There is a house of boys: boys taken from the streets. They were sold into prostitution, by their mothers, between the ages of six and ten. They are drug addicts from the drugs forced upon them by those in charge.
There is one man and his wife with a heart larger than mine. They had a vision of rescuing these boys from a life of sex and addiction, with the hopes of loving them with the love of Christ.
There is a house: a small house. The man and his wife have taken in ten boys. They have no sewage system but the situation is so much better than what they had on the streets. The boys have a bed, and food, and a couple that love them.
There is a plot of land on which this house sits. It is large: large enough to build dormitories to house the thirty boys on the waiting list.
There is no money to build.
This is one of the stories told to me by my daughter as we talked for the first time sense she arrived in South Africa. Her eyes are opened: my heart is bleeding.
(This photo is not of these boys. My daughter could not bring herself to take a photo. That makes me proud.)
Part II of this story
(This photo is not of these boys. My daughter could not bring herself to take a photo. That makes me proud.)
Part II of this story
How sad for these boys, but how wonderful that this man and his wife had a vision and heart to help.
ReplyDeleteI pray for provision in order to build the house.
Blessings,
Joan
Oh,I your heart Shanda! And I love how the Lord moves people to action. He defends the broken and weak.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely week!
Mel
My heart bleeds as well. More importantly, the Father's heart bleeds. And He is mighty to save. We adopted our son from the Philippines. Had he grown up there, orphaned, he most likely would have been forced into male prostitution or forced to become a child soldier for radical Muslims. But our God is the God who sees. And He saw him. Our God sees.
ReplyDelete(((Shanda)))
ReplyDeleteWhere in S. Africa Shanda? You know, it amazes me every time I hear one of these stories. My heart....is there a way to donate to their 'cause'? You should let us know Shanda.
ReplyDeleteBleeding heart but grateful, I know, when your children see beyond our small world. Blessings on that couple and may the Lord watch over them and the children.
ReplyDeleteStories like this are sadly all too common. I am grateful for those that have a heart to help and those that help them help. Not everyone can go but we can all help someone who is there. Bless you.
ReplyDeletewww.snapthatpenny.blogspot.com
What an awful, yet inspiring story.
ReplyDeleteI love coming over here and reading your site Shanda, but this saddens me. We've travelled in Africa, and know how bad some people's lives are there and what poverty compels them to do to survive. Admire what hope this project gives.
ReplyDeleteAmazing how it kills our hearts sometimes when our children experience such harshness for the first time.
ReplyDeleteDo you know of ways that we can donate specifically toward a building?
thank God that these little children have found a shelter.
ReplyDeleteOh Shanda...thank your for sharing. I am praying for this boys and this loving couple. Do they have a webiste of place where people can donate?
ReplyDeleteThis just breaks your heart. Those poor kids. I hope this couple can help turn their lives around. They are saints. These boys have a lot to overcome :( We will pray for them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this heartbreaking story and the heart of this family that has chosen to take in all these boys. My heart goes out them.... ~ jen
ReplyDeleteHi Shanda - what does one say? what does one do? All I can do today is pray for those blessed people who have made a way, however small, for those little guys to thrive.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Tracy
My heart goes out to these boys. Thank you for sharing this and may the Lord bless and protect your daughter in Africa as she does such an important work.
ReplyDeleteIs there a specific ministry where we can donate? What a heart wrenching story!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a heart breaking story. The family that has taken them are great examples of Christ like service. You should be so pleased with your daughters desire to serve. My in laws served a mission in Nigeria and Ghana and told many stories on their work there.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this and Blessings to you!
There are so many heartbreaking stories which we'll never know. It's good to know that there are people willing to help some of the otherwise voiceless. Thanks for sharing this story. And thanks for your visit to my blog.
ReplyDeleteMay God bless this couple and may He provide for them from abundance a place for these boys to grow up and learn a trade and along with it come to know our savior.
ReplyDeleteWhat a tragic situation... But it's amazing that at least 10 of these children were helped. That couple inspires me.
