Hilary in Africa
The Reverend Hilary Murphy who was a curate here for three years, now lives in South Africa at the Cathedral of Bloemfontein.
Special Prayer Request
 |
Sarah wearing the sunglasses which we gave to help her cope with the sunlight which hurts her eyes. |
Sarah is a 37 year old single mother with 2 children. They live in the poorest of conditions. She recently complained of the sun hurting her eyes, so we bought her some sunglasses. It became evident that she needed medical attention for her eyes. As I examined her she had no sight in her Right eye and very little in her Left eye. She told us that the problem started 3 years ago when she was attacked and sustained a head injury. It has become steadily worse, until recently when it has become painful and much much worse.
As we took her to the Drs it became evident that
I was right that she was almost totally blind, and the sun was intolerable to her. She cried and cried saying Thank you, Thank you. She was very fearful.
The Dr prescribed some antibiotic and steroid treatment and is to make an appointment to see an eye specialist. She also said that there maybe nothing they can do because of the long period of time since the injury. She will have further tests soon.
This is a heartfelt plea, please, please pray for a miraculous healing for Sarah. She is struggling greatly to look after herself and her children.
Our aim is always to keep mothers and children together as a family, and Sarah needs to be able to receive some healing in order to be able to look after her family.
We are not asking for money just your heart to pray to God for His mercy and power to heal Sarah.
Luke 18:35-43
It happened, as he came near Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the road, begging.
Hearing a multitude going by, he asked what this meant.
They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
He cried out, "Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!"
Those who led the way rebuked him, that he should be quiet;
but he cried out all the more, "You son of David, have mercy on me!"
Standing still, Jesus commanded him to be brought to him.
When he had come near, he asked him,
"What do you want me to do?" He said, "Lord, that I may see again."
Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you."
Immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God.
All the people, when they saw it, praised God.
Update 26th January 2010
Today we saw the Opthalmologist (Eye Dr) she has confirmed Sarah's poor eyesight. Unfortunately her eyesight cannot be improved as both her optic nerves are damaged due to the head injury she had 3 years ago when she was brutally attacked.
The Dr is arranging a cat scan of Sarah's brain to determine the injury. The blindness means that we can apply for a grant for her, which will help her life with her 2 children to be much improved. Sarah manages well in her own familiar environment, but struggles when she is outside of this environment, so their is great hope for the little family. Her 10 year old son is able to help and we are also speaking with neighbours to explain the plight of the family and the need for help rather than ridicule which was happening.
It is a great priveledge to know That God has directed us to Sarah, Patrick and little David and entrusted us to help them. We have prayed and will continual to pray for healing and help. Thank you to all who have prayed and do pray for Sarah and her family.
God hears the children
Earlier in the blog I wrote of the children blowing bubbles and praying for God to give them chocolate.I had forgotten all about the prayer until someone turned up at my home with a bag of chocolate which had been donated. Thanks be to God !
 |
God hears the childrens prayers - a donation of chocolate! |
 |
A child blowing bubbles - although this child wasn't the one who prayed for chocolate - he will receive some of the donation. |
Item posted on the 25th January 2010
Times to celebrate
Wow it has been a few months since I wrote on this blog! It has been a very busy time. Here are a few memories of the celebrations we have had over the last few months.
Christmas Party
We arranged the part for 20 of the women and children from the township - 28 people turned up! But it is Africa. We took them to a park which was next to a miniature railway. The manager of the railway gave us many free rides and afterwards we had games and a picnic in the park. Some people who were also in the park joined us.
We sang and prayed and as we walked from the railway over the bridge to the park there was a procession of us singing "Walk walk in the light". It was very moving to see the people so happy, and knowing the difficulties in their lives. One family had lost their home during the week due to a fire, but regained such joy during the party, with their friends.
 | PARTY PARTY PARTY - WE TOOK 28 WOMEN AND CHILDREN, OUT FOR THE AFTERNOON TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS. From Left Dipuo, Dorah, Gladys and Dorah |
|
 | Party |
|
 | Party |
|
 | Just about to set off! Pieter the manager in the background |
|
 | Picnic time. Paddy who helps also is seated in the deckchair. He is 87years old |
|
 | Pass the parcel |
|
 | The Winners! |
|
 | The Winners! |
|
 | The Marshmallow Game |
|
 | The Marshmallow Game |
|
 | The Marshmallow Game |
|
 | The Marshmallow Game |
|
 | Everyone is a Winner! |
|
I Thank God for the provision of so many wonderful people who helped on the party day and especially for Gladys who is my shadow and without her I could not do the work. She teaches me so much - the culture, language,life in poverty, joy in sorrow.
