flood rains fell 40 days. Israel was in the wilderness for 40 years. Look at the above screenshot of my lessons to the recycling people. My last time with them is lesson #40! I did not plan that. I think it means it is time for me to move on.
Please pray that we find a church that will be willing to take over this outreach. I will be using donor money to keep feeding the people and I hope someone can continue the Bible teaching. I am talking with church groups about this.
IN THE BIBLE the number 40 is meant to be a time of testing. Once 40 is over a task is complete. Jesus was in the wilderness 40 days. The Flood rains fell 40 days. Israel was in the wilderness for 40 years. Look at the above screenshot of my lessons to the recycling people. My last time with them is lesson #40! I did not plan that. I think it means it is time for me to move on.
Please pray that we find a church that will be willing to take over this outreach. I will be using donor money to keep feeding the people and I hope someone can continue the Bible teaching. I am talking with church groups about this.
DEAR AMAZING SUPPORTERS: Thank you so much. It has been such an honour to be used by God -- and God knows all the amazing good you have done. If you wish to continue donating, please know I will be using it for the recycling group.
MY TESTIMONY
In January 2021, I was asking God what I should do for Him. I decided to read Malachi in the Bible because it was a new year and Malachi is the turning point between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
In Malachi, God told of His great compassion for the poor. I felt I should do something for the recycling people at the Bryanston Takealot. However, I did not have much money. I asked God how I could help. A few days later, I was listening to a Bible lesson about Moses. God asked Moses: What do you have in your hand? (Exodus 4:2). Moses had a staff, so God would free Israel with a staff. The Bible teacher asked me: What do you have in your hand? I realized my “staff” was English teaching, so I entered the recycling camp and offered English classes. I was a little afraid, but I had to obey God.
We started English classes with men. Then suddenly I received money from Australia and the U.S. I bought Bibles, boots, rainsuits, tents, a LOT of food, and tablets for English classes.
Soon we had a Bible study. Then 19 people were baptized. I am happy I listened to God’s voice. God loves my Sesotho family, and He will look after you. I encourage everyone to listen to God’s voice. Read your Bible and follow Him!
-o0o-
MY TESTIMONY
In January 2021, I was asking God what I should do for Him. I decided to read Malachi in the Bible because it was a new year and Malachi is the turning point between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
In Malachi, God told of His great compassion for the poor. I felt I should do something for the recycling people at the Bryanston Takealot. However, I did not have much money. I asked God how I could help. A few days later, I was listening to a Bible lesson about Moses. God asked Moses: What do you have in your hand? (Exodus 4:2). Moses had a staff, so God would free Israel with a staff. The Bible teacher asked me: What do you have in your hand? I realized my “staff” was English teaching, so I entered the recycling camp and offered English classes. I was a little afraid, but I had to obey God.
We started English classes with men. Then suddenly I received money from Australia and the U.S. I bought Bibles, boots, rainsuits, tents, a LOT of food, and tablets for English classes.
Soon we had a Bible study. Then 19 people were baptized. I am happy I listened to God’s voice. God loves my Sesotho family, and He will look after you. I encourage everyone to listen to God’s voice. Read your Bible and follow Him!
-o0o-
6 More Baptisms!
JUNE 2022, This was a very emotional month, because 2 Timothy 2:2 says we should teach others so they can teach others. This is happening. Last year, we baptized the young man in this photo [See Nov, 2021, below]. He has been instrumental in helping me with translations and choosing lesson topics. He baptized 5 of the 6 new Christians. However, he did not work alone. The English facilitators [See last month, below] have been encouraging people to respond to our Bible lessons and submit to God. We worked as a team and celebrated as 6 adults put on Christ. Furthermore, we could not have done it without the hospitality of the Weltevreden Church who let us use their baptistry. Most of all, we are all dependent on Jesus who uses baptism to save us!
Please keep these new Christians in prayer. It is really cold in the camp. (It is winter here.) We give all who attend our church meetings food for 2 days. We also offer English reading programs -- see LION READERS below! Ask God to guide us as we preach the Gospel and extend Lion Readers to underprivileged people.
