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| God's Golden Acre - “Sawubona, unjani” |
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“  Our team’s two main building projects were at Posanetta’s house and Florence’s house and we also did some painting of the new nursery school that was built using money raised by Laurel Hill School. Posanetta’s house was originally build by GGA but a murder had taken place there and the local community burnt the family involved in the murder out of the house.  Posanetta is a young woman who has AIDS, cancer and TB and although she is quite ill, is being kept stable by medication that she has recently received. She currently lives with her younger brothers and sisters in a small mud house half-way down the side of a mountain.  GGA asked the Zulu chief for permission to refurbish the burnt house and move Posanetta in because it is on more level ground and closer to accessible roads. Our task was to clear the house out, put a new roof on, new windows in, clean and paint it inside and out ready for Posanetta to move in. Not only did some of the money raised by Harmony Hill pay for the refurbishment, it also paid off a loan Posanetta had to take out to buy a fridge to keep her medication in, and some fencing to go around the house to keep wandering cows out so that she can develop her own little vegetable garden to help feed her family.   Florence
also lives in a mud rondavel with her four young grandchildren. Her
two daughters (the children’s mothers) were raped, developed AIDS and
have died. Florence is not in good health and can barely walk. Our task here was to dig the foundations for a new house. This was a very challenging task physically as the ground is very hard because there had been no rain in South Africa since March. We also managed to dig a trench running from Florence’s house to the main road a couple of hundred metres away so that Elliott could lay a pipe from the nearest stand pipe and bring a water supply close to her home. Can you imaging the difference it will make to her life not to have to carry water this distance any more. During our final week we assisted GGA staff with the food distribution programme. 300 families currently benefit from private sponsorship which provides school fees and uniforms for the children as well as a monthly food parcel. We were very impressed by how well organised the distribution was, but the lasting memory is of the distance the people walk to the distribution points – even people not currently receiving sponsorship who turn up just in case there is spare food on the lorry for them.  
This included one little family of 3 boys between the ages of 10 and 6
years old – their father is dead, their mother has taken the 210 Rand
(£15) per month family allowance and left them to fend for themselves.
The eldest boy is looking after his brothers and making sure they all
go to the government funded school. That day they were given a food
parcel and promised that sponsorship will be found for them ensuring
that staff and volunteers at GGA would remain in contact with them.
Some of the 70 children who live in GGA
Some of the Young Zulu Warriors Choir (GGA)
Patrick & Heather Reynolds (founder of GGA) & Myrtle
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Sawubona, unjani” – this was the phrase that our team was greeted with by everyone we met on our recent visit to God’s Golden Acre, Kwa Zulu, Natal. You’ve probably guessed that our reply “We’re good thanks, and you?” was rarely spoken by us in Zulu. One of the things that came across strongly to us was how polite and respectful the Zulu people are.
New Student Assistant Minister at Harmony Hill
Helen Freeburn joined us at Harmony Hill on Sunday 6th September and has already taken a number of services.
Helen's Background
Helen was born in Tullamore, Co. Offaly and grew up outside Newcastle, Co. Dublin (yes there's a Newcastle there too). After attending the King's Hospital School in Dublin she studied at Queen's University Belfast, graduating with a joint BA degree in Scholastic Philosophy and French. During her time studying she had her first taste of living in France when she spent a year there working as a language assistant near La Rochelle. After her time at Queen's University she moved to Lucan, Co. Dublin and spent two years as a full-time volunteer working at the Lucan Youth Centre involved in youth, peace and reconciliation work. It was during this time that Helen, whose family are members of the local Church of Ireland church, began attending and being involved in Lucan Presbyterian Church. It was at Lucan Youth Centre she got to...Full Story | Harvest Thanksgiving and Farewell to Clarke and Hazel Deering The sun shone as Harmony Hill Presbyterian Church Lambeg celebrated harvest thanksgiving last Sunday. The congregation enjoyed the vista of fruit, vegetables and flowers and Rev David Knox thanked all who had given gifts and of their time to tastefully decorate the buildings.The new student assistant minister Rev Helen Freeburn spoke to the children on the value of water. The children’s choir along with the church choir under the leadership of Mrs Jinhyeng Glissman sang the anthem ‘What a wonderful world’. The sermon by Rev Knox was on the reaping of the seed we sow.The harvest offering goes to the Presbyterian United Appeal which supports the PCI’s social and evangelic mission in Ireland and abroad.In the evening Rev Clarke Deering led his final service. He has been called to Ballycairn Presbyterian Church. Rev Deering spoke on the ‘Fruits of the Harvest’ portraying how our lives can produce fruits of faith. Again the choir sang harvest...Full Story | |
Prayer Letter - Barry & Elysie McCroskery I
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