Summer 2020

Summer 2020

by | Jan 23, 2020 | Donations, News, newsletter

Let us pray for rain!

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:1-3

 First of all, I wish you a very healthy and blessed 2020! We trust that you had a good festive season with your loved ones and that all is well with you and your family.

Seeing the effects of the drought all around, I really hope and pray for rain this year! I immigrated to South Africa in 1976 when it was drought time, just like it is now. I remember everyone asking people on radio and TV and in churches to pray for rain for the farmers. Coming from Holland, where it is raining almost every day, I had found this somewhat strange. I was rather enjoying the sunshine! Today, the situation is again much the same: many farmers are having a tough time. Yet, strangely enough, no one in the media is asking you to pray for rain anymore. One is simply told that the droughts and the resulting fires are due to man-made climate change. Hence, the ‘bad’ weather is simply your fault……

The earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord! (Ps. 24:1)

Must say: I do recall Jesus making a specific point to all his disciples [with Him in a bad storm on a boat] that He (God) is [also] always in control of the weather (Luke 8:24-25). On reading this story again, it appears that we can always pray to God [in faith] asking Him to change the weather!

Having learned of all the intricacies of the weather – namely, for example, how God has put several brakes in place so that it does not get either too hot or too warm – I have come to  appreciate any type of weather, as ‘good’ (coming from God). Even if the weather gets so bad that it destroys life in its wake, I always know that God still is in control. Often you find that even ‘bad’ weather opens doors for new life to begin. Join the discussions about this and related issues on “Henry’s Blog’, website: http://www.breadonthewater.co.za

Many thanks to all of you who responded to our request for extra funds to renovate the children’s home in Koraalstr 7, Jeffreys Bay. A special word of thanks goes to John and Peggy in Northcliff and Monique of the MyMostBeautiful competition. So far, we have received about R30000!!! This is not at all bad compared it to our previous special effort. You will recall the time when we collected R26000 for new appliances for the Rehoboth Children’s Village in Port Shepstone. See picture above.

Spring News Letter 2019

Spring News Letter 2019

by | Oct 11, 2019 | Campaign, News, newsletter

Well, spring has arrived! Isn’t beautiful to see the flowers, new leaves and other changes in nature? A few months ago, I decided to buy a puzzle featuring a collection of pictures of animals of Africa put together by Charlotte Firbank-King. However, I never realized how big the puzzle really was….It took me days of frustration and many weeks to get all 1500 pieces in the right places. At some stage I realized that my Big Puzzle here in Pretoria was of course still very, very small compared to the Puzzle of Life, that is: God’s Creation. Indeed, in reflecting on his own life, the famous physicist Isaac Newton – who was able to understand and write down the laws of gravitation – once said: “I just went to the beach and played with a few pebbles”… Looking at the smallest in matter and looking at the wonders and the incalculable greatness of the universe, I am sure you and me can only wonder as to exactly what laws and relevant formulae are holding it all together.

Every day I looked at my puzzle, I became strangely aware, that, just like my puzzle was not yet finished, so God’s Creation is also not yet finished. Jesus came into the picture 2000 years ago to show us what God is really like: God is Love and Grace. He gave His own life for us and at that point we all became a part of his Picture, for sure! Each one of us has a role to play, no matter how big or small.
Puzzling!

Indeed, love is the source of our enthusiasm, optimism and creativity. Yes, there are still many more people to be born, and yes, there are still many more things to find out and laws to understand. I remember that whenever I was able to finish one of the 80(!) animals in my puzzle, I became so excited noticing how the pieces all fitted together enabling me to see all the details… Then I thought: that is how it is in the Big Puzzle of Life: sometimes we get a glimpse of the part that we all played in God’s Creation and how we fit into the big picture. As the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 13:12: ‘For now we see only [a reflection] as in a mirror [dimly], but then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known’.

On one occasion, when we visited the safe home for children in Nelmapius (Pretoria) that Heart for Children is  supporting, I was moved to tears by the love of the children shown to us after we had brought each child a ‘lucky’ packet. I felt privileged that we are able to help Jochi there with a steady income now for her home. 

God is doing His work in all 21 homes sponsored by you in South Africa and the Netherlands through Heart for Children! Many thanks to each one of you for being a piece in the Big Puzzle of Life.