Please keep these new Christians in prayer. It is really cold in the camp. (It is winter here.) We give all who attend our church meetings food for 2 days. We also offer English reading programs -- see LION READERS below! Ask God to guide us as we preach the Gospel and extend Lion Readers to underprivileged people.
Lion Readers.com
GIVING UNDERPRIVILEGED KIDS A FUTURE!
MAY 2022
Our reading program is now named, Lion Readers, because we are in Africa and we want our students to be bold as lions. As you know, 80% of fifth-graders in SA cannot read for meaning in any language. We are working to change that. Please see our new website, www.LionReaders.com where we outline the two free programs.
Great news! Rays of Hope are running their own program. This week they sent me some results. They have 45 kids learning with our tablets. Pretty cool. Here are some of their results.
Our reading program is now named, Lion Readers, because we are in Africa and we want our students to be bold as lions. As you know, 80% of fifth-graders in SA cannot read for meaning in any language. We are working to change that. Please see our new website, www.LionReaders.com where we outline the two free programs.
Great news! Rays of Hope are running their own program. This week they sent me some results. They have 45 kids learning with our tablets. Pretty cool. Here are some of their results.
Technology is making education cheaper. The amazing fact is that one Android tablet with Starfall software has the potential of teaching 16 children per day to read. (This is based on 30-minutes per student over an 8-hour day.) One teacher can run four Android tablets, thereby potentially taking 64 children from zero-reading to fifth-grade level in 3 years.
Please see www.LionReaders.com for specific details regarding Lion Readers. Also, consider supporting Lion Readers! See information regarding another Lion Reader program below...
Please see www.LionReaders.com for specific details regarding Lion Readers. Also, consider supporting Lion Readers! See information regarding another Lion Reader program below...
ADULTS: SESOTHO TO ENGLISH
While Lion Readers is ideally for children, many adults cannot read English in South Africa. We recently hired two new facilitators to run the free program among our Sesotho friends. The course runs 6 days per week with 16 ladies and men. They are using these two Lenovo tablets with Starfall software. As you can see from the background in this photo, the classes are in an informal settlement. Nevertheless, we are happy to help people anywhere because Jesus loves them!
While Lion Readers is ideally for children, many adults cannot read English in South Africa. We recently hired two new facilitators to run the free program among our Sesotho friends. The course runs 6 days per week with 16 ladies and men. They are using these two Lenovo tablets with Starfall software. As you can see from the background in this photo, the classes are in an informal settlement. Nevertheless, we are happy to help people anywhere because Jesus loves them!
Reading Program Data
MARCH 2022
This month we began our own facilitator-led on-the-ground trials for the reading program with the children. We did this at Rays of Hope. We bought two new Android tablets, chose 14 children and conducted our own classes to evaluate the effectiveness of our program. Overall, we were encouraged by the results.
This month we began our own facilitator-led on-the-ground trials for the reading program with the children. We did this at Rays of Hope. We bought two new Android tablets, chose 14 children and conducted our own classes to evaluate the effectiveness of our program. Overall, we were encouraged by the results.
We realised that school teachers are too busy, so we hired a facilitator to help 14 children through Starfall's Level 1. The plan was each child would sit with a tablet and headphones for 30 minutes per day, playing games. We believe that the children would improve. They did.
However, we encountered two previously unexpected challenges:
1) Several of the children were absent two or more days due to cultural issues.
2) Some of the children had little previous English exposure, which made learning slower.
There is also the challenge that these children come from low-income areas, so some suffer malnutrition and some may witness/experience violence.
Nevertheless, the results show that this program can only do good.
Moving forward we will:
1) Ask parents to commit to the program for its length, thereby reducing absent days.
2) Train more facilitators to run the program, because school teachers are busy and cannot devote the required time.
Please support this program
USD124 buys an Android tablet with headphones that can by used by 12 children per day.
USD100 pays a facilitator for a week. A facilitator is able to train up to 48 children on the tablets per day.
1) Several of the children were absent two or more days due to cultural issues.
2) Some of the children had little previous English exposure, which made learning slower.
There is also the challenge that these children come from low-income areas, so some suffer malnutrition and some may witness/experience violence.
Nevertheless, the results show that this program can only do good.