ReplyDeleteWhat an eye-opener these kind of real life stories are to read from our protected and safe environments. It's a blessing that a loving family has opened their home to them and is supplying them with love, shelter and God's good grace; they are inspiring!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this story Shanda....
Blessings and love,
Denise
WOW!! So sad ...I still wince when I hear that children are slaves and sex objects...
ReplyDeleteGod bless that couple for there efforts! Do they have a website or a way to hear more of their story?
These stories are the definition of heartbreaking... Just this past weekend I was SO EXCITED to sign up to sponsor a girl in an Indian orphanage, knowing that this story you tell could have been her life. Thanks for always telling these stories, no matter how difficult they are.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for your prayers for my family. God is at work and I am grateful!
Isn't it funny how the people who really don't have anything are the ones to give the most. They are true heros and I hope that the funding will come through from somewhere to house those boys.
ReplyDeleteMember to Remember
oh this weights heavy on the heart. Reminds me of Kisses from Katie. The dying to ones own flesh and living in this surrender to God..beautiful and painful coexist. Your daughter...sigh..you truly must be a proud mama:)
ReplyDeletexo
I'm glad that wasn't their picture. That made me smile. I feel the same way you do.
ReplyDeleteJesus came to give us abundant life. No question that Satan came to lie, steal and destroy.
Shanda bless you for posting this story - I cannot wait to take you to meet Pastor Danie and his wife Taryn (who is pregnant and due in March). This project is one of absolute faith for provision and joy for the work that is being done. The centre is called Eden Wholeness Centre, they do not have a web site as yet, if you want to raise any money before you come you are welcome. We will assist them in setting up a web site with a safe payment method for donations. We will identify specific projects that they need so folk can donate to definate areas they feel led to. We are going to arrange a baby shower for Tanya as well - they do not earn very much money at all and there is definately no extra money for luxuries or special goodies for their baby. Lots of love Noeline...
ReplyDeleteEverytime I read something like this, I just don't understand how people can be so cruel, especially to children. I imagine that someone was cruel to them, too. Thank God for this couple and others like them who will give these boys the change to break the cycle and the curse. May they grow up to know the love of God and be good husbands and fathers.
ReplyDeleteHow awesome that your daughter gets the opportunity to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth!
ReplyDeletetoday is an odd day for me: i am so full of love and joy that can only come from the Lord. but, i am also broken. i'm broken for the despair, heartache, disease...tears...
ReplyDeleteDon't be afraid to share the link to the fundraising site when you get it-I would love to help. You have a beautiful daughter--Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteYour post uncovers some of the things we don't want to hear, don't want to believe exist but must allow ourselves to be aware of and ask God what we can do about it. I, for one, know that I do not do enough.
ReplyDeleteWe sit in our comfort while they need so much. What a blessing to witness the care and concern your daughter expresses. God will use her in a mighty way.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Pamela
Such a moving post. There is so much work to do in the world. So many hearts, boys, girls and souls to save. I know God placed those boys with that family and He will make a way. You.. you must be a proud mom. May we all be servants unafraid of leaving our comfortable spaces in order to reach those in need and may God guide us right were we are needed.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Misty
dear shanda... i would like to give to these boys. and my husband and i have talked about adopting our third child. are these boys up for adoption? can you email me? wierenga.emily@gmail.com. thank you. xo
ReplyDeleteThis post just breaks my heart..to know this is going on. Thankful for hearts to go and rescue these.
ReplyDeleteI always thought I would be called to the mission field, but God brought the mission field to me...I am forever thankful.
Connie
That is so sad that a MOTHER would offer her child up for that!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that your daughter has the opportunity to travel and see how other societies live...and have the opportunity to help!
Visiting from the Finding New Friends Weekend Blog Hop...
Have a great weekend!
Carolee
Come on home - mom blog
Working at home advice
oh Shanda...you said it best...Her eyes are opened: my heart is bleeding.
ReplyDeleteI would love to do a November "Charitable Read" for these boys on my blog. I will write a post, and for every read/comment, I will donate a specified amount to their cause. Please let me know if this is feasible and you are interested.
ReplyDeleteAli from VB