We argue, laugh and cry together and we battle on against the darkness of poverty and disease.
 |
Carers At Tsepo House with Margaret - a patient |
During the Christmas period Tsepo House closed and Margaret went back home, where we visited weekly to ensure she is ok.
 |
Margaret at home with Nico( Nicodemus) her brother in law who cares for her. Here they wear new T shirts which we bought for them. They are to start going to church |
 |
Agnes and Retumetsi (5) and Rorisang (9) Baby Retsupele asleep on the bed behind |
Agnes's story is sad because she is 27 years old and has 4 children, living alone in dire poverty. On Christmas day she had nothing to give the children - no food or presents. She was so depressed that she tried to take her own life by drinking paraffin. Thankfully she survived. When we heard her story we prayed with her and she cried and cried. On 13
th January we took presents, new clothes and party food and drink for them to celebrate Christmas a little later. Here they receive the gifts. Now her sadness has turned to joy. We are to continue helping her to just live a simple life, and support her in the ups and owns that life brings. Today we celebrate the hope she has and her new found faith in Jesus's love for her and her children. We celebrate that she lived and that her children still has a mother.
 |
Baby David in front of his home |
Little David stands infront of his home, he rarely smiles and is very cautious of strangers. He is getting to know us and my mission each time we visit is to make him smile, to see happiness. I took some bubbles but he was afraid of them, Some other children came and played and popped the bubbles and David giggled and giggled. After playing together for a while he started blowing the bubbles too. At the end the children all blew bubbles and said prayers to God - help me when I go to school.
Please God bring us some chocolate! It was the best gift to see David giggle, and play with the children and be happy. We celebrate David's giggle.
 |
Sara with her cooking equipment - a battered paraffin stove and 1 pan |
Sara lives alone with her two children, David and Patrick. She has a problem with her eyes and we have taken her to the hospital to get a diagnosis and treatment. Her life is incredibly difficult, and lives in extreme poverty, no water, light, electricity and her cooker is very dangerous - a battered paraffin stove. We were able to buy her a new paraffin stove and lamp, to gether with a
 |
Sara with her new paraffin lamp, now they will have light |
set of pans, utensils and food containers as the rats eat any food which is left out.
We also bought her some sunglasses as she had stopped going out because of the sun hurting her eyes. This has enabled her to go out now. When she has no food she picks leaves from the bits of grass and vegetation surrounding the shacks. She collects bits of metal from the rubbish dump to take for scrap to get a few rand. We provide food, clothes, soap, paraffin and other items which are needed. When we visit she keep repeating Thank you Jesus Christ, Thank you Jesus Christ. In the photo with the new paraffin lamp you can see the joy and gratefulness of this amazingly humble lady.We celebrate Sara's gratefulness and joy.
 |
David with his big brother Patrick |
 |
Patrick with new friends at the party |
David's brother is Patrick who is 10 years old. He had 1 set of clothes - the ones he stood up in. In the photo you see him wearing his new clothes. We took Patrick with us on the party day. We celebrate Patrick's happiness and new friends.
Item posted on the 6th January 2010
Puleng
 | Gladys, Agnes and Puleng ( right) with the light of Christ. |
 | Mr Paddy Boyle, blessing Puleng. |
|
In earlier blogs I have written about Puleng - one of the young women we visit. She became critically ill and we had to transport her to Tsepo House Hospice, where we ministered to her a few hours before she eventually died. We read Psalm 23 and prayed for her and she smiled evn though she was suffering greatly, and started singing a gospel song ' Glory alleluia when the fire came down.' It was deeply moving. I then anointed her and she smiled and said her last words to us ' My Jesus.' She was very peaceful and passed away just a few hours later. Puleng was a very special lady who knew great suffering and hardship. One week before she died she received the news that the grant we had applied for had been refused - she was deemed fit for work!!!! But she was a survivor and came to know Jesus and knew that was where she was going - home to Him. It was a great blessing to have known and ministered to Puleng.
|
Item posted on the 8th August 2009
Page 2 of Results >