Moving forward we will:
1) Ask parents to commit to the program for its length, thereby reducing absent days.
2) Train more facilitators to run the program, because school teachers are busy and cannot devote the required time.
Please support this program
USD124 buys an Android tablet with headphones that can by used by 12 children per day.
USD100 pays a facilitator for a week. A facilitator is able to train up to 48 children on the tablets per day.
Reading Program to Set Kids Free
FEBRUARY 2022
South African schools are dismal, constantly failing our children, but we have a plan! Today we delivered new Samsung Android tablets to Rays of Hope for a special reading program launched by New Heart and Mind.
South African schools are dismal, constantly failing our children, but we have a plan! Today we delivered new Samsung Android tablets to Rays of Hope for a special reading program launched by New Heart and Mind.
I believe that God first placed the idea on our hearts when we returned to South Africa. The poverty here is heart-wrenching. For example, often we see toddlers walking between cars, begging at traffic lights, while groups of older kids perform cringe-worthy dances for food or money. We felt God’s compassion and conviction to do something constructive. I realized that I am an English teacher with tech skills, and I should use these gifts. We would start a reading program using free software and relatively inexpensive Android tablets.
We proposed the idea to Rays of Hope, a fantastic 30-year-old organization working with over 120 children in the impoverished township of Alexander, near Johannesburg. Their excitement cemented our conviction, but then Covid struck, and we were locked down for 2 years!
Take Two
Today, we delivered the Android tablets preloaded with the fantastic www.Starfall.com free apps. I used these apps to teach my daughter to read in China, so I know they work! They are fantastic and take kids from zero to grade 5 reading level using educational games! God bless the creators of www.Starfall.com! Furthermore, I have locked the tablets so accessing software other than Starfall, or even the internet, is essentially impossible.
Today, we delivered the Android tablets preloaded with the fantastic www.Starfall.com free apps. I used these apps to teach my daughter to read in China, so I know they work! They are fantastic and take kids from zero to grade 5 reading level using educational games! God bless the creators of www.Starfall.com! Furthermore, I have locked the tablets so accessing software other than Starfall, or even the internet, is essentially impossible.
We have started with 2 tablets as part of the pilot program. After 3 months, we will evaluate, and increase tablets if the program is successful. The tablets are on loan, so should the project not take off, we will take the tablets back and reassign them.
(If anyone wants to donate, the tablets cost about U$D140 including protective covers and earphones.)
(If anyone wants to donate, the tablets cost about U$D140 including protective covers and earphones.)
How Much Good Can One Tablet Do?
Many South Africans cannot read for meaning or at all, which leaves them trapped in poverty cycles. As a solution, one New Heart and Mind tablet can be used by 12-16 children per day in personalized 30-minute sessions, or by 60-80 children per day in small group sessions. Furthermore, this same one tablet can be used by as many as 8 adults for personalized 30-minute reading classes in the evening. The tablet can then charge all night and be ready for the kids the next day!
Many South Africans cannot read for meaning or at all, which leaves them trapped in poverty cycles. As a solution, one New Heart and Mind tablet can be used by 12-16 children per day in personalized 30-minute sessions, or by 60-80 children per day in small group sessions. Furthermore, this same one tablet can be used by as many as 8 adults for personalized 30-minute reading classes in the evening. The tablet can then charge all night and be ready for the kids the next day!
Changing the Future!
If this pilot program works, we will increase tablets to Rays of Hope to allow for more individualised reading sessions. Then, we plan to duplicate this program in other church-based schools all over South Africa. We could, potentially, teach thousands of children to read, thereby opening their futures!
If this pilot program works, we will increase tablets to Rays of Hope to allow for more individualised reading sessions. Then, we plan to duplicate this program in other church-based schools all over South Africa. We could, potentially, teach thousands of children to read, thereby opening their futures!
Consider the Gospel potential
One reason we chose Rays of Hope is they, like us, are Christ-centred. Once we have perfected the system, we would like to duplicate it, specifically, to churches that are involved in serving their communities. The programs will be offered for free.
One reason we chose Rays of Hope is they, like us, are Christ-centred. Once we have perfected the system, we would like to duplicate it, specifically, to churches that are involved in serving their communities. The programs will be offered for free.
My hope is that as people learn to read, they will know the blessing is from God, and they will praise Him.
Please pray about and support this reading project!
Please pray about and support this reading project!
A Great Start for 2022!
These automatic Bible Courses are inline with my vision to teach Bible to young people around the world!
The first great news I want to share is we now have 12 online classes. These Bible courses are fully automated and even email the student their personalized certificates with grades.
After many techical difficulties, it is done. 12 courses are complete and new courses will be added weekly.
It is great to wake up and see new students' results on the site. We want to provide people with solid reasons to believe.
Why not try and share the courses?
After many techical difficulties, it is done. 12 courses are complete and new courses will be added weekly.
It is great to wake up and see new students' results on the site. We want to provide people with solid reasons to believe.
Why not try and share the courses?
Sesotho Bible Studies' Growth Orphans & Widows
Since January 1, there has been a fresh wind of life in our Bible study with the Sesotho people. Our numbers now average 20, and although some only come for the food parcel, some don't. We have had some serious Bible studies on being formed in God's image. People are repenting, and some mature people are coming to the fore. Pray for Kao, Noah, Lindiwe, and Chloe. Pray for all as they literally live in a shanty town without electricity, water, or sewerage, but with much violence and alcohol abuse.
We have also been able to continue supporting the Pretoria widows, orphans, and underprivileged children. This is now our third year of support.
We have also been able to continue supporting the Pretoria widows, orphans, and underprivileged children. This is now our third year of support.
Summary of an Amazing 2021!
DECEMBER 2021: I am so grateful for all God has done this year.
In January, I was praying for God to use me and He opened this ministry at the recycling camp. You can read the entire history below. In summary 9 people were baptized, we regularly have Bible meetings with 10-15 people, 2 businesses were started, hundreds of weekly food parcels have been donated as well as a laptop, rain suits, gloves and boots.
How could we afford to do so much? God provided, and we are still in the black! For all of you who donated, Thank you!
Merry Christmas 2021. I pray God leads us to achieve even more in 2022.
-- The Jacobsohn Family
In January, I was praying for God to use me and He opened this ministry at the recycling camp. You can read the entire history below. In summary 9 people were baptized, we regularly have Bible meetings with 10-15 people, 2 businesses were started, hundreds of weekly food parcels have been donated as well as a laptop, rain suits, gloves and boots.
How could we afford to do so much? God provided, and we are still in the black! For all of you who donated, Thank you!
Merry Christmas 2021. I pray God leads us to achieve even more in 2022.
-- The Jacobsohn Family
The Ministry Continues...
NOVEMBER 2021: The Lord has blessed us again with another baptism -- a young man with a good heart. We have continued meeting each week on a river bank on Sunday afternoons, and we have between 10 and 15 each meeting. We still provide food parcels to those who need them, but the funds are running low, so donations are welcome. A weekly food parcel costs USD7 per person.
Also, see our new video on the Bible and Slavery >>
Also, see our new video on the Bible and Slavery >>
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Another Baptism!
OCTOBER 2021: As summer returns to Johannesburg, so our ministry is heating up. We are grateful that another brother has chosen to put on Christ. He was baptized in our bathtub. Two more ladies have expressed interest, so we will continue studying with them.
Our Other Ministries Continue, including:
- Weekly food parcels. These consist of corn meal, oil, corned beef, sardines, beans, apples, and soups. Each parcel costs about USD10.50
- Sunday meetings: Since we have moved away from the camp and to the riverside, the meetings have been far more peaceful. We usually have 10-15 people. When the Gospel Chariot Sesotho teachers come, I gladly step back and let them share the word in the Sesotho language. Otherwise, I use a Sesotho Bible translation, translators, and Google! These meetings are fantastic.
- Widows and kids: We still contribute monthly to widows and a school for underprivileged kids in Pretoria.
- Traffic light beggars: There are people begging at hundreds of traffic lights all over Johannesburg. Over the past 3 years, my wife and I have handed out hundreds of these delicious and nutritious breakfast bars. There are 4 in a pack, they are easy to store in a car, and they are happily received. Each pack costs about 50c.
TO PRAY FOR: Summer is rainy season in Johannesburg, and the storms can be pretty intense. Please pray with us that God will allow us to use the scout hall near the camp for dry, indoor meetings. Or pray that God will show us a better way.
7 Baptisms!
Dear supporters, thank you for helping us achieve this victory!
SEPTEMBER 2021: Last Sunday 7 people from the recycling camp were baptized! It was a wonderful day, because it was the culmination of 7 months of following God's leading. (Read the history from the bottom of this page.) For months we had been helping, loving, and teaching, but many of the people don't understand English. There was a communication and culture gap.
The break-through happened when the Gospel Chariot guys came. They are fluent in Sesotho. One planted, one watered, but God gave the increase. We are so grateful that the Gospel Chariot guys heeded the call. May God bless them now and in the future because they have committed to continue teaching here!
I believe that this work has incredible potential, because most people in the camp are from Lesotho. They are a people-group and the Gospel spreads quickly within people-groups. I believe more ladies will come to Jesus, followed by the men.
Please pray as we work with the Gospel Chariot guys to reach deeper into this group! Amen!
The break-through happened when the Gospel Chariot guys came. They are fluent in Sesotho. One planted, one watered, but God gave the increase. We are so grateful that the Gospel Chariot guys heeded the call. May God bless them now and in the future because they have committed to continue teaching here!
I believe that this work has incredible potential, because most people in the camp are from Lesotho. They are a people-group and the Gospel spreads quickly within people-groups. I believe more ladies will come to Jesus, followed by the men.
Please pray as we work with the Gospel Chariot guys to reach deeper into this group! Amen!
Sesotho Singing: Baptism Video, August 2021
Enjoy African singing. Due to privacy laws, the ladies' faces are hidden.
Enjoy African singing. Due to privacy laws, the ladies' faces are hidden.
Covid Temporary Setbacks
August 2021: I had Covid Delta, so was running at half-power for about 3 weeks. At least 2 friends I know in the recyclers camp also had Covid. One was extremely ill, so we got him medicine and a food parcel. Thankfully, both have recovered. Also, one of our Sesotho preacher friends had Covid. Thank God the Delta wave is subsiding in South Africa. I hope to have my first vaccine shot next week.
We continued the food parcel distribution, and the ladies with the food business seem to be doing well.
Lord-willing, I will continue church meetings on the first Sunday in August.
Thank you for all your prayers and kind donations.
We continued the food parcel distribution, and the ladies with the food business seem to be doing well.
Lord-willing, I will continue church meetings on the first Sunday in August.
Thank you for all your prayers and kind donations.
Second Business Begun + Sesotho Teachers
July 2021: Thank you so much for your kind donations. In June we continued the ladies weekly food parcels, and we provided seed money for a clothing business. We also had special guest speakers, and we hope that they will become regular teachers!
I am grateful to the guys from Gospel Chariot missions who came all the way from Pretoria to help us (70km). I have been feeling limited lately, because most people in the camp speak Sesotho and very little English. It was wonderful for me to sit in the background and know that all in the Bible study were actually understanding the lesson. We have just gone back into a Covid Level #4 lockdown, but our Sesotho teachers plan to return after that. Their goal is awesome: to establish an independent church that can support itself.
These are the ladies from group #2. They presented a plan to buy clothes in central Johannesburg and sell them in the suburbs. We gave them the seed money and we hope they will have great success. Please pray for them. They have struggled a bit, because two men got drunk and burned their clothes stock. I helped them with additional stock.
Here are the ladies from group #1. They prepare and sell breakfasts and lunches to men working in the area. They are truly busy and I was treated to a delicious piece of chicken. There is such a transformation in these ladies. They are happier, more focused, and they are gaining valuable business experience. Please pray that their business will grow and they will become financially independent.
Most important: Please pray that the Gospel will spread in this group. It is good to give food and help people start businesses, but only the Gospel blesses eternally. There are a major alcohol problem in the camp, and the men -- especially -- have little time for God. Pray with us for people to be saved.
Help Lift People Out of Poverty
June 2021: We have a new exciting initiative: Seven ladies from the recycling camp presented a business plan for a food service for construction workers. We invested U$250 to help them start their new business.
They bought a gas stove, 9kg gas cylinder, pots, ingredients, and take-away packaging, and they started working last Saturday. It is winter here, so they cook in the shack (see image) and deliver to the construction workers. Their menu includes hot sweet tea, fat-cakes, corn porridge, and roasted meat. They are so excited, because this is a great step towards independence.
About 3 months ago we began providing weekly food parcels for 12 ladies, because they were in life-threatening situations, but now we are investing in their first business, and we believe that in 2-3 months they will no longer need food parcels!
CAN YOU HELP?
PRAY NOW
We have weekly Sunday worship meetings in the recycle camp. We average 15 people per week. Pray: 1) that many will be saved; 2) that those who start businesses will be wise and pull themselves out of poverty.
About 3 months ago we began providing weekly food parcels for 12 ladies, because they were in life-threatening situations, but now we are investing in their first business, and we believe that in 2-3 months they will no longer need food parcels!
CAN YOU HELP?
- Would you like to donate $15 for food parcels per person per week.
- Would you like to donate business seed money? Total: $250 per business. Donate in $50 units.
PRAY NOW
We have weekly Sunday worship meetings in the recycle camp. We average 15 people per week. Pray: 1) that many will be saved; 2) that those who start businesses will be wise and pull themselves out of poverty.
Orphans & Widows
May 2021: Can you believe the first third of the year is done! In South Africa we are already feeling the bite of winter in the air. Thanks to you we have blessed many hundreds of people with food. Read how!
PRESCHOOL AND WIDOWS: James said that pure religion includes taking care of orphans and widows. We are doing that. New Heart and Mind has been supporting widows and underprivileged children in a preschool in Pretoria since 2020. This project is overseen by Mathepa, a strong Christian lady who also runs the school. South Africa has been hit hard by Covid, so many parents struggle to pay the school fees. We have stepped into that gap to help monthly. Half of the money goes to the preschool and the other half to specific widows. Thank you for supporting us and so allowing us to do this!
KRUGERSDORP: Thanks to generous donors we have been providing food to Covid-hit Krugersdorp. Since 2020 we have been providing hundreds of food parcels, but more recently we have been sending funds for hot meals. This is extremely welcome now that winter is near. The temperature often drops below freezing here. In this photo you can see that all South African ethnic groups have been hurt. Our economy is still crawling, because until now less than 1% of South Africans have been vaccinated.
RECYCLING LADIES AND ORPHANS: Of course we are still providing weekly food parcels to 12 ladies in the recycling camp. Four of these ladies are regulars at our church meetings. I recently learned that many of the people in the camp are orphans. They have lived on the streets most of their lives. Truly we are taking care of orphans and widows!
OUR CHURCH MEETINGS are every Sunday afternoon. We are still going through Matthew and we are singing more Sesotho songs thanks to help from the ladies. I am looking for Sesotho literature and maybe a Sesotho speaker. Please keep this work in prayer.
Shiny New Boots on the Ground!
April 2021
Yesterday we witnessed something bootiful! Thanks to generosity from America, Australia, and South Africa, we were able to bless our recycling friends with 60 pairs of weatherproof, slip-proof, work boots! A lot of these guys walk the Jo'burg streets in broken shoes or shoes that don't fit and hurt them. Yesterday's hand-out was a joyous occasion, and many had never receive a new pair of shoes before in their lives! They were stunned! We delivered 60 and will buy an additional 13 pairs for extra men.
We are so grateful to Paul from Randburg Mica Hardware who gave us a superb discount. He also helped us with the gloves. May God bless his life and business!
We are also providing weekly food packages to eleven ladies. Initially we only supported five ladies in the Sesotho camp, but are now helping in the Basotho camp too. We do good as God blesses!
Please pray with us as we continue our church meetings. We pray many will be saved!
Please pray with us as we continue our church meetings. We pray many will be saved!
Jo'burg Trash Pickers: 610 Fingers!
Mar 2021
What do you give people who you know so little about? You ask them. This means giving people what they need -- not what you want to give.
Of all the things I never imagined they needed gloves.
Of all the things I never imagined they needed gloves.
But of course! These men are rummaging through trash cans. Apart from dangerous objects like broken glass, there's a lot of filth in there too. In fact, there's the compounded trouble of cutting one's fingers and then having them infected. On the day we handed out the gloves, one grateful man showed me his hands!
So, I went shopping for 61 pairs of sturdy gloves. I could buy these [and other items like food] thanks to generous donations from Australian Christians, Chinese Christians, and US Christians. On top of that, Midas Hardware in Randburg gave us a big discount.
The men were deeply grateful for the gloves. These will protect their hands and keep them warm in Johannesburg's icy winter. Summer is over!
The men were deeply grateful for the gloves. These will protect their hands and keep them warm in Johannesburg's icy winter. Summer is over!
[Image: Matthew 6 in Sotho]
Along with the donations, we still have our Bible studies. Pray that God's word will grow in their hearts! Their camp is next to a river, so we will baptize anyone who is ready.
Along with the donations, we still have our Bible studies. Pray that God's word will grow in their hearts! Their camp is next to a river, so we will baptize anyone who is ready.
Jo'burg Trashpickers: A New Work
Feb 2021
There is much poverty in South Africa, so there are people begging at almost every traffic light. However, when people choose to rise-up and build a life despite daunting odds, they deserve respect!
These are Jo'burg's trash-pickers. They are informal recyclers who go through trash cans looking for anything to be recycled. One can often see them pulling huge trolleys of plastic, paper, and glass up hilly streets. These men are not lazy. Take for example this image: they are bricking a public path, because their trolleys get stuck in the rains. The government won't do it, but they need it done. No sitting around waiting for hand-outs!
In January, I was reading about God's compassion for the poor in Amos. My mind kept turning to these men. It was like I was the Rich Man and Lazarus was going through my trash cans. I prayed and felt compelled to reach out to the men. There is a camp about 10 minutes from my home. It is technically an illegal squatter camp. There is no water, electricity or sewerage. They build their shacks with materials they find on the street. How could I help?
I teach English, so I thought I could teach their kids English. I asked them, but they told me there weren't kids there. I was caught off-guard. I didn't expect that answer. Then they said that they wanted English lessons. Great! A door was opening!
There are about 50 men in the camp. I am a Christian, so we began English Class #1 with prayer. I had around 15 students. At the end, some said the lesson was too easy. They wanted more advanced lessons. I asked them on what topic. I was stunned when they said, "We want Bible lessons."
Most of the men speak Sotho, so I bought English and Sotho Bibles. We meet twice a week for 4 lessons: 30 minutes of English and about an hour Bible study. God has blessed me with a great translator, so most English students stay for the Bible study. We have already had 20 English and Bible lessons, and it is only February! I have around 15 regular students and there is much fascinating discussion that teaches me about their culture.
In Galatians 2:10, we read how Paul didn't only want to help people spiritually. He also wanted to help the poor. About the same time we started the project, people began sending us money. Great timing! We are passing it on to bless these men.
After January, we made this IMPORTANT DECISION: We would give to everyone on the camp. We don't want people joining the Bible study for hand-outs. We would help all, and those who felt grateful to God could join our studies.
After January, we made this IMPORTANT DECISION: We would give to everyone on the camp. We don't want people joining the Bible study for hand-outs. We would help all, and those who felt grateful to God could join our studies.
After a vicious storm that tore down shacks, we bought tents for men who wanted them. These are 100% waterproof. However, most men opted for rain suits. They are afraid that tents will just get stolen.
Thanks to kind donations, we bought 51 rain suits. These are 100% waterproof for Jo'burg's summer storms and windproof for our icy-cold winter winds. The men need to stay healthy and the suits will help them.
To date we have given:
Upcoming needs
- Bibles - English and Sotho
- Tents
- Rain suits
- Food cards
- Fruit & Vegetables
- Tinned fish
- 10 English lessons
- 10 Bible lessons
Upcoming needs
- Blankets for winter (Jo'burg often reaches below freezing in winter).
- Work gloves for winter
- Sling bags to carry their belongings to prevent them being stolen
